Editing Grant County, Washington

{{Short description|County in Washington, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county             = Grant County
 | state              = Washington
 | ex image           = Ephrata, WA - Grant County Courthouse.JPG
 | ex image size      = 300px
 | ex image cap       = [[Grant County Courthouse (Washington)|Grant County Courthouse]]
 | flag               = 
 | seal               = Grant County Seal.png
 | coordinates        = {{Coord|47|12|49|N|119|28|04|W|region:US-WA_type:county|display=inline}}
 | founded year       = 1909
 | founded date       = February 24
 | named for          = [[Ulysses S. Grant]]
 | seat wl            = Ephrata
 | largest city wl    = Moses Lake
 | area_total_sq_mi   = 2791
 | area_land_sq_mi    = 2680
 | area_water_sq_mi   = 112
 | area percentage    = 4.0%
 | population_total   = 99123
 | population_as_of   = 2020
 | population_est     = 104717 {{increase}}
 | pop_est_as_of      = 2024
 | density_sq_mi      = 35
 | time zone          = Pacific
 | district           = 4th
 | website            = {{URL|https://www.grantcountywa.gov/|grantcountywa.gov}}
}}

'''Grant 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]], the population was 99,123.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/grantcountywashington/PST045223 |access-date=November 10, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Ephrata, Washington|Ephrata]],<ref>{{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> and the largest city is [[Moses Lake, Washington|Moses Lake]]. The county was formed out of [[Douglas County, Washington|Douglas County]] in February 1909<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 6, 2003 |title=Milestones for Washington State History &mdash; Part 3: 1901 to 1950 |url=http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=5381 |publisher=[[HistoryLink.org]]}}</ref> and is named for [[President of the United States|U.S. President]] [[Ulysses S. Grant]].

Grant County comprises the Moses Lake, WA [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]], which is also part of the [[Moses Lake-Othello combined statistical area|Moses Lake-Othello, WA Combined Statistical Area]].

==History==
[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] cultures in the area included the [[Interior Salish]], [[Wenatchi]], and [[Okanagan people|Okanagan]]. The first white settlers began to arrive in the mid-to-late-19th century, primarily with the goal of raising livestock. One government official described the area in 1879 as, "…a desolation where even the most hopeful can find nothing in its future prospects to cheer."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Symons |first=Lieut. Thomas W. |title=Report of an Examination of the Upper Columbia River and the Territory in Its Vicinity in September and October 1881, to Determine Its Navigability, and Adaptability to Steamboat Transportation: Made by Direction of the Commanding General of the Department of the Columbia |page=121}}</ref>

When railroads arrived they also brought new settlers, and the economy began a shift from [[ranch]]ing to [[dryland farming]]. This transition required the people to have ready access to water, and [[irrigation]] became a necessity. The first large-scale irrigation attempts began in 1898, but it would be years before real success.

With the influx of dryland farming, the county soon boasted access to three major railway systems; the [[Great Northern Railway (U.S.)|Great Northern Railway]], [[Northern Pacific Railroad]] and the [[Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad]]. In addition, the [[Columbia River]] in this area was [[Navigability|navigable]]. This allowed crops to be transported out of the area easily. Towns like [[Wilson Creek, Washington|Wilson Creek]], [[Quincy, Washington|Quincy]] and [[Ephrata, Washington|Ephrata]] began to thrive.

The [[Washington State Legislature]] officially created Grant County on February 24, 1909, naming it in the memory of Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th president of the United States, and a major contributor to the Union victory in the [[American Civil War]]. The county seat was located in Ephrata. The area's population at the time stood at around 8700 people.

The [[Columbia Basin Project]], which ultimately produced the [[Grand Coulee Dam]] with its associated irrigation and hydroelectric generating grid, was an outgrowth of the 1902 creation of the United States [[Bureau of Reclamation]]. When that agency began studying feasibility of projects in the Northwestern United States, competing groups from Spokane, Wenatchee, Ephrata and elsewhere advanced competing possibilities. One idea was to dam the Columbia River at [[Grand Coulee]]. This concept was approved in 1933, and construction continued in the following decades. The project would fundamentally change the region forever.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Grant County - Thumbnail History |url=http://historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=8010 |access-date=April 6, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Great Grant County – News from the best county in the world! |url=http://greatgrantcounty.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=26 |access-date=April 6, 2018 |website=greatgrantcounty.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=North Central Washington in the 1900s |url=http://ncwportal.com/community/north_central_washington_in_the_1900s#grant |access-date=April 6, 2018 |website=ncwportal.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|2791|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|2680|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|112|sqmi}} (4.0%) is water.<ref>{{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 5, 2015 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> It is the fourth-largest county in Washington by area.

The environmental climate of Grant County is characterized by hot summers and cold winters. Rainshadow caused by the Cascade mountains separates eastern Washington, including Grant County, from western Washington's more temperate and oceanic climate.

A sign alongside Interstate Highway I-90 where it enters Grant County welcomes travelers to Grant County and says the county is "The nation's leading potato producing county".

===Geographic features===
*[[Columbia River]]
*[[Grand Coulee]]
*[[Moses Lake]]
*[[Potholes Reservoir]]
*[[Soap Lake]]
*[[Ulysses S. Peak]], unofficial name of county high point

===Major highways===
*{{jct|state=WA|I|90}}
*{{jct|state=WA|BL|90|dab1=Moses Lake}}
*[[Image:US 2.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 2 (Washington)|U.S. Route 2]]
*[[Image:WA-17.svg|20px]] [[State Route 17 (Washington)|State Route 17]]
*[[Image:WA-28.svg|20px]] [[State Route 28 (Washington)|State Route 28]]

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col}}
*[[Douglas County, Washington|Douglas County]] - north
*[[Okanogan County, Washington|Okanogan County]] - northeast
*[[Adams County, Washington|Adams County]] - east
*[[Lincoln County, Washington|Lincoln County]] - east
*[[Franklin County, Washington|Franklin County]] - southeast
*[[Benton County, Washington|Benton County]] - south
*[[Yakima County, Washington|Yakima County]] - southwest
*[[Kittitas County, Washington|Kittitas County]] - west
{{div col end}}

===National protected areas===
* [[Columbia National Wildlife Refuge]] (part)
* [[Hanford Reach National Monument]] (part)
* [[Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area]] (part)
* [[Saddle Mountain National Wildlife Refuge]] (part)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 8698
|1920= 7771
|1930= 5666
|1940= 14668
|1950= 24346
|1960= 46477
|1970= 41881
|1980= 48522
|1990= 54758
|2000= 74698
|2010= 89120
|2020= 99123
|estyear=2024
|estimate=104717
|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" />
}}

===2020 census===
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 99,123 people and 32,803 households in the county.<ref name="QF" /> The population density was {{convert|37.0|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 90.8% White, 1.3% Asian, 2.7% American Indian, 2.2% African American, 0.3% Pacific Islander, and 2.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 43.6% of the population.<ref name="QF" />

28.3% of the population of the county was under 18, and 7.1% were under 5. People over 65 represented 14.7% of the population. The gender ratio was equal, with 48.9% of the population being female and 51.1% being male.<ref name="QF" />

The median income for a household in the county was $63,566, and the per capita income was $27,466. 11.7% of the population was below the [[Poverty line in the United States|poverty line]].<ref name="QF" />

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 89,120 people, 30,041 households, and 21,800 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|33.3|PD/sqmi}}. There were 35,083 housing units at an average density of {{convert|13.1|/sqmi}}. The racial makeup of the county was 72.8% white, 1.2% American Indian, 1.1% black or African American, 0.9% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 20.4% from other races, and 3.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 38.3% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 15.5% were [[Germans|German]], 8.9% were [[English people|English]], 7.1% were [[Irish people|Irish]], and 3.9% were [[Americans|American]].

Of the 30,041 households, 40.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 27.4% were non-families, and 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.40. The median age was 32.1 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,572 and the median income for a family was $50,065. Males had a median income of $39,530 versus $27,417 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,718. About 15.7% of families and 20.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 28.4% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.

==Communities==

===Cities===
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
*[[Electric City, Washington|Electric City]]
*[[Ephrata, Washington|Ephrata]] (county seat)
*[[George, Washington|George]]
*[[Grand Coulee, Washington|Grand Coulee]]
*[[Mattawa, Washington|Mattawa]]
*[[Moses Lake, Washington|Moses Lake]]
*[[Quincy, Washington|Quincy]]
*[[Royal City, Washington|Royal City]]
*[[Soap Lake, Washington|Soap Lake]]
*[[Warden, Washington|Warden]]
{{div col end}}

===Towns===
{{Div col|colwidth=18em}}
*[[Coulee City, Washington|Coulee City]]
*[[Coulee Dam, Washington|Coulee Dam]] (partial)
*[[Hartline, Washington|Hartline]]
*[[Krupp, Washington|Krupp]] (formally known as Marlin)
*[[Wilson Creek, Washington|Wilson Creek]]
{{Div col end}}

===Census-designated places===
{{Div col|colwidth=18em}}
*[[Banks Lake South, Washington|Banks Lake South]]
*[[Beverly, Washington|Beverly]]
*[[Cascade Valley, Washington|Cascade Valley]]
*[[Crescent Bar, Washington|Crescent Bar]]
*[[Desert Aire, Washington|Desert Aire]]
*[[Lakeview, Washington|Lakeview]]
*[[Marine View, Washington|Marine View]]
*[[Moses Lake North, Washington|Moses Lake North]]
*[[Schwana, Washington|Schwana]]
*[[Sunland Estates, Washington|Sunland Estates]]
*[[Wheeler, Washington|Wheeler]]
{{div col end}}

===Other unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
*[[Adco, Washington|Adco]]
*[[Adrian, Washington|Adrian]]
*[[Burke, Washington|Burke]]
*[[Lakeview Park, Washington|Lakeview Park]]
*[[Mae, Washington|Mae]]
*[[Ruff, Washington|Ruff]]
*[[Smyrna, Washington|Smyrna]]
*[[Stratford, Washington|Stratford]]
*[[Trinidad, Washington|Trinidad]]
*[[Winchester, Washington|Winchester]]
{{div col end}}

==Education==
School districts in the county include:<ref>{{Cite map |title=2020 Census – School District Reference Map: Grant County, WA |publisher=United States Census Bureau |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st53_wa/schooldistrict_maps/c53025_grant/DC20SD_C53025.pdf |access-date=July 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st53_wa/schooldistrict_maps/c53025_grant/DC20SD_C53025.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st53_wa/schooldistrict_maps/c53025_grant/DC20SD_C53025_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Almira School District]]
* [[Coulee-Hartline School District]]
* [[Ephrata School District]]
* [[Grand Coulee Dam School District]]
* [[Moses Lake School District]]
* [[Odessa School District]]
* [[Othello School District]]
* [[Quincy School District]]
* [[Royal School District]]
* [[Soap Lake School District]]
* [[Wahluke School District]]
* [[Warden School District]]
* [[Wilson Creek School District]]
{{div col end}}

==Politics==
Grant County is a reliably Republican county in presidential elections; it has not voted for the Democratic candidate since [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]'s [[United States presidential election, 1964|landslide victory in 1964]]. It has cast at least 60% of its vote for the Republican presidential candidate in all seven elections since 2000.

{{PresHead|place=Grant 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|24,326|10,806|1,121|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|24,764|11,819|1,097|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|18,518|7,810|2,930|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|17,852|8,950|1,027|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|17,153|9,601|880|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|17,799|7,779|417|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|15,830|7,073|895|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|10,895|8,065|2,906|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|9,503|7,278|5,140|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|10,859|7,564|376|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|12,888|6,298|398|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|11,152|5,673|1,371|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|9,192|7,777|752|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|9,370|5,487|957|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|7,007|5,773|1,587|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|6,065|8,352|10|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|7,568|7,400|37|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|6,603|6,938|8|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|4,512|4,381|22|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|2,081|4,067|129|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,530|2,354|18|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|1,487|4,097|17|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|694|4,560|74|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|840|1,376|194|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,407|641|19|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1924|Progressive|813|332|844|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,378|684|304|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,205|1,563|262|Washington}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Progressive|458|771|1,401|Washington}}

==Economy==
Grant is the #1 [[crop]]-producing County in the State, producing a large part of the Washington [[hay]] harvest.<ref name="2017-census-county">{{Cite web |date=2017 |title=Census of Agriculture - State and County Profiles - Washington |url=https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/AgCensus/2017/Online_Resources/County_Profiles/Washington/ |access-date=October 19, 2022 |website=USDA, [[National Agricultural Statistics Service]]}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Grant County Public Utility District]]
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Grant County, Washington]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.grantcountywa.gov/ Grant County – official website]
* [http://ncwportal.com/grant/thumbs Photos of Grant County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060518093603/http://ncwportal.com/grant/thumbs |date=May 18, 2006}}
* [https://www.granttransit.com/ Grant Transit Authority]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Grant County, Washington
|North     = [[Douglas County, Washington|Douglas County]]
|Northeast = [[Okanogan County, Washington|Okanogan County]]
|East      = [[Adams County, Washington|Adams County]] and [[Lincoln County, Washington|Lincoln County]]
|Southeast = [[Franklin County, Washington|Franklin County]]
|South     = [[Benton County, Washington|Benton County]]
|Southwest = [[Yakima County, Washington|Yakima County]]
|West      = [[Kittitas County, Washington|Kittitas County]]
}}

{{Grant County, Washington}}
{{Washington}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|47.21|-119.47|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-WA_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Grant County, Washington| ]]
[[Category:1909 establishments in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1909]]
[[Category:Eastern Washington]]