County population in 2014: 46,827 (72% urban, 28% rural); it was 40,740 in 2000County owner-occupied with a mortgage or a loan houses and condos in 2010: 4,788 County owner-occupied free and clear houses and condos in 2010: 3,114 County owner-occupied houses and condos in 2000: 7,300 Renter-occupied apartments: 9,566 (it was 7,957 in 2000)
% of renters here:
52%
State:
36%
Land area: 2159 sq. mi.
Water area: 18.2 sq. mi.
Population density: 22 people per square mile (low).
Mar. 2016 cost of living index in Whitman County: 86.9 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)
Industries providing employment: Educational, health and social services (26.7%), Professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services (20.3%), Agriculture,forestry,fishing and hunting, and mining (18.2%).
Estimated median household income in 2013: $34,300 ($28,584 in 1999)
This county:
$34300
Washington:
$58405
Median contract rent in 2013 for apartments: $620 (lower quartile is $493, upper quartile is $855)
This county:
$620
State:
$867
Estimated median house or condo value in 2013: $174,440 (it was $110,100 in 2000)
Whitman:
$174,440
Washington:
$250,800
Lower value quartile - upper value quartile: $101,927 - $251,580 Median monthly housing costs for homes and condos with a mortgage: $1,268 Median monthly housing costs for units without a mortgage: $390
Institutionalized population: 164
Crime in 2005 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):
Murders: 1
Rapes: 6
Robberies: 0
Assaults: 3
Burglaries: 30
Thefts: 56
Auto thefts: 10
Crime in 2004 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):
Murders: 0
Rapes: 3
Robberies: 1
Assaults: 4
Burglaries: 41
Thefts: 65
Auto thefts: 7
Single-family new house construction building permits:
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2013: $2,014 (1.0%) Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2013: $1,421 (0.9%)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2013: 33.1%
(30.5% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 58.8% for Black residents, 42.6% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 32.1% for American Indian residents, 85.7% for Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander residents, 55.2% for other race residents, 50.4% for two or more races residents)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2013: 33.8%
Whitman County:
33.8%
Washington:
14.1%
(31.7% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 62.9% for Black residents, 41.8% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 31.2% for American Indian residents, 88.4% for Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander residents, 49.8% for other race residents, 56.4% for two or more races residents)
Median age of residents in 2013: 23 years old
(Males: 24 years old, Females: 23 years old)
(Median age for: White residents: 25 years old, Black residents: 20 years old, American Indian residents: 19 years old, Asian residents: 25 years old, Hispanic or Latino residents: 20 years old, Other race residents: 21 years old)
Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Whitman County is $449 a month. Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $583 a month. Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $823 a month.
Current college students: 15,058 People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 92.8% People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 44.0%
Number of foreign born residents: 3,121 (27% naturalized citizens)
Whitman County:
7.7%
Whole state:
10.4%
Year of entry for the foreign-born population
1995 to March 2000: 1,641
1990 to 1994: 626
1985 to 1989: 292
1980 to 1984: 169
1975 to 1979: 155
1970 to 1974: 48
1970 to 1974: 32
1965 to 1969: 158
Mean travel time to work (commute): 15.6 minutes
Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 88.5%
Housing units in structures:
One, detached: 8,387
One, attached: 427
Two: 952
3 or 4: 1,084
5 to 9: 1,357
10 to 19: 1,364
20 or more: 1,549
Mobile homes: 1,517
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.: 39
Housing units in Whitman County with a mortgage: 3,330 (361 second mortgage, 259 home equity loan, 5 both second mortgage and home equity loan) Houses without a mortgage: 1,893
Here:
0.0% with mortgage
State:
75.4% with mortgage
Religion statistics for Whitman County
Religion
Adherents
Congregations
Evangelical Protestant
4,782
35
Catholic
3,628
9
Mainline Protestant
2,644
20
Other
2,388
10
None
31,334
-
Whitman County Religion Details
Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center.
Food Environment Statistics:
Number of grocery stores: 12
Whitman County:
2.94 / 10,000 pop.
State:
2.06 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (no gas): 3
This county:
0.74 / 10,000 pop.
Washington:
1.18 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (with gas): 8
Whitman County:
1.96 / 10,000 pop.
Washington:
2.67 / 10,000 pop.
Number of full-service restaurants: 32
This county:
7.85 / 10,000 pop.
State:
8.26 / 10,000 pop.
Adult diabetes rate:
Whitman County:
5.4%
Washington:
7.7%
Adult obesity rate:
Whitman County:
24.1%
State:
25.7%
Low-income preschool obesity rate:
Here:
8.1%
State:
13.9%
Agriculture in Whitman County:
Average size of farms: 1222 acres Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $149,614 Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $203.85 The value of nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 1.92% The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 4.54% Average total farm production expenses per farm: $120,842 Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 57.33% Irrigated harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 0.66% Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $161,794 The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 66.33% Average age of principal farm operators: 55 years Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 1.18 Corn for grain: 111 harvested acres All wheat for grain: 486853 harvested acres Vegetables: 6,582 harvested acres Land in orchards: 58 acres
Earthquake activity:
Whitman County-area historical earthquake activity is near Washington state average. It is 125% greater than the overall U.S. average.
On 10/28/1983 at 14:06:06, a magnitude 7.3 (6.2 MB, 7.3 MS, 7.0 MW, Class: Major, Intensity: VIII - XII) earthquake occurred 262.4 miles away from Whitman County center, causing 2 deaths (2 shaking deaths) and 3 injuries, causing $15,000,000 total damage On 8/18/1959 at 06:37:13, a magnitude 7.7 (7.7 UK) earthquake occurred 363.3 miles away from the county center, causing $26,000,000 total damage On 4/13/1949 at 19:55:42, a magnitude 7.0 (7.0 UK) earthquake occurred 241.8 miles away from the county center, causing $80,000,000 total damage On 2/28/2001 at 18:54:32, a magnitude 6.8 (6.5 MB, 6.6 MS, 6.8 MW, Depth: 32.2 mi, Class: Strong, Intensity: VII - IX) earthquake occurred 245.2 miles away from the county center, causing $2,000,000,000 total damage and $305,000,000 insured losses On 4/29/1965 at 15:28:43, a magnitude 6.6 (6.6 UK) earthquake occurred 234.3 miles away from Whitman County center, causing $28,000,000 total damage On 10/3/1915 at 06:52:48, a magnitude 7.6 (7.6 UK) earthquake occurred 444.1 miles away from the county center Magnitude types: body-wave magnitude (MB), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)
Most recent natural disasters:
WashingtonSevere Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow, Incident Period: December 12, 2008 to January 5, 2009, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1825): March 2, 2009, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1825, Natural disaster type: Winter Storm, Snow
WashingtonHurricane Katrina Evacuation, Incident Period: August 29, 2005 to October 1, 2005, Emergency Declared (EM-3227): September 7, 2005, FEMA Id: FEMA-EM-3227, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
WashingtonSevere Winter Storms/Flooding, Incident Period: December 26, 1996 to February 10, 1997, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1159): January 17, 1997, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1159, Natural disaster type: Winter Storm, Flood
WashingtonSevere Storms/Flooding, Incident Period: January 26, 1996 to February 23, 1996, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1100): February 9, 1996, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1100, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
WashingtonFires, Incident Period: October 16, 1991 to October 24, 1991, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-922): November 13, 1991, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-922, Natural disaster type: Fire
WashingtonHeavy Rains, Flooding, Mudslides, Incident Period: March 8, 1989 to March 17, 1989, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-822): April 14, 1989, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-822, Natural disaster type: Mudslide, Flood, Heavy Rain
WashingtonVOLCANIC ERUPTION, MT. ST. HELENS, Incident Period: May 21, 1980, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-623): May 21, 1980, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-623, Natural disaster type: Volcanic Eruption
WashingtonSEVERE STORMS,MUDSLIDES, FLOODING, Incident Period: December 10, 1977, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-545): December 10, 1977, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-545, Natural disaster type: Storm, Mudslide, Flood
WashingtonDrought, Incident Period: March 31, 1977, Emergency Declared (EM-3037): March 31, 1977, FEMA Id: FEMA-EM-3037, Natural disaster type: Drought
WashingtonSEVERE STORMS, SNOWMELT, FLOODING, Incident Period: January 25, 1974, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-414): January 25, 1974, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-414, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood, Snow
2 other natural disasters have been reported since 1953.
The number of natural disasters in Whitman County (12) is near the US average (12). Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 10 Emergencies Declared: 2
Causes of natural disasters: Floods: 7, Storms: 4, Heavy Rains: 2, Mudslides: 2, Snows: 2, Winter Storms: 2, Drought: 1, Fire: 1, Hurricane: 1, Volcanic Eruption: 1 (Note: Some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).
Percentage of population without health insurance coverage in Whitman County
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2007: 4,390 (3,793 aged, 597 disabled) Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2007: 1,018 (15%)
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Aged persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Disabled persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Most common underlying causes of death in Whitman County, Washington in 1999 - 2014:
Acute myocardial infarction, unspecified (288)
Atherosclerotic heart disease (273)
Alzheimer's disease, unspecified (195)
Bronchus or lung, unspecified - Malignant neoplasms (194)
Stroke, not specified as haemorrhage or infarction (143)
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, so described (65)
Breast, unspecified - Malignant neoplasms (54)
Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 16% Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 15%
Short term general hospitals per 100,000 population in 2004: 4.98 Short term general hospital admissions per 100,000 population in 2004: 4550.890 Short term general hospital beds per 100,000 population in 2004: 146.960 Emergency room visits per 100,000 population in 2004: 23962.54
General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 888.720 Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 500.370 Dentists per 100,000 population in 1998: 4.98
Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 40.52 Total deaths per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006: 92.11
Limited-service eating places per 100,000 population in 2005 : 2.49
EPA green book nonattainment status in 2004-2006: 1
Household type by relationship:
Households: 38,828
In family households: 23,805 (6,030 male householders, 2,100 female householders)
6,711 spouses, 7,559 children (7,002 natural, 265 adopted, 292 stepchildren), 191 grandchildren, 258 brothers or sisters, 148 parents, 155 other relatives, 568 non-relatives
In nonfamily households: 15,023 (4,809 male householders (2,813 living alone)), 4,529 female householders (2,897 living alone)), 5,685 nonrelatives
In group quarters: 5,948 (164 institutionalized population)
Size of family households: 4,170 2-persons, 1,704 3-persons, 1,384 4-persons, 567 5-persons, 216 6-persons, 89 7-or-more-persons.
5,669 married couples with children.
1,393 single-parent households (301 men, 1,092 women).
89.0% of residents of Whitman County speak English at home.
3.2% of residents speak Spanish at home (72% speak English very well, 15% speak English well, 12% speak English not well).
3.0% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (81% speak English very well, 12% speak English well, 7% speak English not well).
4.4% of residents speak Asian or Pacific Island language at home (46% speak English very well, 35% speak English well, 18% speak English not well).
0.4% of residents speak other language at home (80% speak English very well, 20% speak English well).
In fiscal year 2004:
Federal Government expenditure: $282,084,000 ($7026 per capita) Department of Defense expenditure: $19,928,000 Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $65,487,000 Federal other direct payments to individuals: $45,403,000 Federal direct payments not to individuals: $32,412,000 Federal grants: $113,148,000 Federal procurement contracts: $8,813,000 ($3,482,000 Department of Defense) Federal salaries and wages: $16,822,000 ($1,183,000 Department of Defense) Federal Government direct loans: $2,492,000 Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $11,658,000 Federal Government insurance: $71,621,000
Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:
Births: 2,073
Here:
52 per 1000 residents
State:
66 per 1000 residents
Deaths: 1,139
Here:
28 per 1000 residents
State:
38 per 1000 residents
Net international migration: +1,436
Here:
+36 per 1000 residents
State:
+21 per 1000 residents
Net internal migration: -2,894
Here:
-72 per 1000 residents
State:
+13 per 1000 residents
Population growth in Whitman County
Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 5.32 millions of gallons per day (all from ground)
Median number of rooms in houses and condos:
Here:
6.7
State:
6.3
Median number of rooms in apartments:
Here:
3.9
State:
3.9
Year house built
2005 or later: 361
2000 to 2004: 3,057
1990 to 1999: 2,579
1980 to 1989: 1,699
1970 to 1979: 3,708
1960 to 1969: 1,983
1950 to 1959: 1,020
1940 to 1949: 970
1939 or earlier: 4,157
Rooms in houses/apartments in Whitman County, Washington
40% of Whitman County residents lived in the same house 5 years ago. Out of people who lived in different houses, 25% lived in this county. Out of people who lived in different counties, 73% lived in Washington.
Whitman County:
39.7%
State average:
50.2%
Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:
This state: 21174
Northeast: 1077
Midwest: 3294
South: 1837
West: 9671
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses in 2000: $67,800
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities: 1%
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities: 1%
Year Householders Moved Into Unit
Most commonly used house heating fuel in Whitman County
Click here to upload your Whitman County photos (outside city limits)
24.0 years
37.0 years
(50.9%)
(49.1%)
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