Douglas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, its population was 42,938. The county seat is Waterville, while its largest settlement is East Wenatchee. The county was created out of Lincoln County on November 28, 1883 and is named for American statesman Stephen A. Douglas.

Douglas County is part of the Wenatchee, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.6%) is water.

Geographic features Columbia River

Major highways U.S. Route 2 U.S. Route 97

Adjacent counties Okanogan County – north Grant County – south Kittitas County – southwest Chelan County – west

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 42,938. Of the residents, 25.0% were under the age of 18 and 18.0% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 38.4 years. For every 100 females there were 101.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 100.6 males. 74.6% of residents lived in urban areas and 25.4% lived in rural areas.

+Douglas County, Washington – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010% 2000% 2010White alone (NH)25,17926,07025,44577.23%67.84%59.26%Black or African American alone (NH)62851170.19%0.22%0.27%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)2752933380.84%0.76%0.79%Asian alone (NH)1682694060.52%0.70%0.95%Pacific Islander alone (NH)2051550.06%0.13%0.13%Other race alone (NH)28522030.09%0.14%0.47%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)4385981,7371.34%1.56%4.05%Hispanic or Latino (any race)6,43311,01314,63719.73%28.66%34.09%Total32,60338,43142,938100.00%100.00%100.00%

The racial makeup of the county was 64.8% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 1.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% Asian, 17.9% from some other race, and 14.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 34.1% of the population.

There were 15,415 households in the county, of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 21.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 17,318 housing units, of which 11.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 70.7% were owner-occupied and 29.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.0%.

2010 census As of the 2010 census, there were 38,431 people, 13,894 households, and 10,240 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 16,004 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 79.6% White, 1.1% American Indian, 0.7% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 15.6% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 28.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 20.2% were German, 11.2% were English, 9.4% were Irish, 6.0% were Norwegian, and 5.0% were American.

Of the 13,894 households, 37.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 26.3% were non-families, and 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.18. The median age was 36.8 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $48,708 and the median income for a family was $55,766. Males had a median income of $39,991 versus $31,706 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,359. About 10.2% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.0% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census As of the 2000 census, there were 32,603 people, 11,726 households, and 8,876 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 12,944 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 84.65% White, 0.31% Black or African American, 1.09% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 10.83% from other races, and 2.48% from two or more races. 19.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.0% were of German, 10.0% English, 9.3% United States or American and 7.8% Irish ancestry. 81.5% spoke English, and 17.7% Spanish as their first language.

There were 11,726 households, out of which 38.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.60% were married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.30% were non-families. 20.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 29.50% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 12.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,464, and the median income for a family was $43,777. Males had a median income of $35,917 versus $24,794 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,148. About 11.20% of families and 14.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.00% of those under age 18 and 6.90% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities Bridgeport East Wenatchee Rock Island

Towns Coulee Dam (partial) Mansfield Waterville (county seat)

Unincorporated communities Beebe Douglas Lamoine Leahy Orondo Palisades Withrow

Ghost towns Alstown Baird Bonita Farmer Jameson Saint Andrews Sanderson Touhey

Politics Federally, Douglas County is represented primarily by Dan Newhouse (R) of the 4th while parts of East Wenatchee have been siphoned off into the 8th, represented by Democrat Kim Schrier. It is one of the most strongly Republican counties in the state in presidential elections, and has not voted for a Democratic candidate since 1964, in Lyndon B. Johnson's rout of Barry Goldwater.

Education School districts include: - Text list

Brewster School District Bridgeport School District Coulee-Hartline School District Eastmont School District Ephrata School District Grand Coulee Dam School District Lake Chelan School District Mansfield School District Orondo School District Palisades School District Quincy School District Waterville School District

See also Douglas County PUD National Register of Historic Places listings in Douglas County, Washington Mansfield Branch (Great Northern Railway)

Notes

References

Further reading Available online through the Washington State Library's Classics in Washington History collection

External links

Douglas County – official website Douglas County photos