Island County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, its population was 86,857.[1] Its county seat is Coupeville,[2] while its largest city is Oak Harbor.
Island County | |
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U.S. county | |
![]() Shoreline at Fort Ebey State Park within U.S. Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve on Whidbey Island | |
![]() Location within the U.S. state of Washington | |
![]() Washington's location within the U.S. | |
Coordinates: 48°09′N 122°35′W | |
Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
Founded | 1852 |
Seat | Coupeville |
Largest city | Oak Harbor |
Area | |
• Total | 517 sq mi (1,340 km2) |
• Land | 208 sq mi (540 km2) |
• Water | 309 sq mi (800 km2) 60% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 86,857 |
• Estimate (2021) | 87,432 ![]() |
• Density | 381/sq mi (147/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
Congressional district | 2nd |
Website | www |
The county's name reflects the fact that it is composed entirely of islands.[3] It contains two large islands, Whidbey and Camano, and seven smaller islands (Baby, Ben Ure, Deception, Kalamut, Minor, Smith, and Strawberry). Island County was created out of Thurston County on December 22, 1852, by the legislature of Oregon Territory,[4][5] and is the eighth-oldest county in Washington. It originally encompassed what are now Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, and San Juan Counties.
Island County comprises the Oak Harbor, Washington Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Seattle–Tacoma, WA Combined Statistical Area.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 517 square miles (1,340 km2), of which 208 square miles (540 km2) is land and 309 square miles (800 km2) (60%) is water.[6] It is the second smallest county in Washington by land area after San Juan, and second smallest by total area after Wahkiakum.
Historical population | |||
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Census | Pop. | %± | |
1860 | 294 | — | |
1870 | 626 | 112.9% | |
1880 | 1,087 | 73.6% | |
1890 | 1,787 | 64.4% | |
1900 | 1,870 | 4.6% | |
1910 | 4,704 | 151.6% | |
1920 | 5,489 | 16.7% | |
1930 | 5,369 | −2.2% | |
1940 | 6,098 | 13.6% | |
1950 | 11,079 | 81.7% | |
1960 | 19,638 | 77.3% | |
1970 | 27,011 | 37.5% | |
1980 | 44,048 | 63.1% | |
1990 | 60,195 | 36.7% | |
2000 | 71,558 | 18.9% | |
2010 | 78,506 | 9.7% | |
2020 | 86,857 | 10.6% | |
2021 (est.) | 87,432 | [7] | 0.7% |
U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10] 1990–2000[11] 2010–2020[1] |
As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 71,558 people, 27,784 households, and 20,254 families living in the county. The population density was 343 people per square mile (133/km2). There were 32,378 housing units at an average density of 155 per square mile (60/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 87.2% White, 2.4% Black or African American, 1.0% Native American, 4.2% Asian, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 1.4% from other races, and 3.4% from two or more races. 4.0% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.2% were of German, 11.2% English, 9.9% Irish, 7.2% United States or American and 6.0% Norwegian ancestry. 92.5% spoke English, 2.5% Spanish and 2.2% Tagalog as their first language.
There were 27,784 households, out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.2% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.1% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.5% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.9 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $45,513, and the median income for a family was $51,363. Males had a median income of $35,331 versus $25,612 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,472. About 5.1% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.
As of the 2010 census, there were 78,506 people, 32,746 households, and 22,156 families living in the county.[13] The population density was 376.6 inhabitants per square mile (145.4/km2). There were 40,234 housing units at an average density of 193.0 per square mile (74.5/km2).[14] The racial makeup of the county was 86.1% white, 4.4% Asian, 2.2% black or African American, 0.8% American Indian, 0.5% Pacific islander, 1.5% from other races, and 4.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.5% of the population.[13] The largest ancestry groups were:[15]
Of the 32,746 households, 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.3% were non-families, and 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.81. The median age was 43.2 years.[13]
The median income for a household in the county was $57,190 and the median income for a family was $68,106. Males had a median income of $46,801 versus $35,189 for females. The per capita income for the county was $29,079. About 5.7% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.[16]
The primary islands of Island County, Whidbey Island and Camano Island are served by a total of 3 Washington State Routes, those being SR 20 and SR 525 on Whidbey Island, and SR 532 on Camano Island. SR 20 enters Island County via the Port Townsend-Coupeville (Keystone) ferry route from the West, and departs via the Deception Pass Bridge in the North. SR 525 enters Island County from the East/South via the Mukilteo-Clinton ferry and terminates at an intersection with SR 20, South of Coupeville. SR 532 begins on Camano Island at Terry's Corner and departs Island County to the East via the Camano Gateway Bridge.
These islands are also served by a fare-free/pre-paid bus service called Island Transit.
Island County is divided in many ways between its north and south. While the north (Oak Harbor) is conservative – Donald Trump received almost 55 percent of the 2016 vote and carried most precincts – most southern and central precincts voted for Hillary Clinton.
The south-central area (Coupeville, Langley) voted over 50 percent for Clinton, just over 30 percent for Trump.[17]
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
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No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 22,746 | 42.18% | 29,213 | 54.17% | 1,966 | 3.65% |
2016 | 18,465 | 41.71% | 20,960 | 47.34% | 4,848 | 10.95% |
2012 | 19,605 | 46.27% | 21,478 | 50.69% | 1,289 | 3.04% |
2008 | 19,426 | 46.07% | 22,058 | 52.31% | 680 | 1.61% |
2004 | 19,754 | 51.20% | 18,216 | 47.22% | 610 | 1.58% |
2000 | 16,408 | 49.72% | 14,778 | 44.78% | 1,818 | 5.51% |
1996 | 12,387 | 43.52% | 12,157 | 42.71% | 3,920 | 13.77% |
1992 | 9,526 | 35.06% | 9,555 | 35.17% | 8,087 | 29.77% |
1988 | 12,552 | 58.78% | 8,510 | 39.85% | 291 | 1.36% |
1984 | 13,548 | 65.72% | 6,850 | 33.23% | 218 | 1.06% |
1980 | 10,926 | 58.87% | 5,422 | 29.21% | 2,211 | 11.91% |
1976 | 7,804 | 55.33% | 5,859 | 41.54% | 441 | 3.13% |
1972 | 7,495 | 68.12% | 3,149 | 28.62% | 359 | 3.26% |
1968 | 4,077 | 50.96% | 3,238 | 40.48% | 685 | 8.56% |
1964 | 3,044 | 43.49% | 3,946 | 56.38% | 9 | 0.13% |
1960 | 3,596 | 59.01% | 2,470 | 40.53% | 28 | 0.46% |
1956 | 3,196 | 61.20% | 2,009 | 38.47% | 17 | 0.33% |
1952 | 2,901 | 61.68% | 1,772 | 37.68% | 30 | 0.64% |
1948 | 1,805 | 49.05% | 1,694 | 46.03% | 181 | 4.92% |
1944 | 1,487 | 46.66% | 1,662 | 52.15% | 38 | 1.19% |
1940 | 1,371 | 44.85% | 1,626 | 53.19% | 60 | 1.96% |
1936 | 921 | 32.74% | 1,687 | 59.97% | 205 | 7.29% |
1932 | 803 | 30.17% | 1,517 | 56.99% | 342 | 12.85% |
1928 | 1,487 | 71.25% | 556 | 26.64% | 44 | 2.11% |
1924 | 832 | 46.25% | 114 | 6.34% | 853 | 47.42% |
1920 | 883 | 51.19% | 285 | 16.52% | 557 | 32.29% |
1916 | 804 | 43.58% | 855 | 46.34% | 186 | 10.08% |
1912 | 332 | 21.11% | 310 | 19.71% | 931 | 59.19% |
1908 | 450 | 58.21% | 192 | 24.84% | 131 | 16.95% |
1904 | 424 | 71.99% | 83 | 14.09% | 82 | 13.92% |
1900 | 263 | 62.62% | 123 | 29.29% | 34 | 8.10% |
1896 | 206 | 50.86% | 191 | 47.16% | 8 | 1.98% |
1892 | 161 | 40.66% | 127 | 32.07% | 108 | 27.27% |
Juniper Beach, a wedding ceremony locale in past years,[19] has given its name to the Juniper Beach Water District.[20]
Places adjacent to Island County, Washington | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities of Island County, Washington, United States | ||
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County seat: Coupeville | ||
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