Grant County

Grant County, situated in Central Washington, United States, is the fourth largest County in Washington. The County was founded on February 24, 1909. It was named to honor the eighteenth president of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant. 

The County map shows that Grant County borders Douglas County on the north, Adams, Lincoln counties on the east, Benton County on the south, and Kittitas County on the west.  

Ephrata is Grant county’s County seat. The town was incorporated on June 21, 1909, and was named Ephrata by a man who used to work for the Great Northern Railway. He derived the name Ephrata from a bible description of a desert orchard.  

Grant County’s largest city is Moses Lake. The County lines reveal other towns and cities such as Soap lake, Hartline, Royal city, Krupp town, Electric city, and Quincy town. The County occupies 2,791 square miles where 2,791 square miles is land, while water covers 110 square miles.  

Grant County History 

The Interior Salish, Wenatchi, and Okanagan were the Native American cultures living in the area before the first white settlers arrived and settled in. The settlers arrived in the mid and late-19th century, intending to rear livestock.   

The arrival of railroads as well brought new settlers. The increase in population and emergence of infrastructure influenced the economy to change from ranching to dryland farming. Farming required water, and therefore, residents had to think of large-scale irrigation.  

Although the residents started an irrigation project in 1898, it took years before realizing its success. The County boosted the three major railway systems to facilitate dryland farming, growing at a high rate. As a result, towns like Quincy, Ephrata, creek, and Wilson began to grow.  

Grant County Demographics 

As of the latest United States census report, Grant County has a population of 99,123, making it the 13th most populated County in Washington. The largest ethnic group in Grant County is white, with 50.6%. Hispanic are second with 42.7%, while two more races represent 3.3% of the population.  

49.2% of Grant County residents are female, while 50.8% are male. 7.7% of the population are below seven years, while 29.3% are below 18 years. Similarly, persons aged over 65 years represent 14% of the population.  

Grant County Economy 

The Grant County public utility district (GCPUD) is a public electric utility that has immensely contributed to the County’s growth and prosperity. The public utility can provide power at low costs, becoming the leading player in the technology, manufacturing, and agricultural sectors.  

Although Grant County has made tremendous efforts to curb unemployment, its unemployment rate stands at 7.1% compared to the US average of 6.0%. The County has a future job growth prediction of 26.9 over the next ten years.  

The County has an average income of $19,844 and a median household income of $46,772.  

The agriculture, hunting, fishing, and forestry sector is the leading provider of employment with 23.6%. Manufacturing employs 12.2% of Grant County’s working population, while retail trade hosts 9.6%. In addition, health care and social assistance represent 9.1%, educational services cater for 8.8% while public administration employs 5.4% of the population.  

Grant County Public Records 

One of the greatest missions of Grant County is to provide all government-related information to the public for free or at a small fee. The provided data helps citizens keep track of government actions and hold them accountable.   

Some of the Grant County public records searches include; birth, business, criminal, tax, land, court inmate. Grant County provides links that direct its citizens to a third-party website that allows access to public records for each search. Some of the links include:

• Grant County Birth Certificates
• Grant County Auditor Marriage Records
• Grant County Auditor’s Office Website
• Grant County Court Records
• Grant County Maps

To ensure Grant County citizens receive actual data, the County has a team of editors who regularly monitor and verify these websites.   

Grant County Department of Public Defense 

Grant County understands that every person, whether guilty or not, deserves legal representation in court. Nonetheless, not every person can afford the legal fees of an attorney. In this regard, the department of public defense provides legal services in line with the constitution to those who cannot afford an attorney.   

The department gets the legal services from staff attorneys working directly under it. In addition, the department entered into agreements with public defense attorneys willing to serve underprivileged Grant County citizens. Similarly, individual attorneys who operate under the private practice of law but offer defense services join the department in dispensing legal services to Grant citizens.  

Grant County Offices 

Grant County website lists all the elected offices that serve public interests. Under the County offices are the elected officers’ names, contacts, and responsibilities.   

Assessor: Melissa McKnight is Grant County’s assessor. Her office is responsible for determining a fair market value and ensuring uniform and equitable values for all citizens.  

Auditor: The Grant County Auditor’s Office is responsible for offering financial services such as payroll and account payable, voter registration and elections, licensing and marriages, and document recording. Michele Jaderlund is Grant County’s auditor. 

Clerk: Kimberly A. Allen is Grant’s County clerk. Her responsibilities include processing and managing superior court records.  

County commissioners: Danny Stone, Rob Jones, and Cindy Carter are Grant’s District 1, 2, and 3 County Commissioners. They ensure county functions, services and businesses proceed effectively. They exercise the best practices and deliver sound judgment.  

Coroner: Craig Morrison, Grant County coroner, is tasked with investigating and determining the cause of deaths that fall under his jurisdiction. He investigates sudden, violent, suspicious, and unexpected deaths.  

District court:  The court ensures every Grant citizen accesses justice, effectively resolves legal issues, and maintains independence and respect for the judiciary.  

Prosecutor: Garth Dano is the Grant County Prosecuting Attorney. His office is responsible for serving Grant residents with fair and impartial justice while adhering to ethical, legal standards.  

Treasurer: Grant County Treasurer Darryl Pheasant is in charge of the County’s financial transactions.  

Grant County Offices by Type