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Washington County
County
From top, left to right: Washington County courthouse, Meier Road Barn, a canola field in rural Washington County
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Oregon
Oregon's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 45°34′N 123°05′W / 45.56°N 123.09°W / 45.56; -123.09
Country	United States
State	Oregon
Founded	July 5, 1843 (as Twality District)
Named for	George Washington
Seat	Hillsboro
Largest city	Hillsboro
Area
• Total	726 sq mi (1,880 km)
• Land	724 sq mi (1,880 km)
• Water	2.2 sq mi (6 km)  0.3%
Population
• Total	600,372
• Estimate	598,865
• Density	830/sq mi (320/km)
Time zone	UTC−8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (PDT)
Congressional districts	1st, 6th
Website	washingtoncountyor.gov

Washington County is one of 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon and part of the Portland metropolitan area. The 2020 census recorded the population as 600,372, making it the second most populous county in the state and most populous "Washington County" in the United States. Hillsboro is the county seat and largest city, while other major cities include Beaverton, Tigard, Cornelius, Banks, Gaston, Sherwood, North Plains, and Forest Grove, the county's oldest city. Originally named Twality when created in 1843, the Oregon Territorial Legislature renamed it for the nation's first president in 1849 and included the entire northwest corner of Oregon before new counties were created in 1854. The Tualatin River and its drainage basin lie almost entirely within the county, which shares its boundaries with the Tualatin Valley. It is bordered on the west and north by the Northern Oregon Coast Range, on the south by the Chehalem Mountains, and on the north and east by the Tualatin Mountains, or West Hills.

Major roads include sections of Interstate 5 and 205, the Sunset Highway, Oregon Route 217, 47, 10, 6 and 8. Public transportation is primarily operated by TriMet and includes buses, the Westside Express Service commuter rail, and MAX Light Rail. Other transportation includes air travel at Hillsboro Airport, private airfields and heliports, and heavy rail cargo on rail lines.

History

The Provisional Legislature of Oregon created the county as Twality District on July 5, 1843. Twality was one of the original four districts of the Provisional Government of Oregon in Oregon Country along with Clackamas, Champooick (later Marion), and Yamhill counties. Columbia, later known as Hillsboro, was selected as the county seat in 1850. Washington County lost significant portions of its original area when Columbia and Multnomah counties were created in 1854. The county area was increased by 160 acres (65 ha) in 2014 when a section of Multnomah County was attached to Washington. The area was returned to Washington County to allow for property development.

The construction of Canyon Road to Beaverton helped Portland to consolidate its position as the primary port of Oregon, and defeat the rival efforts of settlements such as Oregon City and Milwaukie.

In November 2004, the County and the City of Beaverton agreed to a plan where the city would annex both unincorporated residential neighborhoods as well as high-value areas of land. This would result with Cedar Hills, Garden Home, Raleigh Hills, West Slope being incorporated by 2010, and the communities of Aloha, Bethany, and Cedar Mill at some point after that.

Those plans have since been put on hold after Beaverton attempted to annex Nike, Inc.'s World Headquarters, which would have increased Nike's taxes substantially. Nike successfully lobbied the legislature for a law that would prohibit their annexation for 99 years. Since that decision, annexation plans have been halted, and Washington County started urban planning to provide city-level services to the unincorporated urban areas in the county.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 726 square miles (1,880 km), of which 724 square miles (1,880 km) is land and 2.2 square miles (5.7 km) (0.3%) is water. It is located approximately 20 miles (32 km) to the west of Portland. The Portland Metro Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) bisects the county. The county's highest point is South Saddle Mountain at 3,464 feet (1,056 m) above sea level in the Northern Oregon Coast Range.

Most of the county is in the Tualatin Valley, formed by the Tualatin Mountains to the east and north, the Chehalem Mountains to the south, and the Northern Oregon Coast Range to the west and north. The Tualatin River, located almost entirely within the county, flows through the Tualatin Plains. The northern and western portions of the county are forested, while the remainder of the county includes urban areas, agricultural lands, and floodplains.

Waterways

The Tualatin River is the main river in Washington County. Henry Hagg Lake, southwest of Forest Grove, is the largest lake. The Willamette River lies to the east, the Columbia River to the northeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the west of the county.

Adjacent counties

• Clatsop County - northwest
• Columbia County - north
• Multnomah County - east
• Clackamas County - southeast
• Yamhill County - south
• Tillamook County - west

Major highways

• Interstate 5 (freeway)
• Interstate 205 (freeway)
• U.S. Route 26 (freeway for part)
• Oregon Route 6
• Oregon Route 8
• Oregon Route 10
• Oregon Route 47
• Oregon Route 99W
• Oregon Route 210
• Oregon Route 217 (freeway)
• Oregon Route 219

National protected areas

• Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Aviation

• Apple Valley Airport
• Bernard's Airport
• Hillsboro Airport
• Skyport Airport
• Stark's Twin Oaks Airpark
• Sunset Air Strip

Demographics

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 529,710 people, 200,934 households, and 134,323 families residing in the county. The population density was 731.4 inhabitants per square mile (282.4/km). There were 212,450 housing units at an average density of 293.3 per square mile (113.2/km). The racial makeup of the county was 76.6% white, 8.6% Asian, 1.8% black or African American, 0.7% American Indian, 0.5% Pacific islander, 7.5% from other races, and 4.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 15.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 20.8% were German, 12.4% were English, 12.1% were Irish, and 3.2% were American.

Of the 200,934 households, 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.2% were non-families, and 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.14. The median age was 35.3 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $62,574 and the median income for a family was $76,778. Males had a median income of $54,417 versus $40,254 for females. The per capita income for the county was $30,522. About 6.7% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 445,342 people, 169,162 households, and 114,015 families in the county. The population density was 615 people per square mile (237 people/km). There were 178,913 housing units at an average density of 247 units per square mile (95/km). The racial makeup of the county was 82.19% White, 1.15% Black or African American, 0.65% Native American, 6.68% Asian, 0.30% Pacific Islander, 5.86% from other races, and 3.17% from two or more races. 11.17% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.2% were of German, 9.9% English, 8.2% Irish, and 6.7% American ancestry. 81.7% spoke only English at home, while 9.6% spoke Spanish and 1.2% Vietnamese.

There were 169,162 households, out of which 35.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.50% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.60% were non-families. 24.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.14.

The county population contained 26.90% under the age of 18, 9.30% from 18 to 24, 34.10% from 25 to 44, 20.90% from 45 to 64, and 8.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $52,122, and the median income for a family was $61,499. Males had a median income of $43,304 versus $31,074 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,969. About 4.90% of families and 7.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.30% of those under age 18 and 5.30% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The county is governed by an elected board of five commissioners. The county is divided into four commissioner districts. One commissioner sits for each district, and the fifth commissioner is at-large and is the chair of the board.

Politics

Like all of the Yankee-influenced Willamette Valley and Oregon Coast, Washington County was in its pre-Depression history strongly Republican. After Oregon achieved statehood in 1859, Washington County voted for the Republican presidential nominee in every presidential election from 1860 to 1928, except in the 1912 presidential election when the county supported Progressive Party candidate and former Republican president Theodore Roosevelt. In 1932, Franklin D. Roosevelt became the first-ever Democrat to win the Washington County vote, and he repeated this success in 1936 and 1940. Between 1944 and 1988, Washington County was never won by a Democrat except in Lyndon B. Johnson's landslide victory in 1964. As recently as 1976, Washington County was the second-most Republican county in the state behind Malheur County in southeast Oregon. Gerald Ford's 17,529-vote margin of victory in the county was decisive in narrowly carrying the state of Oregon during that year's presidential election.

Since the 1990s, the increasing drift of the Republican Party nationally towards the South and evangelicalism, along with urbanization, has resulted in Washington County shifting strongly towards the Democratic Party. No Republican presidential candidate has carried Washington County since George H. W. Bush did so in 1988, and in four of the past five presidential elections, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris all prevailed the county by over twenty percentage points. The last Republican to win a statewide election in Washington County was Gordon H. Smith in the 2002 Senate contest. In the 2008 Senatorial election, Democrat Jeff Merkley won 48.8 percent of the county's vote (111,367) while Republican incumbent Smith won 46.5 percent (106,114), but no subsequent Republican Senate candidate has won 40 percent of the county's votes. In the 2020 presidential election, Biden hit 65.5% of the county's vote, the highest ever for a Democratic presidential nominee.

Economy

Washington County is centered on a fertile plain that attracted farmers before the first wagon trains. In 1997, orchards covered 8,403 acres (34.01 km) of the county's lands and 1,163 acres (4.71 km) were devoted to vineyards. Agriculture is still a major industry in Washington County, as are lumber, manufacturing, and food processing.

The development of a large electronics industry during the 1980s and 1990s is the dominating factor of the county economy, and contributing to the creation of Oregon's Silicon Forest. California-based Intel, Oregon's largest private-sector employer, has its largest concentration of employees in the county, mainly in Hillsboro. Other technology companies include Electro Scientific Industries, FEI Company, Qorvo, Tektronix, SolarWorld, Planar Systems, and EPSON.

Nike, one of two Fortune 500 corporations based in Oregon, has its headquarters in Washington County. Until it was acquired by IBM, Sequent Computer Systems was headquartered near Nike. Other companies with headquarters in Washington County include optical instruments manufacturer Leupold & Stevens, Columbia Sportswear, and Reser's Fine Foods.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

• Aloha
• Bethany
• Bull Mountain
• Cedar Hills
• Cedar Mill
• Cherry Grove
• Dilley
• Garden Home–Whitford
• Marlene Village
• Metzger
• Oak Hills
• Raleigh Hills
• Rockcreek
• West Haven-Sylvan
• West Slope

Unincorporated communities

• Bacona
• Balm Grove
• Blooming
• Bonita
• Bonny Slope
• Bradley Corner
• Buckheaven
• Buxton
• Carnation
• Chehalem
• Christie
• Detour
• Dilley
• Dixie
• Elmonica
• Farmington
• Gales Creek
• Glencoe
• Glenwood
• Greenville
• Hayward
• Hazeldale
• Helvetia
• Hillside
• Huber
• Kansas City
• Kinton
• Laurel
• Laurelwood
• Manning
• Meacham Corner
• Middleton
• Midway
• Mountaindale
• Mulloy
• Nasoma
• Norwood
• Patton
• Reedville
• Roy
• Scholls
• Seghers
• Six Corners
• Somerset West
• Stimson Mill
• Tanasbourne
• Thatcher
• Tillamook Junction
• Timber
• Tobias
• Tophill
• Trece
• Verboort
• Watts
• West Union
• Wilkesboro
• Witch Hazel

Former communities

• Cipole
• Cochran
• Davies Junction
• Orenco
• Progress
• Snooseville Corner
• Timbuktu
• Westimber

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County, Oregon
• Washington County Museum
• L. L. "Stub" Stewart State Park
• Ki-a-Kuts Falls
• Washington County Jail
• Washington County Courthouse

References

1. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
2. Proehl, Risa S. (March 2009). "2008 Oregon Population Report" (PDF). Population Research Center. Portland State University. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2009.
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. "Incorporation dates". The Hillsboro Argus. October 19, 1976. pp. Communities, p. 21.
5. "Oregon Secretary of State: Washington County History". sos.oregon.gov. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
6. "County welcomes Area 93 in new year". Hillsboro Tribune. January 10, 2014. Archived from the original on January 16, 2014. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
7. "Appellate court rejects Beaverton annexation". The Oregonian. June 16, 2006.
8. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
9. "South Saddle Mountain - Peakbagger.com". www.peakbagger.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2018. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
10. ""Washington County OR" (Google Maps - accessed October 19, 2019)".
11. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
12. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
13. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
14. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
15. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 26, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
16. ^ "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
17. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
18. "Selected Social Characteristics in the US – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
19. "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
20. "Washington County, Oregon". www.co.washington.or.us. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
21. Menendez, Albert J. (2005). The Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States, 1868-2004. McFarland. pp. 284–286. ISBN 0786422173.
22. David Leip. "1976 Presidential General Election Data Graphs – Oregon by County". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
23. David Leip. "2008 Senatorial General Election Results – Oregon". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
24. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
25. "Intel in Oregon". Intel. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
26. "Oregon's largest private employer, Intel, announces plans to expand in Europe". opb. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
27. "Key Industries | City of Hillsboro, OR". www.hillsboro-oregon.gov. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
28. City of Lake Oswego Archived September 23, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
29. "PortlandOnline".
30. City of Wilsonville Archived June 9, 2011, at the Wayback Machine

External links

• Washington County Visitors Association

v t e Places adjacent to Washington County, Oregon
Clatsop County Columbia County Tillamook County Washington County, Oregon Multnomah County Yamhill County Clackamas County

v t e Municipalities and communities of Washington County, Oregon, United States
County seat: Hillsboro
Cities	Banks Beaverton Cornelius Durham Forest Grove Gaston Hillsboro King City Lake Oswego‡ North Plains Portland‡ Rivergrove‡ Sherwood Tigard Tualatin‡ Wilsonville‡
CDPs	Aloha Bethany Bull Mountain Cedar Hills Cedar Mill‡ Cherry Grove Dilley Garden Home–Whitford Marlene Village Metzger Oak Hills Raleigh Hills Rockcreek West Haven–Sylvan‡ West Slope
Other communities	Bacona Blooming Bonita Bonny Slope Buxton Carnation Chehalem Elmonica Farmington Gales Creek Glenwood Hayward Hazeldale Helvetia Huber Kansas City Kinton Laurel Laurelwood Manning Middleton Midway Mountaindale Mulloy Norwood Orenco Progress Reedville Roy Scholls Timber Tonquin Verboort West Union Wilkesboro
Ghost towns	Dixie Glencoe Greenville Thatcher
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
Oregon portal United States portal

45°34′N 123°05′W / 45.56°N 123.09°W / 45.56; -123.09

• Oregon counties
• Washington County, Oregon
• 1843 establishments in Oregon Country
• Populated places established in 1843
• Portland metropolitan area counties