Clallam County, Washington | |
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 Flag  Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofWashington | |
 Washington's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:48°06′39″N123°53′23″W / 48.11083°N 123.88972°W /48.11083; -123.88972 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Washington |
| Founded | April 26, 1854 |
| Seat | Port Angeles |
| Largest city | Port Angeles |
| Area | |
• Total | 2,671 sq mi (6,920 km2) |
| • Land | 1,738 sq mi (4,500 km2) |
| • Water | 932 sq mi (2,410 km2) 35% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 77,155 |
• Estimate (2024) | 77,958 |
| • Density | 44.4/sq mi (17.1/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| Congressional district | 6th |
| Website | clallamcountywa.gov |
Clallam County is acounty in theU.S. state ofWashington. As of the2020 census, the population was 77,155,[1] with an estimated population of 77,616 in 2023. Thecounty seat and largest city isPort Angeles; the county as a whole comprises the Port Angeles, WAMicropolitan Statistical Area.[2] The name is aKlallam word for "the strong people". The county was formed on April 26, 1854.[3] Located on theOlympic Peninsula, it is south from theStrait of Juan de Fuca, which forms theCanada–US border, asBritish Columbia'sVancouver Island is across the strait.
Clallam County was abellwether, voting for the winning candidate in every presidential election from1980 to2020, holding the longest record forpredicting official presidential election winners in the entire country.[4] It has also voted the winning candidate in every election since1920 except for1968,1976, and2024.[5][6]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,671 square miles (6,920 km2), of which 1,738 square miles (4,500 km2) is land and 932 square miles (2,410 km2) (35%) is water.[7]
Located in Clallam County isCape Alava, thewesternmost point in both Washington and the contiguousUnited States, with alongitude of 124 degrees, 43 minutes and 59 seconds West (−124.733). Near Cape Alava isOzette, the westernmost town in the contiguous United States. Clallam County also contains the west-northwesternmost, northwesternmost, and north-northwesternmost points in the contiguous United States.[8]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 149 | — | |
| 1870 | 408 | 173.8% | |
| 1880 | 638 | 56.4% | |
| 1890 | 2,771 | 334.3% | |
| 1900 | 5,603 | 102.2% | |
| 1910 | 6,755 | 20.6% | |
| 1920 | 11,368 | 68.3% | |
| 1930 | 20,449 | 79.9% | |
| 1940 | 21,848 | 6.8% | |
| 1950 | 26,396 | 20.8% | |
| 1960 | 30,022 | 13.7% | |
| 1970 | 34,770 | 15.8% | |
| 1980 | 51,648 | 48.5% | |
| 1990 | 56,464 | 9.3% | |
| 2000 | 64,525 | 14.3% | |
| 2010 | 71,404 | 10.7% | |
| 2020 | 77,155 | 8.1% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 77,958 | [9] | 1.0% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] 1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12] 1990–2000[13] 2010–2020[1] | |||
As of the2010 census, there were 71,404 people, 31,329 households, and 19,713 families living in the county.[14] The population density was 41.1 inhabitants per square mile (15.9/km2). There were 35,582 housing units at an average density of 20.5 units per square mile (7.9 units/km2).[15] The racial makeup of the county was 87.0% white, 5.1% American Indian, 1.4% Asian, 0.8% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 1.8% from other races, and 3.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.1% of the population.[14] In terms of ancestry, 21.4% wereGerman, 16.4% wereEnglish, 12.6% wereIrish, 6.5% wereNorwegian, and 5.2% wereAmerican.[16]
Of the 31,329 households, 22.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.1% were non-families, and 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.70. The median age was 49.0 years.[14]
The median income for a household in the county was $44,398 and the median income for a family was $54,837. Males had a median income of $44,609 versus $32,125 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,449. About 9.5% of families and 14.3% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 21.4% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.[17]
As of the2000 census,[18] there were 64,525 people, 27,164 households, and 18,064 families living in the county. Thepopulation density was 37 people per square mile (14 people/km2). There were 30,683 housing units at an average density of 18 units per square mile (6.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.12%White, 0.84%Black orAfrican American, 5.12%Native American, 1.13%Asian, 0.16%Pacific Islander, 1.18% fromother races, and 2.44% from two or more races. 3.41% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 17.2% were ofGerman, 13.1%English, 9.3%Irish, 8.3%United States or American and 6.0%Norwegian ancestry. 95% spokeEnglish and 3.2%Spanish as their first language.
There were 27,164 households, out of which 25.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.90% weremarried couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.50% were non-families. 28.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.78.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.00% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 22.80% from 25 to 44, 26.90% from 45 to 64, and 21.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 98.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,449, and the median income for a family was $44,381. Males had a median income of $35,452 versus $24,628 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $19,517. About 8.90% of families and 12.50% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 17.10% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.
Modern Clallam County is generally regarded as a competitive area politically. It was abellwether, holding the longest record, until 2024, forpredicting official presidential election winners in the entire country.[5] In every election since1920, except for1968,1976, and2024, it has voted for the presidential election winner. Since 2004, the county has seen a Democratic trend, and even though it flipped Republican in 2016, this was largely due to a stronger third-party presence that year. In 2020 it supported Democrat Joe Biden with a majority, and in 2024 it defied the national average when it shifted further to the left, givingKamala Harris the best performance by a Democrat sinceLyndon Johnson in 1964.
It voted the winning candidate in every presidential election from1980 to2020, the longest streak of any county in the country before ending its streak in 2024.[19][5] Clallam County also voted forBob Ferguson,Nick Brown, andEmily Randall in the2024 Washington gubernatorial election, the2024 Washington Attorney General election, and the2024 Washington's 6th congressional district election. Ferguson won the county for the first time since the2000 Washington gubernatorial election, despite underperforming Kamala Harris, indicating a potential leftward shift in the county.[6]
Democratic candidates are generally most successful in the county seat and largest city,Port Angeles, which casts a significant number of votes. The city ofSequim and its general vicinity (excepting newer developments such asBell Hill which tend to be Republican) is generally considered a battleground area. TheForks area is generally Republican, with the exception of American Indian areas. TheMakah tribe areas around Neah Bay are some of the most Democratic areas in the state. Otherwise, with the exception of a few locations (such asBlyn andJamestown near Sequim), unincorporated Clallam County has a strong Republican lean.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1892 | 518 | 38.20% | 448 | 33.04% | 390 | 28.76% |
| 1896 | 559 | 43.43% | 717 | 55.71% | 11 | 0.85% |
| 1900 | 723 | 60.45% | 407 | 34.03% | 66 | 5.52% |
| 1904 | 903 | 68.15% | 273 | 20.60% | 149 | 11.25% |
| 1908 | 938 | 59.59% | 428 | 27.19% | 208 | 13.21% |
| 1912 | 727 | 28.67% | 464 | 18.30% | 1,345 | 53.04% |
| 1916 | 1,475 | 45.23% | 1,339 | 41.06% | 447 | 13.71% |
| 1920 | 1,775 | 53.76% | 489 | 14.81% | 1,038 | 31.44% |
| 1924 | 2,129 | 52.07% | 283 | 6.92% | 1,677 | 41.01% |
| 1928 | 3,319 | 65.53% | 1,705 | 33.66% | 41 | 0.81% |
| 1932 | 1,870 | 24.81% | 3,954 | 52.46% | 1,713 | 22.73% |
| 1936 | 2,404 | 28.56% | 5,586 | 66.36% | 428 | 5.08% |
| 1940 | 3,555 | 36.91% | 5,966 | 61.95% | 110 | 1.14% |
| 1944 | 3,551 | 39.23% | 5,441 | 60.11% | 59 | 0.65% |
| 1948 | 4,178 | 41.38% | 5,412 | 53.60% | 507 | 5.02% |
| 1952 | 6,442 | 53.96% | 5,390 | 45.15% | 106 | 0.89% |
| 1956 | 6,852 | 54.82% | 5,632 | 45.06% | 16 | 0.13% |
| 1960 | 6,227 | 47.61% | 6,801 | 52.00% | 52 | 0.40% |
| 1964 | 4,175 | 31.03% | 9,265 | 68.86% | 15 | 0.11% |
| 1968 | 5,921 | 41.60% | 7,030 | 49.39% | 1,283 | 9.01% |
| 1972 | 9,372 | 58.25% | 5,620 | 34.93% | 1,097 | 6.82% |
| 1976 | 9,132 | 49.67% | 8,268 | 44.97% | 986 | 5.36% |
| 1980 | 11,515 | 51.65% | 8,029 | 36.01% | 2,752 | 12.34% |
| 1984 | 13,605 | 57.32% | 9,701 | 40.87% | 429 | 1.81% |
| 1988 | 11,200 | 49.14% | 11,123 | 48.80% | 471 | 2.07% |
| 1992 | 9,765 | 34.06% | 10,820 | 37.74% | 8,088 | 28.21% |
| 1996 | 12,432 | 42.12% | 12,585 | 42.64% | 4,499 | 15.24% |
| 2000 | 16,251 | 50.42% | 13,779 | 42.75% | 2,202 | 6.83% |
| 2004 | 18,871 | 51.33% | 17,049 | 46.37% | 846 | 2.30% |
| 2008 | 18,199 | 47.25% | 19,470 | 50.55% | 851 | 2.21% |
| 2012 | 18,437 | 48.03% | 18,580 | 48.40% | 1,368 | 3.56% |
| 2016 | 18,794 | 46.37% | 17,677 | 43.61% | 4,062 | 10.02% |
| 2020 | 23,062 | 46.81% | 24,721 | 50.18% | 1,481 | 3.01% |
| 2024 | 21,632 | 44.45% | 25,440 | 52.28% | 1,591 | 3.27% |
Clallam Transit operates bus service between and within the towns of the county and to destinations outside Clallam County.
The following public use airports are located in the county:[22]
The popularTwilight Saga novels and film series are set in Clallam County. The main storyline is set inForks; however, the characters also visit neighboringPort Angeles.
The rural-comedy film seriesMa and Pa Kettle (1949–1957) is set in a fictionalizedCape Flattery.
Geographic data related toClallam County, Washington atOpenStreetMapPlaces adjacent to Clallam County, Washington | |
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Municipalities and communities ofClallam County, Washington,United States | ||
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| Indian reservations | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
48°6′45″N123°26′27″W / 48.11250°N 123.44083°W /48.11250; -123.44083
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