Editing Klickitat County, Washington

{{Short description|County in Washington, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Klickitat County
 | state                = Washington
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1859
 | founded date         = December 20
 | named for            = [[Klickitat Tribe]]
 | flag                 = 
 | seat wl              = Goldendale
 | largest city wl      = Goldendale
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 1904
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 1871
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 33
 | area percentage      = 1.7%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 22735
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 24124 {{increase}}
 | density_sq_mi        = 11.6
 | time zone            = Pacific
 | web                  = www.klickitatcounty.org
 | ex image             = Goldendale WA - county courthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Klickitat County Courthouse
 | district             = 4th
}}

'''Klickitat County''' is a [[List of counties in Washington|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Washington (state)|Washington]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], its population was 22,735.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/klickitatcountywashington/PST045223 |access-date=November 9, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[county seat]] and largest city is [[Goldendale, Washington|Goldendale]].<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> The county is named after the [[Klickitat people|Klickitat tribe]] and contains part of the [[Yakama Indian Reservation]].

==History==
[[Image:Maryhill stonehenge WWI monument.jpg|thumb|A replica of [[Stonehenge]] was built by [[Samuel Hill]] as a monument to local men killed in [[World War I]] called [[Maryhill Stonehenge]].]]

Klickitat County was created out of [[Walla Walla County, Washington|Walla Walla County]] on December 20, 1859.<ref name="historylink">{{Cite web |date=March 6, 2003 |title=Milestones for Washington State History &mdash; Part 2: 1851 to 1900 |url=http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=5380 |publisher=[[HistoryLink.org]]}}</ref>  [[Samuel Hill]] was an early promoter of the area, promoting better roads and building local landmarks such as a war-memorial replica of [[Stonehenge]] ([[Maryhill Stonehenge]]) and a mansion that would become the [[Maryhill Museum of Art]]. The [[Sam Hill Memorial Bridge]] across the [[Columbia River]] is named after him.

==Geography==
[[File:Switching ReloadxRP - Flickr - drewj1946.jpg|thumb|Klickitat Log and Lumber train switching, 1964]]

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|1904|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|33|sqmi}} (1.7%) are covered by 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 7, 2015 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

===Geographic features===
*[[Cascade Range|Cascade Mountains]]
*[[Columbia River]]

===Major highways===
*[[Image:US 97.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 97 in Washington|U.S. Route 97]]
*[[Image:WA-14.svg|20px]] [[Washington State Route 14|State Route 14]]
*[[Image:WA-141.svg|20px]] [[Washington State Route 141|State Route 141]]
*[[Image:WA-142.svg|20px]] [[Washington State Route 142|State Route 142]]

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col}}
*[[Yakima County, Washington|Yakima County]] - north
*[[Benton County, Washington|Benton County]] - northeast
*[[Morrow County, Oregon|Morrow County]], [[Oregon]] - southeast
*[[Gilliam County, Oregon|Gilliam County]], [[Oregon]] - southeast
*[[Sherman County, Oregon|Sherman County]], [[Oregon]] - south
*[[Hood River County, Oregon|Hood River County]], [[Oregon]] - southwest
*[[Wasco County, Oregon|Wasco County]], [[Oregon]] - southwest
*[[Skamania County, Washington|Skamania County]] - west
{{div col end}}

===National protected areas===
*[[Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge]]
*[[Gifford Pinchot National Forest]] (part)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 230
|1870= 329
|1880= 4055
|1890= 5167
|1900= 6407
|1910= 10180
|1920= 9268
|1930= 9825
|1940= 11357
|1950= 12049
|1960= 13455
|1970= 12138
|1980= 15822
|1990= 16616
|2000= 19161
|2010= 20318
|2020= 22735
|estyear=2024
|estimate=24124
|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]],  22,735 people and 9,332 households were living in the county.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Klickitat County, Washington |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/klickitatcountywashington/PST045223 |access-date=April 16, 2023 |website=www.census.gov |language=en}}</ref> The population density of the county was 12.1 people per square mile, which went up from 10.9 in 2010. The racial makeup of the county was 92.8% [[White Americans|White]], 0.7% [[African Americans|African American]], 2.6% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 1.0% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.2% [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], and 2.7% from two or more races.<ref name=":0" /> Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 12% of the population.

The county's age distribution included 18.7% under 18, 4.6% under 5, and 25.2% over 65. The gender makeup of the county was 49% female and 51% male.<ref name=":0" />

The median household income in the county was $59,583, and the per capita income was $34,529. About 13.0% of the population in the county were under the [[Poverty line in the United States|poverty line]].<ref name=":0" />

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], 20,318 people, 8,327 households, and 5,626 families lived 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/DPDP1/0500000US53039 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213014034/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US53039 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=March 13, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|10.9|PD/sqmi}}. The 9,786 housing units had an average density of {{convert|5.2|/sqmi}}.<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.CY07/0500000US53039 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213193154/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US53039 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=March 13, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 87.7% White, 2.4% American Indian, 0.6% Asian, 0.2% Black or African American, 5.7% from other races, and 3.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 10.7% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1" /> In terms of ancestry,<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/DP02/0500000US53039 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213011709/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US53039 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=March 13, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

Of the 8,327 households, 27.6% had children under 18 living with them, 54.5% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.4% were not families, and 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.88. The median age was 45.3 years.<ref name="census-dp1" />

The median income for a household in the county was $37,398 and for a family was $46,012. Males had a median income of $43,588 versus $31,114 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,553. About 13.7% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 33.9% of those under age 18 and 9.4% 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/DP03/0500000US53039 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213033650/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US53039 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=March 13, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], 19,161 people, 7,473 households, and 5,305 families resided in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|10|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. The 8,633 housing units had an average density of {{convert|5|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 87.56% White, 0.27% Black or African American, 3.47% Native American, 0.73% Asian, 0.21% Pacific Islander, 5.02% from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#Race|other races]], and 2.75% from [[Multiracial American|two or more races]]. About 7.81% of the population were [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanics or Latinos]] of any race; 17.7% were of [[German people|German]], 14.0% [[American ethnicity|United States or American]], 11.1% [[English people|English]] and 9.6% [[Irish American|Irish]] ancestry. 90.3% spoke [[English language|English]] and 7.8% [[Spanish language|Spanish]] as their first language.

Of the 7,473 households, 32.3% had children under 18 living with them, 57.7% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were not families. About 23.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.99.

The age distribution was 27.1% under 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.5 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 98.8 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,267, and for a family was $40,414. Males had a median income of $36,067 versus $21,922 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $16,502. About 12.6% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 22.5% of those under 18 and 15.10% of those 65 or over.

==Communities==
[[Image:Klickitat Valley WA.jpg|thumb|400px|The Klickitat Valley]]

===Cities===
*[[Bingen, Washington|Bingen]]
*[[Goldendale, Washington|Goldendale]] (county seat)
*[[White Salmon, Washington|White Salmon]]

===Census-designated places===
{{div col}}
*[[Bickleton, Washington|Bickleton]]
*[[Centerville, Washington|Centerville]]
*[[Dallesport, Washington|Dallesport]]
*[[Glenwood, Klickitat County, Washington|Glenwood]]
*[[Klickitat, Washington|Klickitat]]
*[[Lyle, Washington|Lyle]]
*[[Maryhill, Washington|Maryhill]]
*[[Roosevelt, Washington|Roosevelt]]
*[[Trout Lake, Washington|Trout Lake]]
*[[Wishram, Washington|Wishram]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
*[[Appleton, Washington|Appleton]]
*[[Cleveland, Washington|Cleveland]]
*[[Husum, Washington|Husum]]
*[[Wahkiacus, Washington|Wahkiacus]]

==Government and politics==
Klickitat is located in [[Washington's 4th congressional district]], which has a [[Cook Partisan Voting Index]] of R+11 and has been represented by Republican [[Dan Newhouse]] since 2015. In state government, the county is part of the 14th district, represented by [[Gina Mosbrucker]] and [[Chris Corry]] in the [[Washington House of Representatives]] and [[Curtis King (politician)|Curtis King]] in the [[Washington State Senate]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=House of Representatives Members, Districts, and Counties |url=https://app.leg.wa.gov/Rosters/MembersByDistrictAndCounties/House |access-date=September 17, 2023 |publisher=Washington State Legislature}}</ref>

In presidential elections, Klickitat County has trended Republican in recent years. In 1988 [[Michael Dukakis]] narrowly won the county with 49.15% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1988 Presidential Election Statistics |url=http://www.uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/stats.php?year=1988&f=1&off=0&elect=0 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref> [[Richard Nixon]] (1960, 1972), [[Ronald Reagan]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections - Compare Maps |url=http://www.uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/comparemaps.php?year=1988&fips=53&f=1&off=0&elect=0 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref> [[Bill Clinton]], and [[George W. Bush]]<ref>[http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/results/president/map.html?scp=1&sq=%22election%20map&st=cse The New York Times Electoral Map (Zoom in on Washington)]</ref> all won the county twice. In 2008 Democrat [[Barack Obama]] won Klickitat County over Republican [[John McCain]] by only 21 votes or percentage wise 48.85% to 48.64%. In 2012 Republican candidate Mitt Romney won the county by a greater margin than in the previous election, with 51.74% of the vote compared to President Obama's 44.75%,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections - State Data |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/statesub.php?year=2008&fips=53039&f=0&off=0&elect=0 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref> and [[Donald Trump]] doubled Romney's margin in 2016.

{{PresHead|place=Klickitat 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|Republican|7,178|5,917|512|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|7,237|5,959|364|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|5,789|4,194|1,091|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|5,316|4,598|477|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|4,944|4,965|255|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|5,016|4,036|198|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|4,557|3,062|562|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|2,662|3,214|1,189|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|2,085|2,758|2,006|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|2,920|2,991|175|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|3,910|2,712|135|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|3,113|2,596|575|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|2,573|2,890|256|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,061|2,293|294|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|2,355|2,454|364|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,850|3,819|5|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,836|2,744|15|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,794|2,577|8|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|2,845|2,140|26|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|1,951|2,206|95|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,980|2,089|58|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|2,139|2,627|28|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,190|2,545|163|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,335|2,155|153|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,936|975|48|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|1,482|518|811|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,649|745|383|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,570|1,478|211|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1912|Republican|1,163|1,028|1,268|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,245|570|222|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,370|362|207|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|906|495|84|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|876|708|11|Washington (state)}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Republican|616|279|415|Washington (state)}}

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

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

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

==External links==
{{Commons category|Klickitat County, Washington|Klickitat County}}
*[https://www.klickitatcounty.org/ Official County website]
*[http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=7800 Klickitat County, Washington] at HistoryLink.org

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Klickitat County, Washington
|North     = [[Yakima County, Washington|Yakima County]]
|Northeast = [[Benton County, Washington|Benton County]]
|East      = 
|Southeast = [[Morrow County, Oregon]] and [[Gilliam County, Oregon]]
|South     = [[Sherman County, Oregon]]
|Southwest = [[Wasco County, Oregon]] and [[Hood River County, Oregon]]
|West      = [[Skamania County, Washington|Skamania County]]
|Northwest = 
}}

{{Klickitat County, Washington}}
{{Washington}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|45.87|-120.79|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-WA_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Klickitat County, Washington| ]]
[[Category:1859 establishments in Washington Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1859]]
[[Category:Columbia River Gorge]]
[[Category:Eastern Washington]]
[[Category:Washington (state) placenames of Native American origin]]