Douglas County, Washington

Douglas County
County
County Courthouse
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Washington
Washington's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 47°44′N119°41′W / 47.74°N 119.69°W / 47.74; -119.69
Country	United States
State	Washington
Founded	November 28, 1883
Named for	Stephen A. Douglas
Seat	Waterville
Largest city	East Wenatchee
Area
• Total	1,849 sq mi (4,790 km2)
• Land	1,819 sq mi (4,710 km2)
• Water	29 sq mi (80 km2)  1.6%
Population  (2020)
• Total	42,938
• Estimate  (2023)	44,798
• Density	22/sq mi (8/km2)
Time zone	UTC−8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (PDT)
Congressional districts	4th, 8th
Website	douglascountywa.net

Douglas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, its population was 42,938. ^[1] The county seat is Waterville, ^[2] while its largest settlement is East Wenatchee. The county was created out of Lincoln County on November 28, 1883 ^[3] and is named for American statesman Stephen A. Douglas.

Douglas County is part of the Wenatchee, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,849 square miles (4,790 km²), of which 1,819 square miles (4,710 km²) is land and 29 square miles (75 km²) (1.6%) is water. ^[4]

Geographic features

• Columbia River

Major highways

• U.S. Route 2
• U.S. Route 97

Adjacent counties

• Okanogan County – north
• Grant County – south
• Kittitas County – southwest
• Chelan County – west

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	3,161		—
1900	4,926		55.8%
1910	9,227		87.3%
1920	9,392		1.8%
1930	7,561		−19.5%
1940	8,651		14.4%
1950	10,817		25.0%
1960	14,890		37.7%
1970	16,787		12.7%
1980	22,144		31.9%
1990	26,205		18.3%
2000	32,603		24.4%
2010	38,431		17.9%
2020	42,938		11.7%
2023 (est.)	44,798	[5]	4.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [6] 1790–1960 [7] 1900–1990 [8] 1990–2000 [9] 2010–2020 [1]

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 38,431 people, 13,894 households, and 10,240 families living in the county. ^[10] The population density was 21.1 inhabitants per square mile (8.1/km²). There were 16,004 housing units at an average density of 8.8 units per square mile (3.4 units/km²). ^[11] The racial makeup of the county was 79.6% White, 1.1% American Indian, 0.7% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 15.6% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 28.7% of the population. ^[10] In terms of ancestry, 20.2% were German, 11.2% were English, 9.4% were Irish, 6.0% were Norwegian, and 5.0% were American. ^[12]

Of the 13,894 households, 37.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 26.3% were non-families, and 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.18. The median age was 36.8 years. ^[10]

The median income for a household in the county was $48,708 and the median income for a family was $55,766. Males had a median income of $39,991 versus $31,706 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,359. About 10.2% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.0% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over. ^[13]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 32,603 people, 11,726 households, and 8,876 families living in the county. The population density was 18 people per square mile (6.9 people/km²). There were 12,944 housing units at an average density of 7 units per square mile (2.7 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 84.65% White, 0.31% Black or African American, 1.09% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 10.83% from other races, and 2.48% from two or more races. 19.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.0% were of German, 10.0% English, 9.3% United States or American and 7.8% Irish ancestry. 81.5% spoke English, and 17.7% Spanish as their first language.

There were 11,726 households, out of which 38.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.60% were married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.30% were non-families. 20.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 29.50% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 12.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,464, and the median income for a family was $43,777. Males had a median income of $35,917 versus $24,794 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,148. About 11.20% of families and 14.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.00% of those under age 18 and 6.90% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Truck driving through Douglas County on Route 2

Cities

• Bridgeport
• East Wenatchee
• Rock Island

Towns

• Coulee Dam (partial)
• Mansfield
• Waterville (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

• Leahy
• Orondo
• Douglas
• Palisades
• Withrow
• Beebe ^[a]

Ghost Towns

• Alstown
• Farmer
• Saint Andrews
• Touhery

Politics

Federally, Douglas County is represented primarily by Dan Newhouse (R) of the 4th while parts of East Wenatchee have been siphoned off into the 8th, represented by Democrat Kim Schrier. It is one of the most strongly Republican counties in the state in presidential elections, and has not voted for a Democratic candidate since 1964, in Lyndon B. Johnson's rout of Barry Goldwater.

United States presidential election results for Douglas County, Washington ^[16]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	13,095	61.82%	7,410	34.98%	677	3.20%
2020	12,955	60.80%	7,811	36.66%	542	2.54%
2016	9,603	60.39%	4,918	30.93%	1,380	8.68%
2012	9,425	62.58%	5,166	34.30%	469	3.11%
2008	9,098	59.52%	5,848	38.26%	339	2.22%
2004	8,900	66.56%	4,306	32.20%	166	1.24%
2000	8,512	66.22%	3,822	29.73%	521	4.05%
1996	5,682	52.01%	3,913	35.82%	1,330	12.17%
1992	4,920	44.53%	3,731	33.77%	2,397	21.70%
1988	5,378	58.16%	3,760	40.66%	109	1.18%
1984	6,443	66.44%	3,127	32.24%	128	1.32%
1980	5,171	59.38%	2,833	32.53%	705	8.10%
1976	4,547	53.09%	3,809	44.48%	208	2.43%
1972	4,512	60.31%	2,420	32.35%	549	7.34%
1968	3,234	48.52%	2,764	41.47%	667	10.01%
1964	2,643	41.45%	3,728	58.47%	5	0.08%
1960	3,241	51.07%	3,087	48.64%	18	0.28%
1956	2,602	46.09%	3,034	53.75%	9	0.16%
1952	2,954	55.43%	2,361	44.30%	14	0.26%
1948	1,703	42.23%	2,251	55.81%	79	1.96%
1944	1,809	49.36%	1,832	49.99%	24	0.65%
1940	1,959	49.33%	1,972	49.66%	40	1.01%
1936	1,025	29.75%	2,290	66.47%	130	3.77%
1932	1,179	35.07%	1,941	57.73%	242	7.20%
1928	1,760	66.34%	862	32.49%	31	1.17%
1924	1,070	42.19%	398	15.69%	1,068	42.11%
1920	1,587	57.86%	918	33.47%	238	8.68%
1916	1,125	34.95%	1,916	59.52%	178	5.53%
1912	642	20.16%	1,357	42.61%	1,186	37.24%
1908	1,942	52.20%	1,540	41.40%	238	6.40%
1904	1,722	71.30%	577	23.89%	116	4.80%
1900	516	44.44%	615	52.97%	30	2.58%
1896	334	31.01%	733	68.06%	10	0.93%
1892	345	37.70%	253	27.65%	317	34.64%

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Douglas County, Washington
• Mansfield Branch (Great Northern Railway)

Notes

1. The community was named after James Beebe, a businessperson in the agriculture industry. ^[14] A post office called Beebe was established in 1912, and remained in operation until 1942. ^[15]

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "Milestones for Washington State History — Part 2: 1851 to 1900". HistoryLink.org. March 6, 2003.
4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
5. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 26, 2015. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
10. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
11. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
12. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
13. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
14. Meany, Edmond S. (1923). Origin of Washington geographic names. Seattle: University of Washington Press. p. 16.
15. "Post Offices". Jim Forte Postal History. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
16. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 6, 2018.

Further reading

• An illustrated history of the Big Bend country : embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams, and Franklin counties, state of Washington. Western Historical Pub. Co. 1904. Available online through the Washington State Library's Classics in Washington History collection

External links

• Douglas County – official website
• Douglas County photos

47°44′N119°41′W / 47.74°N 119.69°W / 47.74; -119.69