Pacific County, Washington

This article is about Pacific County, Washington. For the city in King and Pierce counties, see Pacific, Washington.

Pacific County
County
Pacific County Courthouse, South Bend
Location within the U.S. state of Washington
Washington's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 46°34′N123°47′W / 46.56°N 123.78°W / 46.56; -123.78
Country	United States
State	Washington
Founded	February 4, 1851
Named for	Pacific Ocean
Seat	South Bend
Largest city	Raymond
Area
• Total	1,223 sq mi (3,170 km2)
• Land	933 sq mi (2,420 km2)
• Water	291 sq mi (750 km2)  24%
Population  (2020)
• Total	23,365
• Estimate  (2023)	24,200
• Density	19/sq mi (7/km2)
Time zone	UTC−8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (PDT)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	www.co.pacific.wa.us

Pacific County is a county in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, the population was 23,365. ^[1] Its county seat is South Bend, ^[2] and its largest city is Raymond. The county was formed by the government of Oregon Territory in February 1851 ^[3] and is named for the Pacific Ocean.

Pacific County is centered on Willapa Bay, a region that provides twenty-five percent of the United States oyster harvest, ^[4] although forestry, fishing, and tourism are also significant elements of the county's economy.

History

The area that is now Pacific County was part of Oregon Territory in the first part of the nineteenth century. On December 19, 1845, the Provisional Government of Oregon created two counties (Vancouver and Clark) in its northern portion (which is now the state of Washington). In 1849, the name of Vancouver County was changed to Lewis County, and on February 4, 1851, a portion of Lewis County was partitioned off to become Pacific County. The county's boundaries have not changed since its creation. Pacific City was the first county seat, when it was annexed by the US military, the county seat was transferred to Chinookville. The unincorporated community of Oysterville, established in 1852, was the third county seat. The county records were stolen from Oysterville and ferried across Willapa Harbor by residents of South Bend, resulting in that town becoming the new county seat in 1893.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has an area of 1,223 square miles (3,170 km²), of which 933 square miles (2,420 km²) is land and 291 square miles (750 km²) (24%) is water. ^[5]

Geographic features

• Cape Disappointment
• Columbia River
• Long Beach Peninsula
• Long Island
• Willapa Bay

Major highways

• U.S. Route 101
• State Route 6

Adjacent counties

• Grays Harbor County – north
• Lewis County – east
• Wahkiakum County – southeast
• Clatsop County, Oregon – south

National protected areas

• Lewis and Clark National Historical Park (part)
• Willapa National Wildlife Refuge

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	420		—
1870	738		75.7%
1880	1,645		122.9%
1890	4,358		164.9%
1900	5,983		37.3%
1910	12,532		109.5%
1920	14,891		18.8%
1930	14,970		0.5%
1940	15,928		6.4%
1950	16,558		4.0%
1960	14,674		−11.4%
1970	15,796		7.6%
1980	17,237		9.1%
1990	18,882		9.5%
2000	20,984		11.1%
2010	20,920		−0.3%
2020	23,365		11.7%
2023 (est.)	24,200	[6]	3.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [7] 1790–1960 [8] 1900–1990 [9] 1990–2000 [10] 2010–2020 [1]

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 20,920 people, 9,499 households, and 5,707 families living in the county. ^[11] The population density was 22.4 inhabitants per square mile (8.6/km²). There were 15,547 housing units at an average density of 16.7 per square mile (6.4/km²). ^[12] The racial makeup of the county was 87.4% white, 2.3% American Indian, 2.0% Asian, 0.4% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 4.4% from other races, and 3.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 8.0% of the population. ^[11] In terms of ancestry, 23.4% were German, 13.8% were English, 11.9% were Irish, 7.6% were American, 6.2% were Norwegian, and 5.8% were Swedish. ^[13]

Of the 9,499 households, 20.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 39.9% were non-families, and 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.72. The median age was 50.8 years. ^[11]

The median income for a household in the county was $39,642 and the median income for a family was $51,450. Males had a median income of $44,775 versus $34,538 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,326. About 12.4% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.4% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over. ^[14]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 20,984 people, 9,096 households, and 5,885 families living in the county. The population density was 22 people per square mile (8.5 people/km²). There were 13,991 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile (5.8/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.54% White, 0.20% Black or African American, 2.44% Native American, 2.08% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 1.83% from other races, and 2.82% from two or more races. 5.01% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.0% were of German, 10.8% English, 8.8% Irish and 8.6% United States or American ancestry.

There were 9,096 households, out of which 23.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.10% were married couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.30% were non-families. 29.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.40% under the age of 18, 6.00% from 18 to 24, 21.20% from 25 to 44, 28.90% from 45 to 64, and 22.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,209, and the median income for a family was $39,302. Males had a median income of $33,892 versus $22,982 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,322. About 9.10% of families and 14.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.70% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Pacific County, along with neighboring Grays Harbor County, were among the most consistently Democratic counties in the nation. In 2016, however, the county, like Grays Harbor County, broke its long streak of backing the Democratic candidate for president, voting for the Republican candidate. The county backed Trump again in 2020, voting for a losing Republican for the first time since 1916. However, the county nearly voted for losing Democrat Kamala Harris in 2024, reverting back to its Democratic past.

United States presidential election results for Pacific County, Washington ^{[15] [16]}

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	7,010	49.21%	6,825	47.91%	409	2.87%
2020	6,953	49.44%	6,794	48.31%	317	2.25%
2016	5,360	48.85%	4,620	42.11%	992	9.04%
2012	4,499	42.30%	5,711	53.69%	426	4.01%
2008	4,555	41.20%	6,094	55.12%	406	3.67%
2004	4,634	44.43%	5,570	53.40%	227	2.18%
2000	4,042	42.46%	4,895	51.42%	582	6.11%
1996	2,598	28.51%	5,095	55.92%	1,418	15.56%
1992	2,243	24.24%	4,587	49.58%	2,422	26.18%
1988	3,073	37.48%	5,017	61.18%	110	1.34%
1984	3,613	42.90%	4,679	55.56%	129	1.53%
1980	3,132	39.09%	3,727	46.52%	1,153	14.39%
1976	2,781	37.84%	4,278	58.20%	291	3.96%
1972	3,349	46.73%	3,585	50.03%	232	3.24%
1968	2,491	37.71%	3,740	56.62%	374	5.66%
1964	1,789	26.08%	5,056	73.70%	15	0.22%
1960	3,224	45.47%	3,837	54.12%	29	0.41%
1956	3,799	49.76%	3,824	50.09%	12	0.16%
1952	3,846	50.19%	3,778	49.30%	39	0.51%
1948	2,749	38.98%	3,902	55.33%	401	5.69%
1944	2,419	39.17%	3,745	60.64%	12	0.19%
1940	2,704	37.84%	4,393	61.48%	48	0.67%
1936	1,732	26.87%	4,395	68.17%	320	4.96%
1932	1,737	31.08%	3,099	55.46%	752	13.46%
1928	3,247	67.41%	1,523	31.62%	47	0.98%
1924	2,672	64.57%	501	12.11%	965	23.32%
1920	2,607	65.57%	874	21.98%	495	12.45%
1916	2,688	59.50%	1,537	34.02%	293	6.49%
1912	1,375	33.77%	971	23.85%	1,726	42.39%
1908	1,492	69.30%	483	22.43%	178	8.27%
1904	1,354	76.98%	258	14.67%	147	8.36%
1900	887	66.74%	393	29.57%	49	3.69%
1896	925	61.22%	562	37.19%	24	1.59%
1892	759	52.60%	559	38.74%	125	8.66%

Communities

Cities

• Ilwaco
• Long Beach
• Raymond
• South Bend (county seat)

Census-designated places

• Bay Center
• Chinook
• Lebam
• Naselle
• Ocean Park
• Tokeland
• Willapa

Unincorporated communities

• Dexter by the Sea
• Firdale
• Frances
• Holcomb
• Megler
• Menlo
• Nemah
• North Cove
• Oceanside
• Old Willapa
• Oysterville
• Pluvius
• Seaview
• Surfside

See also

• Ilwaco Railway and Navigation Company
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Pacific County, Washington
• Steamboats of Willapa Bay
• Astoria-Megler Ferry

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "Milestones for Washington State History — Part 2: 1851 to 1900". HistoryLink.org . March 6, 2003.
4. Chinook Observer, The Willapa Bay Oyster Industry: Shellfish is still No. 1 Archived July 20, 2018, at the Wayback Machine
5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
6. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
10. "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.
11. "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 6, 2016.
12. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
13. "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 6, 2016.
14. "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 6, 2016.
15. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
16. The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 1,251 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 382 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 82 votes, and Socialist Labor candidate Arthur Reimer received 11 votes.

External links

• Pacific County, official county site

Media related to Pacific County, Washington at Wikimedia Commons

46°34′N123°47′W / 46.56°N 123.78°W / 46.56; -123.78