Clallam County, Washington

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county

Clallam County is a county in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, the population was 77,155,<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref> with an estimated population of 77,616 in 2023. The county seat and largest city is Port Angeles; the county as a whole comprises the Port Angeles, WA Micropolitan Statistical Area.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> The name is a Klallam word for "the strong people". The county was formed on April 26, 1854.<ref name="historylink">Template:Cite web</ref> Located on the Olympic Peninsula, it is south from the Strait of Juan de Fuca, which forms the Canada–US border, as British Columbia's Vancouver Island is across the strait.

Clallam County was a bellwether, voting for the winning candidate in every presidential election from 1980 to 2020, holding the longest record for predicting official presidential election winners in the entire country.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It has also voted the winning candidate in every election since 1920 except for 1968, 1976, and 2024.<ref name="king5">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="first time">Template:Cite web</ref>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (35%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Located in Clallam County is Cape Alava, the westernmost point in both Washington and the contiguous United States, with a longitude of 124 degrees, 43 minutes and 59 seconds West (−124.733). Near Cape Alava is Ozette, the westernmost town in the contiguous United States. Clallam County also contains the west-northwesternmost, northwesternmost, and north-northwesternmost points in the contiguous United States.<ref name="Del Leu">Template:Cite web</ref>

Geographic features

Adjacent counties

Capital Regional District, British Columbia – north
Jefferson County – south & east

National protected areas

Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail (part)
Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge
Flattery Rocks National Wildlife Refuge
Olympic National Forest (part)
Olympic National Park (part)
Quillayute Needles National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

Template:US Census population

File:Sol Duc River.jpg

Sol Duc River

File:Lake Crescent spring.jpg

Lake Crescent

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 71,404 people, 31,329 households, and 19,713 families living in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">Template:Cite web</ref> The population density was Template:Convert. There were 35,582 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert.<ref name="census-density">Template:Cite web</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 87.0% white, 5.1% American Indian, 1.4% Asian, 0.8% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 1.8% from other races, and 3.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.1% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1" /> In terms of ancestry, 21.4% were German, 16.4% were English, 12.6% were Irish, 6.5% were Norwegian, and 5.2% were American.<ref name="census-dp2">Template:Cite web</ref>

Of the 31,329 households, 22.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.1% were non-families, and 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.70. The median age was 49.0 years.<ref name="census-dp1" />

The median income for a household in the county was $44,398 and the median income for a family was $54,837. Males had a median income of $44,609 versus $32,125 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,449. About 9.5% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.4% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">Template:Cite web</ref>

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,<ref name="GR8">Template:Cite web</ref> there were 64,525 people, 27,164 households, and 18,064 families living in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 30,683 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 89.12% White, 0.84% Black or African American, 5.12% Native American, 1.13% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 1.18% from other races, and 2.44% from two or more races. 3.41% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.2% were of German, 13.1% English, 9.3% Irish, 8.3% United States or American and 6.0% Norwegian ancestry. 95% spoke English and 3.2% Spanish as their first language.

There were 27,164 households, out of which 25.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.90% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.50% were non-families. 28.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.78.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.00% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 22.80% from 25 to 44, 26.90% from 45 to 64, and 21.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 98.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,449, and the median income for a family was $44,381. Males had a median income of $35,452 versus $24,628 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,517. About 8.90% of families and 12.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.10% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Modern Clallam County is generally regarded as a competitive area politically. It was a bellwether, holding the longest record, until 2024, for predicting official presidential election winners in the entire country.<ref name="king5">Template:Cite web</ref> In every election since 1920, except for 1968, 1976, and 2024, it has voted for the presidential election winner. Since 2004, the county has seen a Democratic trend, and even though it flipped Republican in 2016, this was largely due to a stronger third-party presence that year. In 2020 it supported Democrat Joe Biden with a majority, and in 2024 it defied the national average when it shifted further to the left, giving Kamala Harris the best performance by a Democrat since Lyndon Johnson in 1964.

It voted the winning candidate in every presidential election from 1980 to 2020, the longest streak of any county in the country before ending its streak in 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="king5" /> Clallam County also voted for Bob Ferguson, Nick Brown, and Emily Randall in the 2024 Washington gubernatorial election, the 2024 Washington Attorney General election, and the 2024 Washington's 6th congressional district election. Ferguson won the county for the first time since the 2000 Washington gubernatorial election, despite underperforming Kamala Harris, indicating a potential leftward shift in the county.<ref name="first time"/>

Democratic candidates are generally most successful in the county seat and largest city, Port Angeles, which casts a significant number of votes. The city of Sequim and its general vicinity (excepting newer developments such as Bell Hill which tend to be Republican) is generally considered a battleground area. The Forks area is generally Republican, with the exception of American Indian areas. The Makah tribe areas around Neah Bay are some of the most Democratic areas in the state. Otherwise, with the exception of a few locations (such as Blyn and Jamestown near Sequim), unincorporated Clallam County has a strong Republican lean.

Transportation

File:US 101 interchange WA 117 Clallam County.jpg

US Route 101 at the interchange with Washington State Route 117

Clallam Transit operates bus service between and within the towns of the county and to destinations outside Clallam County.

Major highways

File:US 101.svg U.S. Route 101

Airports

The following public use airports are located in the county:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

William R. Fairchild International Airport (CLM) – Port Angeles
Forks Airport (S18) – Forks
Quillayute Airport (UIL) – Quillayute / Forks
Sekiu Airport (11S) – Sekiu
Sequim Valley Airport (W28) – Sequim

Communities

File:Crossroads in Port Angeles.jpg

Crossroads in Port Angeles, Strait of Juan de Fuca and Vancouver Island in the background

Popular culture

The popular Twilight Saga novels and film series are set in Clallam County. The main storyline is set in Forks; however, the characters also visit neighboring Port Angeles.

The rural-comedy film series Ma and Pa Kettle (1949–1957) is set in a fictionalized Cape Flattery.

References

Template:Reflist

External links

Clallam County – official website
Template:Osmrelation
North Olympic Library System
Clallam County – Thumbnail History
University of Washington Libraries Digital Collections – The Pacific Northwest Olympic Peninsula Community Museum A web-based museum showcasing aspects of the rich history and culture of Washington State's Olympic Peninsula communities. Features cultural exhibits, curriculum packets and a searchable archive of over 12,000 items that includes historical photographs, audio recordings, videos, maps, diaries, reports and other documents.

Template:Geographic Location

Template:Clallam County, Washington Template:Washington

Template:Coord

Template:Authority control