Mason County, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mason County
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Mason County Courthouse
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Location within the U.S. state of Washington
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 Washington's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Washington |
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| Founded | March 13, 1854 | |
| Named for | Charles H. Mason | |
| Seat | Shelton | |
| Largest city | Shelton | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 1,051 sq mi (2,720 km2) | |
| • Land | 959 sq mi (2,480 km2) | |
| • Water | 92 sq mi (240 km2) 8.7% | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 65,726 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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68,389  |
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| • Density | 63/sq mi (24/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) | |
| Congressional district | 6th | |
Mason County is a special area in the U.S. state of Washington. It is like a large district with its own local government. In 2020, about 65,726 people lived there.
The main city and government center is Shelton. Mason County was created on March 13, 1854. It was first called Sawamish County. Later, in 1864, it was renamed to honor Charles H. Mason. He was the first Secretary of the Washington Territory.
Mason County is part of the larger Seattle-Tacoma area. This means it is connected to the bigger cities nearby.
Contents
Exploring Mason County's Geography
Mason County is a beautiful place with lots of land and water. It covers a total area of about 1,051 square miles. Most of this is land, around 959 square miles. The rest, about 92 square miles, is water. This means about 8.7% of the county is covered by water.
What Natural Features Can You Find?
Mason County has many interesting natural spots. These include:
- Brown Cove
- Case Inlet
- Hammersley Inlet
- Harstine Island
- Hood Canal
- Lake Cushman
- Mason Lake
- Olympic Mountains
- Puget Sound
- Squaxin Island
- Totten Inlet
- Oakland Bay
How to Get Around: Major Roads
Several important roads help people travel through Mason County:
U.S. Route 101
State Route 3
State Route 108
State Route 106
Neighboring Counties: Who Are Mason County's Neighbors?
Mason County shares its borders with several other counties:
- Jefferson County to the northwest
- Kitsap County to the northeast
- Pierce County to the east and southeast
- Thurston County to the southeast
- Grays Harbor County to the southwest
Protected Natural Areas in Mason County
Parts of Mason County are home to important national protected areas:
- Olympic National Forest (a part of it)
- Olympic National Park (a part of it)
People and Population in Mason County
The number of people living in Mason County has grown a lot over the years. In 1860, there were only 162 people. By 2020, the population had reached 65,726. This shows how much the area has developed.
Who Lives in Mason County?
In 2010, there were 60,699 people living in Mason County. Most people were white (86.1%). Other groups included American Indian (3.7%), Asian (1.2%), and Black or African American (1.1%). About 8.0% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino background.
Many families live in Mason County. About 27% of households had children under 18. The average age of people in the county was about 44.4 years old.
Communities in Mason County
Mason County has one main city and several other communities.
The Main City
- Shelton is the county seat, which means it's where the county government is located.
Other Important Places
These places are called "census-designated places." They are like towns but are not officially incorporated as cities:
Smaller Communities
These are smaller, unincorporated communities in Mason County:
Healthcare Services
Mason County has a hospital called Mason General Hospital. It is located in Shelton and helps keep the community healthy.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Mason (Washington) para niños
