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Jefferson County is a staunchly ] area, with even rural areas giving significant margins to ] against ] in the ]. Jefferson County is a staunchly ] area, with even rural areas giving significant margins to ] against ] in the ].


The communities in the Eastern and Western halves of Jefferson County tend to not mingle much, because of the ]. The communities also differ in amount and sources of family income, and population size and density, with the West being more dependent on ], somewhat less prosperous, and having fewer people for roughly the same area. Port Townsend, located in the relatively populous East is gradually developing into a retirement community. 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. Because of persistent differences in local self-interest, the two sides of the county regularly experience political friction. Perennial discussions and attempts to separate the West half from the East gained little support during the twentieth century because of the perception that less prosperous West is subsidised by the East from which it would secede, leaving it worse rather than better-off, and giving adjoining counties little reason to wish to annex the West. The communities in the Eastern and Western halves of Jefferson County tend to not mingle much, because of the ]. The communities also differ in amount and sources of family income, and population size and density, with the West being more dependent on ], somewhat less prosperous, and having fewer people for roughly the same area. Port Townsend, located in the relatively populous East is gradually developing into an unemployed community. 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. Because of persistent differences in local self-interest, the two sides of the county regularly experience political friction. Perennial discussions and attempts to separate the West half from the East gained little support during the twentieth century because of the perception that less prosperous West is subsidised by the East from which it would secede, leaving it worse rather than better-off, and giving adjoining counties little reason to wish to annex the West.


County seat ] casts a significant number of votes, and voted for John Kerry by a margin of over 3-to-1. Areas outside of Port Townsend (such as ]) gave Kerry 2-to-1 victory margins. Democrats also do well in the small towns of northern Jefferson County, with strong Democratic leans in ], ], ], and ], as well as in the towns just southeast of Port Townsend (], ], ], and ]). Democrats also perform strongly in the sparsely-populated western part of the county, where much of the population is Native American. County seat ] casts a significant number of votes, and voted for John Kerry by a margin of over 3-to-1. Areas outside of Port Townsend (such as ]) gave Kerry 2-to-1 victory margins. Democrats also do well in the small towns of northern Jefferson County, with strong Democratic leans in ], ], ], and ], as well as in the towns just southeast of Port Townsend (], ], ], and ]). Democrats also perform strongly in the sparsely-populated western part of the county, where much of the population is Native American.

Revision as of 02:55, 8 July 2009

County in Washington
Jefferson County
County
Map of Washington highlighting Jefferson CountyLocation within the U.S. state of Washington
Map of the United States highlighting WashingtonWashington'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
SeatPort Townsend
Area
 • Total2,184 sq mi (5,660 km)
 • Land1,814 sq mi (4,700 km)
 • Water369 sq mi (960 km)  16.91%
Population
 • Total25,953
 • Density20/sq mi (6/km)
Websitewww.co.jefferson.wa.us

Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington and named after Thomas Jefferson. As of 2000, the population was 25,953. The county seat is at Port Townsend, which is also the county's only incorporated city.

Jefferson County was formed out of Thurston County on December 22, 1852, by the legislature of Oregon Territory, and included the northern 4,854 square miles (12,571 km²) portion of the Olympic Peninsula. On April 26, 1854, the legislature of Washington Territory created Clallam County from the northwestern 2,670 square miles (6,916 km²) portion of this original area.

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

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,184 square miles (5,655 km²), of which, 1,814 square miles (4,699 km²) of it is land and 369 square miles (956 km²) of it (16.91%) is water.

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 very much more wet in the West than the so-called Eastern "banana belt" in the rain shadow. The original formation of Jefferson County during a time when the Oregon Territory was poorly explored is now generally recognized as a geographical error, but an error which cannot be conveniently rectified.

Geographic features

File:IMG 0243 port.JPG
Port Townsend from ferry.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 25,953 people, 11,645 households, and 7,580 families residing in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (6/km²). There were 14,144 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/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 according to Census 2000. 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

Jefferson County is a staunchly Democratic area, with even rural areas giving significant margins to John Kerry against George W. Bush in the 2004 U.S. presidential election.

The communities in the Eastern and Western halves of Jefferson County tend to not mingle much, because of the barrier dividing the county. The communities also differ in amount and sources of family income, and population size and density, with the West being more dependent on logging, somewhat less prosperous, and having fewer people for roughly the same area. Port Townsend, located in the relatively populous East is gradually developing into an unemployed community. 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. Because of persistent differences in local self-interest, the two sides of the county regularly experience political friction. Perennial discussions and attempts to separate the West half from the East gained little support during the twentieth century because of the perception that less prosperous West is subsidised by the East from which it would secede, leaving it worse rather than better-off, and giving adjoining counties little reason to wish to annex the West.

County seat Port Townsend casts a significant number of votes, and voted for John Kerry by a margin of over 3-to-1. Areas outside of Port Townsend (such as Cape George) gave Kerry 2-to-1 victory margins. Democrats also do well in 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 (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 small victories in several parts of the county, such as the sparsely-populated area around Crocker Lake. 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 (although the north part of Port Ludlow has become a marginally Democratic area).

Census-recognized communities

Other communities

References

  1. Reinartz, Kay. "History of King County Government 1853 – 2002" (PDF). pp. p. 2. Retrieved 2007-12-28. {{cite web}}: |pages= has extra text (help)

External links

Places adjacent to Jefferson County, Washington
Clallam County Island County and Strait of Juan de Fuca
Pacific Ocean Jefferson County, Washington
Grays Harbor County Mason County Kitsap County
Municipalities and communities of Jefferson County, Washington, United States
County seat: Port Townsend
City
Map of Washington highlighting Jefferson County
CDPs
Other
communities
Indian reservation
Ghost towns
Footnotes‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
State of Washington
Olympia (capital)
Topics
Society
Politics
Government
State agencies
Regions
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Shared
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Counties

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

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