Whitman County, Washington | |
|---|---|
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 Location within the U.S. state ofWashington | |
 Washington's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:46°53′N117°31′W / 46.89°N 117.52°W /46.89; -117.52 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Washington |
| Founded | November 29, 1871 |
| Named after | Marcus Whitman |
| Seat | Colfax |
| Largest city | Pullman |
| Area | |
• Total | 2,178 sq mi (5,640 km2) |
| • Land | 2,159 sq mi (5,590 km2) |
| • Water | 19 sq mi (49 km2) 0.9% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 47,973 |
• Estimate (2024) | 48,399 |
| • Density | 22/sq mi (8.5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| Congressional district | 5th |
| Website | whitmancounty.org |
Whitman County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofWashington. As of the2020 census, the population was 47,973.[1] Thecounty seat isColfax,[2] and its largest city isPullman.
The county was formed fromStevens County in 1871.[3] It is named afterMarcus Whitman, aPresbyterianmissionary who, with his wife Narcissa, waskilled in 1847 by members of theCayusetribe.[4]
Whitman County comprises thePullman, WashingtonMetropolitan Statistical Area.
The area delineated by the future Washington state boundary began to be colonized at the start of the nineteenth century, both byAmericans and Canadians. However, the majority of Canadian exploration and interest in the land was due to the fur trade, whereas American settlers were principally seeking land for agriculture and cattle raising. TheTreaty of 1818 provided for dual control of this area by US and Canadian government officials. During this period, the future Washington Territory was divided into two administrative zones: Clark County and Lewis County (made official in 1845).
The dual-control concept was unwieldy and led to continual argument, and occasional conflict. The status of the Washington area was settled in 1846, when theOregon Treaty ceded the land south of North latitude 49 degrees to American control.
In 1854,Skamania County was split from the original Clark County. Also in 1854,Walla Walla County was split from the new Skamania County. In 1863,Stevens County was split from Walla Walla County, and in 1871, a portion of Stevens County was set off to form Whitman County. The 1871 shape of Whitman County was considerably larger than its present boundary, asAdams,Franklin, andLincoln counties were sectioned off from Whitman County in 1883. After that, Whitman County retained its shape, including through the period after Washington became the 42nd state of the Union in 1889.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,178 square miles (5,640 km2), of which 2,159 square miles (5,590 km2) is land and 19 square miles (49 km2) (0.9%) is water.[5] Whitman County is part of thePalouse, a wide and rolling prairie-like region of the middleColumbia basin.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 7,014 | — | |
| 1890 | 19,109 | 172.4% | |
| 1900 | 25,360 | 32.7% | |
| 1910 | 33,280 | 31.2% | |
| 1920 | 31,323 | −5.9% | |
| 1930 | 28,014 | −10.6% | |
| 1940 | 27,221 | −2.8% | |
| 1950 | 32,469 | 19.3% | |
| 1960 | 31,263 | −3.7% | |
| 1970 | 37,900 | 21.2% | |
| 1980 | 40,103 | 5.8% | |
| 1990 | 38,775 | −3.3% | |
| 2000 | 40,740 | 5.1% | |
| 2010 | 44,776 | 9.9% | |
| 2020 | 47,973 | 7.1% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 48,399 | [6] | 0.9% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9] 1990–2000[10] 2010–2020[1] | |||
As of the2010 census, there were 44,776 people, 17,468 households, and 8,130 families living in the county.[11] The population density was 20.7 people per square mile (8.0 people/km2). There were 19,323 housing units at an average density of 8.9 units per square mile (3.4 units/km2).[12] The racial makeup of the county was 84.6% white, 7.8% Asian, 1.7% black or African American, 0.7% American Indian, 0.2% Pacific islander, 1.4% from other races, and 3.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.6% of the population.[11] In terms of ancestry, 29.4% wereGerman, 14.5% wereEnglish, 13.4% wereIrish, 7.1% wereNorwegian, and 4.1% wereAmerican.[13]
Of the 17,468 households, 20.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.4% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 53.5% were non-families, and 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.86. The median age was 24.4 years.[11]
The median income for a household in the county was $36,368 and the median income for a family was $61,598. Males had a median income of $46,663 versus $34,496 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,506. About 10.7% of families and 27.6% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 13.3% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.[14]
As of the2000 census, there were 40,740 people, 15,257 households, and 8,055 families living in the county. Thepopulation density was 19 people per square mile (7.3 people/km2). There were 16,676 housing units at an average density of 8 units per square mile (3.1 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.07%White, 1.53%Black orAfrican American, 0.73%Native American, 5.55%Asian, 0.27%Pacific Islander, 1.22% fromother races, and 2.63% from two or more races. 2.99% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 21.9% were ofGerman, 9.8%English, 8.6%Irish, 8.3%United States or American and 6.6%Norwegian ancestry.
There were 15,257 households, out of which 24.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.20% weremarried couples living together, 6.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.20% were non-families. 29.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.10% 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 2.91.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 18.10% under the age of 18, 32.60% from 18 to 24, 24.00% from 25 to 44, 16.00% from 45 to 64, and 9.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 102.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,584, and the median income for a family was $44,830. Males had a median income of $33,381 versus $27,046 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $15,298. About 11.00% of families and 25.60% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 16.50% of those under age 18 and 5.50% of those age 65 or over.
Despite the county historically voting forRepublicans, Whitman County has a reputation as being far more socially liberal than other counties in Eastern Washington due to the presence ofWashington State University in Pullman. It is part ofWashington's 5th congressional district and is represented by RepublicanMichael Baumgartner. Quite conservative, rural Whitman was one of only three counties in the state to be won byBarry Goldwater in1964.Richard Nixon,Ronald Reagan,Bill Clinton, andGeorge W. Bush each won the county twice.
In2008,Barack Obama received 51.57% of the Whitman County vote.[15] In 2012, he received 46.9% of the vote, with Mitt Romney winning with a 49.7% plurality.[16] Whitman was the only county in eastern Washington to approve same-sex marriage via Referendum 74. It was the only county to vote in favor of Referendum 74 while voting for the Republican candidate for president. Whitman County voters also approved marijuana legalization via Initiative 502.
By 2016, the county was considered Democratic in regard to federal elections.Hillary Clinton won the county in 2016 and also voted forPatty Murray in 2016. However, RepublicanBill Bryant won this county over incumbent DemocratJay Inslee by a percentage point in theconcurrent gubernatorial election. In the 2020 elections, the majority of the county voted for DemocratJoe Biden for president and re-elected Inslee for governor. Both received majority of the county vote with Inslee becoming the first Democratic gubernatorial candidate to win a county inEastern Washington sinceGary Locke in2000. However, the county still votes Republican inU.S. House elections.[17]
In 2020, 52.9% of residents voted for Biden while 42.9% voted for Trump, a 10% margin for Biden.[18]
The county was one of two in Eastern Washington to vote for2018 Washington Initiative 1639, which strengthened gun laws, along with neighboringSpokane County.[19]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1892 | 2,131 | 37.33% | 2,061 | 36.10% | 1,517 | 26.57% |
| 1896 | 1,592 | 29.66% | 3,690 | 68.75% | 85 | 1.58% |
| 1900 | 2,366 | 42.52% | 2,826 | 50.78% | 373 | 6.70% |
| 1904 | 4,090 | 66.48% | 1,519 | 24.69% | 543 | 8.83% |
| 1908 | 3,376 | 52.60% | 2,386 | 37.18% | 656 | 10.22% |
| 1912 | 1,989 | 20.00% | 3,621 | 36.42% | 4,333 | 43.58% |
| 1916 | 4,933 | 43.84% | 5,888 | 52.33% | 430 | 3.82% |
| 1920 | 6,344 | 64.68% | 2,806 | 28.61% | 659 | 6.72% |
| 1924 | 4,960 | 52.12% | 1,745 | 18.34% | 2,811 | 29.54% |
| 1928 | 7,065 | 69.94% | 2,969 | 29.39% | 67 | 0.66% |
| 1932 | 4,727 | 42.93% | 5,945 | 53.99% | 339 | 3.08% |
| 1936 | 3,955 | 33.03% | 7,753 | 64.75% | 265 | 2.21% |
| 1940 | 6,356 | 49.66% | 6,351 | 49.62% | 92 | 0.72% |
| 1944 | 6,000 | 52.22% | 5,449 | 47.42% | 41 | 0.36% |
| 1948 | 6,411 | 50.32% | 6,015 | 47.21% | 314 | 2.46% |
| 1952 | 8,905 | 65.67% | 4,611 | 34.00% | 44 | 0.32% |
| 1956 | 8,572 | 63.81% | 4,854 | 36.13% | 8 | 0.06% |
| 1960 | 8,069 | 59.58% | 5,458 | 40.30% | 17 | 0.13% |
| 1964 | 6,765 | 49.97% | 6,760 | 49.93% | 13 | 0.10% |
| 1968 | 7,810 | 56.64% | 5,218 | 37.84% | 761 | 5.52% |
| 1972 | 9,548 | 58.70% | 6,248 | 38.41% | 470 | 2.89% |
| 1976 | 8,168 | 54.21% | 6,197 | 41.13% | 703 | 4.67% |
| 1980 | 8,636 | 50.73% | 5,726 | 33.63% | 2,662 | 15.64% |
| 1984 | 10,021 | 59.48% | 6,621 | 39.30% | 207 | 1.23% |
| 1988 | 7,680 | 50.09% | 7,403 | 48.28% | 250 | 1.63% |
| 1992 | 6,428 | 36.78% | 7,637 | 43.69% | 3,413 | 19.53% |
| 1996 | 6,734 | 42.37% | 7,262 | 45.69% | 1,899 | 11.95% |
| 2000 | 9,003 | 55.45% | 6,509 | 40.09% | 725 | 4.47% |
| 2004 | 9,397 | 52.17% | 8,287 | 46.01% | 328 | 1.82% |
| 2008 | 8,104 | 46.07% | 9,070 | 51.57% | 415 | 2.36% |
| 2012 | 8,507 | 49.26% | 8,037 | 46.54% | 726 | 4.20% |
| 2016 | 7,403 | 41.06% | 8,146 | 45.19% | 2,479 | 13.75% |
| 2020 | 9,067 | 42.92% | 11,184 | 52.94% | 875 | 4.14% |
| 2024 | 8,699 | 43.44% | 10,480 | 52.33% | 848 | 4.23% |
Whitman County has highly productiveagriculture. According toHeart of Washington, Whitman County produces morebarley,wheat, drypeas, andlentils than any other county in the United States.[22]
The county is also home toSchweitzer Engineering Laboratories in Pullman.
Pullman is home toWashington State University, the state'sland-grant university.
Places adjacent to Whitman County, Washington | |
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Municipalities and communities ofWhitman County, Washington,United States | ||
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