Klickitat County, Washington

Klickitat County Education, Geography, and History

Klickitat County is a county located in the state of Washington. Based on the 2010 census, the population was 20,318. The county seat and largest city is Goldendale. The county is named after the Klickitat tribe of the Yakama Native Americans.

Etymology - Origin of Klickitat County Name

The Klickitat tribe of the Yakama Nation.

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts

Klickitat County History

Klickitat County was created 20 December 1859 from Skamania County. Klickitat County, located in south central Washington, has a geographic area of 1,880 square miles and ranks 16th in size among Washington's 39 counties. The area was once home to the Klickitat and Wishram tribes, both of which ceded the land to the US government in 1855.

Geography: Land and Water

As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,904 square miles (4,932 km²), of which, 1,872 square miles (4,849 km²) of it is land and 32 square miles (82 km²) of it (1.67%) is water.

 Bordering Klickitat County are Skamania County to the west, Yakima County to the north, and Benton County to the east. The Columbia River forms the southern border. The southernmost portion of the Yakama Indian Reservation extends into northern Klickitat County. The Klickitat and White Salmon rivers, both tributaries of the Columbia, flow through Klickitat County. The county's economy has been based on sheep and cattle raising, wheat, orchards, timber, and aluminum, and the county is home to the Maryhill Museum. Goldendale, population 3,760, is the largest town and county seat. As of 2000, Klickitat County's population is 19,161, two-thirds of whom live in unincorporated portions of the county.

Neighboring Counties

Bordering counties are as follows:

• Yakima County, Washington - north
• Benton County, Washington - northeast
• Morrow County, Oregon - southeast
• Gilliam County, Oregon - southeast
• Sherman County, Oregon - south
• Hood River County, Oregon - southwest
• Wasco County, Oregon - southwest
• Skamania County, Washington - west

Education

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