Grays Harbor County, Washington

Grays Harbor County, Washington

Grays Harbor County Courthouse
Map of Washington highlighting Grays Harbor County
Location in the U.S. state of Washington
Map of the United States highlighting Washington
Washington's location in the U.S.
Founded April 14, 1854
Named for Grays Harbor
Seat Montesano
Largest city Aberdeen
Area
 • Total 2,224 sq mi (5,760 km2)
 • Land 1,902 sq mi (4,926 km2)
 • Water 322 sq mi (834 km2), 14%
Population (est.)
 • (2015) 71,122
 • Density 37/sq mi (14/km²)
Congressional district 6th
Time zone Pacific: UTC-8/-7
Website www.co.grays-harbor.wa.us
Lake Quinault

Grays Harbor County is a county in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2010 census, the population was 72,797.[1] The county seat is Montesano,[2] and its largest city is Aberdeen. The county is named after a large estuarine bay near its southwestern corner. On May 7, 1792, Boston fur trader Robert Gray crossed the bar into the bay he called Bullfinch Harbor, but which later cartographers would label Chehalis Bay, and then Grays Harbor.[3]

The county, originally named Chehalis County, was formed out of Thurston County on April 14, 1854.[4] Its name was subsequently changed to Grays Harbor County by the Washington legislature,[5] effective June 9, 1915.[6] The name change helped eliminate confusion resulting from the fact that the city named Chehalis was in Lewis County.[3]

Grays Harbor County comprises the Aberdeen, WA Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,224 square miles (5,760 km2), of which 1,902 square miles (4,930 km2) is land and 322 square miles (830 km2) (14%) is water.[7]

Geographic features

State parks

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected areas


Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1860285—
187040140.7%
1880921129.7%
18909,249904.2%
190015,12463.5%
191035,590135.3%
192044,74525.7%
193059,98234.1%
194053,166−11.4%
195053,6440.9%
196054,4651.5%
197059,5539.3%
198066,31411.4%
199064,175−3.2%
200067,1944.7%
201072,7978.3%
Est. 201571,122[8]−2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11]
1990–2000[12] 2010–2015[1]

2000 census

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 67,194 people, 26,808 households, and 17,907 families residing in the county. The population density was 35 people per square mile (14/km²). There were 32,489 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.30% White, 0.34% Black or African American, 4.66% Native American, 1.22% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 2.27% from other races, and 3.10% from two or more races. 4.85% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.3% were of German, 11.9% United States or American, 9.9% English, 9.2% Irish, and 6.1% Norwegian ancestry. 94.1% spoke English and 3.9% Spanish as their first language.

There were 26,808 households out of which 30.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.70% were married couples living together, 11.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.20% were non-families. 26.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out with 25.70% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 15.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,160, and the median income for a family was $39,709. Males had a median income of $35,947 versus $24,262 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,799. 16.10% of the population and 11.90% of families were below the poverty line. 21.60% of those under the age of 18 and 9. 40% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 72,797 people, 28,579 households, and 18,493 families residing in the county.[14] The population density was 38.3 inhabitants per square mile (14.8/km2). There were 35,166 housing units at an average density of 18.5 per square mile (7.1/km2).[15] The racial makeup of the county was 84.9% white, 4.6% American Indian, 1.4% Asian, 1.1% black or African American, 0.3% Pacific islander, 3.9% from other races, and 3.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 8.6% of the population.[14] In terms of ancestry, 21.0% were German, 13.5% were Irish, 11.7% were English, 6.8% were Norwegian, and 4.2% were American.[16]

Of the 28,579 households, 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.3% were non-families, and 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.94. The median age was 41.9 years.[14]

The median income for a household in the county was $41,899 and the median income for a family was $49,745. Males had a median income of $42,998 versus $34,183 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,656. About 11.7% of families and 16.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.1% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.[17]

Politics

Grays Harbor County vote
by party in presidential elections[18]
Year Republican Democratic
2016 48.1% 14,044 41.1% 11,998
2012 41.2% 11,914 55.1% 15,960
2008 41.5% 12,104 56.0% 16,354
2004 46.1% 12,871 52.2% 14,583
2000 43.2% 11,225 51.2% 13,304
1996 29.1% 7,635 53.6% 14,082
1992 25.3% 6,904 46.3% 12,599
1988 37.9% 8,860 60.3% 14,097
1984 44.0% 11,286 54.7% 14,050
1980 40.2% 10,226 44.4% 11,290
1976 39.6% 9,464 56.4% 13,478
1972 45.6% 10,839 49.6% 11,786
1968 34.0% 7,720 59.4% 13,480
1964 24.9% 5,744 74.5% 17,145
1960 41.9% 10,067 57.4% 13,773

Grays Harbor County was one of the most consistently Democratic in the nation. Until 2016, last Republican Presidential candidate to carry the county was Herbert Hoover in 1928[19] and the last Republican gubernatorial candidate to carry the county was Daniel J. Evans in 1964.[20] However, Donald Trump carried the county in the 2016 Presidential Election.

In the United States House of Representatives Grays Harbor is part of Washington's 6th congressional district, which has a Cook Partisan Voting Index of D+5 and is represented by Derek Kilmer. In the Washington State Legislature it lies in the 19th, 24th, and 35th districts. In the Washington State Senate it is represented by Brian Hatfield, James Hargrove, and Tim Sheldon. In the Washington House of Representatives it is represented by Brian Blake, Fred Finn, Kathy Haig, Lynn Kessler, Dean Takko, and Kevin Van De Wege. All of these politicians are of the Democratic Party.[21]

Economy

The principal economic activities are

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Notable people

See also

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. ↑ "Statutes of the Territory of Washington, 1854, p. 472, An Act to Create the County of Chehalis" (PDF).
  4. ↑ "Statutes of Washington, 1915, chapter 77, SB 297" (PDF).
  5. ↑ "Statutes of Washington, 1915, Explanatory" (PDF).
  6. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 5, 2015.
  7. ↑ "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  12. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  13. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
  14. ↑ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
  15. ↑ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
  16. ↑ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
  17. ↑ http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/
  18. ↑ Geographie Electorale
  19. ↑ David Leip's Election Atlas
  20. ↑ Washington State Legislature district map
 Jefferson County Mason County
Pacific Ocean Thurston County
   Grays Harbor County, Washington  
Pacific County Lewis County

Coordinates: 47°09′N 123°50′W / 47.15°N 123.83°W / 47.15; -123.83

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