Skagit County, Washington

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1920 sqmi, of which 1731 sqmi is land and 189 sqmi (9.8%) is water. It is noted for its broad, fertile valley of the Skagit River, a center for cultivation of tulips, blueberries, and strawberries. Over 500 acre of tulips are grown in Skagit County, comprising 75percent of the American commercial output with $20million in annual gross income.

Geographic features

• Allan Island
• Burrows Island
• Cascade Mountains
• Cypress Island
• Fir Island
• Fidalgo Island
• Guemes Island
• Hart Island
• Hope Island
• Kiket Island
• Pass Island
• Samish Island
• Sauk River
• Sinclair Island
• Skagit Island
• Skagit River
• Vendovi Island
• Mount Buckner, highest point in Skagit County

Adjacent counties

• Whatcom County – north
• Okanogan County – east
• Chelan County – southeast
• Snohomish County – south
• Island County – southwest
• San Juan County – west

National protected areas

• Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest (part)
• North Cascades National Park (part)
• Ross Lake National Recreation Area (part)
• Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail (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 129,523. Of the residents, 21.5% were under the age of 18 and 22.4% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 42.2 years. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.2 males. 65.9% of residents lived in urban areas and 34.1% lived in rural areas.

The racial makeup of the county was 74.5% White, 0.7% Black or African American, 2.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2% Asian, 9.4% from some other race, and 10.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 18.4% of the population.

There were 50,371 households in the county, of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 55,744 housing units, of which 9.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 69.8% were owner-occupied and 30.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.1%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 116,901 people, 45,557 households, and 30,656 families living in the county. The population density was 67.5 /mi2. There were 51,473 housing units at an average density of 29.7 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 83.4% white, 2.2% American Indian, 1.8% Asian, 0.7% black or African American, 0.2% Pacific islander, 8.7% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 16.9% of the population. The largest ancestry groups were: 17.8% German, 14.9% Mexican, 13.7% English, 11.4% Irish, 8.3% Norwegian, 4.8% Swedish, and 4.3% Dutch.

Of the 45,557 households, 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.7% were non-families, and 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.01. The median age was 40.1 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $54,811 and the median income for a family was $63,468. Males had a median income of $48,979 versus $34,628 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,925. About 7.4% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.0% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 102,979 people, 38,852 households, and 27,351 families living in the county. The population density was 59 /mi2. There were 42,681 housing units at an average density of 25 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 86.49% White, 0.44% Black or African American, 1.85% Native American, 1.49% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 7.17% from other races, and 2.40% from two or more races. 11.20% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 13.9% were of German, 11.2% English, 9.2% Norwegian, 8.2% Irish and 6.7% United States or American ancestry.

Three Coast Salish Native American tribes have reservations in the county: the Swinomish, Upper Skagit, and Samish.

There were 38,852 households, out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.60% were married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.60% were non-families. 23.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.30% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,381, and the median income for a family was $48,347. Males had a median income of $37,207 versus $26,123 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,256. About 7.90% of families and 11.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.50% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Skagit County's government is headed by three commissioners, in the system laid out in the state constitution for all counties without charters. Commissioners are "nominated" in the primary by their district, but then are elected in the general by a county-wide vote. Commissioners are therefore said to represent the entire county, and not just their district. The most recent election was on November 5, 2024.

The current Skagit County commissioners include Joe Burns, appointed to complete Lisa Janicki's term, a Democrat from District 3, which encompasses Burlington east of Interstate 5, Sedro-Woolley, and the rest of eastern Skagit County; Peter Browning, an independent from District 2, which covers Mount Vernon, Conway, and south county; and Ron Wesen, a Republican from District 1, which includes Anacortes, La Conner, and that area of the county west of Interstate 5 and north of McLean Road.

Politics

Skagit County was a bellwether county from the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980 through the reelection of Barack Obama in 2012, voting for the winning candidate in each presidential election during this time period. The streak was broken when it voted for Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016 (although only by a plurality). The trend towards Democratic candidates continued, with Skagit County voting for Kamala Harris in 2024 despite a nationwide rightward trend.

County conservation efforts

In 2006, the Skagit County Marine Resources Committee commissioned a study to evaluate establishing one or more no-take marine reserves to protect rockfish and other groundfish from overfishing.

Transportation

Skagit Transit provides the county with bus service. It also offers connections to Everett, Bellingham, Whidbey Island and Camano Island, and operates the Guemes Island ferry linking Anacortes to Guemes Island.

Major highways

• [[Image:I-5.svg|20px]] Interstate 5
• [[Image:WA-9.svg|20px]] State Route 9
• [[Image:WA-20.svg|20px]] State Route 20

Communities

Cities

• Anacortes
• Burlington
• Mount Vernon (county seat)
• Sedro-Woolley

Towns

• Concrete
• Hamilton
• La Conner
• Lyman

Census-designated places

• Alger
• Bay View
• Big Lake
• Bow
• Clear Lake
• Conway
• Edison
• Lake Cavanaugh
• Lake McMurray
• Marblemount
• Rockport

Unincorporated communities

• Allen
• Avon
• Birdsview
• Blanchard
• Cedardale
• Day Creek
• Dewey
• Fidalgo
• Fishtown
• Gibraltar
• Guemes Island
• Hickson
• Hoogdal
• Milltown
• Rexville
• Samish Island
• Similk Beach
• Sterling
• Van Horn

Reservations

• Swinomish Indian Reservation
• Upper Skagit Indian Reservation
• Samish Indian Reservation

Ghost towns

• Alpine
• Ehrlich
• Sauk City
• Skagit City
• Whitney

Education

Several school districts serve students in Skagit County:

• Anacortes School District
• Burlington-Edison School District
• Concrete School District
• Conway School District
• Darrington School District
• La Conner School District
• Mount Vernon School District
• Sedro-Woolley School District

Film

The experimental horror film Skagit was set and shot in Skagit County.

Footnotes

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. (March 6, 2003). "Milestones for Washington State History — Part 2: 1851 to 1900". [[HistoryLink.org]].
4. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
5. Rousso, Nick. (September 24, 2021). "Farming in the Skagit Valley". HistoryLink.
6. (April 4, 2025). "2023 Skagit County Agricultural Statistics". [[Washington State University]] Skagit County Extension.
7. Showalter, Rachel. (April 24, 2023). "Numbers to impress your friends: The economics of the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival". [[The Bellingham Herald]].
8. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau.
9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
13. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau.
14. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau.
15. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau.
16. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". [[United States Census Bureau]].
17. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County". [[United States Census Bureau]].
18. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". [[United States Census Bureau]].
19. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". [[United States Census Bureau]].
20. Herald, MILO WHITMAN Skagit Valley. (2026-01-05). "Burns selected to fill seat on Skagit County Board of Commissioners".
21. "Welcome to the County Commisioners Office".
22. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
23. Valz, JH. (2007). "Bottomfish Variability in the Proposed Marine Reserves of Skagit County, Washington.". In: NW Pollock and JM Godfrey (Eds.) The Diving for Science…2007, Proceedings of the [[American Academy of Underwater Sciences]], Twenty-sixth annual Scientific Diving Symposium, University of Miami, Miami, FL..
24. (December 21, 2020). "2020 Census – School District Reference Map: Skagit County, WA". United States Census Bureau.