Skagit County is a county in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2010 census, the population was 116,901. The county seat and largest city is Mount Vernon. The county was formed in 1883 from Whatcom County and is named for the Skagit Indian tribe, which has been indigenous to the area prior to European-American settlement.
Skagit County comprises the Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is included in the Seattle-Tacoma, WA Combined Statistical Area. It is located in the Puget Sound region.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,920 square miles (5,000Â km2), of which 1,731 square miles (4,480Â km2) is land and 189 square miles (490Â km2) (9.8%) is water. It is noted for its broad, fertile valley of the Skagit River, a center for cultivation of tulips and strawberries.
Geographic features
Adjacent counties
- Whatcom County â€" north
- Okanogan County â€" east
- Chelan County â€" southeast
- Snohomish County â€" south
- Island County â€" southwest
- San Juan County â€" west
National protected areas
- Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest (part)
- North Cascades National Park (part)
- Ross Lake National Recreation Area (part)
- Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail (part)
Demographics
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 102,979 people, 38,852 households, and 27,351 families residing in the county. The population density was 59 people per square mile (23/km²). There were 42,681 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 86.49% White, 0.44% Black or African American, 1.85% Native American, 1.49% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 7.17% from other races, and 2.40% from two or more races. 11.20% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 13.9% were of German, 11.2% English, 9.2% Norwegian, 8.2% Irish and 6.7% United States or American ancestry.
Three Salish Native American tribes have reservations in the county: the Swinomish, Upper Skagit, and Samish.
There were 38,852 households out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.60% were married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.60% were non-families. 23.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the county, the population was spread out with 26.30% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,381, and the median income for a family was $48,347. Males had a median income of $37,207 versus $26,123 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,256. About 7.90% of families and 11.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.50% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 116,901Â people, 45,557Â households, and 30,656Â families residing in the county. The population density was 67.5 inhabitants per square mile (26.1/km2). There were 51,473 housing units at an average density of 29.7 per square mile (11.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 83.4% white, 2.2% American Indian, 1.8% Asian, 0.7% black or African American, 0.2% Pacific islander, 8.7% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 16.9% of the population. The largest ancestry groups were:
17.8% German
14.9% Mexican
13.7% English
11.4% Irish
8.3% Norwegian
4.8% Swedish
4.3% Dutch
3.9% American
3.9% French
3.2% Italian
3.1% Scottish
2.3% Scotch-Irish
1.5% Polish
1.3% Welsh
1.2% Spanish
1.2% Danish
1.1% Russian
Of the 45,557Â households, 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.7% were non-families, and 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.01. The median age was 40.1 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $54,811 and the median income for a family was $63,468. Males had a median income of $48,979 versus $34,628 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,925. About 7.4% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.0% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Skagit County's government is headed by three commissioners, in the system laid out in the state constitution for all counties without charters. Commissioners are "nominated" in the primary by their district, but then are elected in the general by a county-wide vote. Commissioners are therefore said to represent the entire county, and not just their district.
The current Skagit County commissioners include Lisa Janicki, a Democrat from District 3, which encompasses Burlington east of Interstate 5, Sedro-Woolley, and the rest of eastern Skagit County; Ken Dahlstedt, a Democrat from District 2, which covers Mount Vernon, Conway, and south county; and Ron Wesen, a Republican from District 1, which includes Anacortes, La Conner, and that area of the county west of Interstate 5 and north of McLean Road.
County conservation efforts
In 2006, the Skagit County Marine Resources Committee commissioned a study to evaluate establishing one or more no-take marine reserves to protect rockfish and other groundfish from overfishing.
Transportation
Skagit Transit provides bus service in Skagit County. It also provides connections to Everett, Bellingham, Whidbey Island and Camano Island. Skagit Transit also operates the Guemes Island ferry linking Anacortes, Washington to Guemes Island.
Major highways
- Interstate 5
- State Route 9
- State Route 20
Communities
Cities
- Anacortes
- Burlington
- Mount Vernon
- Sedro-Woolley
Towns
- Concrete
- Hamilton
- La Conner
- Lyman
Census-designated places
Unincorporated communities
Reservations
- Swinomish Indian Reservation
- Upper Skagit Indian Reservation
- Samish Indian Reservation
Ghost Towns
- Ehrlich
- Skagit City
- Whitney
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Skagit County, Washington
- Equality Colony
Footnotes
Further reading
- An Illustrated History of Skagit and Snohomish Counties, Washington, Their People, Their Commerce and Their Resources: With an Outline of the Early History of the State of Washington. Chicago: Interstate Publishing Co., 1906.
External links
- Official Skagit County website
- Independent Skagit County Website
- Skagit County, Washington at DMOZ