Garfield County, Washington

Infobox U.S. County
county = Garfield County
state = Washington


map size = 225
founded = November 29, 1881
seat = Pomeroy
area_total_sq_mi =718
area_land_sq_mi =711
area_water_sq_mi =8
area percentage = 1.06%
census yr = 2000
pop = 2397
density_km2 =1
web =

Garfield County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of 2000, the population was 2,397, making it the least populous in the state. The county seat is at Pomeroy, the county's only city. It was named after U.S. President James A. Garfield.

Garfield County was created out of Columbia County on November 29, 1881. [http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=5380]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 718 square miles (1,860 km²), of which, 711 square miles (1,840 km²) of it is land and 8 square miles (20 km²) of it (1.06%) is water. It is part of the Palouse, a wide and rolling prairie-like region of the middle Columbia basin.

Geographic features

*Snake River
*Sagebrush

Major highways

*U.S. Route 12

Adjacent counties

*Whitman County, Washington - north
*Asotin County, Washington - east
*Wallowa County, Oregon - south
*Columbia County, Washington - west

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 2,397 people, 987 households, and 670 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 1,288 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.45% White, 0.38% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.38% from other races, and 1.08% from two or more races. 1.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 28.8% were of German, 17.9% United States or American, 10.6% English and 9.5% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 99.2% spoke English as their first language.

There were 987 households out of which 28.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% were married couples living together, 6.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.10% were non-families. 28.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county, the population was spread out with 25.90% under the age of 18, 5.40% from 18 to 24, 21.90% from 25 to 44, 25.90% from 45 to 64, and 20.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 97.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,398, and the median income for a family was $41,645. Males had a median income of $33,313 versus $22,132 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,992. About 12.00% of families and 14.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.10% of those under age 18 and 10.20% of those age 65 or over.

City

*Pomeroy

Other communities

*Gould City
*Pataha
*Ping

References

External links

* [http://www.historylink.org/results.cfm?searchfield=county&keyword=Garfield&Submit=Search+by+County Garfield County, Washington] at HistoryLink.org