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Clallam County is a county in the U.S. state of Washington. As of 2000, the population was 64,525. The county seat is at Port Angeles, which is also the county's largest city. "Clallam" derives from a Klallam word meaning "the strong people."
Clallam County was formed on April 26, 1854.*
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 6,916 km² (2,670 mi²). 4,505 km² (1,739 mi²) of it is land and 2,411 km² (931 mi²) of it (34.86%) is water.
Located in Clallam County is Cape Alava, the westernmost point in both Washington and the continental United States, with a longitude of 124 degrees, 43 minutes and 59 seconds. Also, near Cape Alava is Ozette, the westernmost town in the continental United States (See Extreme Points for more information.)
Geographic features
Major highways
Adjacent counties
- Jefferson County, Washington - southeast
It also shares a northern border with Canada.
Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 64,525 people, 27,164 households, and 18,064 families residing in the county. The population density was 14/km² (37/mi²). There were 30,683 housing units at an average density of 7/km² (18/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 89.12% White, 0.84% Black or African American, 5.12% Native American, 1.13% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 1.18% from other races, and 2.44% from two or more races. 3.41% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 27,164 households out of which 25.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.90% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.50% were non-families. 28.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.78.
In the county, the population was spread out with 22.00% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 22.80% from 25 to 44, 26.90% from 45 to 64, and 21.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 98.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,449, and the median income for a family was $44,381. Males had a median income of $35,452 versus $24,628 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,517. About 8.90% of families and 12.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.10% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
Modern Clallam County generally has a slight lean toward the Republican Party, although it is generally regarded as a competitive area. Republican George W. Bush defeated Democrat John Kerry here in the 2004 U.S. Presidential election by about five percentage points. However, Democratic Senator Patty Murray received a narrow victory, winning by a larger margin than Kerry statewide.
Democratic candidates are generally most successful in the county seat and largest city, Port Angeles which casts a significant number of votes. The city of Sequim and its general vicinity (excepting newer developments such as Bell Hill, which are quite Republican) is generally considered a battleground area, the city having voted for George W. Bush by only 7 votes out of 2,834 votes cast. However, George W. Bush received a victory of over 2-to-1 in the logging town of Forks, where anti-environmentalism has been a major issue since the spotted owl incidents. Areas around Forks are similarly Republican, with the exception of Native American areas.
The Makah tribe areas around Neah Bay are some of the most Democratic areas in the state. Otherwise, with the exception of a few locations (such as Blyn and Jamestown near Sequim), unincorporated Clallam County has a strong Republican lean.
Census-recognized communities
Other communities
- Agate Beach
- Agnew
- Beaver
- Bogachiel
- Cape Flattery
- Clallam Bay
- Crane
- Crescent
- Crescent Beach
- Diamond Point
- Dungeness
- Elwha
- Fairholm
- Gales Addition
- Hoko
- Joyce
- Kalalock
- La Push
- Lake Crescent
- Maple Grove
- Mount Pleasant
- Ozette
- Physt
- Piedmont
- Queets
- Sappho
- Schoolhouse Point
- Sekiu
- Sol Duc Hot Springs
- Tatoosh Island
- Upper Hoh
External links
"Clallam County, Washington"