Whitman County, Washington

Whitman County, Washington
Map of Washington highlighting Whitman County
Location in the state of Washington
Map of the United States highlighting Washington
Washington's location in the U.S.
Founded November 29, 1871
Named for Marcus Whitman
Seat Colfax
Largest city Pullman
Area
 • Total 2,178 sq mi (5,641 km2)
 • Land 2,159 sq mi (5,592 km2)
 • Water 19 sq mi (49 km2), 0.9%
Population (est.)
 • (2015) 48,177
 • Density 22/sq mi (8/km²)
Congressional district 5th
Time zone Pacific: UTC-8/-7
Website www.whitmancounty.org

Whitman County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2010 census, the population was 44,776.[1] The county seat is Colfax,[2] and its largest city is Pullman. The county was formed out of Stevens County on November 29, 1871.[3] It is named after Marcus Whitman, a Presbyterian missionary who, with his wife Narcissa, was killed in 1847 by members of the Cayuse tribe.

Whitman County comprises the Pullman, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,178 square miles (5,640 km2), of which 2,159 square miles (5,590 km2) is land and 19 square miles (49 km2) (0.9%) is water.[4] Whitman County is part of the Palouse, a wide and rolling prairie-like region of the middle Columbia basin.

Rivers

Lakes and reservoirs

Summits and peaks

Notable parks

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18807,014—
189019,109172.4%
190025,36032.7%
191033,28031.2%
192031,323−5.9%
193028,014−10.6%
194027,221−2.8%
195032,46919.3%
196031,263−3.7%
197037,90021.2%
198040,1035.8%
199038,775−3.3%
200040,7405.1%
201044,7769.9%
Est. 201548,177[5]7.6%
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 40,740 people, 15,257 households, and 8,055 families residing in the county. The population density was 19 people per square mile (7/km²). There were 16,676 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.07% White, 1.53% Black or African American, 0.73% Native American, 5.55% Asian, 0.27% Pacific Islander, 1.22% from other races, and 2.63% from two or more races. 2.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 21.9% were of German, 9.8% English, 8.6% Irish, 8.3% United States or American and 6.6% Norwegian ancestry.

There were 15,257 households out of which 24.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.20% were married couples living together, 6.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.20% were non-families. 29.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.10% 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 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out with 18.10% under the age of 18, 32.60% from 18 to 24, 24.00% from 25 to 44, 16.00% from 45 to 64, and 9.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 102.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,584, and the median income for a family was $44,830. Males had a median income of $33,381 versus $27,046 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,298. About 11.00% of families and 25.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.50% of those under age 18 and 5.50% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 44,776 people, 17,468 households, and 8,130 families residing in the county.[11] The population density was 20.7 inhabitants per square mile (8.0/km2). There were 19,323 housing units at an average density of 8.9 per square mile (3.4/km2).[12] The racial makeup of the county was 84.6% white, 7.8% Asian, 1.7% black or African American, 0.7% American Indian, 0.2% Pacific islander, 1.4% from other races, and 3.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.6% of the population.[11] In terms of ancestry, 29.4% were German, 14.5% were English, 13.4% were Irish, 7.1% were Norwegian, and 4.1% were American.[13]

Of the 17,468 households, 20.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.4% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 53.5% were non-families, and 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.86. The median age was 24.4 years.[11]

The median income for a household in the county was $36,368 and the median income for a family was $61,598. Males had a median income of $46,663 versus $34,496 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,506. About 10.7% of families and 27.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.3% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.[14]

Politics

Whitman County vote
by party in presidential elections
Year Republican Democratic
2012 49.3% 8,507 46.5% 8,037
2008 46.1% 8,104 51.6% 9,070
2004 52.2% 9,397 46.0% 8,287
2000 55.5% 9,003 40.1% 6,509
1996 42.4% 6,734 45.7% 7,262
1992 36.8% 6,428 43.7% 7,637
1988 50.1% 7,680 48.3% 7,403
1984 59.5% 10,021 39.3% 6,621
1980 50.7% 8,636 33.6% 5,726
1976 54.2% 8,168 41.1% 6,197
1972 58.7% 9,548 38.4% 6,248
1968 56.6% 7,810 37.8% 5,218
1964 50.0% 6,765 49.9% 6,760
1960 59.6% 8,069 40.3% 5,458

The county is traditionally Republican, and as part of Washington's 5th congressional district it is represented by Republican Cathy McMorris Rodgers. Whitman was one of only three counties in the state to be won by Barry Goldwater in 1964. Since that election, the county has been won by the winning candidate in all but two presidential elections, 1976 and 2012. Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush all won the county twice.

In 2008, Barack Obama received 51.57% of the Whitman County vote,[15] but in 2012, he received 46.9% of the vote, with Mitt Romney winning with a 49.7% plurality.[16] The county shows polarized voting patterns. Pullman, a university city, voted 62% for President Obama, and the agrarian remainder of the County voted 68% for Romney (source: www.wa.gov). Surprisingly, Whitman was the only county in eastern Washington to approve same-sex marriage via Referendum 74, and it was the only county to vote in favor of Referendum 74 while voting against Barack Obama. Whitman County voters also approved marijuana legalization via Initiative 502.

Economy

Whitman County has highly productive agriculture. According to Heart of Washington, Whitman County produces more barley, wheat, dry peas, and lentils than any other county in the United States.[17]

The county is also home to Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories in Pullman.

Education

Pullman is home to Washington State University, the state's land-grant university.

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

Images

Communities

Geography

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 8, 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 16, 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 8, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 8, 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 2016-03-06.
  11. ↑ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
  12. ↑ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
  13. ↑ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
  14. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections - Compare Maps". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  15. ↑ "2012 Washington state election results". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  16. ↑ Heart of Washington.com

External links

Wikisource has the text of the 1879 American Cyclopædia article Whitman.
 Lincoln County Spokane County Benewah County, Idaho
Adams County Latah County, Idaho
   Whitman County, Washington  
Franklin County Columbia County and Garfield County Nez Perce County, Idaho and Asotin County

Coordinates: 46°53′N 117°31′W / 46.89°N 117.52°W / 46.89; -117.52

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