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Snohomish County, Washington
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Snohomish County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. It is named after the Snohomish tribe. Since 2000, the county's population has grown from 606,024 to 686,300 residents (2007 figures), making it one of the fastest-growing in the state, ranking third in overall population after King (1,861,300) and Pierce (790,500) counties (2007 figures). The county seat is Everett, the county's largest city in population.
Snohomish County was created out of Island County on January 14, 1861.
GeographyAccording to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,196 square miles (5,689 kmē), of which, 2,089 square miles (5,411 kmē) of it is land and 107 square miles (278 kmē) of it (4.89%) is water. The highest point in the county is volcanic Glacier Peak at 10,541 feet (3,213 meters) above sea level.
Natural FeaturesMountains
Major Rivers
Major Bodies of Water
Islands
Political FeaturesMajor Cities (in order of population- 2007 figures)
Adjacent Counties
TransportationRoadsSnohomish County has five major routes that connect the county to the other counties and other areas. There are four north-south routes, which are Interstate 5, Interstate 405, State Route 9, and State Route 99. The only complete east-west route is U.S. Route 2.
Interstates and U.S. Routes
State Routes
Former Routes (PSH/SSH)
Buses and TrainsSnohomish County is linked by many bus routes from three systems, which are Community Transit, Everett Transit, and Sound Transit. The county also has train access from Everett Station for Amtrak's Empire Builder line (to Chicago), and Cascades line (to Vancouver, BC, Edmonds, and Seattle), and Sound Transit's Sounder service to and from Seattle, which links to the South Line that goes to Tacoma.
Community Transit is planning a bus service called SWIFT Bus Rapid Transit from Everett Station to the Aroura Village in Shoreline along the SR 99 corridor. Sound Transit is also planning to extend the Tacoma Link Light Rail service to Seattle and eventually, Everett Station. The line will be known as the North Link.
Airplanes and FerriesSnohomish County has one official airport and several municipal airports. The county also is connected by 2 ferry lines operated by Washington State Ferries.
The one official airport is Paine Field, otherwise known as Snohomish County Airport. There are smaller airports- municipal airports and an "other" airport, Harvey Field in Snohomish. There are 2 municipal airports, Arlington Municipal and Darrington Municipal. There are also two private airports, one in Lake Stevens and another in Granite Falls. The Martha Lake Airport in Martha Lake was a former private airport that was closed in 2000
As said in the introduction above, there are two ferry lines operated by Washington State Ferries in Snohomish County waters that go to and from different counties from the county. The first line is the Edmonds-Kingston line, which carries SR 104. SR 104 terminates in the west at US 101 west of the Kitsap Peninsula, after crossing the Hood Canal over the Hood Canal Bridge. SR 104 terminates in the east at Interstate 5 on the county boundary with King County. The second line is the Mukilteo-Clinton line, which carries SR 525. SR 525 terminates in the west at SR 20 on Whidbey Island, near where SR 20 goes across on another ferry line to US 101. SR 525 terminates in the east at an interchange with Interstate 5, where it continues as Interstate 405.
EducationFor higher education, currently, Snohomish county ranks as one of the largest populated counties in the USA without a four-year baccalaureate- and advanced-degree-granting institution.
Edmonds Community College and Central Washington University have worked together since 1975 to provide higher education in Snohomish County. After earning a two-year degree online or on campus from Edmonds Community College, students can continue their studies for a bachelor's degree from Central Washington University-Lynnwood in Snoqualmie Hall, a shared building on the Edmonds CC campus.
Edmonds and Everett community colleges provide academic transfer degrees, career training and basic education in Snohomish County. Together, the colleges serve more than 40,000 people annually. About 40 percent of all high school graduates in Snohomish County begin their college education at Edmonds or Everett community college. The schools provide access to bachelor's degrees in the county in partnership with state universities.
During the 2007 legislative session, the State Legislature appropriated $4 million to plan for the creation of a University of Washington branch campus to serve north Snohomish, Island, and Skagit counties. It is expected that the college will be located somewhere between Everett and Stanwood. With a focus on upper-division science, engineering, and technology courses, the college should begin its first classes sometime in 2008. Initially, 2 sites in Everett, Lake Stevens/Snohomish, and Smokey Point/Lakewood were in the running as possible locations for the college. In late August, the university and state Office of Financial Management narrowed the sites under consideration from 73 to nine, all in Snohomish County- two in Everett and seven in the greater Smokey Point area (two near Stimson Crossing, two in Lakewood, two in Smokey Point, and one south of the Arlington Airport). In late September, this field was narrowed down to four- two in Everett, one in Smokey Point, and one in Lake Stevens. A recommendation is due in November, and the final decision on the location is expected to be made by the State Legislature during the 2008 session.
DemographicsAs of the census of 2000, there were 606,024 people, 224,852 households, and 157,846 families residing in the county. The population density was 290 people per square mile (112/kmē). There were 236,205 housing units at an average density of 113 per square mile (44/kmē). The racial makeup of the county was 85.63% White, 1.67% Black or African American, 1.36% Native American, 5.78% Asian, 0.28% Pacific Islander, 1.92% from other races, and 3.36% from two or more races. 4.72% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.2% were of German, 10.0% English, 8.8% Irish, 8.4% Norwegian and 6.6% United States or American ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 224,852 households out of which 37.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.00% were married couples living together, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.80% were non-families. 22.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the county, the population was spread out with 27.40% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 33.00% from 25 to 44, 22.00% from 45 to 64, and 9.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 100.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $53,060, and the median income for a family was $60,726. Males had a median income of $43,293 versus $31,386 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,417. About 4.90% of families and 6.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.60% of those under age 18 and 7.80% of those age 65 or over.
Census-recognized communities
Other communities
See also
External links- Over 1400 photographs documenting scenes from Snohomish, King and Chelan Counties in Washington State from the early 1900s to the 1940s.
Education links
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