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Jefferson County, Washington

Coordinates: 47°50′N 123°35′W / 47.84°N 123.58°W / 47.84; -123.58
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Jefferson County
County
Jefferson County Courthouse in Port Townsend
Jefferson County Courthouse in Port Townsend
Map of Washington highlighting Jefferson County
Location within the U.S. state of Washington
Map of the United States highlighting Washington
Washington's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 47°50′N 123°35′W / 47.84°N 123.58°W / 47.84; -123.58
Country United States
State Washington
FoundedDecember 22, 1852
Named forThomas Jefferson
SeatPort Townsend
Largest cityPort Townsend
Area
 • Total2,183 sq mi (5,650 km2)
 • Land1,804 sq mi (4,670 km2)
 • Water379 sq mi (980 km2)  17%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total32,977
 • Estimate 
(2023)
33,714 Increase
 • Density17/sq mi (7/km2)
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
Congressional district6th
Websiteco.jefferson.wa.us

Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, the population was 32,977.[1] The county seat and only incorporated city is Port Townsend.[2] The county is named for Thomas Jefferson.[3]

Jefferson County was formed out of Thurston County on December 22, 1852, by the legislature of Oregon Territory,[4] and included the northern 4,854-square-mile (12,571.8 km2) portion of the Olympic Peninsula. On April 26, 1854, the legislature of Washington Territory created Clallam County from the northwestern 2,670-square-mile (6,915.3 km2) portion of this original area.

The Hood Canal Bridge connects Jefferson County to Kitsap County, Washington. The Coupeville-Port Townsend route of the Washington State Ferries connects the county to Whidbey Island in Island County, Washington.

Geography

[edit]
Ruby Beach, Kalaloch Area

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,183 square miles (5,650 km2), of which 1,804 square miles (4,670 km2) is land and 379 square miles (980 km2) (17%) is water.[5]

The county is split in three parts by its landforms:

Because of the mountainous barrier, there is no road lying entirely within Jefferson County that connects the eastern and western parts. The most direct land route between the two ends of the county involves a drive of approximately 100 miles (160 km) along U.S. Route 101 through neighbouring Clallam County. The mountains also block the damp Chinook winds, which make the climate much wetter in the west than the so-called eastern "banana belt" in the rain shadow.

Geographic features

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Hoh River in the Olympic National Park

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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National protected areas

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1860531—
18701,268138.8%
18801,71235.0%
18908,368388.8%
19005,712−31.7%
19108,33746.0%
19206,557−21.4%
19308,34627.3%
19408,9186.9%
195011,61830.3%
19609,639−17.0%
197010,66110.6%
198015,96549.8%
199020,14626.2%
200025,95328.8%
201029,87215.1%
202032,97710.4%
2023 (est.)33,714[6]2.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2020[1]

Jefferson County also comprises the entirety of the Port Townsend micropolitan statistical area, which is designated by the U.S. Census Bureau. As of 2023, the county's median age of 60.8 years old is the second-highest among metropolitan and micropolitan areas in the country, behind The Villages, Florida.[11]

2010 census

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As of the 2010 census, there were 29,872 people, 14,049 households, and 8,394 families living in the county.[12] The population density was 16.6 inhabitants per square mile (6.4/km2). There were 17,767 housing units at an average density of 9.9 per square mile (3.8/km2).[13] The racial makeup of the county was 91.0% white, 2.3% American Indian, 1.6% Asian, 0.8% black or African American, 0.2% Pacific islander, 0.7% from other races, and 3.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.8% of the population.[12] In terms of ancestry, 20.8% were English, 20.3% were German, 13.9% were Irish, 8.3% were Norwegian, 5.9% were Scottish, and 4.2% were American.[14]

Of the 14,049 households, 18.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 40.3% were non-families, and 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.57. The median age was 53.9 years.[12]

The median income for a household in the county was $46,048 and the median income for a family was $59,964. Males had a median income of $45,616 versus $29,508 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,528. About 8.9% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.8% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.[15]

2000 census

[edit]

As of the 2000 census, there were 25,953 people, 11,645 households, and 7,580 families living in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (5.4 people/km2). There were 14,144 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3.1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.17% White, 0.42% Black or African American, 2.31% Native American, 1.19% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 0.76% from other races, and 3.02% from two or more races. 2.06% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.4% were of German, 14.8% English, 9.9% Irish and 7.5% Norwegian ancestry. 97.1% spoke English and 1.0% Spanish as their first language.

There were 11,645 households, out of which 23.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.60% were married couples living together, 8.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.90% were non-families. 28.50% 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 2.21 and the average family size was 2.67.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 19.80% under the age of 18, 5.00% from 18 to 24, 21.60% from 25 to 44, 32.50% from 45 to 64, and 21.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 95.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,869, and the median income for a family was $45,415. Males had a median income of $37,210 versus $25,831 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,211. About 7.20% of families and 11.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.60% of those under age 18 and 6.00% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

[edit]
Port Townsend Bay as seen from a ferry
US Route 101 in Jefferson County

Jefferson County is a dominant Democratic area, with Democrats having carried the county in every election cycle since Ronald Reagan's landslide victory in 1980. In 2016, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton won the county 60.62% to Donald Trump's 28.91%.[16] As of 2020 it is located in Washington's 6th congressional district and in the 24th of Washington state legislative districts.

Because of the barrier dividing the county, the populations and economies differ between the eastern and western halves of Jefferson County. The contrasts are notable as the west portion is more dependent on logging, somewhat less prosperous, and having fewer people for roughly the same area. Areas of East Jefferson County located south of Port Townsend remain largely rural and can be divided into two parts, those communities located on the Hood Canal and those on the Admiralty Inlet. Perennial discussions and attempts to separate the west half from the east half gained little support during the twentieth century.

The county seat, Port Townsend, casts a significant number of votes and gave Obama 82% of its votes in the 2012 General Election (source: www.wa.gov). Areas outside of Port Townsend (such as Cape George) gave Obama 2-to-1 victory margins. Democrats also do well in many of the small towns of northern Jefferson County, with strong Democratic leans in Coyle, Discovery Bay, Gardiner, and Nordland, as well as in the towns just southeast of Port Townsend such as Chimacum, Irondale, Kala Point, and Port Hadlock. Democrats also perform strongly in the sparsely populated western part of the county, where much of the population is Native American.

Republicans tend to win victories in several parts of the county, particularly the rural areas in the southeast part of the county including Center, Crocker Lake, Brinnon, and Quilcene. Although it has trended Democratic in recent years, Port Ludlow — an affluent area that casts a notable number of votes — still has a Republican lean.

United States presidential election results for Jefferson County, Washington[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 3,782 23.12% 12,172 74.41% 405 2.48%
2020 6,931 27.96% 17,204 69.39% 657 2.65%
2016 6,037 28.91% 12,656 60.62% 2,186 10.47%
2012 6,405 32.09% 12,739 63.82% 817 4.09%
2008 6,330 31.46% 13,252 65.85% 541 2.69%
2004 6,650 35.66% 11,610 62.25% 390 2.09%
2000 6,095 38.50% 8,281 52.30% 1,457 9.20%
1996 4,607 32.63% 7,145 50.61% 2,367 16.76%
1992 3,467 26.79% 6,148 47.50% 3,327 25.71%
1988 4,184 43.42% 5,270 54.69% 182 1.89%
1984 4,543 48.67% 4,602 49.30% 189 2.02%
1980 3,645 44.61% 3,279 40.13% 1,246 15.25%
1976 2,794 45.86% 2,913 47.82% 385 6.32%
1972 2,770 53.49% 2,096 40.47% 313 6.04%
1968 1,827 40.55% 2,251 49.97% 427 9.48%
1964 1,432 32.14% 3,012 67.59% 12 0.27%
1960 2,103 48.83% 2,197 51.01% 7 0.16%
1956 2,300 56.69% 1,750 43.14% 7 0.17%
1952 2,355 54.70% 1,933 44.90% 17 0.39%
1948 1,610 43.80% 1,911 51.99% 155 4.22%
1944 1,415 43.38% 1,829 56.07% 18 0.55%
1940 1,540 42.13% 2,083 56.99% 32 0.88%
1936 1,063 31.04% 2,279 66.54% 83 2.42%
1932 952 29.14% 1,994 61.03% 321 9.83%
1928 1,472 63.83% 810 35.13% 24 1.04%
1924 913 51.79% 143 8.11% 707 40.10%
1920 1,128 61.57% 322 17.58% 382 20.85%
1916 1,094 51.80% 861 40.77% 157 7.43%
1912 636 27.34% 642 27.60% 1,048 45.06%
1908 859 63.16% 417 30.66% 84 6.18%
1904 962 73.60% 283 21.65% 62 4.74%
1900 684 61.73% 392 35.38% 32 2.89%
1896 704 56.32% 536 42.88% 10 0.80%
1892 610 43.85% 665 47.81% 116 8.34%

Economy

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The largest private employer in Jefferson County is the Port Townsend Paper Mill.[18] The largest employer overall (private and public) is Jefferson Healthcare, which operates Jefferson Healthcare Hospital.[19]

Communities

[edit]
Port Townsend and Admiralty Inlet

City

[edit]

Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 168.
  4. ^ Reinartz, Kay. "History of King County Government 1853–2002" (PDF). p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 25, 2009. Retrieved December 28, 2007.
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 5, 2015.
  6. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 26, 2015. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  11. ^ Balk, Gene (July 3, 2024). "Declining number of kids in nearly all areas of WA". The Seattle Times. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  12. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  13. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  14. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  15. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  16. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  17. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  18. ^ McClary, Daryl C. "Jefferson County – Thumbnail History". History Ink. Retrieved July 7, 2012.
  19. ^ Bermant, Charlie (September 14, 2010). "Hospital's new CEO highest paid public official in Jefferson County". The Peninsula Daily News. Retrieved July 7, 2012.
[edit]

47°50′N 123°35′W / 47.84°N 123.58°W / 47.84; -123.58

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