Klickitat County was founded in 1859 from part of Skamania County. It was named after the Klickitat Indian Tribe and the word means "robber" or "thief." The county is located in the extreme south of the state and is bounded on the south by the Columbia River. The county was first settled in 1852 by Erastus Joslyn. However, not until 1867 was an effective county government organized. Transportation played an important part in the country's history. A U.S. Army wagon road crossed the county in 1855, and later the Columbia Railway and Navigation Company's railroad and competing Columbia River steamboats provided a colorful chapter in history. Today, Klickitat County bases its economy on food processing, agriculture and wood products, and the production of aluminum.
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- Area: 1,872.5 square miles
- Ranking in state: 16th
- Population: 19,161 (Census 2000). Density: 10.2 persons per square mile.
- Leading Cities (Census 2000): Goldendale 3,670 (county seat) - White Salmon
2,193 -
Dallesport 1,185 - Bingen 672.
- Ethnic Breakdown (2000 est.): White 17,269 - Black 88 - Native American 965-
Asian & Pacific Islanders 295- Other 1,103 - Spanish Origin (included
above) 1,496.
- Driving Distances from Goldendale: Portland 110 Mi. - Yakima 70 Mi. - Columbia River 10 mi.
- Principal Economic Activities: Wood Products - Metal Industries - Agricultural
- Points of Interest: Maryhill Museum - Stonehenge - Goldendale Observatory
- Climate: Goldendale Elevation 1,635 Ft. - Avg. Annual Max. Temp 61.0 - Avg. Annual Min. Temp 35.9 - Avg. Annual Mean Temp. 48.4 - Avg. Annual Precipitation 17.41 inches.
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