Grays Harbor County, Washington

The county is presently named after a large estuarine bay near its southwestern corner. On May 7, 1792, Boston fur trader Robert Gray crossed the bar into a bay which he called Bullfinch Harbor, but which later cartographers would label Chehalis Bay, and then Grays Harbor.^[3]

The area that now comprises Grays Harbor County was part of Oregon Territory in the first part of the nineteenth century. On December 19, 1845, the Provisional Government of Oregon created two counties (Vancouver and Clark) in its northern portion (which is now the state of Washington). In 1849, the name of Vancouver County was changed to Lewis County, and on April 14, 1854, a portion of Lewis County was partitioned off to become Chehalis County.^[4] This county's boundaries have not changed since its creation, but on June 9, 1915,^[5] its name was changed to Grays Harbor County to eliminate confusion with the town of Chehalis in Lewis County.^[6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,224 square miles (5,760 km²), of which 1,902 square miles (4,930 km²) is land and 322 square miles (830 km²) (14%) is water.^[7]

• Griffiths-Priday State Park
• Lake Sylvia State Park
• Ocean City State Park
• Pacific Beach State Park
• Twin Harbors State Park
• Westhaven State Park (now part of Westport Light State Park)
• Westport Light State Park

• State Route 8
• U.S. Route 12
• U.S. Route 101
• State Route 105
• State Route 107
• State Route 109

• Jefferson County – north
• Mason County – northeast
• Thurston County – east/southeast
• Lewis County – south/southeast
• Pacific County – south

• Chehalis Indian Reservation
• Colonel Bob Wilderness
• Copalis National Wildlife Refuge
• Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge
• Olympic National Forest (part)
• Olympic National Park (part)
• Quinault Indian Reservation

As of the 2000 census,^[13] there were 67,194 people, 26,808 households, and 17,907 families living in the county. The population density was 35 people per square mile (14 people/km²). There were 32,489 housing units at an average density of 17 units per square mile (6.6 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.30% White, 0.34% Black or African American, 4.66% Native American, 1.22% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 2.27% from other races, and 3.10% from two or more races. 4.85% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.3% were of German, 11.9% United States or American, 9.9% English, 9.2% Irish, and 6.1% Norwegian ancestry. 94.1% spoke English and 3.9% Spanish as their first language.

There were 26,808 households, out of which 30.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.70% were married couples living together, 11.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.20% were non-families. 26.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.70% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 15.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,160, and the median income for a family was $39,709. Males had a median income of $35,947 versus $24,262 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,799. 16.10% of the population and 11.90% of families were below the poverty line, including 21.60% of those under the age of 18 and 40% of those 65 and older.

As of the 2010 census, there were 72,797 people, 28,579 households, and 18,493 families living in the county.^[14] The population density was 38.3 inhabitants per square mile (14.8/km²). There were 35,166 housing units at an average density of 18.5 units per square mile (7.1 units/km²).^[15] The racial makeup of the county was 84.9% white, 4.6% American Indian, 1.4% Asian, 1.1% black or African American, 0.3% Pacific islander, 3.9% from other races, and 3.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 8.6% of the population.^[14] In terms of ancestry, 21.0% were German, 13.5% were Irish, 11.7% were English, 6.8% were Norwegian, and 4.2% were American.^[16]

Of the 28,579 households, 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.3% were non-families, and 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.94. The median age was 41.9 years.^[14]

The median income for a household in the county was $41,899 and the median income for a family was $49,745. Males had a median income of $42,998 versus $34,183 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,656. About 11.7% of families and 16.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.1% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.^[17]

Grays Harbor used to be one of the most consistently Democratic counties in the nation, due to its unionized logging industry. Until 2016, the last Republican presidential candidate to carry the county was Herbert Hoover in 1928;^[18] the last Republican gubernatorial candidate to win the county until 2016 was Daniel J. Evans in 1964.^[19] However, Donald Trump carried the county in the 2016 presidential election and went on to win a majority of its votes four years later.

In the United States House of Representatives Grays Harbor is part of Washington's 6th congressional district, which has a Cook Partisan Voting Index of D+5 and is represented by Derek Kilmer. In the Washington State Legislature it lies in the 19th and 24th districts. In the Washington State Senate it is represented by Kevin Van De Wege (D) and Jeff Wilson (R). In the Washington House of Representatives it is represented by Mike Chapman (D), Joel McEntire (R), Steve Tharinger (D), and Jim Walsh (R).^[20]

Principal economic activities in Grays Harbor County include wood and paper production, food processing (especially seafood), and manufacturing.^[23]

• Robert Arthur, actor
• Elton Bennett, artist
• Adam Bighill, CFL player
• Gail Brown, actress
• Trisha Brown, choreographer
• Mark Bruener, NFL player
• Daniel Bryan, professional wrestler
• Robert Eugene Bush, Medal of Honor recipient
• Kurt Cobain, musician
• Colin Cowherd, ESPN Radio host (The Herd with Colin Cowherd)
• Dale Crover, musician
• Reuben H. Fleet, aviation pioneer
• Clarence Chesterfield Howerton, circus performer
• Jerry Lambert, actor
• Robert Motherwell, artist
• Peter Norton, software developer (Norton Utilities)
• Krist Novoselic, musician
• Buzz Osborne, musician
• Douglas Osheroff, Nobel-winning physicist
• Blanche Pennick, Washington State legislator
• Patrick Simmons, musician
• Kurdt Vanderhoof, musician

• Port of Grays Harbor
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Grays Harbor County, Washington

• Grays Harbor Development Club (1912). Grays Harbor Country Washington. Oregon-Washington Railroad & Navigation Co. p. 32. From the book "thirty years ago ... Destructive Development began ... greed for wealth ... denuded acres ... logged-off land ... found to be fertile ... capable of the highest state of cultivation ... fishing profit ... splendid landlocked body of water ... fir ... perfect lumber ... lumber and shingle mills ... Clams, crabs and shrimp ... abundant ... an agreeable climate ... dairy industry ... unbounded ... few soils are superior to those here ... unlimited opportunity ... berry orchards ... poultry leading place ...
• Weinstein, Robert A. (1978). Grays Harbor, 1885-1913. Viking. p. 190.

• Official website
• Harborpedia
• Maritime Heritage Network, an online directory of maritime history resources in the Pacific Northwest, including the Grays Harbor cities of Aberdeen and Hoquiam.

47°09′N 123°50′W / 47.15°N 123.83°W / 47.15; -123.83