Jump to content

Jefferson County, Washington

Coordinates:47°50′N123°35′W/ 47.84°N 123.58°W/47.84; -123.58
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jefferson County
Jefferson County Courthouse in Port Townsend
Jefferson County Courthouse in Port Townsend
Map of Washington highlighting Jefferson County
Location within the U.S. state ofWashington
Map of the United States highlighting Washington
Washington's location within theU.S.
Coordinates:47°50′N123°35′W/ 47.84°N 123.58°W/47.84; -123.58
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
FoundedDecember 22, 1852
Named forThomas Jefferson
SeatPort Townsend
Largest cityPort Townsend
Area
• Total2,183 sq mi (5,650 km2)
• Land1,804 sq mi (4,670 km2)
• Water379 sq mi (980 km2) 17%
Population
• Total32,977
• Estimate
(2022)
33,589Increase
• Density17/sq mi (7/km2)
Time zoneUTC−8(Pacific)
• Summer (DST)UTC−7(PDT)
Congressional district6th
Websitewww.co.jefferson.wa.us

Jefferson Countyis acountylocated in theU.S. stateofWashington.As of the2020 census,the population was 32,977.[1]Thecounty seatand only incorporated city isPort Townsend.[2]The county is named forThomas Jefferson.[3]

Jefferson County was formed out ofThurston Countyon December 22, 1852, by the legislature ofOregon Territory,[4]and included the northern 4,854-square-mile (12,571.8 km2) portion of theOlympic Peninsula.On April 26, 1854, the legislature ofWashington TerritorycreatedClallam Countyfrom the northwestern 2,670-square-mile (6,915.3 km2) portion of this original area.

TheHood Canal Bridgeconnects Jefferson County toKitsap County, Washington.The Coupeville-Port Townsendroute of theWashington State Ferriesconnects the county toWhidbey IslandinIsland County, Washington.

Geography[edit]

Ruby Beach, Kalaloch Area

According to theUnited States Census Bureau,the county has a total area of 2,183 square miles (5,650 km2), of which 1,804 square miles (4,670 km2) is land and 379 square miles (980 km2) (17%) is water.[5]

The county is split in three parts by its landforms:

Because of themountainous barrier,there is no road lying entirely within Jefferson County that connects the eastern and western parts. The most direct land route between the two ends of the county involves a drive of approximately 100 miles (160 km) alongU.S. Route 101through neighbouringClallam County.Themountainsalso block the dampChinook winds,which make the climate much wetter in the west than the so-called eastern "banana belt"in therain shadow.

Geographic features[edit]

Hoh River in theOlympic National Park

Major highways[edit]

Adjacent counties[edit]

National protected areas[edit]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1860531
18701,268138.8%
18801,71235.0%
18908,368388.8%
19005,712−31.7%
19108,33746.0%
19206,557−21.4%
19308,34627.3%
19408,9186.9%
195011,61830.3%
19609,639−17.0%
197010,66110.6%
198015,96549.8%
199020,14626.2%
200025,95328.8%
201029,87215.1%
202032,97710.4%
2022 (est.)33,589[6]1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8]1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10]2010–2020[1]

2010 census[edit]

As of the2010 census,there were 29,872 people, 14,049 households, and 8,394 families living in the county.[11]The population density was 16.6 inhabitants per square mile (6.4/km2). There were 17,767 housing units at an average density of 9.9 per square mile (3.8/km2).[12]The racial makeup of the county was 91.0% white, 2.3% American Indian, 1.6% Asian, 0.8% black or African American, 0.2% Pacific islander, 0.7% from other races, and 3.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.8% of the population.[11]In terms of ancestry, 20.8% wereEnglish,20.3% wereGerman,13.9% wereIrish,8.3% wereNorwegian,5.9% wereScottish,and 4.2% wereAmerican.[13]

Of the 14,049 households, 18.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 40.3% were non-families, and 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.57. The median age was 53.9 years.[11]

The median income for a household in the county was $46,048 and the median income for a family was $59,964. Males had a median income of $45,616 versus $29,508 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,528. About 8.9% of families and 13.5% of the population were below thepoverty line,including 20.8% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.[14]

2000 census[edit]

As of the2000 census,there were 25,953 people, 11,645 households, and 7,580 families living in the county. Thepopulation densitywas 14 people per square mile (5.4 people/km2). There were 14,144 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3.1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.17%White,0.42%BlackorAfrican American,2.31%Native American,1.19%Asian,0.13%Pacific Islander,0.76% fromother races,and 3.02% from two or more races. 2.06% of the population wereHispanicorLatinoof any race. 17.4% were ofGerman,14.8%English,9.9%Irishand 7.5%Norwegianancestry. 97.1% spokeEnglishand 1.0%Spanishas their first language.

There were 11,645 households, out of which 23.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.60% weremarried couplesliving together, 8.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.90% were non-families. 28.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.67.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 19.80% under the age of 18, 5.00% from 18 to 24, 21.60% from 25 to 44, 32.50% from 45 to 64, and 21.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 95.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,869, and the median income for a family was $45,415. Males had a median income of $37,210 versus $25,831 for females. Theper capita incomefor the county was $22,211. About 7.20% of families and 11.30% of the population were below thepoverty line,including 16.60% of those under age 18 and 6.00% of those age 65 or over.

Politics[edit]

Port Townsend Bay as seen from a ferry
US Route 101 in Jefferson County

Jefferson County is a dominantDemocraticarea, with Democrats having carried the county in every election cycle sinceRonald Reagan's landslide victory in1980.In 2016, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton won the county 60.62% to Donald Trump's 28.91%.[15]As of 2020it is located inWashington's 6th congressional districtand in the 24th ofWashington state legislative districts.

Because of thebarrier dividing the county,the populations and economies differ between the eastern and western halves of Jefferson County. The contrasts are notable as the west portion is more dependent onlogging,somewhat less prosperous, and having fewer people for roughly the same area. Areas of East Jefferson County located south of Port Townsend remain largely rural and can be divided into two parts, those communities located on the Hood Canal and those on the Admiralty Inlet. Perennial discussions and attempts to separate the west half from the east half gained little support during the twentieth century.

The county seat, Port Townsend, casts a significant number of votes and gave Obama 82% of its votes in the 2012 General Election (source: www.wa.gov). Areas outside of Port Townsend (such as Cape George) gave Obama 2-to-1 victory margins. Democrats also do well in many of the small towns of northern Jefferson County, with strong Democratic leans in Coyle, Discovery Bay, Gardiner, and Nordland, as well as in the towns just southeast of Port Townsend such as Chimacum,Irondale,Kala Point,and Port Hadlock. Democrats also perform strongly in the sparsely populated western part of the county, where much of the population is Native American.

Republicans tend to win victories in several parts of the county, particularly the rural areas in the southeast part of the county including Center, Crocker Lake, Brinnon, and Quilcene. Although it has trended Democratic in recent years, Port Ludlow — an affluent area that casts a notable number of votes — still has a Republican lean.

United States presidential election results for Jefferson County, Washington[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 6,931 27.96% 17,204 69.39% 657 2.65%
2016 6,037 28.91% 12,656 60.62% 2,186 10.47%
2012 6,405 32.09% 12,739 63.82% 817 4.09%
2008 6,330 31.46% 13,252 65.85% 541 2.69%
2004 6,650 35.66% 11,610 62.25% 390 2.09%
2000 6,095 38.50% 8,281 52.30% 1,457 9.20%
1996 4,607 32.63% 7,145 50.61% 2,367 16.76%
1992 3,467 26.79% 6,148 47.50% 3,327 25.71%
1988 4,184 43.42% 5,270 54.69% 182 1.89%
1984 4,543 48.67% 4,602 49.30% 189 2.02%
1980 3,645 44.61% 3,279 40.13% 1,246 15.25%
1976 2,794 45.86% 2,913 47.82% 385 6.32%
1972 2,770 53.49% 2,096 40.47% 313 6.04%
1968 1,827 40.55% 2,251 49.97% 427 9.48%
1964 1,432 32.14% 3,012 67.59% 12 0.27%
1960 2,103 48.83% 2,197 51.01% 7 0.16%
1956 2,300 56.69% 1,750 43.14% 7 0.17%
1952 2,355 54.70% 1,933 44.90% 17 0.39%
1948 1,610 43.80% 1,911 51.99% 155 4.22%
1944 1,415 43.38% 1,829 56.07% 18 0.55%
1940 1,540 42.13% 2,083 56.99% 32 0.88%
1936 1,063 31.04% 2,279 66.54% 83 2.42%
1932 952 29.14% 1,994 61.03% 321 9.83%
1928 1,472 63.83% 810 35.13% 24 1.04%
1924 913 51.79% 143 8.11% 707 40.10%
1920 1,128 61.57% 322 17.58% 382 20.85%
1916 1,094 51.80% 861 40.77% 157 7.43%
1912 636 27.34% 642 27.60% 1,048 45.06%
1908 859 63.16% 417 30.66% 84 6.18%
1904 962 73.60% 283 21.65% 62 4.74%
1900 684 61.73% 392 35.38% 32 2.89%
1896 704 56.32% 536 42.88% 10 0.80%
1892 610 43.85% 665 47.81% 116 8.34%

Economy[edit]

The largest private employer in Jefferson County is the Port Townsend Paper Mill.[17]The largest employer overall (private and public) isJefferson Healthcare,which operatesJefferson Healthcare Hospital.[18]

Communities[edit]

Port TownsendandAdmiralty Inlet

City[edit]

Census-designated places[edit]

Unincorporated communities[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ab"State & County QuickFacts".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedOctober 31,2023.
  2. ^"Find a County".National Association of Counties. Archived fromthe originalon May 31, 2011.RetrievedJune 7,2011.
  3. ^Gannett, Henry (1905).The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States.Govt. Print. Off. pp.168.
  4. ^Reinartz, Kay."History of King County Government 1853–2002"(PDF).p. 2. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on March 25, 2009.RetrievedDecember 28,2007.
  5. ^"2010 Census Gazetteer Files".United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012.RetrievedJuly 5,2015.
  6. ^"Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedOctober 31,2023.
  7. ^"U.S. Decennial Census".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedJanuary 7,2014.
  8. ^"Historical Census Browser".University of Virginia Library.RetrievedJanuary 7,2014.
  9. ^"Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedJanuary 7,2014.
  10. ^"Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000"(PDF).United States Census Bureau. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on February 26, 2015.RetrievedJanuary 7,2014.
  11. ^abc"DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data".United States Census Bureau.Archived fromthe originalon February 13, 2020.RetrievedMarch 6,2016.
  12. ^"Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County".United States Census Bureau.Archived fromthe originalon February 13, 2020.RetrievedMarch 6,2016.
  13. ^"DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates".United States Census Bureau.Archived fromthe originalon February 13, 2020.RetrievedMarch 6,2016.
  14. ^"DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates".United States Census Bureau.Archived fromthe originalon February 13, 2020.RetrievedMarch 6,2016.
  15. ^Leip, David."Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".uselectionatlas.org.RetrievedApril 6,2018.
  16. ^"Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".uselectionatlas.org.RetrievedDecember 10,2018.
  17. ^McClary, Daryl C."Jefferson County – Thumbnail History".History Ink.RetrievedJuly 7,2012.
  18. ^Bermant, Charlie (September 14, 2010)."Hospital's new CEO highest paid public official in Jefferson County".The Peninsula Daily News.RetrievedJuly 7,2012.

External links[edit]

47°50′N123°35′W/ 47.84°N 123.58°W/47.84; -123.58