Grays Harbor County, Washington

Grays Harbor County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of 2000, the population is 67,194. The county seat is at Montesano. It is named after Captain Robert Gray, who discovered the harbor that bears his name in 1792.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 5,761 km² (2,224 mi²). 4,965 km² (1,917 mi²) of it is land and 797 km² (308 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 13.83% water.

Geographic features

Grays Harbor

Quinault River

Satsop River

Adjacent and/or overlapping

Chehalis Indian Reservation

Colonel Bob Wilderness Area

Olympic National Park

Olympic National Forest

Quinault Indian Reservation

State parks

Griffiths-Priday State Park

Lake Sylvia State Park

Ocean City State Park

Pacific Beach State Park

Twin Harbors State Park

Westhaven State Park

Westport Light State Park

Major highways

United States Highway 12

United States Highway 101

Adjacent counties

Jefferson County, Washington - north

Mason County, Washington - northeast

Thurston County, Washington - east/southeast

Lewis County, Washington - south/southeast

Pacific County, Washington - south

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 67,194 people, 26,808 households, and 17,907 families residing in the county. The population density is 14/km² (35/mi²). There are 32,489 housing units at an average density of 7/km² (17/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 88.30% White, 0.34% Black or African American, 4.66% Native American, 1.22% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 2.27% from other races, and 3.10% from two or more races. 4.85% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 26,808 households out of which 30.50% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.70% are married couples living together, 11.10% have a female householder with no husband present, and 33.20% are non-families. 26.70% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.60% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.48 and the average family size is 2.98.

In the county, the population is spread out with 25.70% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 15.40% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there are 98.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 96.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county is $34,160, and the median income for a family is $39,709. Males have a median income of $35,947 versus $24,262 for females. The per capita income for the county is $16,799. 16.10% of the population and 11.90% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 21.60% of those under the age of 18 and 9.40% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.