Klickitat County, Washington

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Klickitat County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, its population was 22,735.<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref> The county seat and largest city is Goldendale.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> The county is named after the Klickitat tribe and contains part of the Yakama Indian Reservation.

History

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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 on December 20, 1859.<ref name="historylink">Template:Cite web</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

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Klickitat Log and Lumber train switching, 1964

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert (1.7%) are covered by water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Geographic features

Major highways

Adjacent counties

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Yakima County - north
Benton County - northeast
Morrow County, Oregon - southeast
Gilliam County, Oregon - southeast
Sherman County, Oregon - south
Hood River County, Oregon - southwest
Wasco County, Oregon - southwest
Skamania County - west

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National protected areas

Demographics

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2020 census

As of the 2020 census, 22,735 people and 9,332 households were living in the county.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</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, 0.7% African American, 2.6% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.2% 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.<ref name=":0" />

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, 20,318 people, 8,327 households, and 5,626 families lived in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">Template:Cite web</ref> The population density was Template:Convert. The 9,786 housing units had an average density of Template:Convert.<ref name="census-density">Template:Cite web</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">Template:Cite web</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">Template:Cite web</ref>

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, 19,161 people, 7,473 households, and 5,305 families resided in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. The 8,633 housing units had an average density of Template:Convert. 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 other races, and 2.75% from two or more races. About 7.81% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race; 17.7% were of German, 14.0% United States or American, 11.1% English and 9.6% Irish ancestry. 90.3% spoke English and 7.8% 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

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The Klickitat Valley

Cities

Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

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 in the Washington State Senate.<ref>Template:Cite web</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>Template:Cite web</ref> Richard Nixon (1960, 1972), Ronald Reagan,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush<ref>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>Template:Cite web</ref> and Donald Trump doubled Romney's margin in 2016.