Klickitat County

Klickitat Count sits in South Central Washington and ranks high among some countries with the richest history. For over 100 decades, the county has been home to various native tribes, including the Klickitat and Wishram tribes. White settlers came later on to the country, in about mid of the 19th century. 

The construction of the Dalles Dam in 1957 is responsible for compromising the rich history and culture of Klickitat county. The creators of the dam used inconsistent methods that led to an increase in water levels in the community. The eventual result was that it led to the destruction of Celilo falls, a primary natural resource for the local communities. 

According to a recent report, Klickitat is home to over 400 people who still have connections to their generational, cultural practices. A good example would be the tribes that celebrate the yearly return of Salmon in the Colombia River.  

Nowadays, the economy of the county is diverse and includes different types of activity. Common types include farming and lumber production. The county also features three specific economic regions. The details on these count map sections of Klickitat include: 

• The western section of the town features advanced measures of technology to support farming activities. A good example would be the use of drones to engage in various activities, including wood productions.
• The eastern region mainly focuses on vegetable farming.
• The central third is Goldendale and provides access to various outdoor activities.

Did You Know 

Klickitat gets its name from the Yakama Indian Nation. The largest town in the city goes by the name Goldendale. The original creators of the county cut out a portion of Walla County to create Klickitat. The event occurred just before 1860 when the white settlers had finally arrived. Both Norm James and Gina McCabe represent the county in government. 

According to a recent report, the county covers 1,900 miles, with up to 1.75% of this space being water. The town also sits in the 3rd Congressional District of Washington. The type of government the county uses is a part of the fourteenth district.  

Local Economy and Recent Trends 

A recent report showed that the employment rates in Klickitat Count had changed significantly over the past few years. For instance, the non-farm jobs increased by the time the new millennium had set in 2000.  

However, the levels also of such employment decreased over the next few years. The Great Recession didn’t significantly impact the town, and employment rates decreased by a small average of 8%. The economy’s recovery started in 2015, and job growth had consistent up until 2019. The decrease was majorly due to various cutbacks in the technology industry. 

Population 

The average population of Klickitat county in 2020 was 20,000. The population rates of the county have increased by an average of 1 percent every 12 months. That amount is higher than the average rate of the nation, which currently stands at about 0.7%. Most of the city’s residents also include diverse people from different parts of the world. 

The average immigration rate has also increased over the years and nowadays stands at 400 individuals each year. Most of the people who migrate to the city are often people from the country, especially those from close counties. Common county examples can include Wasco and Oregon. 

The counties that are adjacent to Klickitat county lines include the following cities: 

• Benton.
• Morrow.
• Skamania.
• Wasco.
• Gilliam. 

County Departments

There are various county departments in Klickitat, including: 

• Adult Probation Services. These are services for handling probation clients who are held accountable for specific actions. It also handles referrals people require to treatment agencies.
• The Assessor. The department is responsible for handling distribution and levies on financial taxes.
• Building department. They are responsible for any construction projects and approving of documents such as permits.
• Planning department. The department handles activities such as an ordinance, land usage, and various other similar issues.
• Prosecuting Attorney. The prosecuting attorney handles all criminal cases and misdemeanors within the county. They also provide insight on ways county officials can improve the legal advice enforcement agencies provide to individuals. 
• Public Health. The public health department provides access to various services and resources offered for the constituents of Klickitat. The Public Health county seats are often reserved for people with highly decorated records.

Public Records and Access 

The public records department of Klickitat count falls into two categories, including: 

Public Information 

• County offices The office provides information on the various county offices in the city. The records get updated after every four hours to ensure users can access concise information.
• Department contact information. The department provides access to different information on the departments in the city.
• Searchable document index. The database provides concise and well-organized information on different documents.

Public Records Requests 

The other category of public records would be the public requests which can include: 

• Public records officers. It’s a database containing all the public records of officers in the county.
• Public records request form. Individuals can request this form by using the Disclosure of Public Requests form. You may also have to provide a few details for legitimacy purposes.

Towns in Klickitat County 

There are several towns in Klickitat, and a few of them include 

1. White Salmon

White Salmon has a total population of 2,400 people. It is primarily an urban area that tends to give a suburban sense of living. The city is also active 24/7 hours a day, with many of the town’s residents falling in the conservative category. 

2. Goldendale

Goldendale has a total population of 3,000 people and also has a lush environment making it perfect for urban living. The town also contains several recreational parks, bars, museums, and attraction spots. However, Goldendale is also famous for having high crime rates due to its rich diversity and population.  

3. Dallesport

Home mainly to retirees, Dallesport is another one of the popular towns in Klickitat County. Similar to the previously mentioned towns, Dallesport is also well-populated with several recreational resources. However, most people tend to lean on the laid-back approach to life compared to those of the other towns. 

Klickitat County Offices by Type