Mason County, Washington

Summary

Mason County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, the population was 65,726.[1] The county seat and only incorporated city is Shelton.[2] The county was formed out of Thurston County on March 13, 1854.[3] Originally named Sawamish County, it took its present name in 1864 in honor of Charles H. Mason, the first Secretary of Washington Territory.[3][4]

Mason County
Mason County Courthouse
Mason County Courthouse
Official seal of Mason County
Map of Washington highlighting Mason County
Location within the U.S. state of Washington
Map of the United States highlighting Washington
Washington's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 47°21′N 123°11′W / 47.35°N 123.18°W / 47.35; -123.18
Country United States
State Washington
FoundedMarch 13, 1854
Named forCharles H. Mason
SeatShelton
Largest cityShelton
Area
 • Total1,051 sq mi (2,720 km2)
 • Land959 sq mi (2,480 km2)
 • Water92 sq mi (240 km2)  8.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total65,726
 • Estimate 
(2022)
68,166 Increase
 • Density63/sq mi (24/km2)
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
Congressional district6th
Websitewww.masoncountywa.gov

Mason County comprises the Shelton, WA Micropolitan Statistical Area and is included in the Seattle-Tacoma, WA Combined Statistical Area.

Peak of Mount Ellinor in the Olympic Mountains of Mason County

Geography edit

 
Mount Rainier over the Totten Inlet. Mason County, Washington.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,051 square miles (2,720 km2), of which 959 square miles (2,480 km2) is land and 92 square miles (240 km2) (8.7%) is water.[5]

Geographic features edit

Oakland Bay

Major highways edit

Adjacent counties edit

National protected areas edit

Demographics edit

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1860162
187028978.4%
1880639121.1%
18902,826342.3%
19003,81034.8%
19105,15635.3%
19204,919−4.6%
193010,060104.5%
194011,60315.3%
195015,02229.5%
196016,2518.2%
197020,91828.7%
198031,18449.1%
199038,34123.0%
200049,40528.9%
201060,69922.9%
202065,7268.3%
2022 (est.)68,166[6]3.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2020[1]

2000 census edit

As of the 2000 census, there were 49,405 people, 18,912 households, and 13,389 families living in the county. The population density was 51 people per square mile (20 people/km2). There were 25,515 housing units at an average density of 26 units per square mile (10 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.46% White, 1.19% Black or African American, 3.72% Native American, 1.05% Asian, 0.45% Pacific Islander, 2.10% from other races, and 3.03% from two or more races. 4.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.7% were of German, 9.9% Irish, 9.8% English, 8.6% United States or American and 6.8% Norwegian ancestry.

There were 18,912 households, out of which 28.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.90% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.20% were non-families. 23.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.50% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 26.50% from 25 to 44, 25.80% from 45 to 64, and 16.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 107.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,586, and the median income for a family was $44,246. Males had a median income of $37,007 versus $25,817 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,056. About 8.80% of families and 12.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.30% of those under age 18 and 4.90% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census edit

As of the 2010 census, there were 60,699 people, 23,832 households, and 16,057 families living in the county.[11] The population density was 63.3 inhabitants per square mile (24.4/km2). There were 32,518 housing units at an average density of 33.9 units per square mile (13.1 units/km2).[12] The racial makeup of the county was 86.1% white, 3.7% American Indian, 1.2% Asian, 1.1% black or African American, 0.4% Pacific islander, 3.4% from other races, and 4.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 8.0% of the population.[11] In terms of ancestry, 19.7% were German, 13.8% were English, 13.5% were Irish, 6.7% were Norwegian, and 4.9% were American.[13]

Of the 23,832 households, 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.6% were non-families, and 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.87. The median age was 44.4 years.[11]

The median income for a household in the county was $48,104 and the median income for a family was $56,809. Males had a median income of $44,992 versus $33,982 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,530. About 11.1% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.0% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.[14]

Communities edit

City edit

Census-designated places edit

Unincorporated communities edit

Politics edit

United States presidential election results for Mason County, Washington[15][16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 18,710 50.16% 17,269 46.29% 1,324 3.55%
2016 13,677 47.16% 11,993 41.35% 3,333 11.49%
2012 12,761 44.79% 14,764 51.82% 964 3.38%
2008 12,600 44.19% 15,050 52.78% 863 3.03%
2004 11,987 47.20% 12,894 50.78% 513 2.02%
2000 10,257 45.63% 10,876 48.38% 1,347 5.99%
1996 7,149 34.45% 10,088 48.62% 3,513 16.93%
1992 5,776 29.43% 8,076 41.15% 5,774 29.42%
1988 7,426 47.77% 7,826 50.34% 293 1.88%
1984 8,410 53.74% 7,007 44.77% 233 1.49%
1980 6,745 49.10% 5,241 38.15% 1,751 12.75%
1976 4,758 42.14% 6,060 53.67% 473 4.19%
1972 4,873 53.10% 3,907 42.57% 397 4.33%
1968 3,397 39.55% 4,540 52.85% 653 7.60%
1964 2,549 31.58% 5,514 68.32% 8 0.10%
1960 3,703 46.86% 4,183 52.94% 16 0.20%
1956 4,026 51.05% 3,840 48.69% 20 0.25%
1952 3,827 49.70% 3,830 49.74% 43 0.56%
1948 2,524 38.82% 3,613 55.58% 364 5.60%
1944 1,976 36.61% 3,379 62.61% 42 0.78%
1940 1,775 33.20% 3,465 64.81% 106 1.98%
1936 1,015 23.08% 3,087 70.19% 296 6.73%
1932 995 25.50% 2,181 55.89% 726 18.61%
1928 1,745 62.95% 992 35.79% 35 1.26%
1924 902 49.02% 179 9.73% 759 41.25%
1920 997 56.04% 383 21.53% 399 22.43%
1916 764 44.32% 779 45.19% 181 10.50%
1912 439 24.42% 522 29.03% 837 46.55%
1908 553 56.60% 318 32.55% 106 10.85%
1904 661 63.50% 315 30.26% 65 6.24%
1900 514 51.40% 455 45.50% 31 3.10%
1896 397 36.86% 667 61.93% 13 1.21%
1892 352 42.00% 356 42.48% 130 15.51%

Healthcare edit

Mason County has one hospital, Mason General Hospital, in Shelton, operated by Washington Public Hospital District No. 1.[17][18][19]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Washington Agricultural Statistics Service, US Department of Agriculture, as archived at the Internet Archive
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  5. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 26, 2015. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  10. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  11. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  12. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  13. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  14. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  15. ^ The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 464 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 339 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 22 votes, and Socialist Labor candidate Arthur Reimer received 12 votes.
  16. ^ Arla Shephard Bull (November 16, 2017). "Mason General to build new medical office building".
  17. ^ 2018 Facility Fees, Washington State Department of Health, 2018, retrieved March 14, 2020
  18. ^ "Public Hospital District Directory". Association of Washington Public Hospital Districts. Retrieved March 14, 2020.

External links edit

  • Official Tourism Web Site for Mason County
  • Mason county government
  • Mason County profile by the Shelton-Mason County Journal
  • Mason County Daily News

47°21′N 123°11′W / 47.35°N 123.18°W / 47.35; -123.18