Mason County, Washington

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1051 sqmi, of which 959 sqmi is land and 92 sqmi (8.7%) is water.

Geographic features

• Brown Cove
• Case Inlet
• Hammersley Inlet
• Harstine Island
• Hood Canal
• Lake Cushman
• Mason Lake
• Olympic Mountains
• Puget Sound
• Squaxin Island
• Totten Inlet Oakland Bay

Major highways

• [[Image:US 101.svg|23px]] U.S. 101
• [[Image:WA-3.svg|20px]] SR 3
• [[File:WA-108.svg|20px]] SR 108
• [[File:WA-106.svg|20px]] SR 106

Adjacent counties

• Jefferson County – northwest
• Kitsap County – northeast
• Pierce County – east/southeast
• Thurston County – southeast
• Grays Harbor County – southwest

National protected areas

• Olympic National Forest (part)
• Olympic National Park (part)

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 65,726. Of the residents, 19.0% were under the age of 18 and 23.8% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 45.8 years. For every 100 females there were 106.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 106.7 males. 30.5% of residents lived in urban areas and 69.5% lived in rural areas.

The racial makeup of the county was 77.6% White, 1.1% Black or African American, 4.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% Asian, 5.8% from some other race, and 10.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 11.6% of the population.

There were 25,505 households in the county, of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 22.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 33,269 housing units, of which 23.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 79.5% were owner-occupied and 20.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.0%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 60,699 people, 23,832 households, and 16,057 families living in the county. The population density was 63.3 PD/sqmi. There were 32,518 housing units at an average density of 33.9 /mi2. 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. 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.

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.

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.

2000 census

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 /mi2. There were 25,515 housing units at an average density of 26 /mi2. 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.

Communities

City

• Shelton (county seat)

Census-designated places

• Allyn
• Allyn-Grapeview (former)
• Belfair
• Grapeview
• Hoodsport
• Kamilche
• Skokomish
• Union

Unincorporated communities

• Bayshore
• Eldon
• Harstine Island
• Lake Cushman
• Lilliwaup
• Matlock
• Mohrweis
• Potlatch
• Tahuya

Government

Board of county commissioners

• District 1 (North Mason) - Randy Neatherlin, elected 2013
• District 2 (West Mason) - Kevin Shutty, elected 2017
• District 3 (Central Mason) - Sharon Trask, elected 2019

State legislators

35th Legislative District

• Sen. Drew MacEwan (R)
• Rep. Dan Griffey (R)
• Rep. Travis Couture (R)

Healthcare

Mason County has one hospital, Mason General Hospital, in Shelton, operated by Washington Public Hospital District No. 1.

References

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. Wilma, David. (April 30, 2006). "Mason County — Thumbnail History". [[HistoryLink]].
4. [https://web.archive.org/web/20060505075926/http://www.nass.usda.gov/wa/counties/cnty045.htm Washington Agricultural Statistics Service], US Department of Agriculture, as archived at the [[Internet Archive]]
5. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
6. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
11. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau.
12. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau.
13. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Mason County, Washington". [[United States Census Bureau]].
14. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Mason County, Washington".
15. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Mason County, Washington".
16. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau.
17. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". [[United States Census Bureau]].
18. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County". [[United States Census Bureau]].
19. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". [[United States Census Bureau]].
20. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". [[United States Census Bureau]].
21. Shephard, Arla. (January 11, 2011). "Randy Neatherlin sworn in as Mason County Commissioner". Kitsap Sun.
22. "Mason County Commissioner Kevin Shutty Not Seeking Reelection". Hood Canal Communications.
23. "County Commissioner - District 3".
24. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
25. The leading "other" candidate, [[Progressive Party (United States, 1912). Progressive]] [[Theodore Roosevelt]], received 464 votes, while Socialist candidate [[Eugene V. Debs. Eugene Debs]] received 339 votes, [[Prohibition Party. Prohibition]] candidate [[Eugene W. Chafin. Eugene Chafin]] received 22 votes, and [[Socialist Labor Party of America. Socialist Labor]] candidate [[Arthur Reimer]] received 12 votes.
26. Reed, Sam. (November 4, 2008). "President/Vice President - County Results". [[Secretary of State of Washington]].
27. Reed, Sam. (November 6, 2012). "President/Vice President - County Results". [[Secretary of State of Washington]].
28. Arla Shephard Bull. (November 16, 2017). "Mason General to build new medical office building".
29. (2018). "2018 Facility Fees". Washington State Department of Health.
30. "Public Hospital District Directory". Association of Washington Public Hospital Districts.