Snohomish County is a county located in the
U.S. stateA U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Washington. It is named after the
SnohomishThe Snohomish are a Lushootseed Native American tribe who reside around the Puget Sound area of Washington, north of Seattle. They speak the Lushootseed language. The tribal spelling is Sdoh-doh-hohbsh, which means "wet snow" according to the last chief of the Snohomish tribe, Chief William...
tribe. Since 2000, the county's population has grown from 606,024 to 713,335 residents (2010), making it one of the fastest-growing in the state, ranking third in overall population after
KingKing County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. The population in the 2010 census was 1,931,249. King is the most populous county in Washington, and the 14th most populous in the United States....
(1,931,249) and
Pierceright|thumb|[[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]] - Seat of Pierce CountyPierce County is the second most populous county in the U.S. state of Washington. Formed out of Thurston County on December 22, 1852, by the legislature of Oregon Territory...
(795,225) counties (per 2010 Census figures). The county seat is
EverettEverett is the county seat of and the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Named for Everett Colby, son of founder Charles L. Colby, it lies north of Seattle. The city had a total population of 103,019 at the 2010 census, making it the 6th largest in the state and...
, the county's largest city in population.
Snohomish County was created out of
Island CountyIsland County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. In 2010 census, its population was 78,506. Its county seat is Coupeville, while its largest city is Oak Harbor....
on January 14, 1861.
Geography
According to the
U.S. Census BureauThe United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the county has a total area of 2196 square miles (5,687.6 km²), of which 2089 square miles (5,410.5 km²) is land and 107 square miles (277.1 km²) (4.89%) is water. The highest point in the county is volcanic
Glacier PeakGlacier Peak is the most isolated of the five major stratovolcanoes of the Cascade Volcanic Arc in Washington...
at 10,541 feet (3,213 meters) above sea level.
Snohomish County is bordered on the west by
Puget SoundPuget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...
, except near
StanwoodStanwood is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. The population was 6,231 at the 2010 census.-History:Stanwood was first settled in 1866 by Robert Fulton. Stanwood's Post Office was established as Centerville in 1870, and the name was changed to Stanwood in 1877 by D.O. Pearson...
, where Davis Slough is the border between it and
Camano IslandCamano Island is a large island in the Possession Sound portion of Puget Sound, located in Island County, Washington, between Whidbey Island and the mainland. The body of water separating Whidbey Island and Camano Island is called Saratoga Passage. Camano Island is separated from mainland...
, which is part of
Island CountyIsland County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. In 2010 census, its population was 78,506. Its county seat is Coupeville, while its largest city is Oak Harbor....
. On the east it is bordered by the crestline of the
North CascadesThe North Cascades are a section of the Cascade Range of western North America. They span the border between the Canadian province of British Columbia and the U.S. state of Washington and are officially named in Canada as the Cascade Mountains...
. It is 36 miles (57.9 km) from its northern boundary with
Skagit CountySkagit County is a county in the U.S. state of Washington. It is named after the Skagit Indian tribe. As of 2010, the population was 116,901. It is included in the Mount Vernon-Anacortes, Washington, Metropolitan Statistical Area...
at 332nd St. NW/NE, to its southern boundary with
King CountyKing County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. The population in the 2010 census was 1,931,249. King is the most populous county in Washington, and the 14th most populous in the United States....
, at 244th St. SW/SE. Streets are gridded 16 blocks to the mile (10 blocks to the km).
National protected areas
- Mount Baker National Forest
Mount Baker National Forest was established in Washington on January 21, 1924 when its name was changed from Washington National Forest. In 1974 it was administratively combined with Snoqualmie National Forest to make Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. In descending order of land area, Mount...
(part)
- Snoqualmie National Forest
Snoqualmie National Forest is a United States National Forest in the State of Washington. It was established on 1 July 1908, when an area of 961,120 acres was split from the existing Washington National Forest. Its size was increased on 13 October 1933, when a part of Rainier National Forest was...
(part)
Although these two forests have been administratively combined into the
Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National ForestThe Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in Washington extends more than along the western slopes of the Cascade Range from the Canadian border to the northern boundary of Mount Rainier National Park. Forest headquarters are located in the city of Everett....
, the county contains portions of both original forests.
Natural features
Mountains
- Cascade Mountains
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
- Glacier Peak
Glacier Peak is the most isolated of the five major stratovolcanoes of the Cascade Volcanic Arc in Washington...
, highest point in Snohomish County
- Mount Pilchuck
Mount Pilchuck is a mountain located in Snohomish County, Washington. It is northeast of Seattle. It is part of the Cascade Range.Mount Pilchuck is located within Mount Pilchuck State Park, but the area surrounding the mountain, including the trailhead, are within the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie...
- Three Fingers
- Whitehorse Mountain
Whitehorse Mountain is a peak near the western edge of the North Cascades in Washington state. It is located just southwest of the Sauk River Valley town of Darrington, near the northern boundary of Boulder River Wilderness in Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest...
Major rivers
- Skykomish River
The Skykomish River is a Washington river which drains the west side of the Cascade Mountains in the southeast section of Snohomish County and the northeast corner of King County. The river starts with the confluence of the North Fork Skykomish River and South Fork Skykomish River approximately one...
- Snohomish River
The Snohomish River is a river in the U.S. state of Washington, formed by the confluence of the Skykomish and Snoqualmie rivers near Monroe. It flows northwest entering Port Gardner Bay, part of Puget Sound, between Everett and Marysville. The Pilchuck River is its main tributary and joins the...
- Snoqualmie River
The Snoqualmie River is a long river in King County and Snohomish County in the U.S. state of Washington. The river's three main tributaries are the North, Middle, and South Forks, which drain the west side of the Cascade Mountains near the town of North Bend and join near the town of Snoqualmie...
- Stillaguamish River
The Stillaguamish River is a river in northwest Washington in the United States. It is mainly composed of two forks, the longer North Fork Stillaguamish and the South Fork Stillaguamish. The two forks join near Arlington. From there the Stillaguamish River proper flows for to Puget Sound...
Major bodies of water
- Lake Goodwin
- Lake Stevens
Lake Stevens is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States that surrounds the lake bearing the same name. It is southeast of Marysville, north of the city of Snohomish, and east of Everett...
- Port Susan
Port Susan is a bay and strait located in the U.S. state of Washington. Part of the Whidbey Island Basin of Puget Sound, Port Susan is bounded by Camano Island to the west and the mainland to the east. The Stillaguamish River empties into the northern end of Port Susan. To the south, Port Susan...
- Port Gardner
- Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...
- Silver Lake
- Spada Lake
- Tulalip Bay
- Martha Lake
- Lake Bosworth
- Lake Roesiger
- Lake Cavanaugh
Islands
- Ebey Island
- Gedney Island
Gedney Island is an island in Possession Sound in Snohomish County, Washington, USA. The island lies in Possession Sound between the mainland city of Everett, Washington and the southern part of Whidbey Island...
(also called Hat Island)
- Spencer Island
Political features
Most populous cities
- Everett
Everett is the county seat of and the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Named for Everett Colby, son of founder Charles L. Colby, it lies north of Seattle. The city had a total population of 103,019 at the 2010 census, making it the 6th largest in the state and...
- 103,019
- Marysville
Marysville is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. The population was 60,020 at the 2010 census. Marysville is known as "The Strawberry City" due to the large number of strawberry farms that once surrounded the city in its earlier days. Over the past decade, and continuing...
- 60,020
- Edmonds
Edmonds is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Edmonds has a view of Puget Sound and both the Olympic Mountains and Cascade Range. The third most populous city in Snohomish County after Everett and Marysville, the population was 39,709 according to the 2010 census...
- 39,709
- Lynnwood
Lynnwood is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. The population was 35,836 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest in Snohomish County and twenty-ninth largest in Washington State. The city is a mix of urban, suburban, small city, crossroads and bedroom community to many...
- 35,836
- Lake Stevens
Lake Stevens is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States that surrounds the lake bearing the same name. It is southeast of Marysville, north of the city of Snohomish, and east of Everett...
- 28,069
Adjacent counties
- Skagit County, Washington
Skagit County is a county in the U.S. state of Washington. It is named after the Skagit Indian tribe. As of 2010, the population was 116,901. It is included in the Mount Vernon-Anacortes, Washington, Metropolitan Statistical Area...
- north
- Chelan County, Washington - east
- King County, Washington
King County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. The population in the 2010 census was 1,931,249. King is the most populous county in Washington, and the 14th most populous in the United States....
- south
- Island County, Washington
Island County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. In 2010 census, its population was 78,506. Its county seat is Coupeville, while its largest city is Oak Harbor....
- west
Roads
Snohomish 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 5Interstate 5 in Washington is a highway in the U.S. state of Washington that extends from its border with Oregon to its border with Canada...
,
Interstate 405Interstate 405 in Washington is a stretch of freeway that bypasses Seattle east of Lake Washington. The northern terminus is in Lynnwood and the southern terminus is in Tukwila...
, State Route 9, and
State Route 99State Route 99, abbreviated SR 99, commonly called Highway 99, is a numbered state highway in the U.S. state of Washington extending just under from Fife in the south to Everett in the north, with a gap in Tukwila.-Southern division:...
. The only complete east-west route is
U.S. Route 2U.S. Route 2 is a part of the United States Numbered Highway System that has a western segment that runs from Everett, Washington, to the Upper Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. In Washington, it is a state highway that begins at in Downtown Everett. The of US 2 that lie within...
.
InterstatesThe Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, , is a network of limited-access roads including freeways, highways, and expressways forming part of the National Highway System of the United States of America...
and U.S. Routes
 Interstate 5Interstate 5 in Washington is a highway in the U.S. state of Washington that extends from its border with Oregon to its border with Canada...
|
 Interstate 405Interstate 405 in Washington is a stretch of freeway that bypasses Seattle east of Lake Washington. The northern terminus is in Lynnwood and the southern terminus is in Tukwila...
|
 U.S. Route 2U.S. Route 2 is a part of the United States Numbered Highway System that has a western segment that runs from Everett, Washington, to the Upper Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. In Washington, it is a state highway that begins at in Downtown Everett. The of US 2 that lie within...
|
State Routes
 State Route 9 State Route 92State Route 92 is a short long Washington state highway entirely in Snohomish County. The roadway connects in Lake Stevens to the Mountain Loop Highway in Granite Falls, serving as the primary connector to Granite Falls...
 State Route 96State Route 96 is a state highway in Snohomish County in the U.S. state of Washington. It runs for from a junction with Interstate 5 in Everett, eastward through suburban and rural areas to a junction with State Route 9 in rural area south of Snohomish...
 State Route 99State Route 99, abbreviated SR 99, commonly called Highway 99, is a numbered state highway in the U.S. state of Washington extending just under from Fife in the south to Everett in the north, with a gap in Tukwila.-Southern division:...
 State Route 104 |
 State Route 203
 State Route 204State Route 204 is a Washington state highway in Snohomish County that begins at east of Everett travelling northeast to its termimus at in the city of Lake Stevens. It is also referred to as SR 204 or Hwy 204 and less commonly as Snohomish-Marysville Road...
 State Route 522
 State Route 524 |
 State Route 525
 State Route 526
 State Route 527
 State Route 528State Route 528 is a state highway located entirely in the city of Marysville within Snohomish County, Washington. It extends from an interchange with Interstate 5 through Downtown Marysville, east to SR 9. The route serves as a connector to Downtown Marysville...
|
 State Route 529
 State Route 530
 State Route 531State Route 531 is a short Washington state highway in Snohomish County. It extends east , from Wenberg County Park in the community of Lake Goodwin, to SR 9 in southeast Arlington. SR 531 intersects Interstate 5 , and passes the Arlington Airport. The route connects I-5 to...
 State Route 532State Route 532 is a short Washington state highway in Island and Snohomish counties, located in the United States. The long roadway begins at Sunrise Boulevard in Camano and travels east through Stanwood to end at...
|
Former Routes (PSH/SSH)
Buses and trains
Snohomish County is linked by many bus routes from three systems, which are Community Transit,
Everett TransitEverett Transit is the public transit authority of Everett, Washington, the only city in Snohomish County not to belong to Community Transit. As of 2010, Everett Transit operates 49 buses within Everett on 18 routes...
(
EverettEverett is the county seat of and the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Named for Everett Colby, son of founder Charles L. Colby, it lies north of Seattle. The city had a total population of 103,019 at the 2010 census, making it the 6th largest in the state and...
only), and
Sound TransitSound Transit has been the popular name of Washington state's Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority since September 19, 1999. It was formed in 1996 by the Snohomish, King, and Pierce County Councils...
. The county also has train access from Everett Station for
AmtrakThe National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
's
Empire BuilderThe Empire Builder is a passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Midwestern and Northwestern United States. It is Amtrak's busiest long-distance route and busiest daily train, carrying more than 500,000 travelers annually since 2007. Overall, it is the railroad's 10th-busiest line. Before...
line (to
ChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
), and
CascadesThe Amtrak Cascades is a passenger train route operated by Amtrak in partnership with the states of Washington and Oregon in the Pacific Northwest of the United States and the province of British Columbia in Canada...
line (to
VancouverVancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
,
BCBritish Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
,
EdmondsThe Edmonds Station is a passenger train station in Edmonds, Washington.It is a station stop for Amtrak's Empire Builder and Cascades trains, as well as for Sound Transit's Sounder Commuter Rail on the north line....
, and
SeattleSeattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
), and
Sound TransitSound Transit has been the popular name of Washington state's Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority since September 19, 1999. It was formed in 1996 by the Snohomish, King, and Pierce County Councils...
's Sounder service to and from
SeattleSeattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, which links to the South Line that goes to
TacomaTacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
.
Community Transit is operates a
bus rapid transitBus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
service called
SwiftSwift Bus Rapid Transit is a bus rapid transit system in Snohomish County, Washington, that is operated by Community Transit. The line extends from Everett Station to the Aurora Village Transit Center and opened on 29 November 2009 at a cost of about $29 million., by Scott Gutierrez, Seattle...
from Everett Station to the Aurora Village in
ShorelineShoreline is a city in King County, Washington, United States, north of Downtown Seattle bordering the northern Seattle city limits. As of the 2010 census, the population was 53,007, making it the 19th largest city in the state of Washington....
along the
SR 99State Route 99, abbreviated SR 99, commonly called Highway 99, is a numbered state highway in the U.S. state of Washington extending just under from Fife in the south to Everett in the north, with a gap in Tukwila.-Southern division:...
corridor.
Sound TransitSound Transit has been the popular name of Washington state's Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority since September 19, 1999. It was formed in 1996 by the Snohomish, King, and Pierce County Councils...
is also planning to extend
Link Light RailSound Transit Link Light Rail is a rapid transit project in the Greater Seattle region, originally approved by a ballot measure in November 1996. Two lines are currently operating as of 2009: Tacoma Link, which uses 3 vehicles built by Škoda, and Central Link, which uses 35 vehicles built by Kinki...
service to
LynnwoodLynnwood is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. The population was 35,836 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest in Snohomish County and twenty-ninth largest in Washington State. The city is a mix of urban, suburban, small city, crossroads and bedroom community to many...
and eventually
EverettEverett is the county seat of and the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Named for Everett Colby, son of founder Charles L. Colby, it lies north of Seattle. The city had a total population of 103,019 at the 2010 census, making it the 6th largest in the state and...
. The line will be known as the
North LinkNorth Link is a northern extension of the Central Link light rail line that will connect the University District to Northgate in Seattle. The 4.3-mile light rail extension includes stations in the University District , Roosevelt neighborhood and Northgate. North Link is scheduled to open for...
.
Airplanes and ferries
Snohomish County has one official airport and several municipal airports. The county also is connected by two ferry lines operated by
Washington State FerriesWashington State Ferries is a passenger and automobile ferry service owned and operated by the Washington State Department of Transportation that serves communities on Puget Sound and in the San Juan Islands. It is the most used ferry system in the world and the largest passenger and automobile...
.
The one official airport is
Paine FieldPaine Field, also known as Snohomish County Airport is a public airport located in unincorporated Snohomish County, between Mukilteo and Everett, Washington...
, otherwise known as Snohomish County Airport. There are smaller outlying airports, such as Harvey Field in
SnohomishSnohomish is a city in Snohomish County founded by the british, Washington, United States. The population was 9,098 at the 2010 census. The mayor of Snohomish is Karen Guzak, and the City Manager is Larry Bauman...
. There are two municipal airports,
Arlington MunicipalArlington Municipal Airport is a public airport located three miles southwest of the central business district of Arlington, a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. It is owned and operated by the City of Arlington.- History :...
and Darrington Municipal. There are also two private airports, one in Lake Stevens and another in Granite Falls. The Martha Lake Airport in
Martha LakeMartha Lake is a census-designated place in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. The population was 15,473 at the 2010 census. It lies west of Mill Creek and northeast of Lynnwood....
was a former private airport that was closed in 2000
As said in the introduction above, there are two ferry routes operated by
Washington State FerriesWashington State Ferries is a passenger and automobile ferry service owned and operated by the Washington State Department of Transportation that serves communities on Puget Sound and in the San Juan Islands. It is the most used ferry system in the world and the largest passenger and automobile...
in Snohomish County waters that go to and from different counties from the county. The first line is the Edmonds-Kingston route, which carries SR 104. SR 104 terminates in the west at
US 101In the U.S. state of Washington, U.S. Route 101 is the westernmost state highway, serving the Olympic Peninsula. It runs from the Astoria-Megler Bridge north to the cities of Raymond, Aberdeen, Hoquiam, and Forks before turning east at the small community of Beaver to the most northern point of the...
west of the
Kitsap PeninsulaThe Kitsap Peninsula is an arm of land that is part of the larger Olympic Peninsula in Washington state that lies west of Seattle across Puget Sound. Hood Canal separates Kitsap Peninsula from the rest of the Olympic Peninsula...
, after crossing the
Hood CanalHood Canal is a fjord forming the western lobe, and one of the four main basins, of Puget Sound in the state of Washington. Hood Canal is not a canal in the sense of being a man-made waterway—it is a natural waterway.-Geography:...
over the
Hood Canal BridgeThe Hood Canal Bridge is a floating bridge located in the U.S. state of Washington that carries Washington State Route 104 across Hood Canal and connects the Olympic and Kitsap Peninsulas. At long, The Hood Canal Bridge (officially William A. Bugge Bridge) is a floating bridge located in the U.S....
. SR 104 terminates in the east at
Interstate 5Interstate 5 in Washington is a highway in the U.S. state of Washington that extends from its border with Oregon to its border with Canada...
on the county boundary with
King CountyKing County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. The population in the 2010 census was 1,931,249. King is the most populous county in Washington, and the 14th most populous in the United States....
. The second line is the
MukilteoMukilteo , which means "good camping ground", is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. The population was 20,254 at the 2010 census. It is on the shore of the Puget Sound, and is the site of a Washington State Ferries terminal linking it to Clinton, on Whidbey Island.Mukilteo is...
-
ClintonClinton is a community and census-designated place located on southern Whidbey Island in Island County, Washington, United States. The town was named after Clinton, Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the village was 928. However, the post office serves at least 2,500 people.Clinton is the western...
line, which carries SR 525. SR 525 terminates in the west at SR 20 on
Whidbey IslandWhidbey Island is one of nine islands located in Island County, Washington, in the United States. Whidbey is located about north of Seattle, and lies between the Olympic Peninsula and the I-5 corridor of western Washington...
, near where SR 20 goes across on another ferry line to
US 101In the U.S. state of Washington, U.S. Route 101 is the westernmost state highway, serving the Olympic Peninsula. It runs from the Astoria-Megler Bridge north to the cities of Raymond, Aberdeen, Hoquiam, and Forks before turning east at the small community of Beaver to the most northern point of the...
. SR 525 terminates in the east at an interchange with
Interstate 5Interstate 5 in Washington is a highway in the U.S. state of Washington that extends from its border with Oregon to its border with Canada...
, where it continues as
Interstate 405Interstate 405 in Washington is a stretch of freeway that bypasses Seattle east of Lake Washington. The northern terminus is in Lynnwood and the southern terminus is in Tukwila...
.
Education
Snohomish County is one of the most-populous counties in the United States without a four-year, baccalaureate degree-granting institution.
Everett Community CollegeEverett Community College is a community college located in Everett, Washington. EvCC educates more than 20,000 students every year at seven learning centers throughout Snohomish County, with most students and faculty at the main campus in north Everett....
and
Edmonds Community CollegeEdmonds Community College is a college in the metropolitan area of Seattle. More than 20,000 students annually take courses for credit toward a certificate or degree at the college in Snohomish County, Washington.-History and governance:...
provide academic transfer degrees, career training and basic education in Snohomish County. Together, the two 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 collegeA community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
.
Everett Community CollegeEverett Community College is a community college located in Everett, Washington. EvCC educates more than 20,000 students every year at seven learning centers throughout Snohomish County, with most students and faculty at the main campus in north Everett....
is the legislatively appointed leader of the University Center of North Puget Sound
http://www.uceverett.org, which offers 25 bachelor's and master's degrees through Western Washington University, Washington State University, Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, The Evergreen State College, Hope International University, and the University of Washington Bothell.
Edmonds Community CollegeEdmonds Community College is a college in the metropolitan area of Seattle. More than 20,000 students annually take courses for credit toward a certificate or degree at the college in Snohomish County, Washington.-History and governance:...
and
Central Washington UniversityCentral Washington University, often abbreviated CWU, is a public university in Ellensburg, Washington in the United States.This location was selected by the state legislature as a consolation prize after Ellensburg lost its bid to be state capital...
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 CollegeEdmonds Community College is a college in the metropolitan area of Seattle. More than 20,000 students annually take courses for credit toward a certificate or degree at the college in Snohomish County, Washington.-History and governance:...
, students can continue their studies for a bachelor's degree from
Central Washington University-LynnwoodCentral Washington University-Lynnwood is Central Washington University's satellite campus in Lynnwood, Washington, United States.Edmonds Community College and Central Washington University have worked together since 1975 to meet the higher education needs of Snohomish County...
in Snoqualmie Hall, a shared building on the Edmonds CC campus.
Demographics
As of the
censusA census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 606,024 people, 224,852 households, and 157,846 families residing in the county. The
population densityPopulation density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 290 people per square mile (112/km²). There were 236,205 housing units at an average density of 113 per square mile (44/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 85.63%
WhiteRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.67%
BlackRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or
African AmericanRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.36%
Native AmericanRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 5.78%
AsianRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.28%
Pacific IslanderRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.92% from
other racesRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 3.36% from two or more races. 4.72% of the population were
HispanicRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or
LatinoRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race. 16.2% were of German, 10.0%
EnglishThe English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
, 8.8%
IrishThe Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, 8.4% Norwegian and 6.6%
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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 couplesMarriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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 incomePer capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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.
Origin of the county's name
Snohomish is the name of a Native American tribe in the area. Some associate the word as meaning "land of the low people".
Major historical events that occurred in county
Snohomish County was created out of
Island CountyIsland County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. In 2010 census, its population was 78,506. Its county seat is Coupeville, while its largest city is Oak Harbor....
on January 14, 1861.
The county seat of Snohomish when established was the city of
Snohomish, WashingtonSnohomish is a city in Snohomish County founded by the british, Washington, United States. The population was 9,098 at the 2010 census. The mayor of Snohomish is Karen Guzak, and the City Manager is Larry Bauman...
starting in 1861. The city of Everett took the seat in a disputed move in 1895. It was in a vote.
One of the first county censuses was taken in 1862 by Sheriff Salem A. Woods.
Early important pioneers in the Snohomish County region included
E. F. CadyE.F. Cady, along with E.C. Ferguson, co-founded Cadyville in 1860 to take advantage of a military road Congress planned that never materialized. Cadyville later became known as Snohomish, Washington....
of Snohomish, E. C. Ferguson of Snohomish and
Isaac CathcartIsaac Cathcart was a well-known businessman and Snohomish County, Washington pioneer.Cathcart was born in county Fermanagh, Ireland, in 1845. He was the son of Isaac F. and Charlott Cathcart....
.
County Executive
The county executive is Aaron Reardon, a
DemocratThe Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. Reardon is a former state representative.
The county executive seat was chartered in the 1979. The first county executive was conservative Democrat Willis Tucker of Snohomish from 1980 to 1991. Following Tucker, the next county executive was Democrat Bob Drewel from 1991 to 2002.
County Council
The county council is made up of:
- John Koster (R) - district 1
- Vice-Chairman Brian Sullivan
Brian J. Sullivan was elected to the Snohomish County Council in November 2007, and took office in January 2008. He represents County Council District 2, which includes the cities of Everett and Mukilteo, as well as portions of unincorporated Snohomish County...
(D) - district 2
- Stephanie Wright (D) - district 3
- Dave Gossett (D) - district 4
- Chairman Dave Somers (D) - district 5
Koster and Sullivan are both former state representatives. In the
2010 state electionsThe United States House of Representatives elections in Washington, 2010 was held on November 2, 2010, to determine who will represent the state of Washington in the United States House of Representatives...
, Koster narrowly lost to
Rick LarsenRichard Ray "Rick" Larsen is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:...
in an election for U.S. Representative seat 2.
See also
External links
Education links