| Skagit County, Washington | ||
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Location in the state of Washington |
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Washington's location in the U.S. |
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| Founded | November 28, 1883 | |
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| Seat | Mount Vernon | |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
1,920 sq mi (4,973 km²) 1,735 sq mi (4,494 km²) 185 sq mi (479 km²), 9.65% |
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| Population - (2010) - Density |
116,901 67/sq mi (26/km²) |
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| Website | www.skagitcounty.net | |
Skagit County ( /ˈskædʒɨt/) is a county in the U.S. state of Washington. It is named after the Skagit Indian tribe. As of 2010, the population was 116,901.[1] It is included in the Mount Vernon-Anacortes, Washington, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county seat is at Mount Vernon, which is also the county's largest city.
Skagit County was formed out of Whatcom County on November 28, 1883.[2]
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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,920 square miles (5,000 km2), of which 1,735 square miles (4,490 km2) is land and 185 square miles (480 km2) (9.65%) is water. Also Skagit is a river valley.
| Historical populations | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 8,747 |
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| 1900 | 14,272 | 63.2% | |
| 1910 | 29,241 | 104.9% | |
| 1920 | 33,373 | 14.1% | |
| 1930 | 35,142 | 5.3% | |
| 1940 | 37,650 | 7.1% | |
| 1950 | 43,273 | 14.9% | |
| 1960 | 51,350 | 18.7% | |
| 1970 | 52,381 | 2.0% | |
| 1980 | 64,138 | 22.4% | |
| 1990 | 79,555 | 24.0% | |
| 2000 | 102,979 | 29.4% | |
| 2010 | 116,901 | 13.5% | |
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 102,979 people, 38,852 households, and 27,351 families residing in the county. The population density was 59 people per square mile (23/km²). There were 42,681 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 86.49% White, 0.44% Black or African American, 1.85% Native American, 1.49% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 7.17% from other races, and 2.40% from two or more races. 11.20% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 13.9% were of German, 11.2% English, 9.2% Norwegian, 8.2% Irish and 6.7% United States or American ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 38,852 households out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.60% were married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.60% were non-families. 23.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the county, the population was spread out with 26.30% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,381, and the median income for a family was $48,347. Males had a median income of $37,207 versus $26,123 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,256. About 7.90% of families and 11.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.50% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.
Skagit County's government is headed by three commissioners, in the system laid out in the state constitution for all counties without charters. Commissioners are "nominated" in the primary by their district, but then are elected in the general by a county-wide vote. Commissioners are therefore said to represent the entire county, not just their district.
The current Skagit County commissioners include Sharon Dillon, a Democrat from District 3, which encompasses Burlington east of Interstate 5, Sedro-Woolley, and the rest of eastern Skagit County; Ken Dahlstedt, a Democrat from District 2, which covers Mount Vernon, Conway, and south county; and Ron Wesen, a Republican from District 1, which includes Anacortes, La Conner, and that area of the county west of Interstate 5 and north of McLean Road.
In 2006, the Skagit County Marine Resources Committee commissioned a study to evaluate establishing one or more no-take marine reserves to protect rockfish and other groundfish from overfishing.[4]
Skagit Transit provides bus service in Skagit County. It also provides connections to Everett, Bellingham, Whidbey Island and Camano Island. Skagit Transit also operates the Guemes Island ferry linking Anacortes, Washington to Guemes Island.
| Whatcom County | ||||
| San Juan County | Okanogan County | |||
| Skagit County, Washington | ||||
| Island County | Snohomish County | Chelan County |
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