Garfield County, Washington

Not to be confused with Garfield, Washington.

Garfield County, Washington
Garfield County Courthouse
Location in the U.S. state of Washington
Washington's location in the U.S.
Founded	November 29, 1881
Named for	James A. Garfield
Seat	Pomeroy
Largest city	Pomeroy
Area
• Total	718 sq mi (1,860 km2)
• Land	711 sq mi (1,841 km2)
• Water	7.5 sq mi (19 km2), 1.0%
Population (est.)
• (2014)	2,215
• Density	3.1/sq mi (1/km²)
Congressional district	5th
Time zone	Pacific: UTC-8/-7
Website	www.co.garfield.wa.us

Garfield County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,266, making it the least populous county in Washington; with about 3.2 inhabitants per square mile (1.2/km²), it is also Washington's least densely populated county. The county seat and only city is Pomeroy.

History

Garfield County was created out of a large piece of Columbia County on November 29, 1881 Roughly half of the county was split off to form Asotin County in 1883. and was named for the late U.S. President James A. Garfield, who had been assassinated in September, 1881.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 718 square miles (1,860 km²), of which 711 square miles (1,840 km²) is land and 7.5 square miles (19 km²) (1.0%) is water. It is part of the Palouse, a wide and rolling prairie-like region of the middle Columbia basin.

Geographic features

• Snake River

Major highway

• U.S. Route 12
• State Route 127

Adjacent counties

• Whitman County - north
• Asotin County - east
• Wallowa County, Oregon - south
• Columbia County - west

National protected area

• Umatilla National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1890	3,897		—
1900	3,918		0.5%
1910	4,199		7.2%
1920	3,875		−7.7%
1930	3,662		−5.5%
1940	3,383		−7.6%
1950	3,204		−5.3%
1960	2,976		−7.1%
1970	2,911		−2.2%
1980	2,468		−15.2%
1990	2,248		−8.9%
2000	2,397		6.6%
2010	2,266		−5.5%
Est. 2014	2,215		−2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2014

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,397 people, 987 households, and 670 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 1,288 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.45% White, 0.38% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.38% from other races, and 1.08% from two or more races. 1.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 28.8% were of German, 17.9% United States or American, 10.6% English and 9.5% Irish ancestry. 99.2% spoke English as their first language.

There were 987 households out of which 28.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% were married couples living together, 6.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.10% were non-families. 28.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county, the population was spread out with 25.90% under the age of 18, 5.40% from 18 to 24, 21.90% from 25 to 44, 25.90% from 45 to 64, and 20.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 97.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,398, and the median income for a family was $41,645. Males had a median income of $33,313 versus $22,132 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,992. About 12.00% of families and 14.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.10% of those under age 18 and 10.20% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

• Pomeroy (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

• Gould City
• Pataha
• Peola
• Ping

In popular culture

Part of the 1996 film Black Sheep takes place (but not filmed) in Garfield County.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Garfield County, Washington

Further reading

• Frank T. Gilbert, Historic Sketches: Walla Walla, Columbia and Garfield Counties, Washington Territory. Portland, OR: A.G. Walling Printing House, 1882.
• W.D. Lyman, Lyman's History of Old Walla Walla County, Embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin Counties. In Two Volumes. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1918. Volume 1 | Volume 2
• Frederic Ambrose Shaver, An Illustrated History of Southeastern Washington, Including Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin Counties, Washington. Spokane, WA: Western Historical Publishing Co., 1906.