Skamania County, Washington

Skamania County, Washington
Skamania County Washington Courthouse
Map of Washington highlighting Skamania County
Location in the state of Washington
Map of the United States highlighting Washington
Washington's location in the U.S.
Founded March 9, 1854
Seat Stevenson
Largest settlement Carson River Valley
Area
 • Total 1,683 sq mi (4,359 km2)
 • Land 1,656 sq mi (4,289 km2)
 • Water 28 sq mi (73 km2), 1.7%
Population (Est.)
 • (2014) 11,340
 • Density 7/sq mi (2.6/km²)
Congressional district 3rd
Time zone Pacific: UTC-8/-7
Website www.skamaniacounty.org

Skamania County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2010 census, the population was 11,066.[1] The county seat and largest incorporated city is Stevenson,[2] although the Carson River Valley CDP is more populous. The county was founded in 1854 and derives its name from the Cascades Chinook word sk'mániak, meaning "swift waters".[3]

Skamania County is included in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Skamania County was formed on March 9, 1854.[4] On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,683 square miles (4,360 km2), of which 1,656 square miles (4,290 km2) is land and 28 square miles (73 km2) (1.7%) is water.[5] 90% of Skamania is forested and 80% is a part of Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

Geographic features

Major highways

Adjacent counties

 Lewis County Yakima County
Cowlitz County and Clark County Klickitat County
   Skamania County, Washington  
Multnomah County, Oregon Hood River County, Oregon

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1860173—
1870133−23.1%
1880809508.3%
1890774−4.3%
19001,688118.1%
19102,88771.0%
19202,357−18.4%
19302,89122.7%
19404,63360.3%
19504,7883.3%
19605,2078.8%
19705,84512.3%
19807,91935.5%
19908,2894.7%
20009,87219.1%
201011,06612.1%
Est. 201411,3402.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2014[1]

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 9,872 people, 3,755 households, and 2,756 families residing in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 4,576 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.11% White, 0.30% Black or African American, 2.20% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 2.43% from other races, and 2.25% from two or more races. 4.03% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.7% were of German, 12.5% English, 12.1% Irish, 11.2% United States or American and 5.2% Norwegian ancestry.

There were 3,755 households out of which 34.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.50% were married couples living together, 8.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.60% were non-families. 21.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out with 26.60% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 27.10% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 101.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,317, and the median income for a family was $44,586. Males had a median income of $36,732 versus $25,130 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,002. About 10.00% of families and 13.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.10% of those under age 18 and 7.90% of those age 65 or over.

There are more Seventh-day Adventists in Skamania County than members of any other religious group. Skamania County is the only county in the United States for which this is true.[11]

Recreation

Parks and other protected areas

There are many parks in Skamania County. Only a few have been listed. Please note that hunting Sasquatch is illegal in Skamania County under a 1969 ordinance.

County parks

State parks

Sites maintained by the US Forest Service

National protected areas

Communities

Cities

  1. 1,482 - Stevenson
  2. 961 - North Bonneville

2012 Estimate population[12]

Census-designated places

Other communities

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Bright, William (2004). Native American placenames of the United States. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 450. ISBN 978-0-8061-3598-4. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  4. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  5. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  9. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  10. ↑ http://www.valpo.edu/geomet/pics/geo200/religion/church_bodies.gif
  11. ↑ "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions: Washington". Population Census. United States Census Bureau. 2013-09-26. Retrieved 2013-09-26.

Coordinates: 46°02′N 121°55′W / 46.03°N 121.91°W