Jefferson County, Washington
Jefferson County | |
---|---|
Coordinates:47°50′N123°35′W/ 47.84°N 123.58°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Washington |
Founded | December 22, 1852 |
Named for | Thomas Jefferson |
Seat | Port Townsend |
Largest city | Port Townsend |
Area | |
• Total | 2,183 sq mi (5,650 km2) |
• Land | 1,804 sq mi (4,670 km2) |
• Water | 379 sq mi (980 km2) 17% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 32,977 |
• Estimate (2022) | 33,589 |
• Density | 17/sq mi (7/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−8(Pacific) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−7(PDT) |
Congressional district | 6th |
Website | www |
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]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:
- Eastern Jefferson County along theStrait of Juan de Fuca,Admiralty Inlet,Puget Sound,and theHood Canal
- Central Jefferson County, which is uninhabited and lies in theOlympic MountainswithinOlympic National ParkandOlympic National Forest
- Western Jefferson County, along thePacific Ocean.
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]- Admiralty Inlet
- Bolton Peninsula
- Destruction Island
- Discovery Bay
- Hood Canal
- Mount Olympus,the highest point on the Olympic Peninsula
- Olympic Mountains
- Olympic Peninsula
- Pacific Ocean
- Point Wilson
- Port Townsend Bay
- Protection Island
- Puget Sound
- Queets River
- Quimper Peninsula
- Strait of Juan de Fuca
- Toandos (Coyle) Peninsula
Major highways
[edit]Adjacent counties
[edit]- Island County– northeast
- Kitsap County– southeast
- Mason County– south/southeast
- Grays Harbor County– south/southwest
- Clallam County– northwest
- San Juan County– northeast
National protected areas
[edit]- Olympic National Forest(part)
- Olympic National Park(part)
- Protection Island National Wildlife Refuge
- Quillayute Needles National Wildlife Refuge(part)
- Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail(part)
Demographics
[edit]Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1860 | 531 | — | |
1870 | 1,268 | 138.8% | |
1880 | 1,712 | 35.0% | |
1890 | 8,368 | 388.8% | |
1900 | 5,712 | −31.7% | |
1910 | 8,337 | 46.0% | |
1920 | 6,557 | −21.4% | |
1930 | 8,346 | 27.3% | |
1940 | 8,918 | 6.9% | |
1950 | 11,618 | 30.3% | |
1960 | 9,639 | −17.0% | |
1970 | 10,661 | 10.6% | |
1980 | 15,965 | 49.8% | |
1990 | 20,146 | 26.2% | |
2000 | 25,953 | 28.8% | |
2010 | 29,872 | 15.1% | |
2020 | 32,977 | 10.4% | |
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]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 2020[update]it 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.
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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]City
[edit]- Port Townsend(county seat)
Census-designated places
[edit]Unincorporated communities
[edit]See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ab"State & County QuickFacts".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedOctober 31,2023.
- ^"Find a County".National Association of Counties. Archived fromthe originalon May 31, 2011.RetrievedJune 7,2011.
- ^Gannett, Henry (1905).The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States.Govt. Print. Off. pp.168.
- ^Reinartz, Kay."History of King County Government 1853–2002"(PDF).p. 2. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on March 25, 2009.RetrievedDecember 28,2007.
- ^"2010 Census Gazetteer Files".United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012.RetrievedJuly 5,2015.
- ^"Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedOctober 31,2023.
- ^"U.S. Decennial Census".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedJanuary 7,2014.
- ^"Historical Census Browser".University of Virginia Library.RetrievedJanuary 7,2014.
- ^"Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedJanuary 7,2014.
- ^"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.
- ^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.
- ^"Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County".United States Census Bureau.Archived fromthe originalon February 13, 2020.RetrievedMarch 6,2016.
- ^"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.
- ^"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.
- ^Leip, David."Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".uselectionatlas.org.RetrievedApril 6,2018.
- ^"Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".uselectionatlas.org.RetrievedDecember 10,2018.
- ^McClary, Daryl C."Jefferson County – Thumbnail History".History Ink.RetrievedJuly 7,2012.
- ^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]- Geographic data related toJefferson County, WashingtonatOpenStreetMap
- Official Jefferson County Parks and Recreation Department WebsiteThe official government website for Jefferson County Parks and Recreation, a Division of Jefferson County Public Works Department.
- University of Washington Libraries Digital Collections – The Pacific Northwest Olympic Peninsula Community MuseumA web-based museum showcasing aspects of the rich history and culture of Washington State's Olympic Peninsula communities. Features cultural exhibits, curriculum packets and a searchable archive of over 12,000 items that includes historical photographs, audio recordings, videos, maps, diaries, reports and other documents.
- Jefferson County Official Website
- "Jefferson County Historical Society".This museum and research center maintains an online collection of 19,000 photographs and over 27,000 archival descriptions and catalog records. The society's mission is to discover, collect, preserve, and promote the heritage of Jefferson County.