Yakima County, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yakima County
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Yakima 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 |
| State |  Washington |
| Founded | January 21, 1865 |
| Named for | Yakama Nation |
| Seat | Yakima |
| Largest city | Yakima |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4,311 sq mi (11,170 km2) |
| • Land | 4,295 sq mi (11,120 km2) |
| • Water | 16 sq mi (40 km2) 0.4%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 256,728 |
| • Estimate
(2022)
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257,001  |
| • Density | 58/sq mi (22/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| Congressional district | 4th |
Yakima County is a county in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, its population was 256,728. The county seat and most populous city is Yakima. The county was formed out of Ferguson County in January 1865 and is named for the Yakama tribe of Native Americans.
Yakima County comprises the Yakima, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area and is Washington state's most populous majority-Hispanic county as of 2020.
Contents
History
The area that now comprises Yakima County was part of the Oregon Country at the start of the nineteenth century, inhabited both by fur prospectors from Canada, and Americans seeking land for agricultural and mineral-extraction opportunities. Unable to resolve which country should control this vast area, the Treaty of 1818 provided for joint control. By 1843, the Provisional Government of Oregon had been established, although at first there were questions as to its authority and extent. During its existence, that provisional government formed the area north of the Columbia River first into the Washington Territory, and then (December 19, 1845) into two vast counties: Clark and Lewis.
The Washington Territory was formed as a separate governing entity in 1853. In 1854, that legislature carved several counties out of the two original large counties, including Skamania County. Later in 1854 the new Skamania County was reduced in size by carving out Walla Walla County. This arrangement lasted until January 23, 1863, when Ferguson County was carved out of Walla Walla County. However, the Ferguson County government and boundary was dissolved on January 18, 1865, and its area was assigned to Yakima County three days later.
Since its creation, the Yakima County boundary has been altered two times. In 1883 a portion of its area was carved off in the creation of Kittitas County, and in 1905 a further reduction added to the creation of Benton County.
The Yakama Indian Reservation was created in 1855. However, several tribes felt the agreement creating this reserved area had been completed without sufficient native input, and skirmishes and local war (the Yakima War, which lasted until 1858) meant that the reservation was not fully operational for two decades. The Reservation is the 15th largest reservation in America, covering 1,573 sq mi (4,070 km2), and comprising 36% of the county's total area. Its population was 31,799 in 2000, and its largest city is Toppenish.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,311 square miles (11,170 km2), of which 4,295 square miles (11,120 km2) is land and 16 square miles (41 km2) (0.4%) is water. Yakima County is the second-largest county in Washington by land area and third-largest by total area. Yakima County is reputed to be one of the most difficult places on earth to predict weather, because of its surrounding mountains. The county's area is larger than the states of Delaware and Rhode Island combined. The highest point in the county is Mount Adams, which is the second tallest peak in Washington and the third tallest in the Cascade Range.
Geographic features
- Mount Adams, 12,281 feet (3,743 m)
- Gilbert Peak, 8,184 feet (2,494 m)
- Mount Aix, 7,766 feet (2,367 m)
- Tieton Peak, 7,768 feet (2,368 m)
- Cascade Mountains
- Rattlesnake Hills
- Horse Heaven Hills
Major rivers
National protected areas
- Wenatchee National Forest (part)
- Gifford Pinchot National Forest (part)
- Snoqualmie National Forest (part)
- Goat Rocks Wilderness
- Mount Adams Wilderness (part)
- Norse Peak Wilderness (part)
- William O. Douglas Wilderness
- Toppenish National Wildlife Refuge
Major roads
Interstate 82
U.S. Route 12
U.S. Route 97
Adjacent counties
- Pierce County - northwest
- Lewis County - west
- Skamania County - southwest
- Kittitas County - north
- Klickitat County - south
- Grant County - northeast
- Benton County - east
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 432 | — | |
| 1880 | 2,811 | 550.7% | |
| 1890 | 4,429 | 57.6% | |
| 1900 | 13,462 | 204.0% | |
| 1910 | 41,709 | 209.8% | |
| 1920 | 63,710 | 52.7% | |
| 1930 | 77,402 | 21.5% | |
| 1940 | 99,019 | 27.9% | |
| 1950 | 135,723 | 37.1% | |
| 1960 | 145,112 | 6.9% | |
| 1970 | 144,971 | −0.1% | |
| 1980 | 172,508 | 19.0% | |
| 1990 | 188,823 | 9.5% | |
| 2000 | 222,581 | 17.9% | |
| 2010 | 243,231 | 9.3% | |
| 2020 | 256,728 | 5.5% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 257,001 | 5.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020 |
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2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 243,231 people, 80,592 households, and 58,790 families living in the county. The population density was 56.6 people per square mile (21.9 people/km2). There were 85,474 housing units at an average density of 19.9 units per square mile (7.7 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 63.7% White, 4.3% American Indian, 1.1% Asian, 1.0% Black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 26.1% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 45.0% of the population. In terms of ethnicity, 15.8% reported German, 8.0% English, 7.3% Irish, and 3.6% American ancestry.
Of the 80,592 households, 42.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 27.1% were non-families, and 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 3.46. The median age was 32.2 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,877 and the median income for a family was $48,004. Males had a median income of $37,029 versus $29,824 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,325. About 16.8% of families and 21.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.9% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
At the last census, the county harvested 1,027 acres (416 ha) of potato (Solanum tuberosum).
The northeastern corner of the county is part of the U.S. Army's Yakima Training Center.
Wine regions
Washington ranks second in the United States in the production of wine, behind only California. The Yakima Valley AVA was established in 1983 in the state's oldest agricultural region. It is Washington's third largest officially designated American Viticultural Area (AVA), and is responsible for more than 40% of the state's wine production.
Located within the larger Columbia Valley AVA, the Yakima Valley AVA is sub-divided into the three smaller wine regions, each with distinctive growing conditions. They are Red Mountain AVA, Snipes Mountain AVA, and Rattlesnake Hills AVA. Of the viticultural region's 665,000 acres (269,000 ha), nearly 11,120 acres (4,500 ha) were planted in 2008.
Pests
Common agricultural pests here include the Green Peach Aphid (Myzus persicae), the Spotted Cutworm (Xestia c-nigrum), and the Beet Leafhopper (Circulifer tenellus) in potato.
Communities
Cities
Towns
Census-designated places
Unincorporated communities
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Yakima para niños
