Editing Island County, Washington

{{Short description|County in Washington, United States}}
{{Redirect-distinguish|Island County|County island|Island country}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
| county = Island County
| state = Washington
| ex image = Shoreline at Fort Ebey StatePark.jpg
| ex image size = 300px
| ex image cap = Shoreline at [[Fort Ebey State Park]] within [[Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve|U.S. Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve]] on [[Whidbey Island]]
| seal = 
| founded year = 1852
| founded date = 
| seat wl = Coupeville
| largest city wl = Oak Harbor
| area_total_sq_mi = 517
| area_land_sq_mi = 208
| area_water_sq_mi = 309
| area percentage = 60%
| population_as_of = 2020
| population_total = 86857
| pop_est_as_of = 2024
| population_est = 86478 {{decrease}}
| density_sq_mi = 381
| time zone = Pacific
| district = 2nd
| flag = 
| website = {{URL|https://islandcountywa.gov}}
}}

'''Island 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 86,857.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/islandcountywashington/PST045223 |access-date=November 9, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Coupeville, Washington|Coupeville]],<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 city is [[Oak Harbor, Washington|Oak Harbor]].

The county's name reflects the fact that it is composed entirely of islands.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gannett, Henry |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ |title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States |publisher=[[United States Government Publishing Office|Government Printing Office]] |year=1905 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n155 166]}}</ref> It contains two large islands, [[Whidbey Island|Whidbey]] and [[Camano Island|Camano]], and seven smaller islands (Baby, Ben Ure, Deception, Kalamut, Minor, [[Smith Island (Washington)|Smith]], and [[Strawberry Island (Deception Pass, Washington)|Strawberry]]). Island County was created out of [[Thurston County, Washington|Thurston County]] on December 22, 1852, by the legislature of [[Oregon Territory]],<ref name="reinartz">{{Cite web |last=Reinartz |first=Kay |title=History of King County Government 1853–2002 |url=http://www.metrokc.gov/kc150/historical%20overview.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325074033/http://www.metrokc.gov/kc150/historical%20overview.pdf |archive-date=March 25, 2009 |access-date=December 30, 2007 |page=2}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2007 |title=Washington: Individual County Chronologies |url=http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/WA_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107061011/http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/WA_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 7, 2012 |access-date=July 17, 2015 |website=Washington Atlas of Historical County Boundaries |publisher=[[Newberry Library|The Newberry Library]] }}</ref> and is the eighth-oldest county in Washington. It originally encompassed what are now [[Snohomish County, Washington|Snohomish]], [[Skagit County, Washington|Skagit]], [[Whatcom County, Washington|Whatcom]], and [[San Juan County, Washington|San Juan]] Counties.

Island County comprises the Oak Harbor, Washington [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]], which is also included in the [[Seattle]]–[[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]], WA [[Seattle metropolitan area|Combined Statistical Area]].

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|517|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|208|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|309|sqmi}} (60%) 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 5, 2015 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> It is the second smallest county in Washington by land area after [[San Juan County, Washington|San Juan]], and second smallest by total area after [[Wahkiakum County, Washington|Wahkiakum]].

===Geographic features===
* [[Puget Sound]]
* [[Strait of Juan de Fuca]]
* [[Whidbey Island]]
* [[Camano Island]]
* [[Saratoga Passage]]

===National protected areas===
* [[Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail]] (part)
* [[Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 294
|1870= 626
|1880= 1087
|1890= 1787
|1900= 1870
|1910= 4704
|1920= 5489
|1930= 5369
|1940= 6098
|1950= 11079
|1960= 19638
|1970= 27011
|1980= 44048
|1990= 60195
|2000= 71558
|2010= 78506
|2020= 86857
|estyear=2024
|estimate=86478
|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 86,857 people, 35,917 households, and 24,229 families living in the county.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Island%20County,%20Washington%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=November 9, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[population density]] was {{convert|416.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 41,922 housing units at an average density of {{convert|201.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the county was 78.2% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.8% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.8% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 4.6% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.5% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.7% from some other races and 10.4% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] people of any race were 8.2% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web|title=How many people live in Island County, Washington |url=https://data.usatoday.com/census/total-population/total-population-change/island-county-washington/050-53029/ |access-date=November 9, 2024 |publisher=USA Today}}</ref> 17.0% of residents were under the age of 18, 4.5% were under 5 years of age, and 27.8% were 65 and older.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 78,506 people, 32,746 households, and 22,156 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|376.6|PD/sqmi}}. There were 40,234 housing units at an average density of {{convert|193.0|/sqmi}}. The racial makeup of the county was 86.1% white, 4.4% Asian, 2.2% black or African American, 0.8% American Indian, 0.5% Pacific islander, 1.5% from other races, and 4.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.5% of the population. The largest ancestry groups were:
{{Div col|colwidth=15em}}
*21.4% German
*14.3% Irish
*14.0% English
*6.1% Norwegian
*4.5% Scottish
*4.3% French
*4.1% Dutch
*4.0% Swedish
*4.0% American
*3.6% Mexican
*3.5% Italian
*2.9% Filipino
*2.5% Scotch-Irish
*2.1% Polish
*1.6% Welsh
*1.5% Danish
{{div col end}}

Of the 32,746 households, 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.3% were non-families, and 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.81. The median age was 43.2 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $57,190 and the median income for a family was $68,106. Males had a median income of $46,801 versus $35,189 for females. The per capita income for the county was $29,079. About 5.7% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.

==Transportation==
The primary islands of Island County, [[Whidbey Island]] and [[Camano Island]] are served by a total of 3 [[Washington State Routes]], those being [[Washington State Route 20|SR 20]] and [[Washington State Route 525|SR 525]] on Whidbey Island, and [[Washington State Route 532|SR 532]] on Camano Island. SR 20 enters Island County via the [[Port Townsend, Washington|Port Townsend]]-[[Coupeville, Washington|Coupeville]] ([[Keystone, Island County, Washington|Keystone]]) ferry route from the West, and departs via the [[Deception Pass Bridge]] in the North. SR 525 enters Island County from the East/South via the [[Mukilteo, Washington|Mukilteo]]-[[Clinton, Washington|Clinton]] ferry and terminates at an intersection with SR 20, South of Coupeville. SR 532 begins on Camano Island at Terry's Corner and departs Island County to the East via the [[Mark Clark Bridge|Camano Gateway Bridge]].

These islands are also served by a fare-free/pre-paid bus service called [[Island Transit (Washington)|Island Transit]].

==Government and politics==
The county government is led by a board of commissioners with three elected members that represent geographical regions of Island County.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stensland |first=Jessie |date=January 19, 2024 |title=Oddly, Island Transit board is now an even six |url=https://www.southwhidbeyrecord.com/news/oddly-island-transit-board-is-now-an-even-six/ |access-date=February 29, 2024 |work=South Whidbey Record}}</ref>

Island County is divided politically between its north and south. While the north ([[Oak Harbor, Washington|Oak Harbor]]) is conservative – [[Donald Trump]] received almost 55 percent of the 2016 vote and carried most precincts – most southern and central precincts voted for [[Hillary Clinton]].

The south-central area ([[Coupeville, Washington|Coupeville]], [[Langley, Washington|Langley]]) voted over 50 percent for Clinton, just over 30 percent for Trump.<ref>{{Cite web |title=November 8, 2016 Island County Election Results |url=https://www.islandcountywa.gov/Auditor/Elections/PastElections/Results_110816.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224221921/https://www.islandcountywa.gov/Auditor/Elections/PastElections/Results_110816.pdf |archive-date=February 24, 2020 |website=Islandcountywa.gov}}</ref>

{{PresHead|place=Island County, Washington|source=<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 vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|20,967|29,595|1,887|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|22,746|29,213|1,966|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|18,465|20,960|4,848|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|19,605|21,478|1,289|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|19,426|22,058|680|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|19,754|18,216|610|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|16,408|14,778|1,818|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|12,387|12,157|3,920|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|9,526|9,555|8,087|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|12,552|8,510|291|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|13,548|6,850|218|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|10,926|5,422|2,211|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|7,804|5,859|441|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|7,495|3,149|359|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|4,077|3,238|685|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|3,044|3,946|9|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|3,596|2,470|28|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|3,196|2,009|17|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|2,901|1,772|30|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|1,805|1,694|181|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,487|1,662|38|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|1,371|1,626|60|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|921|1,687|205|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|803|1,517|342|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,487|556|44|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|832|114|853|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|883|285|557|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|804|855|186|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|332|310|931|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|450|192|131|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|424|83|82|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|263|123|34|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|206|191|8|Washington (state)}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Republican|161|127|108|Washington (state)}}

==Communities==
===Cities===
*[[Langley, Washington|Langley]]
*[[Oak Harbor, Washington|Oak Harbor]]

===Town===
*[[Coupeville, Washington|Coupeville]] (county seat)

===Census-designated places===
*[[Camano, Washington|Camano]]
*[[Clinton, Washington|Clinton]]
*[[Freeland, Washington|Freeland]]
*[[Naval Air Station Whidbey Island|Whidbey Island Station]], formerly listed as [[Ault Field, Washington|Ault Field]]

===Other unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
*[[Austin, Washington|Austin]]
*[[Baby Island Heights, Washington|Baby Island Heights]]
*[[Bayview, Island County, Washington|Bayview]]
*[[Bells Beach, Washington|Bells Beach]]
*[[Beverly Beach, Washington|Beverly Beach]]
*[[Bretland, Washington|Bretland]]
*[[Camp Diana, Washington|Camp Diana]]
*[[Columbia Beach, Washington|Columbia Beach]]
*[[Glendale, Washington|Glendale]]
*[[Greenbank, Washington|Greenbank]]
*[[Juniper Beach, Washington|Juniper Beach]]
*[[Keystone, Island County, Washington|Keystone]]
*[[Lagoon Point, Washington|Lagoon Point]]
*[[Mabana, Washington|Mabana]]
*[[Maxwelton, Washington|Maxwelton]]
*[[Midvale Corner, Washington|Midvale Corner]]
*[[Northgate Terrace, Washington|Northgate Terrace]]
*[[Pebble Beach, Washington|Pebble Beach]]
*[[Penn Cove Park, Washington|Penn Cove Park]]
*[[Pioneer Blueberries, Washington|Pioneer Blueberries]]
*[[Possession, Washington|Possession]]
*[[Rodena Beach, Washington|Rodena Beach]]
*[[San De Fuca, Washington|San De Fuca]]
*[[Sandy Hook, Washington|Sandy Hook]]
*[[Saratoga, Washington|Saratoga]]
*[[Sheliegh Estates, Washington|Sheliegh Estates]]
*[[Smith Prairie, Washington|Smith Prairie]]
*[[Sunlight Beach, Washington|Sunlight Beach]]
*[[Sunny Shore Acres, Washington|Sunny Shore Acres]]
*[[Tyee Beach, Washington|Tyee Beach]]
*[[Utsalady, Washington|Utsalady]]
{{div col end}}

Juniper Beach, a wedding ceremony locale in past years,<ref>[https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/2378/45654_B284263-00087?pid=5661586 Island County Marriage Register, January-April 1939], paid subscription site accessed October 2017.</ref> has given its name to the Juniper Beach Water District.<ref>[http://www.juniperbeachwaterdistrict.net Juniper Beach Water District], accessed October 2017</ref>

==Education==

Island County has four [[school district]]s that provide public [[K–12 education]] to areas of the county: [[Coupeville School District]], [[Oak Harbor School District]], [[South Whidbey School District]], and [[Stanwood-Camano School District]].<ref>{{cite map |author=U.S. Census Bureau Geography Division |date=December 21, 2020 |title=2020 Census – School District Reference Map: Island County, WA |scale=1:95,099 |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st53_wa/schooldistrict_maps/c53055_san_juan/DC20SD_C53055.pdf |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |accessdate=March 16, 2025}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Island County, Washington]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|https://www.islandcountywa.gov/Pages/Home.aspx}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Island County, Washington
|Northwest = ''[[Strait of Juan de Fuca]]''<br>([[Capital Regional District]], [[British Columbia]] {{flagicon|Canada}})
|North     = [[San Juan County, Washington|San Juan County]]
|Northeast = [[Skagit County, Washington|Skagit County]]
|West      = [[Clallam County, Washington|Clallam County]]
|East      = [[Snohomish County, Washington|Snohomish County]]
|Southwest = [[Jefferson County, Washington|Jefferson County]]
|South     = [[Kitsap County, Washington|Kitsap County]]
|Southeast = [[King County, Washington|King County]]
}}

{{Island County, Washington}}
{{Seattle Metro}}
{{Washington}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|48.15|-122.58|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-WA_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Island County, Washington| ]]
[[Category:Seattle metropolitan area]]
[[Category:1852 establishments in Oregon Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1852]]
[[Category:Western Washington]]