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Okanogan County
Okanogan County
County
	Okanogan County Courthouse in Okanogan
	Seal
	Location within the U.S. state of Washington
	Washington's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 48°32′54″N 119°44′32″W / 48.54833°N 119.74222°W
Country	United States
State	Washington
Founded	February 2, 1888
Named for	Fort Okanogan
Seat	Okanogan
Largest city	Omak
Area
• Total	5,312.7 sq mi (13,760 km2)
• Land	5,266.2 sq mi (13,639 km2)
• Water	46.5 sq mi (120 km2) 0.9%
Population (2020)
• Total	42,104
• Estimate (2023)	43,712
• Density	8.3/sq mi (3.2/km2)
Time zone	UTC−8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (PDT)
Congressional district	4th
Website	okanogancounty.org

Okanogan County (/ˌoʊkəˈnɑːɡən/)^[1] is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington along the Canada–U.S. border. As of the 2020 census, the population was 42,104.^[2] The county seat is Okanogan,^[3] while the largest city is Omak. Its area is the largest in the state.^[4]

About a fifth of the county's residents live in the Greater Omak Area. The county forms a portion of the Okanogan Country. The first county seat was Ruby, which has now been a ghost town for more than 100 years.

Okanogan County was formed out of Stevens County in February 1888.^[5] The name derives from the Okanagan language place name ukʷnaqín.^[6] The name Okanogan (Okanagan) also refers to a part of southern British Columbia.

History

Before Europeans arrived, the Okanogan County region was home to numerous indigenous peoples that would eventually become part of three Indian reservations referred to as the Northern Okanogans or Sinkaietk, Tokoratums, Kartars and Konkonelps. They spoke in seven types of Interior Salish languages related to the Puget Sound tribes. The Okanogans experienced a favorable climate, camping in the winter, hunting bears in the spring, catching fish in the summer and hunting deer in fall. The camps consisted of teepee-like longhouses built with hides and bark. Women gathered nuts and berries. A popular destination for this was the Kettle Falls, where the Columbia River dropped some 20 feet (6.1 m).

Due to its remoteness, the Okanogan County area was one of the last in Washington settled by Europeans. It was an early thoroughfare used by prospectors to gain access to other communities, such as British Columbia. By the 21st century, the region specialized in agriculture, forestry and tourism. Electric producer Grand Coulee Dam was constructed between 1933 and 1942, originally with two power plants, around the Okanogan and Grant counties at the former's southern border.^[7]

In July 2014, the Carlton Complex wildfire burned over 250,000 acres (390 sq mi; 1,000 km²) in Okanogan County. It destroyed over 300 homes^[8] including 100 in and around Pateros^[9]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 5,312.7 square miles (13,760 km²), of which 5,266.2 square miles (13,639 km²) is land and 46.5 square miles (120 km²) (0.9%) is water.^[10] It is the largest county in the state by area, and it is larger than three states in land area.^[11]

Geographic features

Cascade Mountains
Columbia River
Okanogan River
North Gardner Mountain, the highest point in Okanogan County
Beaner Lake

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Fraser Valley Regional District, British Columbia – northwest
Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District, British Columbia – north
Kootenay Boundary Regional District, British Columbia – northeast
Ferry County – east
Lincoln County – southeast
Grant County – south
Douglas County – south
Chelan County – southwest
Skagit County – west
Whatcom County – west

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	1,467		—
1900	4,689		219.6%
1910	12,887		174.8%
1920	17,094		32.6%
1930	18,519		8.3%
1940	24,546		32.5%
1950	29,131		18.7%
1960	25,520		−12.4%
1970	25,867		1.4%
1980	30,639		18.4%
1990	33,350		8.8%
2000	39,564		18.6%
2010	41,120		3.9%
2020	42,104		2.4%
2023 (est.)	43,712	^[12]	3.8%
U.S. Decennial Census^[13] 1790–1960^[14] 1900–1990^[15] 1990–2000^[16] 2010–2020^[2]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 42,104 people, 16,942 households, and 10,768 families residing in the county.^[17] The population density was 8.0 inhabitants per square mile (3.1/km²). There were 21,720 housing units at an average density of 4.12 inhabitants per square mile (1.6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 65.6% White, 0.4% African American, 11.6% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 11.8% from some other races and 9.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 19.5% of the population.^[18] 21.7% of residents were under the age of 18, 5.3% were under 5 years of age, and 23.8% were 65 and older.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 41,120 people, 16,519 households, and 10,914 families living in the county.^[19] The population density was 7.8 inhabitants per square mile (3.0/km²). There were 22,245 housing units at an average density of 4.2 per square mile (1.6/km²).^[20] The racial makeup of the county was 73.9% white, 11.4% American Indian, 0.6% Asian, 0.4% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 10.1% from other races, and 3.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 17.6% of the population.^[19] In terms of ancestry, 21.4% were German, 12.4% were Irish, 12.2% were English, and 3.6% were American.^[21]

Of the 16,519 households, 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.9% were non-families, and 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.96. The median age was 42.9 years.^[19]

The median income for a household in the county was $38,551 and the median income for a family was $48,418. Males had a median income of $37,960 versus $29,032 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,093. About 14.7% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.3% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.^[22]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 39,564 people, 15,027 households, and 10,579 families living in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3.1 people/km²). There were 19,085 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (1.5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 75.32% White, 0.28% Black or African American, 11.47% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 9.58% from other races, and 2.84% from two or more races. 14.38% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 14.0% were of German, 9.5% English, 9.2% United States or American and 6.8% Irish ancestry.

There were 15,027 households, out of which 33.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.40% were married couples living together, 11.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.60% were non-families. 24.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.70% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 25.50% from 25 to 44, 25.50% from 45 to 64, and 14.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 99.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,726, and the median income for a family was $35,012. Males had a median income of $29,495 versus $22,005 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,900. About 16.00% of families and 21.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.20% of those under age 18 and 10.40% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Politics

Okanogan County was once a national bellwether county in U.S. presidential elections, voting for the nationwide winner in each presidential election from 1904 to 1992. In fact, it became the longest-running national bellwether after Crook County, Oregon, voted for George H. W. Bush in 1992. However, it has become a Republican-leaning county since 1996, when it voted for Bob Dole, with the longest national bellwether status passing on to New Castle County, Delaware.^[23]

United States presidential election results for Okanogan County, Washington^[24]^[25]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	11,341	56.05%	8,194	40.50%	699	3.45%
2020	11,840	55.63%	8,900	41.82%	542	2.55%
2016	9,610	54.74%	6,298	35.87%	1,648	9.39%
2012	9,221	54.23%	7,108	41.80%	674	3.96%
2008	8,798	51.79%	7,613	44.82%	576	3.39%
2004	9,636	58.96%	6,309	38.61%	397	2.43%
2000	9,384	63.41%	4,335	29.29%	1,079	7.29%
1996	5,890	45.05%	4,810	36.79%	2,375	18.16%
1992	4,265	32.72%	5,015	38.48%	3,753	28.80%
1988	5,856	49.88%	5,630	47.96%	254	2.16%
1984	7,476	57.25%	5,330	40.81%	253	1.94%
1980	6,460	51.71%	4,634	37.09%	1,399	11.20%
1976	5,455	47.05%	5,543	47.81%	597	5.15%
1972	5,796	56.09%	3,835	37.11%	703	6.80%
1968	4,490	45.19%	4,379	44.08%	1,066	10.73%
1964	3,931	37.46%	6,554	62.45%	10	0.10%
1960	5,169	48.32%	5,507	51.48%	22	0.21%
1956	5,448	50.66%	5,298	49.27%	8	0.07%
1952	6,085	55.57%	4,817	43.99%	48	0.44%
1948	4,083	41.10%	5,644	56.81%	208	2.09%
1944	4,084	46.60%	4,642	52.97%	38	0.43%
1940	4,244	43.96%	5,362	55.54%	49	0.51%
1936	2,367	27.31%	5,622	64.87%	678	7.82%
1932	2,277	32.78%	3,969	57.13%	701	10.09%
1928	3,245	64.86%	1,722	34.42%	36	0.72%
1924	2,531	50.41%	721	14.36%	1,769	35.23%
1920	2,784	54.98%	1,260	24.88%	1,020	20.14%
1916	1,896	35.55%	2,924	54.82%	514	9.64%
1912	804	18.97%	1,461	34.47%	1,974	46.57%
1908	1,368	49.23%	1,074	38.65%	337	12.13%
1904	1,192	66.63%	435	24.32%	162	9.06%
1900	457	38.08%	714	59.50%	29	2.42%
1896	284	22.72%	950	76.00%	16	1.28%
1892	577	50.04%	425	36.86%	151	13.10%