Spokane County, Washington

Spokane County, Washington

Spokane County Courthouse in January 2008

Seal
Map of Washington highlighting Spokane County
Location in the U.S. state of Washington
Map of the United States highlighting Washington
Washington's location in the U.S.
Founded January 29, 1858 and
October 30, 1879
Named for Spokane people
Seat Spokane
Largest city Spokane
Area
 • Total 1,781 sq mi (4,613 km2)
 • Land 1,764 sq mi (4,569 km2)
 • Water 17 sq mi (44 km2), 0.9%
Population (est.)
 • (2015) 490,945
 • Density 275/sq mi (106/km²)
Congressional district 5th
Time zone Pacific: UTC-8/-7
Website www.spokanecounty.org
Large Autunite specimen from the Daybreak Mine, Mount Kit Carson, Spokane County [1]

Spokane County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2010 census the population was 471,221, making it the fourth-most populous county in Washington state.[2] The largest city and county seat is Spokane,[3] the second largest city in the state, behind Seattle.

Spokane County was formed on January 29, 1858. It was annexed by Stevens County on January 19, 1864, and re-created on October 30, 1879.[4][5] It is named after the Spokane tribe.

Spokane County comprises the Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also part of the greater Spokane-Coeur d'Alene Combined Statistical Area that includes nearby Kootenai County, Idaho.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,781 square miles (4,610 km2), of which 1,764 square miles (4,570 km2) is land and 17 square miles (44 km2) (0.9%) is water.[6] The lowest point in the county is the Spokane River behind Long Lake Dam (boundary of Stevens County) at 1538 feet (468 m) above sea level. (There is virtually no change in elevation between the dam and the mouth of the Little Spokane River inside Riverside State Park.) The highest point in the county is the summit of Mount Spokane at 5883 feet (1793 m).

Rivers

Lakes and reservoirs

Summits and peaks

Notable parks

National protected area

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1860996—
18702,000100.8%
18804,262113.1%
189037,487779.6%
190057,54253.5%
1910139,404142.3%
1920141,2891.4%
1930150,4776.5%
1940164,6529.4%
1950221,56134.6%
1960278,33325.6%
1970287,4873.3%
1980341,83518.9%
1990361,3645.7%
2000417,93915.7%
2010471,22112.7%
Est. 2015490,945[7]4.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10]
1990–2000[11] 2010–2015[2]

2000 census

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 417,939 people, 163,611 households, and 106,019 families residing in the county. The population density was 237 inhabitants per square mile (92/km2). There were 175,005 housing units at an average density of 99 per square mile (38/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.62% White, 2.00% Black or African American, 1.40% Native American, 1.88% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 0.82% from other races, and 2.76% from two or more races. 2.77% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 22.0% were of German, 10.7% Irish, 9.9% English, 7.6% United States or American and 6.4% Norwegian ancestry.

There were 163,611 households out of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.90% were married couples living together, 11.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.20% were non-families. 28.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out with 25.70% under the age of 18, 10.60% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 96.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,308, and the median income for a family was $46,463. Males had a median income of $35,097 versus $25,526 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,233. About 8.30% of families and 12.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.20% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 471,221 people, 187,167 households, and 118,212 families residing in the county.[13] The population density was 267.2 inhabitants per square mile (103.2/km2). There were 201,434 housing units at an average density of 114.2 per square mile (44.1/km2).[14] The racial makeup of the county was 89.2% white, 2.1% Asian, 1.7% black or African American, 1.5% American Indian, 0.4% Pacific islander, 1.2% from other races, and 3.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.5% of the population.[13] In terms of ancestry, 27.0% were German, 15.4% were Irish, 13.5% were English, 6.9% were Norwegian, and 4.4% were American.[15]

Of the 187,167 households, 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.8% were non-families, and 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.99. The median age was 36.8 years.[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $47,250 and the median income for a family was $59,999. Males had a median income of $44,000 versus $33,878 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,127. About 9.1% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.0% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.[16]

Law and government

Spokane County vote
by party in presidential elections[17]
Year Republican Democratic
2016 48.2% 113,381 39.9% 93,738
2012 51.1% 115,285 45.3% 102,295
2008 49.0% 108,314 47.9% 105,786
2004 55.1% 111,606 43.2% 87,490
2000 51.9% 89,299 43.4% 74,604
1996 41.8% 66,628 45.0% 71,727
1992 35.5% 59,984 41.1% 69,526
1988 49.4% 68,787 49.2% 68,520
1984 59.0% 88,043 39.9% 59,620
1980 55.5% 78,096 35.0% 49,263
1976 53.4% 68,290 43.5% 55,660
1972 59.4% 74,320 35.4% 44,337
1968 47.6% 52,650 44.7% 49,423
1964 44.3% 49,387 55.6% 62,092
1960 51.6% 59,557 48.2% 55,553

Spokane County is governed by a partisan Board of County Commissioners, one from each of three districts. They run in a partisan primary election within their own district, then compete countywide in the general election. Other elected officials include the Sheriff, Auditor (who is also responsible for elections), Assessor, Treasurer, and Prosecutor, which are also partisan offices. Spokane County has an appointed Medical Examiner. The current commissioners for Spokane County are Josh Kerns, Shelly O'Quinn, and Al French, from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd county districts respectively.

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Spokane County, Washington.
  1. ↑ Autunite from Daybreak Mine at Mindat.org
  2. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. ↑ "Spokane County, Washington: Historical Dates and Maps". Archived from the original on 2007-12-14. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
  5. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  6. ↑ "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  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. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  11. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  12. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
  13. ↑ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
  14. ↑ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
  15. ↑ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
  16. ↑ http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/
 Stevens County Pend Oreille County Bonner County, Idaho
Lincoln County Kootenai County, Idaho
   Spokane County, Washington  
Whitman County Benewah County, Idaho

Coordinates: 47°37′N 117°24′W / 47.62°N 117.40°W / 47.62; -117.40

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