Cowlitz County, Washington

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Cowlitz County, Washington
Map
Location in the state of Washington
Washington's location in the U.S.
Statistics
Founded	April 21, 1854
Seat	Kelso
Area - Total - Land - Water	1,166 sq mi (3,020 km²) 1,139 sq mi (2,950 km²) 28 sq mi (73 km²), 2.37%
Population - (2000) - Density	92,948 83/sq mi (32/km²)
Website: www.co.cowlitz.wa.us

Cowlitz County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of July 2007 its population was 100,467^[1] It forms the Longview, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Cowlitz County. The county seat is at Kelso, and its largest city is Longview. Its name derives from a Cowlitz word meaning "seeker" (in a spiritual sense). It was formed on April 21, 1854.^[2]

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Cities
4 Other communities
5 References

[edit] Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,166 square miles (3,021 km²), of which, 1,139 square miles (2,949 km²) of it is land and 28 square miles (72 km²) of it (2.37%) is water.

[edit] Geographic features

[edit] Major highways

Interstate 5

[edit] Adjacent counties

[edit] National protected areas

Gifford Pinchot National Forest (part)
Mount St. Helens Volcanic National Monument (part)

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 92,948 people, 35,850 households, and 25,059 families residing in the county. The population density was 82 people per square mile (32/km²). There were 38,624 housing units at an average density of 34 per square mile (13/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.80% White, 0.52% Black or African American, 1.52% Native American, 1.30% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 2.11% from other races, and 2.62% from two or more races. 4.55% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.6% were of German, 11.2% United States or American, 10.4% English, 8.6% Irish and 7.0% Norwegian ancestry according to Census 2000. 94.6% spoke English and 3.5% Spanish as their first language.

There were 35,850 households out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.60% were married couples living together, 10.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out with 26.80% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,797, and the median income for a family was $46,532. Males had a median income of $40,378 versus $25,710 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,583. About 10.30% of families and 14.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.50% of those under age 18 and 6.60% of those age 65 or over.