Yakima County, Washington | |
|---|---|
 Yakima County Courthouse | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofWashington | |
 Washington's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:46°28′N120°44′W / 46.467°N 120.733°W /46.467; -120.733 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Washington |
| Founded | January 21, 1865 |
| Named after | Yakama Nation |
| Seat | Yakima |
| Largest city | Yakima |
| Area | |
• Total | 4,311 sq mi (11,170 km2) |
| • Land | 4,295 sq mi (11,120 km2) |
| • Water | 16 sq mi (41 km2) 0.4% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 256,728 |
• Estimate (2024) | 258,523 |
| • Density | 58/sq mi (22/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| Congressional district | 4th |
| Website | www |
Yakima County is acounty in theU.S. state ofWashington. As of the2020 census, its population was 256,728.[1] Thecounty seat and most populous city isYakima.[2] The county was formed out of Ferguson County in January 1865 and is named for theYakama tribe ofNative Americans.
Yakima County comprises the Yakima, WAMetropolitan Statistical Area and is Washington state'smost populous majority-Hispanic county as of 2020.[3]
The area that now comprises Yakima County was part of theOregon Country at the start of the nineteenth century, inhabited both by fur prospectors from Canada, andAmericans seeking land for agricultural and mineral-extraction opportunities. Unable to resolve which country should control this vast area, theTreaty of 1818 provided for joint control. By 1843, theProvisional Government of Oregon had been established, although at first there were questions as to its authority and extent. During its existence, that provisional government formed the area north of theColumbia River first into theWashington Territory, and then (December 19, 1845) into two vast counties:Clark andLewis.
TheWashington Territory was formed as a separate governing entity in 1853. In 1854, that legislature carved several counties out of the two original large counties, includingSkamania County. Later in 1854 the new Skamania County was reduced in size by carving outWalla Walla County. This arrangement lasted until January 23, 1863, whenFerguson County was carved out of Walla Walla County.[4] However, the Ferguson County government and boundary was dissolved on January 18, 1865, and its area was assigned to Yakima County three days later.[5]
Since its creation, the Yakima County boundary has been altered two times. In 1883 a portion of its area was carved off in the creation ofKittitas County, and in 1905 a further reduction added to the creation ofBenton County.[5]
TheYakama Indian Reservation was created in 1855. However, several tribes felt the agreement creating this reserved area had been completed without sufficient native input, and skirmishes and local war (theYakima War, which lasted until 1858) meant that the reservation was not fully operational for two decades. The Reservation is the15th largest reservation in America, covering 1,573 sq mi (4,070 km2),[6] and comprising 36% of the county's total area. Its population was 31,799 in 2000, and its largest city isToppenish.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,311 square miles (11,170 km2), of which 4,295 square miles (11,120 km2) is land and 16 square miles (41 km2) (0.4%) is water.[7] Yakima County is the second-largest county in Washington by land area and third-largest by total area. Yakima County is reputed to be one of the most difficult places on earth to predict weather, because of its surrounding mountains. The county's area is larger than the states ofDelaware andRhode Island combined.[8] The highest point in the county is Mount Adams, which is the second tallest peak in Washington and the third tallest in the Cascade Range.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 432 | — | |
| 1880 | 2,811 | 550.7% | |
| 1890 | 4,429 | 57.6% | |
| 1900 | 13,462 | 204.0% | |
| 1910 | 41,709 | 209.8% | |
| 1920 | 63,710 | 52.7% | |
| 1930 | 77,402 | 21.5% | |
| 1940 | 99,019 | 27.9% | |
| 1950 | 135,723 | 37.1% | |
| 1960 | 145,112 | 6.9% | |
| 1970 | 144,971 | −0.1% | |
| 1980 | 172,508 | 19.0% | |
| 1990 | 188,823 | 9.5% | |
| 2000 | 222,581 | 17.9% | |
| 2010 | 243,231 | 9.3% | |
| 2020 | 256,728 | 5.5% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 258,523 | [9] | 0.7% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] 1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12] 1990–2000[13] 2010–2020[1] | |||
As of the2010 census, there were 243,231 people, 80,592 households, and 58,790 families living in the county.[14] The population density was 56.6 people per square mile (21.9 people/km2). There were 85,474 housing units at an average density of 19.9 units per square mile (7.7 units/km2).[15] The racial makeup of the county was 63.7% White, 4.3% American Indian, 1.1% Asian, 1.0% Black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 26.1% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 45.0% of the population.[14] In terms of ethnicity, 15.8% reportedGerman, 8.0%English, 7.3%Irish, and 3.6%American ancestry.[16]
Of the 80,592 households, 42.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 27.1% were non-families, and 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 3.46. The median age was 32.2 years.[14]
The median income for a household in the county was $42,877 and the median income for a family was $48,004. Males had a median income of $37,029 versus $29,824 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,325. About 16.8% of families and 21.8% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 31.9% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.[17]
As of the2000 census, there were 222,581 people, 73,993 households, and 54,606 families living in the county. Thepopulation density was 52 people per square mile (20 people/km2). There were 79,174 housing units at an average density of 18 units per square mile (6.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 65.60%White, 0.97%Black orAfrican American, 4.48%Native American, 0.95%Asian, 0.09%Pacific Islander, 24.43% fromother races, and 3.48% from two or more races. 35.90% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 13.2% were ofGerman, 6.4%United States or American, 5.9%English and 5.4%Irish ancestry.
There were 73,993 households, out of which 39.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% weremarried couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.2% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.44.
In the county, 31.8% of the population was under the age of 18, 9.8% was from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,828, and the median income for a family was $39,746. Males had a median income of $31,620 versus $24,541 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $15,606. About 14.8% of families and 19.7% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 27.2% of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over.
At the last census, the county harvested 1,027 acres (416 ha) ofpotato (Solanum tuberosum).[18]: 395
The northeastern corner of the county is part of the U.S. Army'sYakima Training Center.
Washington ranks second in theUnited States in the production ofwine, behind onlyCalifornia.[19] TheYakima Valley AVA was established in 1983 in the state's oldest agricultural region. It is Washington's third largest officially designatedAmerican Viticultural Area (AVA), and is responsible for more than 40% ofthe state's wine production.
Located within the largerColumbia Valley AVA, the Yakima Valley AVA is sub-divided into the three smaller wine regions, each with distinctive growing conditions. They areRed Mountain AVA,Snipes Mountain AVA, andRattlesnake Hills AVA.[20] Of theviticultural region's 665,000 acres (269,000 ha), nearly 11,120 acres (4,500 ha) were planted in 2008.[19]
Commonagricultural pests here include the Green Peach Aphid (Myzus persicae), the Spotted Cutworm (Xestia c-nigrum), and the Beet Leafhopper (Circulifer tenellus) inpotato.[21]
Yakima County leans Republican in statewide elections. On only four occasions has it backed a Democrat for President – it has voted for the same candidate asthe state of South Dakota in every election since they first voted for President – and the last Democratic gubernatorial candidate it backed wasAlbert D. Rosellini in1956.[22]
OnlyAdams County andColumbia County, which last backed a Democrat for governor in1936 whenClarence D. Martin swept every county in the state, have consistently backed Republicans for governor for longer.[22] Although Yakima County did narrowly supportMaria Cantwell in2012, the previous U.S. Senate candidate to carry Yakima County for the Democrats was popular Senator"Scoop" Jackson in1982.[23]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1892 | 625 | 41.47% | 498 | 33.05% | 384 | 25.48% |
| 1896 | 948 | 42.57% | 1,266 | 56.85% | 13 | 0.58% |
| 1900 | 1,507 | 55.90% | 1,066 | 39.54% | 123 | 4.56% |
| 1904 | 3,484 | 70.36% | 929 | 18.76% | 539 | 10.88% |
| 1908 | 3,998 | 63.86% | 1,650 | 26.35% | 613 | 9.79% |
| 1912 | 3,304 | 25.21% | 3,209 | 24.49% | 6,592 | 50.30% |
| 1916 | 7,188 | 49.10% | 6,136 | 41.91% | 1,316 | 8.99% |
| 1920 | 11,571 | 59.39% | 4,062 | 20.85% | 3,851 | 19.76% |
| 1924 | 12,124 | 63.72% | 2,157 | 11.34% | 4,747 | 24.95% |
| 1928 | 16,694 | 73.07% | 6,008 | 26.30% | 146 | 0.64% |
| 1932 | 11,151 | 41.54% | 13,880 | 51.70% | 1,815 | 6.76% |
| 1936 | 12,555 | 39.66% | 17,200 | 54.33% | 1,902 | 6.01% |
| 1940 | 20,398 | 52.63% | 18,092 | 46.68% | 270 | 0.70% |
| 1944 | 20,864 | 56.76% | 15,643 | 42.56% | 249 | 0.68% |
| 1948 | 21,396 | 51.00% | 19,760 | 47.10% | 801 | 1.91% |
| 1952 | 32,317 | 64.06% | 17,647 | 34.98% | 483 | 0.96% |
| 1956 | 31,984 | 60.21% | 20,991 | 39.51% | 149 | 0.28% |
| 1960 | 31,683 | 58.68% | 21,958 | 40.67% | 354 | 0.66% |
| 1964 | 22,786 | 43.21% | 29,604 | 56.14% | 340 | 0.64% |
| 1968 | 27,488 | 53.69% | 19,499 | 38.09% | 4,211 | 8.22% |
| 1972 | 32,240 | 58.93% | 19,729 | 36.06% | 2,736 | 5.00% |
| 1976 | 29,478 | 53.12% | 24,223 | 43.65% | 1,791 | 3.23% |
| 1980 | 33,815 | 55.21% | 21,873 | 35.71% | 5,565 | 9.09% |
| 1984 | 40,678 | 61.46% | 24,724 | 37.36% | 780 | 1.18% |
| 1988 | 30,026 | 55.70% | 23,221 | 43.07% | 663 | 1.23% |
| 1992 | 25,841 | 44.58% | 21,026 | 36.27% | 11,102 | 19.15% |
| 1996 | 27,668 | 46.61% | 25,676 | 43.25% | 6,016 | 10.13% |
| 2000 | 39,494 | 58.61% | 25,546 | 37.91% | 2,342 | 3.48% |
| 2004 | 43,352 | 59.56% | 28,474 | 39.12% | 964 | 1.32% |
| 2008 | 41,946 | 54.10% | 33,792 | 43.58% | 1,796 | 2.32% |
| 2012 | 42,239 | 54.50% | 33,217 | 42.86% | 2,050 | 2.64% |
| 2016 | 41,735 | 52.34% | 31,291 | 39.24% | 6,715 | 8.42% |
| 2020 | 50,555 | 52.56% | 43,179 | 44.89% | 2,459 | 2.56% |
| 2024 | 49,368 | 55.63% | 36,706 | 41.36% | 2,677 | 3.02% |
Places adjacent to Yakima County, Washington | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofYakima County, Washington,United States | ||
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| Towns | ||
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| Other communities | ||
| Indian reservation | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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