Wahkiakum County | |
|---|---|
 Wahkiakum County Courthouse inCathlamet | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofWashington | |
 Washington's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:46°17′N123°26′W / 46.29°N 123.43°W /46.29; -123.43 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Washington |
| Founded | April 24, 1854 |
| Named after | Chief Wahkiakum |
| Seat | Cathlamet |
| Largest town | Puget Island |
| Area | |
• Total | 287 sq mi (740 km2) |
| • Land | 263 sq mi (680 km2) |
| • Water | 24 sq mi (62 km2) 8.3% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 4,422 |
• Estimate (2024) | 4,800 |
| • Density | 16.8/sq mi (6.49/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
| Website | www |
Wahkiakum County (/wəˈkaɪ.əkʌm/wə-KY-ə-kum) is acounty located in theU.S. state ofWashington. As of the2020 census, the population was 4,422,[1] making it one of the least populous counties in Washington. Thecounty seat and only incorporated town isCathlamet.[2] The county was formed out ofCowlitz County in April 1854[3] and is named for Chief Wahkiakum ("Tall Timber") of theChinook, who is buried in the Pioneer Cemetery in Cathlamet.[4]
The county operates theWahkiakum County Ferry, which connects Cathlamet toWestport, Oregon, across theColumbia River.
The region that became Wahkiakum County was home to the Wahkiakums, one of theChinookan peoples.[5]: 1 Archaeological investigation atSkamokawa indicated that the site, where the inhabitants engaged in fishing, hunting, wood-working, and tool manufacture, was approximately 2,300 years old.[5]: 15
Merchant sea captainRobert Gray, on hisColumbia River expedition in 1792, was the first European American known to arrive in the area. During salmon season in the early 1800s, theHudson's Bay Company's post atFort George operated a salting station in the region. In 1844, the first trading post was established in the area, near Skamokawa.[5]: 3 It was succeeded by Birnie's Retreat, a trading post established in 1846 byJames Birnie, who had previously worked for the Hudson's Bay Company. The influence of his wife, Charlotte Beaulieu Birnie, whose parents were a Frenchvoyageur and aKootenay tribe member, helped protectCathlamet during thePuget Sound War.[5]: 26–30
Wahkiakum County, with Cathlamet as the county seat, was created by the First Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Washington in 1854.[5]: 126
Early settlers came from Great Britain and the eastern United States until around 1870, when they were followed by a large number of immigrants from Sweden, Norway, Finland, andDalmatia. From 1870 to the early 1900s, there was a large population of Chinese residents who worked in the fish canneries.[5]: 34–36 The total population in 1912 was 5,283.[5]: 59 Lacking roads, travel between early communities was by foot or by boat.[5]: 98 Numerous areas of population disappeared in the years after roads began to replace water transportation.[5]: 92
Settlers engaged in fishing, logging, farming, and trading. Salmon canning began in 1866, quickly followed by the establishment of multiple canneries. In 1872, Chinese laborers were brought in to work in the canneries. Salmon canning over the years was impacted by overfishing and habitat degradation, with declines observed by 1889. The last salmon pack in Wahkiakum County took place in 1947.[5]: 75–82
As a densely wooded region, Wahkiakum County was an abundant source for logging companies. Logs were easily transported by water, although that transport relied on seasonal changes infreshets. When timber nearest the water had been felled, loggers had to rely on oxen, and then on railroads. The first logging train began operating in 1892, established bySimon Benson.[5]: 42–44
Many trees were also felled by immigrants to clear land for farming. By 1912, there were approximately 140 farms in the region, primarily dairy farms. The first cooperative creamery on the west coast was organized in 1898 in Skamokawa.[5]: 59 The first chapter in Wahkiakum County of theNational Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry was organized in 1901.[5]: 67
The earliest periodicals in the area included theCathlamet Gazette (1889), theSkamokawa Eagle (1891) which continues to be the county's official newspaper, andthe Timberman (1899).[5]: 6–7
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 287 square miles (740 km2), of which 263 square miles (680 km2) is land and 24 square miles (62 km2) (8.3%) is water.[6] It is the smallest county of Washington by total area and the third-smallest by land area, afterSan Juan County andIsland County, which are mostly water by area.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 42 | — | |
| 1870 | 270 | 542.9% | |
| 1880 | 1,598 | 491.9% | |
| 1890 | 2,526 | 58.1% | |
| 1900 | 2,819 | 11.6% | |
| 1910 | 3,285 | 16.5% | |
| 1920 | 3,472 | 5.7% | |
| 1930 | 3,862 | 11.2% | |
| 1940 | 4,286 | 11.0% | |
| 1950 | 3,835 | −10.5% | |
| 1960 | 3,426 | −10.7% | |
| 1970 | 3,592 | 4.8% | |
| 1980 | 3,832 | 6.7% | |
| 1990 | 3,327 | −13.2% | |
| 2000 | 3,824 | 14.9% | |
| 2010 | 3,978 | 4.0% | |
| 2020 | 4,422 | 11.2% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 4,800 | [7] | 8.5% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10] 1990–2000[11] 2010–2020[1] | |||
Wahkiakum County has one of the lowest population of any county in Washington state. Its population of 4,422 is 0.2% the size of the population of Washington's largest county, King.
The county has the second highestdivorce rate of any Washington county, behindLincoln County.[12]
As of the2010 census, there were 3,978 people, 1,737 households, and 1,187 families living in the county.[13] The population density was 15.1 people per square mile (5.8 people/km2). There were 2,067 housing units at an average density of 7.8 units per square mile (3.0 units/km2).[14] The racial makeup of the county was 94.0% white, 1.3% American Indian, 0.6% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.2% Pacific islander, 0.7% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.7% of the population.[13] In terms of ancestry, 19.8% wereNorwegian, 19.3% wereGerman, 13.3% wereEnglish, 9.6% wereAmerican, 8.5% wereSwedish, and 6.8% wereIrish.[15]
Of the 1,737 households, 21.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.7% were non-families, and 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.69. The median age was 52.3 years.[13]
The median income for a household in the county was $40,372 and the median income for a family was $47,266. Males had a median income of $44,779 versus $36,111 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,115. About 7.1% of families and 12.2% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 14.5% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.[16]
As of the2000 census, there were 3,824 people, 1,553 households, and 1,108 families living in the county. Thepopulation density was 14 people per square mile (5.4 people/km2). There were 1,792 housing units at an average density of 7 units per square mile (2.7 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.46%White, 0.26%Black orAfrican American, 1.57%Native American, 0.47%Asian, 0.08%Pacific Islander, 1.65% fromother races, and 2.51% from two or more races. 2.56% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 18.7% were ofGerman, 13.1%Norwegian, 10.6%United States or American, 9.1%English, 7.7%Irish, 6.5%Swedish, and 5.9%Finnish ancestry. 96.7% spokeEnglish and 2.5%Spanish as a first language.
There were 1,553 households, out of which 26.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.40% weremarried couples living together, 6.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 24.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.40% under the age of 18, 5.30% from 18 to 24, 22.20% from 25 to 44, 30.60% from 45 to 64, and 18.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 100.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,444, and themedian income for a family was $47,604. Males had a median income of $37,123 versus $27,938 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $19,063. About 5.90% of families and 8.10% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 11.00% of those under age 18 and 2.70% of those age 65 or over.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1892 | 239 | 46.23% | 225 | 43.52% | 53 | 10.25% |
| 1896 | 290 | 42.09% | 396 | 57.47% | 3 | 0.44% |
| 1900 | 396 | 61.78% | 207 | 32.29% | 38 | 5.93% |
| 1904 | 473 | 72.88% | 101 | 15.56% | 75 | 11.56% |
| 1908 | 485 | 70.80% | 150 | 21.90% | 50 | 7.30% |
| 1912 | 282 | 31.90% | 185 | 20.93% | 417 | 47.17% |
| 1916 | 490 | 52.07% | 340 | 36.13% | 111 | 11.80% |
| 1920 | 494 | 57.64% | 164 | 19.14% | 199 | 23.22% |
| 1924 | 496 | 60.49% | 89 | 10.85% | 235 | 28.66% |
| 1928 | 578 | 59.28% | 382 | 39.18% | 15 | 1.54% |
| 1932 | 442 | 32.40% | 730 | 53.52% | 192 | 14.08% |
| 1936 | 419 | 26.47% | 1,098 | 69.36% | 66 | 4.17% |
| 1940 | 642 | 35.18% | 1,164 | 63.78% | 19 | 1.04% |
| 1944 | 532 | 34.43% | 1,003 | 64.92% | 10 | 0.65% |
| 1948 | 622 | 38.95% | 877 | 54.92% | 98 | 6.14% |
| 1952 | 815 | 46.31% | 928 | 52.73% | 17 | 0.97% |
| 1956 | 808 | 45.73% | 953 | 53.93% | 6 | 0.34% |
| 1960 | 796 | 46.23% | 923 | 53.60% | 3 | 0.17% |
| 1964 | 446 | 27.46% | 1,175 | 72.35% | 3 | 0.18% |
| 1968 | 641 | 38.27% | 899 | 53.67% | 135 | 8.06% |
| 1972 | 818 | 47.39% | 796 | 46.12% | 112 | 6.49% |
| 1976 | 704 | 41.17% | 942 | 55.09% | 64 | 3.74% |
| 1980 | 828 | 46.57% | 751 | 42.24% | 199 | 11.19% |
| 1984 | 776 | 44.62% | 930 | 53.48% | 33 | 1.90% |
| 1988 | 629 | 38.68% | 961 | 59.10% | 36 | 2.21% |
| 1992 | 488 | 27.17% | 696 | 38.75% | 612 | 34.08% |
| 1996 | 619 | 33.71% | 924 | 50.33% | 293 | 15.96% |
| 2000 | 1,033 | 52.36% | 803 | 40.70% | 137 | 6.94% |
| 2004 | 1,171 | 52.39% | 1,021 | 45.68% | 43 | 1.92% |
| 2008 | 1,105 | 47.92% | 1,121 | 48.61% | 80 | 3.47% |
| 2012 | 1,119 | 48.38% | 1,094 | 47.30% | 100 | 4.32% |
| 2016 | 1,344 | 55.33% | 832 | 34.25% | 253 | 10.42% |
| 2020 | 1,741 | 58.40% | 1,165 | 39.08% | 75 | 2.52% |
| 2024 | 1,757 | 57.38% | 1,204 | 39.32% | 101 | 3.30% |
In the 2016 Presidential election,Donald Trump won the county overHillary Clinton by a decisive margin – 55.3% to 34.3%.[18] It is generally a swing county in presidential elections. From 1932 to 1996, it voted Democratic all but twice, but since 2000 it has voted Republican all but once.
Media related toWahkiakum County, Washington at Wikimedia CommonsPlaces adjacent to Wahkiakum County, Washington | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||
Municipalities and communities ofWahkiakum County, Washington,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Town |  | |
| CDPs | ||
| Other communities | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
