Asotin County, Washington

Asotin County, Washington

Asotin County Courthouse
Map of Washington highlighting Asotin County
Location in the state of Washington
Map of the United States highlighting Washington
Washington's location in the U.S.
Founded October 27, 1883
Seat Asotin
Largest city Clarkston
Area
 • Total 641 sq mi (1,660 km2)
 • Land 636 sq mi (1,647 km2)
 • Water 4.4 sq mi (11 km2), 0.7%
Population (est.)
 • (2015) 22,105
 • Density 35/sq mi (14/km²)
Congressional district 5th
Time zone Pacific: UTC-8/-7
Website www.co.asotin.wa.us

Asotin County /əˈsoʊtən/ is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2010 census, the population was 21,623.[1] The county seat is at Asotin,[2] and its largest city is Clarkston. The county was created out of Garfield County on October 27, 1883[3] and derives its name from a Nez Perce word meaning "Eel Creek".

Asotin County is part of the Lewiston, ID-WA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of both Nez Perce County, Idaho, and Asotin County.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 641 square miles (1,660 km2), of which 636 square miles (1,650 km2) is land and 4.4 square miles (11 km2) (0.7%) is water.[4] It is the fifth-smallest county in Washington by total area. It is part of the Palouse, a wide and rolling prairie-like region of the middle Columbia basin.

Geographic features

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18901,580—
19003,366113.0%
19105,83173.2%
19206,53912.1%
19308,13624.4%
19408,3652.8%
195010,87830.0%
196012,90918.7%
197013,7996.9%
198016,82321.9%
199017,6054.6%
200020,55116.7%
201021,6235.2%
Est. 201522,105[5]2.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010–2015[1]

2000 census

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 20,551 people, 8,364 households, and 5,654 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile (12/km²). There were 9,111 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.62% White, 0.19% Black or African American, 1.27% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.63% from other races, and 1.77% from two or more races. 1.95% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 25.9% were of German, 12.4% English, 11.9% Irish and 11.0% United States or American ancestry. 97.9% spoke English and 1.6% Spanish as their first language.

There were 8,364 households out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.40% were married couples living together, 11.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.40% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out with 25.50% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 26.10% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 16.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,524, and the median income for a family was $40,592. Males had a median income of $35,810 versus $22,218 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,748. About 11.60% of families and 15.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.70% of those under age 18 and 6.70% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 21,623 people, 9,236 households, and 5,914 families residing in the county.[11] The population density was 34.0 inhabitants per square mile (13.1/km2). There were 9,872 housing units at an average density of 15.5 per square mile (6.0/km2).[12] The racial makeup of the county was 94.3% white, 1.4% American Indian, 0.5% Asian, 0.4% black or African American, 0.2% Pacific islander, 0.8% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.0% of the population.[11] In terms of ancestry, 32.4% were German, 14.8% were Irish, 13.7% were English, 7.5% were American, and 6.2% were Norwegian.[13]

Of the 9,236 households, 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.5% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.0% were non-families, and 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.83. The median age was 43.5 years.[11]

The median income for a household in the county was $41,665 and the median income for a family was $52,250. Males had a median income of $39,633 versus $28,475 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,731. About 9.9% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.[14]

Politics

Generally, Asotin County is considered a staunchly Republican area, although it has been known to vote for Democrats, especially on the state level. Currently the county is represented at the county level by two Democrats and one Republican.

In the 2004 Presidential election gave slightly over 60 percent of the vote to Republican George W. Bush. It was one of 11 of Washington's 39 counties where Bush received a lower percentage of the vote in 2004 than in 2000. Conversely, even though nearly 60 percent of voters selected the Democratic Governor Gary Locke in 2000, in 2004 the Democratic gubernatorial nominee Christine Gregoire received only 41 percent of the vote.

In 2004, 27% of presidential votes were cast from incorporated Clarkston, while 61% was from unincorporated suburbs of Clarkston (34% from Clarkston Heights, 12% from West Clarkston, 9% from South Clarkston, and 6% from Swallows Nest). An additional 6% was cast from the incorporated city of Asotin, with rural areas around Asotin accounting for 4% of the vote and areas around the unincorporated community of Anatone making up 2% of the vote.

By and large, the most competitive areas are Clarkston and its suburbs. Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry won two precincts in 2004, one each in Clarkston and West Clarkston. Bush received 54 percent of the vote in West Clarkston, 55 in Clarkston, and 57 percent in South Clarkston. However, he received larger victories of 64 percent in Clarkston Heights and 67 percent in Swallows Nest. Areas around both Asotin and Anatone delivered 2-to-1 victories, with the lone exception of one of the two incorporated Asotin precincts.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

See also

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  5. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  9. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  10. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-03-01.
  11. ↑ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-03-01.
  12. ↑ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-03-01.
  13. ↑ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-03-01.

Further reading

Images

External links

 Whitman County
Garfield County Nez Perce County, Idaho
   Asotin County, Washington  
Wallowa County, Oregon

Coordinates: 46°11′N 117°11′W / 46.18°N 117.19°W / 46.18; -117.19

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