Editing Douglas County, Washington

{{Short description|County in Washington, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
| county = Douglas County
| state = Washington
| seal = Douglas County wa seal.png
| flag = 
| founded year = 1883
| founded date = November 28
| seat wl = Waterville
| largest city wl = East Wenatchee
| area_total_sq_mi = 1849
| area_land_sq_mi = 1819
| area_water_sq_mi = 29
| area percentage = 1.6%
| population_as_of = 2020
| population_total = 42938
| pop_est_as_of = 2024
| population_est = 45795 {{increase}}
| density_sq_mi = 22
| time zone = Pacific
| ex image = Waterville-Douglas-County Court House IMG 1832.jpg
| ex image size = 250px
| ex image cap = County Courthouse
| district = 4th
| district2            = 8th
| named for = [[Stephen A. Douglas]]
| website = {{URL|https://www.douglascountywa.net/|douglascountywa.net}}
}}

'''Douglas County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Washington (state)|Washington]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], its population was 42,938.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/douglascountywashington/PST045223 |access-date=November 10, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Waterville, Washington|Waterville]],<ref name="GR6">{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> while its largest settlement is [[East Wenatchee, Washington|East Wenatchee]]. The county was created out of [[Lincoln County, Washington|Lincoln County]] on November 28, 1883<ref name="historylink">{{Cite web |date=March 6, 2003 |title=Milestones for Washington State History — Part 2: 1851 to 1900 |url=http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=5380 |publisher=[[HistoryLink.org]]}}</ref> and is named for [[United States|American]] [[wikt:statesman|statesman]] [[Stephen A. Douglas]].

Douglas County is part of the [[Wenatchee, Washington|Wenatchee]], WA [[Wenatchee-East Wenatchee metropolitan area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|1849|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1819|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|29|sqmi}} (1.6%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_53.txt |access-date=July 4, 2015 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

===Geographic features===
*[[Columbia River]]

===Major highways===
*[[File:US 2.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 2 (Washington)|U.S. Route 2]]
*[[File:US 97.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 97 (Washington)|U.S. Route 97]]

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Okanogan County, Washington|Okanogan County]] – north
*[[Grant County, Washington|Grant County]] – south
*[[Kittitas County, Washington|Kittitas County]] – southwest
*[[Chelan County, Washington|Chelan County]] – west

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1890= 3161
|1900= 4926
|1910= 9227
|1920= 9392
|1930= 7561
|1940= 8651
|1950= 10817
|1960= 14890
|1970= 16787
|1980= 22144
|1990= 26205
|2000= 32603
|2010= 38431
|2020= 42938
|estyear=2024
|estimate=45795
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 17, 2025}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=January 7, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=January 7, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/wa190090.txt |access-date=January 7, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226035610/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=February 26, 2015 |access-date=January 7, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="QF" />
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 38,431 people, 13,894 households, and 10,240 families living in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{Cite web |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US53017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213012216/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US53017 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=March 1, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|21.1|PD/sqmi}}. There were 16,004 housing units at an average density of {{convert|8.8|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}.<ref name="census-density">{{Cite web |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US53017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213192824/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US53017 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=March 1, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 79.6% White, 1.1% American Indian, 0.7% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 15.6% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 28.7% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1" /> In terms of ancestry, 20.2% were [[Germans|German]], 11.2% were [[English people|English]], 9.4% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 6.0% were [[Norwegians|Norwegian]], and 5.0% were [[Americans|American]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{Cite web |title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US53017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213030551/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US53017 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=March 1, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

Of the 13,894 households, 37.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 26.3% were non-families, and 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.18. The median age was 36.8 years.<ref name="census-dp1" />

The median income for a household in the county was $48,708 and the median income for a family was $55,766. Males had a median income of $39,991 versus $31,706 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,359. About 10.2% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 22.0% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{Cite web |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US53017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213022917/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US53017 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=March 1, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], there were 32,603 people, 11,726 households, and 8,876 families living in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|18|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 12,944 housing units at an average density of {{convert|7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 84.65% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.31% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 1.09% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.55% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.10% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 10.83% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.48% from two or more races. 19.73% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 18.0% were of [[German people|German]], 10.0% [[English people|English]], 9.3% [[United States]] or American and 7.8% [[Irish American|Irish]] ancestry. 81.5% spoke [[English language|English]], and 17.7% [[Spanish language|Spanish]] as their first language.

There were 11,726 households, out of which 38.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.60% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.30% were non-families. 20.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 29.50% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 12.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,464, and the median income for a family was $43,777. Males had a median income of $35,917 versus $24,794 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $17,148. About 11.20% of families and 14.40% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 21.00% of those under age 18 and 6.90% of those age 65 or over.

==Communities==
[[File:Eastern Washington Truck.jpg|thumb|Truck driving through Douglas County on Route 2]]

===Cities===
*[[Bridgeport, Washington|Bridgeport]]
*[[East Wenatchee, Washington|East Wenatchee]]
*[[Rock Island, Washington|Rock Island]]

===Towns===
*[[Coulee Dam, Washington|Coulee Dam]] (partial)
*[[Mansfield, Washington|Mansfield]]
*[[Waterville, Washington|Waterville]] (county seat)

===Unincorporated communities===
*Beebe{{efn|The community was named after James Beebe, a businessperson in the agriculture industry.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Meany |first=Edmond S. |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015027074981;view=1up;seq=32 |title=Origin of Washington geographic names |publisher=University of Washington Press |year=1923 |location=Seattle |page=16}}</ref> A post office called Beebe was established in 1912, and remained in operation until 1942.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Post Offices |url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?state=WA |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306120103/http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?state=WA |archive-date=March 6, 2016 |access-date=July 18, 2016 |publisher=Jim Forte Postal History}}</ref>}}
*[[Douglas, Washington|Douglas]]
*[[Lamoine, Washington|Lamoine]]
*Leahy
*[[Orondo, Washington|Orondo]]
*[[Palisades, Washington|Palisades]]
*[[Withrow, Washington|Withrow]]

===Ghost Towns===
*[[Alstown, Washington|Alstown]]
*[[Baird, Washington|Baird]]
*[[Bonita, Washington|Bonita]]
*[[Farmer, Washington|Farmer]]
*[[Jameson, Washington|Jameson]]
*[[Saint Andrews, Washington|Saint Andrews]]
*[[Sanderson, Washington|Sanderson]]
*[[Touhey, Washington|Touhery]]

==Politics==
Federally, Douglas County is represented primarily by [[Dan Newhouse]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]) of the [[Washington's 4th congressional district|4th]] while parts of East Wenatchee have been siphoned off into the [[Washington's 8th congressional district|8th]], represented by [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] [[Kim Schrier]]. It is one of the most strongly Republican counties in the state in presidential elections, and has not voted for a Democratic candidate since 1964, in Lyndon B. Johnson's rout of Barry Goldwater.{{PresHead|place=Douglas County, Washington|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=April 6, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|13,095|7,410|677|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|12,955|7,811|542|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|9,603|4,918|1,380|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|9,425|5,166|469|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|9,098|5,848|339|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|8,900|4,306|166|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|8,512|3,822|521|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|5,682|3,913|1,330|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|4,920|3,731|2,397|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|5,378|3,760|109|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|6,443|3,127|128|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|5,171|2,833|705|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|4,547|3,809|208|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|4,512|2,420|549|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|3,234|2,764|667|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,643|3,728|5|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|3,241|3,087|18|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|2,602|3,034|9|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|2,954|2,361|14|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|1,703|2,251|79|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,809|1,832|24|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|1,959|1,972|40|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,025|2,290|130|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,179|1,941|242|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,760|862|31|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|1,070|398|1,068|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,587|918|238|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,125|1,916|178|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|642|1,357|1,186|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,942|1,540|238|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,722|577|116|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|516|615|30|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|334|733|10|Washington}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Republican|345|253|317|Washington}}

==See also==
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington#Douglas County|National Register of Historic Places listings in Douglas County, Washington]]
*[[Mansfield Branch (Great Northern Railway)]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
*{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedhisto02stee |title=An illustrated history of the Big Bend country : embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams, and Franklin counties, state of Washington |publisher=Western Historical Pub. Co. |year=1904}}[http://www.secstate.wa.gov/history/publications_detail.aspx?p=36 Available online through the Washington State Library's Classics in Washington History collection]

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.douglascountywa.net/ Douglas County – official website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060110133300/http://ncwportal.com/douglas/thumbs Douglas County photos]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Douglas County, Washington
|North     = [[Okanogan County, Washington|Okanogan County]]
|Northeast = 
|East      = 
|Southeast = 
|South     = [[Grant County, Washington|Grant County]]
|Southwest = [[Kittitas County, Washington|Kittitas County]]
|West      = [[Chelan County, Washington|Chelan County]]
|Northwest = 
}}

{{Douglas County, Washington}}
{{Washington}}

{{coord|47.74|-119.69|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-WA_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Douglas County, Washington| ]]
[[Category:1883 establishments in Washington Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1883]]
[[Category:Wenatchee–East Wenatchee metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Eastern Washington]]