The area that comprises modern-day Grays Harbor County is the ancestral territory of several indigenous Coast Salish peoples, including the Quinault and Lower Chehalis. They first came into contact with European explorers in the late 18th century and the tribes were later afflicted by regional epidemics. Grays Harbor was named for Boston fur trader and merchantman Robert Gray, who entered the bay on May 7, 1792. It was originally named Bullfinch Harbor and later Chehalis Bay before it was renamed for Gray.[3] The first permanent white resident in the future county was William O'Leary, an Irish immigrant who settled on the south side of Grays Harbor in 1848.[4]
The modern-day Washington Coast was originally part of the Oregon Country, which was administratively shared between the United States and British North America until the signing of the Oregon Treaty in 1846, which ceded it to the United States. The American Provisional Government of Oregon, which had been established prior to the treaty, created Lewis County on December 21, 1845. It encompassed most of the territory north of the Columbia River and west of the Cascade Mountains.[5] The area around Grays Harbor remained part of Lewis County as it was transferred into the reorganized Oregon Territory in 1848 and later Washington Territory, created in 1853.[5]
On April 14, 1854, the Washington Territorial Legislature created Chehalis County from portions of Lewis and Thurston counties that surrounded Grays Harbor.[6][7] The first county seat was at Bruceport on Willapa Bay until a referendum in 1860 moved it to the homestead of the Scammon family in modern-day Montesano.[3] The settlements of Aberdeen and Hoquiam were platted along the north side of Grays Harbor and incorporated by 1890.[4] The cities had 80 percent of the county's population in 1900 and unsuccessfully attempted to move the county seat to one of their cities. A second plan to create a new county, named Grays Harbor, was approved by the Washington State Legislature but ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court on February 27, 1907.[3]
The state legislature passed a bill to rename Chehalis County to Grays Harbor County on March 15, 1915. The name change, which took effect on June 9, eliminated confusion with the town of Chehalis in neighboring Lewis County.[3][8]
Geography
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.[9]
Due to the flat topography of the county and the drainage of the Chehalis River watershed into the Pacific Ocean, the region experiences repeated floods. In addition to tidal surges and coastal flooding, high waters stemming from excessive rainfall events are often difficult to shed. As of 2024[update], the value of various buildings and infrastructure in flood risk areas within the county is valued at over $1.0 billion.[10]
U.S. Decennial Census[12] 1790–1960[13] 1900–1990[14] 1990–2000[15] 2010–2020[1]
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 72,797 people, 28,579 households, and 18,493 families living in the county.[16] 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).[17] 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.[16] 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.[18]
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.[16]
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.[19]
2000 census
As of the 2000 census,[20] 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.
Politics
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;[21] the last Republican gubernatorial candidate to win the county until 2016 was Daniel J. Evans in 1964.[22] However, Donald Trump carried the county in the 2016 presidential election and went on to win a majority of its votes in both 2020 and 2024.
Principal economic activities in Grays Harbor County include wood and paper production, food processing (especially seafood), and manufacturing.[26]
Infrastructure
To combat flooding concerns, the county has received several upgrades or new builds of flood protection systems under the combined efforts of the Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority and county, federal, and local governments, beginning in 2012. Mostly consisting of pump houses in flood-prone communities, the efforts also include the construction of floodwalls and levees. The ongoing project is estimated to cost over $50 million as of 2024[update], providing protection to over 5,100 residences and 1,300 businesses.[10]
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.
^Washington State Legislature (March 15, 1915). "Chapter 77: Changing Name of Chehalis County"(PDF). Session Laws of the State of Washington, 1915. Washington State Legislature. pp. ii, 250. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
