Klickitat County, Washington

Klickitat County
County
Klickitat County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Washington
Washington's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 45°52′N120°47′W / 45.87°N 120.79°W / 45.87; -120.79
Country	United States
State	Washington
Founded	December 20, 1859
Named for	Klickitat Tribe
Seat	Goldendale
Largest city	Goldendale
Area
• Total	1,904 sq mi (4,930 km2)
• Land	1,871 sq mi (4,850 km2)
• Water	33 sq mi (90 km2)  1.7%
Population  (2020)
• Total	22,735
• Estimate  (2023)	23,589
• Density	11.6/sq mi (4.5/km2)
Time zone	UTC−8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (PDT)
Congressional district	4th
Website	www.klickitatcounty.org

Klickitat County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, the population was 22,735. ^[1] The county seat and largest city is Goldendale. ^[2] The county is named after the Klickitat tribe.

History

A replica of Stonehenge built by Samuel Hill as a monument to local men killed in World War I called Maryhill Stonehenge.

Klickitat County was created out of Walla Walla County on December 20, 1859. ^[3] Samuel Hill was an early promoter of the area, promoting better roads and building local landmarks such as a war memorial replica of Stonehenge (Maryhill Stonehenge) and a mansion that would become the Maryhill Museum of Art. The Sam Hill Memorial Bridge across the Columbia River is named after him.

Geography

Klickitat Log & Lumber train switching, 1964

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,904 square miles (4,930 km²), of which 1,871 square miles (4,850 km²) is land and 33 square miles (85 km²) (1.7%) is water. ^[4]

Geographic features

• Cascade Mountains
• Columbia River

Major highways

• U.S. Route 97
• State Route 14
• State Route 141
• State Route 142

Adjacent counties

• Yakima County - north
• Benton County - northeast
• Morrow County, Oregon - southeast
• Gilliam County, Oregon - southeast
• Sherman County, Oregon - south
• Hood River County, Oregon - southwest
• Wasco County, Oregon - southwest
• Skamania County - west

National protected areas

• Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge
• Gifford Pinchot National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	230		—
1870	329		43.0%
1880	4,055		1,132.5%
1890	5,167		27.4%
1900	6,407		24.0%
1910	10,180		58.9%
1920	9,268		−9.0%
1930	9,825		6.0%
1940	11,357		15.6%
1950	12,049		6.1%
1960	13,455		11.7%
1970	12,138		−9.8%
1980	15,822		30.4%
1990	16,616		5.0%
2000	19,161		15.3%
2010	20,318		6.0%
2020	22,735		11.9%
2023 (est.)	23,589	[5]	3.8%
U.S. Decennial Census [6] 1790–1960 [7] 1900–1990 [8] 1990–2000 [9] 2010–2020 [1]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 22,735 people and 9,332 households in the county. ^[10] The population density of the county was 12.1 people per square mile, which went up from 10.9 in 2010. The racial make up of the county was 92.8% White, 0.7% African American, 2.6% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, and 2.7% from two or more races. ^[10] Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 12% of the population.

18.7% of the population were under 18, and 4.6% were under 5. People who were over 65 represented 25.2% of the population. The gender make up of the county was 49% female and 51% male. ^[10]

The median household income in the county was $59,583, and the per capita income $34,529. 13.0% of the population in the county were under the poverty line. ^[10]

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 20,318 people, 8,327 households, and 5,626 families living in the county. ^[11] The population density was 10.9 inhabitants per square mile (4.2/km²). There were 9,786 housing units at an average density of 5.2 per square mile (2.0/km²). ^[12] The racial makeup of the county was 87.7% white, 2.4% American Indian, 0.6% Asian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 5.6% from other races, and 3.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 10.7% of the population. ^[11] In terms of ancestry, ^[13]

Of the 8,327 households, 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.4% were non-families, and 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.88. The median age was 45.3 years. ^[11]

The median income for a household in the county was $37,398 and the median income for a family was $46,012. Males had a median income of $43,588 versus $31,114 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,553. About 13.7% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.9% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over. ^[14]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 19,161 people, 7,473 households, and 5,305 families living in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile (3.9 people/km²). There were 8,633 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile (1.9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.56% White, 0.27% Black or African American, 3.47% Native American, 0.73% Asian, 0.21% Pacific Islander, 5.02% from other races, and 2.75% from two or more races. 7.81% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race. 17.7% were of German, 14.0% United States or American, 11.1% English and 9.6% Irish ancestry. 90.3% spoke English and 7.8% Spanish as their first language.

There were 7,473 households, out of which 32.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% were married couples living together, 9.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.00% were non-families. 23.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.99.

The age distribution was 27.10% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 27.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 99.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,267, and the median income for a family was $40,414. Males had a median income of $36,067 versus $21,922 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,502. About 12.60% of families and 17.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.50% of those under age 18 and 15.10% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

The Klickitat Valley

Cities

• Bingen
• Goldendale (county seat)
• White Salmon

Census-designated places

• Bickleton
• Centerville
• Dallesport
• Glenwood
• Klickitat
• Lyle
• Maryhill
• Roosevelt
• Trout Lake
• Wishram

Unincorporated communities

• Appleton
• Cleveland
• Husum
• Wahkiacus

Government and politics

Klickitat is located in Washington's 4th congressional district, which has a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R+11 and has been represented by Republican Dan Newhouse since 2015. In state government the county is part of the 14th district, represented by Gina Mosbrucker and Chris Corry in the Washington House of Representatives and Curtis King in the Washington State Senate. ^[15]

In presidential elections, Klickitat County has trended Republican in recent years. In 1988 Michael Dukakis narrowly won the county with 49.15% of the vote. ^[16] Richard Nixon (1960, 1972), Ronald Reagan, ^[17] Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush ^[18] all won the county twice. In 2008 Democrat Barack Obama won Klickitat County over Republican John McCain by only 21 votes or percentage wise 48.85% to 48.64%. In 2012 Republican candidate Mitt Romney won the county by a greater margin than in the previous election, with 51.74% of the vote compared to President Obama's 44.75%, ^[19] and Donald Trump doubled Romney's margin in 2016.

United States presidential election results for Klickitat County, Washington ^[20]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	7,178	52.75%	5,917	43.48%	512	3.76%
2020	7,237	53.37%	5,959	43.95%	364	2.68%
2016	5,789	52.28%	4,194	37.87%	1,091	9.85%
2012	5,316	51.16%	4,598	44.25%	477	4.59%
2008	4,944	48.64%	4,965	48.85%	255	2.51%
2004	5,016	54.23%	4,036	43.63%	198	2.14%
2000	4,557	55.70%	3,062	37.43%	562	6.87%
1996	2,662	37.68%	3,214	45.49%	1,189	16.83%
1992	2,085	30.44%	2,758	40.27%	2,006	29.29%
1988	2,920	47.98%	2,991	49.15%	175	2.88%
1984	3,910	57.87%	2,712	40.14%	135	2.00%
1980	3,113	49.54%	2,596	41.31%	575	9.15%
1976	2,573	44.99%	2,890	50.53%	256	4.48%
1972	3,061	54.20%	2,293	40.60%	294	5.21%
1968	2,355	45.52%	2,454	47.44%	364	7.04%
1964	1,850	32.60%	3,819	67.31%	5	0.09%
1960	2,836	50.69%	2,744	49.04%	15	0.27%
1956	2,794	51.94%	2,577	47.91%	8	0.15%
1952	2,845	56.78%	2,140	42.71%	26	0.52%
1948	1,951	45.88%	2,206	51.88%	95	2.23%
1944	1,980	47.98%	2,089	50.62%	58	1.41%
1940	2,139	44.62%	2,627	54.80%	28	0.58%
1936	1,190	30.53%	2,545	65.29%	163	4.18%
1932	1,335	36.65%	2,155	59.15%	153	4.20%
1928	1,936	65.43%	975	32.95%	48	1.62%
1924	1,482	52.72%	518	18.43%	811	28.85%
1920	1,649	59.38%	745	26.83%	383	13.79%
1916	1,570	48.17%	1,478	45.35%	211	6.47%
1912	1,163	33.62%	1,028	29.72%	1,268	36.66%
1908	1,245	61.12%	570	27.98%	222	10.90%
1904	1,370	70.65%	362	18.67%	207	10.68%
1900	906	61.01%	495	33.33%	84	5.66%
1896	876	54.92%	708	44.39%	11	0.69%
1892	616	47.02%	279	21.30%	415	31.68%

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Klickitat County, Washington

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 9, 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 7, 2015.
5. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 9, 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. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Klickitat County, Washington". www.census.gov. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
11. "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 13, 2016.
12. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
13. "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 13, 2016.
14. "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 13, 2016.
15. "House of Representatives Members, Districts, and Counties". Washington State Legislature. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
16. "1988 Presidential Election Statistics". uselectionatlas.org.
17. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections - Compare Maps". uselectionatlas.org.
18. The New York Times Electoral Map (Zoom in on Washington)
19. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections - State Data". uselectionatlas.org.
20. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 6, 2018.

External links

• Official County website
• Klickitat County, Washington at HistoryLink.org

45°52′N120°47′W / 45.87°N 120.79°W / 45.87; -120.79