# Skagit County, Washington

Skagit County /ˈskædʒɪt/ is a county in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, the population was 129,523. The county seat and largest city is Mount Vernon. The county was formed in 1883 from Whatcom County and is named for the Upper and Lower Skagit Indian tribes, which have been indigenous to the area prior to European-American settlement.
Skagit County comprises the Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is included in the Seattle-Tacoma, WA Combined Statistical Area. It is located in the Puget Sound region, and it is known for its strong agricultural sector and annual tulip festival.

## Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,920 square miles (5,000 km$^2$), of which 1,731 square miles (4,480 km$^2$) is land and 189 square miles (490 km$^2$) (9.8%) is water. It is noted for its broad, fertile valley of the Skagit River, a center for cultivation of tulips and strawberries.

### 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
### 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 people per square mile (26.1 people/km$^2$). There were 51,473 housing units at an average density of 29.7 units per square mile (11.5 units/km$^2$). 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 people per square mile (23 people/km$^2$). There were 42,681 housing units at an average density of 25 units per square mile (9.7 units/km$^2$). 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 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 Lisa Janicki, 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 had been a bellwether county since the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980, voting for the winning candidate in each subsequent presidential election until it was carried by Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016 (though only by a plurality). This democratic trend continued, with Skagit County voting for Kamala Harris in 2024 despite a nationwide rightward trend.
United States presidential election results for Skagit County, Washington :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 30,765 | 43.79% | 36,956 | 52.60% | 2,535 | 3.61% |
| 2020 | 32,762 | 44.62% | 38,252 | 52.10% | 2,409 | 3.28% |
| 2016 | 24,736 | 42.60% | 26,690 | 45.97% | 6,633 | 11.42% |
| 2012 | 25,071 | 45.01% | 28,688 | 51.51% | 1,938 | 3.48% |
| 2008 | 24,687 | 43.89% | 30,053 | 53.42% | 1,513 | 2.69% |
| 2004 | 26,139 | 49.98% | 25,131 | 48.05% | 1,029 | 1.97% |
| 2000 | 22,163 | 49.01% | 20,432 | 45.18% | 2,626 | 5.81% |
| 1996 | 16,397 | 39.88% | 18,295 | 44.49% | 6,426 | 15.63% |
| 1992 | 13,388 | 32.87% | 15,936 | 39.13% | 11,404 | 28.00% |
| 1988 | 16,550 | 51.08% | 15,159 | 46.79% | 692 | 2.14% |
| 1984 | 18,840 | 56.53% | 13,947 | 41.85% | 539 | 1.62% |
| 1980 | 15,520 | 50.68% | 11,299 | 36.90% | 3,804 | 12.42% |
| 1976 | 13,060 | 48.66% | 12,718 | 47.39% | 1,059 | 3.95% |
| 1972 | 14,212 | 58.13% | 9,233 | 37.77% | 1,003 | 4.10% |
| 1968 | 10,354 | 45.83% | 10,529 | 46.60% | 1,711 | 7.57% |
| 1964 | 8,138 | 36.15% | 14,344 | 63.72% | 28 | 0.12% |
| 1960 | 12,168 | 52.40% | 11,003 | 47.39% | 49 | 0.21% |
| 1956 | 12,149 | 56.67% | 9,243 | 43.11% | 48 | 0.22% |
| 1952 | 11,446 | 57.37% | 8,321 | 41.71% | 185 | 0.93% |
| 1948 | 8,176 | 44.94% | 9,080 | 49.91% | 936 | 5.15% |
| 1944 | 7,805 | 45.03% | 9,409 | 54.29% | 118 | 0.68% |
| 1940 | 7,985 | 44.44% | 9,796 | 54.51% | 189 | 1.05% |
| 1936 | 5,222 | 33.44% | 9,639 | 61.73% | 754 | 4.83% |
| 1932 | 4,246 | 30.57% | 8,395 | 60.45% | 1,247 | 8.98% |
| 1928 | 8,336 | 73.58% | 2,848 | 25.14% | 145 | 1.28% |
| 1924 | 5,071 | 47.95% | 699 | 6.61% | 4,806 | 45.44% |
| 1920 | 5,320 | 51.62% | 1,840 | 17.85% | 3,146 | 30.53% |
| 1916 | 4,142 | 40.17% | 4,936 | 47.88% | 1,232 | 11.95% |
| 1912 | 2,399 | 25.97% | 1,962 | 21.24% | 4,876 | 52.79% |
| 1908 | 2,924 | 56.42% | 1,449 | 27.96% | 810 | 15.63% |
| 1904 | 3,051 | 69.93% | 880 | 20.17% | 432 | 9.90% |
| 1900 | 1,814 | 55.90% | 1,220 | 37.60% | 211 | 6.50% |
| 1896 | 1,268 | 43.41% | 1,623 | 55.56% | 30 | 1.03% |
| 1892 | 1,246 | 42.92% | 923 | 31.79% | 734 | 25.28% |

## 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

* Interstate 5
* State Route 9
* 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
* Clear Lake
* Conway
* Edison
* Lake Cavanaugh
* Lake McMurray
* Marblemount
* Rockport

### Unincorporated communities

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

### Reservations

* Swinomish Indian Reservation
* Upper Skagit Indian Reservation
* Samish Indian Reservation

### Ghost towns

* Ehrlich
* 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