Clark County, Washington
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Clark County, Washington | |
| Map | |
 Location in the state of Washington |
|
| Statistics | |
| Formed | August 20, 1845 |
|---|---|
| Seat | Vancouver |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
1,700 km² (656 mi²) 1,627 km² (628 mi²) 72 km² (28 mi²), 4.27% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
345,238 212/km² |
| Website: www.clark.wa.gov | |
Clark County is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Washington, across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon.
Clark County was the first county of Washington, named after William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It was created by the provisional government of Oregon Territory on August 20, 1845, and at that time covered the entire present-day state.[1]
As of 2004, the population was 392,403. The county seat is at Vancouver, which is also the county's largest city.
Contents |
[edit] History
Clark County began as the District of Vancouver on July 27, 1844. It included all the land north of the Columbia River, west of the Rocky Mountains, and south of Alaska. In 1845 the provisional government changed its name to Vancouver County. At that time it stretched from the Columbia River to 54 degrees 40 minutes North Latitude in British Columbia. On June 15, 1846 the United States Senate approved the present boundary between the U.S. and Canada at the 49th Parallel.
On August 13, 1848, President Polk signed an act creating the entire region as the Oregon Territory. On September 3, 1849, the Oregon Territorial Legislature modified the borders again and changed its name to Clark County, which included all of present day Washington. It continued to be divided and subdivided until reaching its present area in 1880.
In September 1902 the Yacolt Burn, the largest fire in state history, began in neighboring Skamania County and swept west along a 12 mile front to Yacolt, nearly engulfing the town. Salvaging the remaining timber was a lucrative industry for a time.
[edit] Politics
Clark County typically votes for the Republican Party by small margins. Clark County voted for both George W. Bush and losing Republican Senate candidate George Nethercutt in 2004.
Unlike the Seattle suburbs, Vancouver's suburbs oftentimes lean conservative. Battle Ground was the only western Washington suburb to give George W. Bush more than 60 percent of the vote in 2004, besides the extremely affluent Seattle suburb of Hunts Point. Most of northern Clark County also voted heavily for Bush, offsetting some significant victories for John Kerry in Vancouver and the unincorporated communities around it.
Clark County's location in the Portland media market oftentimes results in the county voting differently on initiatives than the rest of the state. In addition, unlike the fairly socially liberal Seattle suburbs, Clark County is apt to vote for some types of socially conservative legislation (such as against legalising marijuana), which is seen as not appealing to family voters in the area.
[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,700 km² (656 mi²). 1,627 km² (628 mi²) of it is land and 72 km² (28 mi²) of it (4.27%) is water.
Clark County is surrounded on two sides by the Columbia River and on the north by the North Fork of the Lewis River. The East Fork of the Lewis River and the Washougal River cut across the county. The largest stream arising solely within the county is Salmon Creek.
The central and southwest areas of the county consist of a generally flat floodplain sculpted by torrents of prehistoric Lake Missoula after an ice dam was melted, forming a series of low steps such as the "Heights", "Mill Plain", "Fourth Plain" and "Fifth Plain". Many lakes border the river in the lowlands near Ridgefield, including Vancouver Lake. Eastern and northern Clark County contain forested foothills of the Cascade Mountains, rising to an elevation of 4,000 feet on the border with Skamania County.
[edit] Geographic features
- Cascade Mountains
- Columbia River
- Vancouver Lake
- Lacamas Lake
- Battleground Lake
- Moulton Falls
- Lucia Falls
- Larch Mountain
- Silver Star Mountain
[edit] Major highways
- Interstate 5
- Interstate 205
- Washington State Route 14
- Washington State Route 500
- Washington State Route 503
[edit] Adjacent counties
- Cowlitz County, Washington - north
- Skamania County, Washington - east
- Multnomah County, Oregon - south
- Columbia County, Oregon - southwest
[edit] Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 345,238 people, 127,208 households, and 90,953 families residing in the county. The population density was 212/km² (550/mi²). There were 134,030 housing units at an average density of 82/km² (213/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.82% White, 1.68% Black or African American, 0.84% Native American, 3.21% Asian, 0.37% Pacific Islander, 1.99% from other races, and 3.08% from two or more races. 4.71% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 127,208 households out of which 37.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.80% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.50% were non-families. 21.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the county, the population was spread out with 28.70% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 30.80% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 9.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 98.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $48,376, and the median income for a family was $54,016. Males had a median income of $41,337 versus $28,537 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,448. About 6.90% of families and 9.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.70% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Census-recognized communities
- Amboy
- Barberton
- Battle Ground
- Brush Prairie
- Camas
- Cherry Grove
- Dollar Corner
- Felida
- Five Corners
- Hazel Dell, which the United States Census Bureau keeps data on in two separate sections:
- Hockinson
- La Center
- Lake Shore
- Lewisville
- Meadow Glade
- Mill Plain
- Minnehaha
- Mount Vista
- Orchards
- Ridgefield
- Salmon Creek
- Vancouver
- Venersborg
- Walnut Grove
- Washougal
- Woodland
- Yacolt
