Columbia County, Washington

Columbia County, Washington
Columbia County Courthouse
Map of Washington highlighting Columbia County
Location in the state of Washington
Map of the United States highlighting Washington
Washington's location in the U.S.
Founded November 11, 1875
Named for Columbia River
Seat Dayton
Largest city Dayton
Area
 • Total 874 sq mi (2,264 km2)
 • Land 869 sq mi (2,251 km2)
 • Water 4.9 sq mi (13 km2), 0.6%
Population (Est.)
 • (2014) 3,985
 • Density 5/sq mi (2/km²)
Congressional district 5th
Time zone Pacific: UTC-8/-7
Website www.columbiaco.com

Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2010 census, the population was 4,078,[1] making it the third-least populous county in Washington. The county seat and largest city is Dayton.[2] The county was created out of Walla Walla County on November 11, 1875[3] and is named after the Columbia River.

Columbia County is included in the Walla Walla, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 874 square miles (2,260 km2), of which 869 square miles (2,250 km2) is land and 4.9 square miles (13 km2) (0.6%) is water.[2] It is part of the Palouse, a wide and rolling prairie-like region of the middle Columbia basin.

Geographic features

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18807,103—
18906,709−5.5%
19007,1286.2%
19107,042−1.2%
19206,093−13.5%
19305,325−12.6%
19405,5494.2%
19504,860−12.4%
19604,569−6.0%
19704,439−2.8%
19804,057−8.6%
19904,027−0.7%
20004,0640.9%
20104,0780.3%
Est. 20143,985−2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]
1790-1960[5] 1900-1990[6]
1990-2000[7] 2010-2014[1]

As of the 2010 census Columbia County had a population of 4,078. The ethnic and racial makeup of the population was 89.5% non-Hispanic whites, 0.3% African-American, 1.4% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 2.7% from two or more races, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino of any race and 1.7% non-Hispanics from some other race.[8]

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 4,064 people, 1,687 households, and 1,138 families residing in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 2,018 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.73% White, 0.22% Black or African American, 0.96% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.73% from other races, and 1.89% from two or more races. 6.35% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 19.6% were of German, 18.2% United States or American, 14.3% English and 8.3% Irish ancestry. 94.3% spoke English and 5.7% Spanish at home.

Columbia County courthouse

There were 1,687 households out of which 27.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.00% were married couples living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.50% were non-families. 29.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the county, the population was spread out with 23.90% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 22.80% from 25 to 44, 27.70% from 45 to 64, and 18.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,500, and the median income for a family was $44,038. Males had a median income of $33,690 versus $21,367 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,374. About 8.60% of families and 12.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.90% of those under age 18 and 11.10% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

  1. 2,473 - Dayton
  2. 127 - Starbuck

2012 Estimate population[10]

Other communities

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  3. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  7. ↑ 2010 census report for Columbia County, Washington
  8. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  9. ↑ "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions: Washington". Population Census. United States Census Bureau. 2013-09-25. Retrieved 2013-09-25.

Further reading

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Columbia County, Washington.
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Coordinates: 46°18′N 117°55′W / 46.30°N 117.92°W