Columbia County, Washington

Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,952,[1] making it the second-least populous county in Washington. The county seat and largest city is Dayton. The county was created out of Walla Walla County on November 11, 1875,[2] and is named after the Columbia River (which does not flow through the county). Columbia County is included in the Walla Walla, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

This article is about the county in the U.S. state of Washington. For Washington D.C.'s county, see Washington County, DC and District of Columbia County, DC.

Columbia County
County
Columbia County Courthouse in Dayton
Columbia County Courthouse in Dayton
Official seal of Columbia County
Seal
Map of Washington highlighting Columbia County
Location within the U.S. state of Washington
Map of the United States highlighting Washington
Washington's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 46°18′N 117°55′W
Country United States
State Washington
FoundedNovember 11, 1875
Named forColumbia River
SeatDayton
Largest cityDayton
Area
 • Total873 sq mi (2,260 km2)
 • Land869 sq mi (2,250 km2)
 • Water4.9 sq mi (13 km2)  0.6%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total3,952
 • Estimate 
(2021)
4,042 Increase
 • Density4.6/sq mi (1.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
Congressional district5th
Websitewww.columbiaco.com

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 873 square miles (2,260 km2), of which 869 square miles (2,250 km2) is land and 4.9 square miles (13 km2) (0.6%) is water.[3] It is part of the Palouse, a wide and rolling prairie-like region of the middle Columbia basin.

Geographic features

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18807,103—
18906,709−5.5%
19007,1286.2%
19107,042−1.2%
19206,093−13.5%
19305,325−12.6%
19405,5494.2%
19504,860−12.4%
19604,569−6.0%
19704,439−2.8%
19804,057−8.6%
19904,027−0.7%
20004,0640.9%
20104,0780.3%
20203,952−3.1%
2021 (est.)4,042[4]2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790–1960[6] 1900–1990[7]
1990–2000[8] 2010–2020[1]

2000 census

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 4,064 people, 1,687 households, and 1,138 families living in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile (1.9 people/km2). There were 2,018 housing units at an average density of 2 units per square mile (0.77 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.73% White, 0.22% Black or African American, 0.96% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.73% from other races, and 1.89% from two or more races. 6.35% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 19.6% were of German, 18.2% United States or American, 14.3% English and 8.3% Irish ancestry. 94.3% spoke English and 5.7% Spanish at home.

There were 1,687 households, out of which 27.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.00% were married couples living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.50% were non-families. 29.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.90% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 22.80% from 25 to 44, 27.70% from 45 to 64, and 18.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,500, and the median income for a family was $44,038. Males had a median income of $33,690 versus $21,367 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,374. About 8.60% of families and 12.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.90% of those under age 18 and 11.10% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 4,078 people, 1,762 households, and 1,156 families living in the county.[10] The population density was 4.7 inhabitants per square mile (1.8/km2). There were 2,136 housing units at an average density of 2.5 units per square mile (0.97 units/km2).[11] The racial makeup of the county was 93.0% white, 1.4% American Indian, 0.6% Asian, 0.3% Pacific islander, 0.3% black or African American, 1.7% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 6.2% of the population.[10] In terms of ancestry, 24.7% were German, 18.3% were English, 12.3% were Irish, and 7.0% were American.[12]

Of the 1,762 households, 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.4% were non-families, and 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.76. The median age was 48.3 years.[10]

The median income for a household in the county was $43,611 and the median income for a family was $53,452. Males had a median income of $45,000 versus $35,357 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,810. About 9.8% of families and 16.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.7% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.[13]

Communities
The Columbia County Courthouse in Dayton, one of the 20 NRHP-listed places in the county

City

Town

Unincorporated communities

Politics

Columbia County is one of the most conservative counties in Washington state. It has not been carried by a Democrat for President since Lyndon Johnson's 1964 landslide victory, and the last time it backed a Democrat for Governor was in 1936 when conservative Democrat Clarence D. Martin swept every county in the state.[14] Popular conservative Democratic Senator "Scoop" Jackson carried the county in four consecutive county sweeps (the last in 1982); since then, however, it has been powerfully Republican in those contests too.[15]

United States presidential election results for Columbia County, Washington[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 1,754 70.30% 668 26.77% 73 2.93%
2016 1,497 67.16% 526 23.60% 206 9.24%
2012 1,568 68.77% 645 28.29% 67 2.94%
2008 1,499 66.39% 686 30.38% 73 3.23%
2004 1,470 69.77% 605 28.71% 32 1.52%
2000 1,523 72.28% 515 24.44% 69 3.27%
1996 948 48.49% 743 38.01% 264 13.50%
1992 761 39.76% 668 34.90% 485 25.34%
1988 1,172 60.29% 730 37.55% 42 2.16%
1984 1,404 67.02% 673 32.12% 18 0.86%
1980 1,349 64.67% 587 28.14% 150 7.19%
1976 1,153 56.69% 829 40.76% 52 2.56%
1972 1,445 69.47% 533 25.63% 102 4.90%
1968 1,221 56.74% 754 35.04% 177 8.22%
1964 1,048 47.92% 1,138 52.03% 1 0.05%
1960 1,301 62.13% 793 37.87% 0 0.00%
1956 1,423 65.82% 739 34.18% 0 0.00%
1952 1,511 66.18% 765 33.51% 7 0.31%
1948 1,062 50.28% 1,015 48.06% 35 1.66%
1944 1,211 53.35% 1,039 45.77% 20 0.88%
1940 1,461 54.41% 1,218 45.36% 6 0.22%
1936 807 33.46% 1,391 57.67% 214 8.87%
1932 714 31.07% 1,491 64.88% 93 4.05%
1928 1,328 65.07% 689 33.76% 24 1.18%
1924 1,122 52.11% 522 24.25% 509 23.64%
1920 1,376 64.18% 662 30.88% 106 4.94%
1916 1,148 46.91% 1,164 47.57% 135 5.52%
1912 673 26.25% 855 33.35% 1,036 40.41%
1908 887 57.41% 585 37.86% 73 4.72%
1904 1,089 65.72% 482 29.09% 86 5.19%
1900 899 54.72% 706 42.97% 38 2.31%
1896 776 47.00% 862 52.21% 13 0.79%
1892 615 39.30% 672 42.94% 278 17.76%

Education

School districts including parts of the county are:[17]

  • Dayton School District
  • Pomeroy School District
  • Prescott School District
  • Starbuck School District
  • Waitsburg School District

The Columbia County Rural Library District operates a library in Dayton. People living in Dayton are in the library's taxation base, but not in the library's voting base; the voting area for the library only consists of unincorporated areas.[18] The library was established in 1919 as a small reading room while a women's civics club fundraised for a permanent building. The raised funds were transferred to the Dayton city government in 1935 and used to construct a public library in 1937 using New Deal funding; the building was later expanded in 1947.[19] It is the only public library in Columbia County. A November 2023 ballot measure proposes to close the rural library district, and therefore the library itself, entirely due to the placement and availability of children's books on racial issues and LGBT topics. The library collection would be received by the Washington State Library if the rural library district is dissolved.[18]

See also

Notes

    References
    1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
    2. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
    3. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". Retrieved April 8, 2022.
    4. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
    5. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
    6. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
    7. "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.
    8. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
    9. "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.
    10. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
    11. "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.
    12. "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.
    13. David Leip. "Gubernatorial General Election Map Comparison – Washington". Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas.
    14. David Leip. "Senatorial General Election Map Comparison – Washington". Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas.
    15. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
    16. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Columbia County, WA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved August 14, 2023. - Text list
    17. Gutman, David (August 13, 2023). "Book battles are raging nationwide. A WA library could be nation's first to close". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
    18. Smith, Kate (July 2, 2023). "Dayton Memorial Library through the years". Walla Walla Union-Bulletin. Retrieved August 14, 2023.

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