Thurston County | |
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![]() Location within the U.S. state of Washington | |
![]() Washington's location within the U.S. | |
Coordinates: 46°56′N122°50′W / 46.93°N 122.83°W | |
Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
Founded | January 12, 1852 |
Named for | Samuel Thurston |
Seat | Olympia |
Largest city | Olympia |
Area | |
• Total | 774 sq mi (2,000 km2) |
• Land | 722 sq mi (1,870 km2) |
• Water | 52 sq mi (130 km2) 6.7%% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 294,793 |
• Estimate (2021) | 297,977 ![]() |
• Density | 368/sq mi (142/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
Congressional districts | 3rd, 10th |
Website | www |
Thurston County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, its population was 294,793. [1] The county seat and largest city is Olympia, [2] the state capital.
Thurston County was created out of Lewis County by the government of Oregon Territory on January 12, 1852. At that time, it covered all of the Puget Sound region and the Olympic Peninsula. On December 22 of the same year, Pierce, King, Island, and Jefferson counties were split off from Thurston County. [3] [4] It is named after Samuel R. Thurston, the Oregon Territory's first delegate to Congress. [5]
Thurston County comprises the Olympia-Tumwater, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area and is included in the Seattle-Tacoma, WA Combined Statistical Area.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 774 square miles (2,000 km2), of which 722 square miles (1,870 km2) is land and 52 square miles (130 km2) (6.7%) is water. [6]
Major watersheds: Black River, Budd/Deschutes, Chehalis River, Eld Inlet, Henderson Inlet, Nisqually River, Skookumchuck River, Totten Inlet and West Capitol Forest.
Historical population | |||
---|---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± | |
1860 | 1,507 | — | |
1870 | 2,246 | 49.0% | |
1880 | 3,270 | 45.6% | |
1890 | 9,675 | 195.9% | |
1900 | 9,927 | 2.6% | |
1910 | 17,581 | 77.1% | |
1920 | 22,366 | 27.2% | |
1930 | 31,351 | 40.2% | |
1940 | 37,285 | 18.9% | |
1950 | 44,884 | 20.4% | |
1960 | 55,049 | 22.6% | |
1970 | 76,894 | 39.7% | |
1980 | 124,264 | 61.6% | |
1990 | 161,238 | 29.8% | |
2000 | 207,355 | 28.6% | |
2010 | 252,264 | 21.7% | |
2020 | 294,793 | 16.9% | |
2021 (est.) | 297,977 | [7] | 1.1% |
U.S. Decennial Census [8] 1790–1960 [9] 1900–1990 [10] 1990–2000 [11] 2010–2020 [1] |
As of the census [12] of 2000, there were 207,355 people, 81,625 households and 54,933 families living in the county. The population density was 285 per square mile (110/km2). There were 86,652 housing units at an average density of 119 per square mile (46/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 85.66% White, 2.35% Black or African American, 1.52% Native American, 4.41% Asian, 0.52% Pacific Islander, 1.69% from other races, and 3.85% from two or more races. 4.53% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.1% were of German, 10.2% English, 9.8% Irish, 6.9% United States or American and 5.5% Norwegian ancestry.
There were 81,625 households, of which 33.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.10% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.70% were non-families. 25.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.99.
Age distribution was 25.30% under the age of 18, 9.30% from 18 to 24, 29.30% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.70 males.
The median household income was $46,975, and the median family income was $55,027. Males had a median income of $40,521 versus $30,368 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,415. About 5.80% of families and 8.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.80% of those under age 18 and 5.00% of those age 65 or over.
As of the 2010 census, there were 252,264 people, 100,650 households, and 66,161 families living in the county. [13] The population density was 349.4 inhabitants per square mile (134.9/km2). There were 108,182 housing units at an average density of 149.8 per square mile (57.8/km2). [14] The racial makeup of the county was 82.4% white, 5.2% Asian, 2.7% black or African American, 1.4% American Indian, 0.8% Pacific islander, 2.2% from other races, and 5.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 7.1% of the population. [13] In terms of ancestry, 21.2% were German, 13.4% were English, 13.2% were Irish, 5.0% were Norwegian, and 4.7% were American. [15]
Of the 100,650 households, 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.3% were non-families, and 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.95. The median age was 38.5 years. [13]
The median income for a household in the county was $60,930 and the median income for a family was $71,833. Males had a median income of $53,679 versus $41,248 for females. The per capita income for the county was $29,707. About 7.1% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.0% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over. [16]
School Districts in Thurston County:
Higher Education in Thurston County:
Thurston County leans Democratic. The county has consistently voted for the Democratic presidential candidate since 1988 and the candidates have consistently received majority of the vote in the county.
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 65,277 | 38.82% | 96,608 | 57.46% | 6,249 | 3.72% |
2016 | 48,624 | 36.23% | 68,798 | 51.27% | 16,769 | 12.50% |
2012 | 49,287 | 38.58% | 74,037 | 57.96% | 4,416 | 3.46% |
2008 | 48,366 | 37.97% | 75,882 | 59.57% | 3,142 | 2.47% |
2004 | 47,992 | 42.55% | 62,650 | 55.55% | 2,147 | 1.90% |
2000 | 39,924 | 40.98% | 50,467 | 51.80% | 7,031 | 7.22% |
1996 | 29,835 | 34.18% | 45,522 | 52.16% | 11,923 | 13.66% |
1992 | 25,643 | 30.32% | 38,293 | 45.28% | 20,633 | 24.40% |
1988 | 31,980 | 47.78% | 33,860 | 50.59% | 1,090 | 1.63% |
1984 | 34,442 | 55.51% | 26,840 | 43.26% | 763 | 1.23% |
1980 | 26,369 | 48.10% | 20,508 | 37.41% | 7,946 | 14.49% |
1976 | 21,000 | 47.67% | 21,247 | 48.23% | 1,809 | 4.11% |
1972 | 22,297 | 57.48% | 14,596 | 37.63% | 1,899 | 4.90% |
1968 | 13,742 | 45.06% | 14,228 | 46.65% | 2,529 | 8.29% |
1964 | 9,351 | 34.61% | 17,578 | 65.05% | 92 | 0.34% |
1960 | 13,921 | 54.37% | 11,620 | 45.38% | 65 | 0.25% |
1956 | 14,093 | 58.70% | 9,897 | 41.22% | 19 | 0.08% |
1952 | 13,904 | 58.32% | 9,764 | 40.96% | 172 | 0.72% |
1948 | 9,511 | 45.72% | 10,461 | 50.28% | 832 | 4.00% |
1944 | 7,900 | 44.47% | 9,708 | 54.64% | 158 | 0.89% |
1940 | 7,275 | 39.17% | 11,092 | 59.72% | 206 | 1.11% |
1936 | 4,425 | 28.05% | 10,647 | 67.49% | 703 | 4.46% |
1932 | 4,241 | 30.91% | 6,308 | 45.97% | 3,173 | 23.12% |
1928 | 7,203 | 69.59% | 3,013 | 29.11% | 135 | 1.30% |
1924 | 5,125 | 57.77% | 943 | 10.63% | 2,803 | 31.60% |
1920 | 3,899 | 52.77% | 1,367 | 18.50% | 2,122 | 28.72% |
1916 | 3,223 | 47.76% | 2,658 | 39.39% | 867 | 12.85% |
1912 | 1,937 | 30.69% | 1,456 | 23.07% | 2,918 | 46.24% |
1908 | 1,940 | 57.28% | 964 | 28.46% | 483 | 14.26% |
1904 | 2,121 | 68.51% | 668 | 21.58% | 307 | 9.92% |
1900 | 1,298 | 54.56% | 978 | 41.11% | 103 | 4.33% |
1896 | 1,052 | 42.27% | 1,415 | 56.85% | 22 | 0.88% |
1892 | 1,043 | 41.70% | 810 | 32.39% | 648 | 25.91% |
Olympia is the capital of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat and largest city of Thurston County. It is 60 miles (100 km) southwest of the state's most populous city, Seattle, and is a cultural center of the southern Puget Sound region.
Pierce County is a county in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, the population was 921,130, up from 795,225 in 2010, making it the second-most populous county in Washington, behind King County, and the 60th-most populous in the United States. The county seat and largest city is Tacoma. Formed out of Thurston County on December 22, 1852, by the legislature of Oregon Territory, it was named for U.S. President Franklin Pierce. Pierce County is in the Seattle metropolitan area.
Mason County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, the population was 65,726. The county seat and only incorporated city is Shelton. The county was formed out of Thurston County on March 13, 1854. Originally named Sawamish County, it took its present name in 1864 in honor of Charles H. Mason, the first Secretary of Washington Territory.
Lewis County is a county in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, the county's population was 82,149. The county seat is Chehalis, and its largest city is Centralia. Lewis County comprises the Centralia, WA Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Seattle-Tacoma, WA Combined Statistical Area.
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, the population was 32,977. The county seat and only incorporated city is Port Townsend. The county is named for Thomas Jefferson.
Thurston County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 6,940. Its county seat is Pender.
Jupiter Inlet Colony is a town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The population was 405 at the 2020 census.
Forest Township is a township in Becker County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 58 as of the 2000 census.
Two Inlets Township is a township in Becker County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 237 as of the 2000 census.
Inlet is a town in Hamilton County, New York, United States. The population was 333 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from its location at the eastern end (inlet) of Fourth Lake, part of the Fulton Chain of Lakes.
Ashford is a census-designated place (CDP) mostly within Pierce County, Washington, United States. Its population was 217 as of the 2010 census. The town is west of the main entrance to Mount Rainier National Park. Surrounding mountains and the narrow Nisqually River valley are heavily forested. Some of Ashford is across the Nisqually River in Lewis County.
Lacey is a city in Thurston County, Washington, United States. It is a suburb of Olympia with a population of 53,526 at the 2020 census. Lacey is located along Interstate 5 between Olympia and the Nisqually River, which marks the border with Pierce County and Joint Base Lewis–McChord.
The Nisqually Reservation, also known as Nisqually Indian Reservation is a federally recognized Indian reservation in Thurston County, Washington, United States. The population was 668 at the 2020 census.
North Yelm is a census-designated place (CDP) in Thurston County, Washington, United States. The population was 3,140 at the 2020 census.
Rainier is a city in Thurston County, Washington, United States. Beginning as a train stop in the 1870s, Rainier was first settled in 1890, and was officially incorporated in 1947. The population was 2,369 at the 2020 census.
Tanglewilde is a census-designated place (CDP) in Thurston County, Washington, United States, part of the Urban Growth Area of the city of Lacey. The population was 6,265 at the 2020 census.
Tenino is a city in Thurston County, Washington, United States. The population was 1,870 at the 2020 census.
Tumwater is a city in Thurston County, Washington, United States. The population was 25,350 at the 2020 census. It is situated near where the Deschutes River enters Budd Inlet, the southernmost point of Puget Sound; it also borders the state capital of Olympia to the north. Tumwater is the oldest permanent Anglo-American settlement on Puget Sound.
Yelm is a city in Thurston County, Washington, United States. Its population was 10,617 at the 2020 census. At the beginning of the 21st century, Yelm was the 10th fastest growing city in the state in regard to population.
State Route 510 (SR 510) is a state highway in Thurston County, Washington. The 13 miles (20.9 km) long highway extends southeast from an interchange with Interstate 5 (I-5) in Lacey to SR 507 in Yelm. SR 510 roughly parallels the Nisqually River, the border between Thurston and Pierce counties, between the Fort Lewis and Nisqually Indian Community area to Yelm.