Okanogan County, Washington

"Okanogan Valley" redirects here. For the Canadian region, see Okanagan.
Okanogan County, Washington

Okanogan County courthouse in Okanogan

Seal
Map of Washington highlighting Okanogan County
Location in the state of Washington
Map of the United States highlighting Washington
Washington's location in the U.S.
Founded February 22, 1888
Named for Okanagan people
Seat Okanogan
Largest city Omak
Area
 • Total 5,315 sq mi (13,766 km2)
 • Land 5,268 sq mi (13,644 km2)
 • Water 47 sq mi (122 km2), 0.9%
Population (est.)
 • (2014) 41,290
 • Density 7.8/sq mi (3/km²)
Congressional district 4th
Time zone Pacific: UTC-8/-7
Website okanogancounty.org

Okanogan County /ˌoʊkəˈnɒɡən/ is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2010 census, the population was 41,120.[1] The county seat is Okanogan,[2] while the largest city is Omak. In area, it is the largest county in the state.[3]

Approximately 20 percent of residents live in the Greater Omak Area. The county forms a portion of the Okanogan Country. The first county seat was Ruby, Washington, which has now been a ghost town for more than 100 years.

Okanogan County was formed out of Stevens County on February 2, 1888.[4] The name derives from the Okanagan language place name ukʷnaqín.[5] The name Okanogan (Okanagan) also refers to the region that encompasses part of southern British Columbia.

History

Several hundreds of years before Europeans arrived, the area that became Okanogan County was home to numerous indigenous peoples that would eventually become part of three Indian reservations referred to as the Northern Okanogans or Sinkaietk, Tokoratums, Kartars and Konkonelps. They spoke in seven types of Interior Salish languages related to the Puget Sound tribes. The Okanogans experienced a favorable climate, having camped in the winter, hunting bears in the spring, catch fish in the summer and hunt deer in fall. The camps consisted of teepee-like longhouses built with hides and bark. A popular destination for this was the Kettle Falls also situated in Washington where the Columbia River dropped over 20 feet (6.1 m). Meanwhile, women gathered several pieces of nuts, roots and berries.

Due to its remoteness, the area that became Okanogan County was one of the last in Washington settled by white people. It was an early thoroughfare used by prospectors to gain access to other communities, some of which contain gold fields in what is now known as British Columbia, a province in Western Canada. By the 21st century, the region specialized in agriculture, forestry and tourism. Electric producer Grand Coulee Dam was constructed between 1933 and 1942, originally with two power plants, around the Okanogan and Grant counties at the former's southern border.[6]

In July 2014, the Carlton Complex wildfire burned over 250,000 acres (390 sq mi; 1,000 km2) in Okanogan County. It destroyed over 300 homes[7] including 100 in and around Pateros.[8]

Geography

Landscape near Winthrop, Washington

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 5,315 square miles (13,770 km2), of which 5,268 square miles (13,640 km2) is land and 47 square miles (120 km2) (0.9%) is water.[9] It is the largest county in the state by area, and it is larger than three states in land area.

Geographic features

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18901,467—
19004,689219.6%
191012,887174.8%
192017,09432.6%
193018,5198.3%
194024,54632.5%
195029,13118.7%
196025,520−12.4%
197025,8671.4%
198030,63918.4%
199033,3508.8%
200039,56418.6%
201041,1203.9%
Est. 201441,290[10]0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790–1960[12] 1900–1990[13]
1990–2000[14] 2010–2014[1]

As of the census[15] of 2000, there were 39,564 people, 15,027 households, and 10,579 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3/km²). There were 19,085 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 75.32% White, 0.28% Black or African American, 11.47% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 9.58% from other races, and 2.84% from two or more races. 14.38% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 14.0% were of German, 9.5% English, 9.2% United States or American and 6.8% Irish ancestry.

There were 15,027 households out of which 33.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.40% were married couples living together, 11.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.60% were non-families. 24.50% 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 2.58 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county, the population was spread out with 27.70% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 25.50% from 25 to 44, 25.50% from 45 to 64, and 14.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 99.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,726, and the median income for a family was $35,012. Males had a median income of $29,495 versus $22,005 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,900. About 16.00% of families and 21.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.20% of those under age 18 and 10.40% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Landscape near Okanogan, Washington

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Okanogan County, Washington.

Further reading

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Wilma, David (January 21, 2006). "Okanogan County — Thumbnail History". HistoryLink.org.
  4. ↑ "Washington State Archives – Central Regional Branch: Guide to Holdings: Okanogan County". Retrieved 2007-12-31.
  5. ↑ Bright, William (2004). Native American placenames of the United States. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 346. ISBN 978-0-8061-3598-4. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  6. ↑ Thumbnail History. HistoryLink. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Fire’s updated toll: 300 homes, ‘horrifying’ devastation". Seattle Times. 26 July 2014. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  8. ↑ Geranios, Nicholas K.; Johnson, Gene (2014-07-19). "Damage from Washington Wildfires 'Hard to Believe'". The Associated Press (Boston.com). Archived from the original on 2014-07-19.
  9. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  11. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  15. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
Fraser Valley Regional District Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District of Kootenay Boundary
 
 
Whatcom County
Skagit County    Okanogan County     Ferry County
Chelan County Douglas County
Grant County		 Lincoln County

Coordinates: 48°33′N 119°45′W / 48.55°N 119.75°W / 48.55; -119.75

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