Website www.yakimacounty.us Founded 21 January 1865 | Area 11,165 km² Population 247,044 (2013) Unemployment rate 7.7% (Apr 2015) | |
 | ||
Colleges and Universities Yakima Valley Communi, Heritage University, Perry Technical Institute, Pacific Northwest University, Sunnyside Beauty Academy Points of interest Fort Simcoe, Yakima Valley Museum, Yakima Area Arboretum, Yakima Electric Railway, Yakima Sportsman State Park | ||
Yakima County is a county in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2010 census, its population was 243,231. The county seat and largest city is Yakima. The county was formed out of Ferguson County on January 21, 1865 and is named for Yakama tribe of Native Americans. Ferguson County, no longer in existence, had been created from Walla Walla County on January 23, 1863.
Contents
- Map of Yakima County WA USA
- Geography
- Geographic features
- Major rivers
- Major roads
- Adjacent counties
- 2000 census
- 2010 census
- Wines regions
- Towns
- References
Map of Yakima County, WA, USA
Yakima County comprises the Yakima, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The Yakama Indian Reservation, the 15th largest reservation in America, covers 1,573 mi² (4,074 km²), 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 U.S. 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 also widely known for being one of the most difficult places on earth to predict weather, because of the mountains that surround it. The total area covered by the county 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 entire Cascade Range.
Geographic features
Major rivers
Major roads
Adjacent counties
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 222,581 people, 73,993 households, and 54,606 families residing in the county. The population density was 52 people per square mile (20/km²). There were 79,174 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 65.60% White, 0.97% Black or African American, 4.48% Native American, 0.95% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 24.43% from other races, and 3.48% from two or more races. 35.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 13.2% were of German, 6.4% United States or American, 5.9% English and 5.4% Irish ancestry.
There were 73,993 households out of which 39.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.2% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.44.
In the county, the population was spread out with 31.8% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,828, and the median income for a family was $39,746. Males had a median income of $31,620 versus $24,541 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,606. About 14.8% of families and 19.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.2% of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 243,231 people, 80,592 households, and 58,790 families residing in the county. The population density was 56.6 inhabitants per square mile (21.9/km2). There were 85,474 housing units at an average density of 19.9 per square mile (7.7/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 ancestry, 15.8% were German, 8.0% were English, 7.3% were Irish, and 3.6% were American.
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.
Wines 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 entire wine production.
Located within the larger Columbia Valley AVA, the Yakima Valley AVA is sub-divided into the three smaller wine regions, each with its own distinctive growing conditions. They are known as 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.