Mason Mason

Mason County

Updated on: December 23, 2021
State
Washington
County Seat:
Shelton
Year Organized:
1854
Total Square Miles:
1051.018
Population:
63710 (2017)
Persons/Square Mile:
61

County structure

Government Type:
County
Authority:
Dillon's Rule
Legislative Body:
Board of Commissioners
Size of Legislative Body:
3

Demographics

2018 Population:
63710
25 to 64 Years of Age:
50.79%
65 Years of Age and Older:
22.80%

Economy, 2018

Gross Domestic Product (GDP):
$1.5 B
Labor Force:
24,274
Unemployment Rate:
6.30%

County Contact

411 N. 5th St
County Courthouse
Shelton, WA, 98584-3466

http://www.co.mason.wa.us

Established in 1854, Mason County was known initially as Sawamish County. It was expurgated out of Thurston County and stretched out to the Pacific Ocean. In 1864, Charles H Mason changed the county’s name to Mason County. The county comprises several south Puget Sound bays and inlets. It’s also made up of the southern section of Hood Canal. Mason County comprises the Seattle-Tacoma, WA statistical area and the Shelton, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Mason County History 

Mason County was originally part of Augusta County in Virginia and Greenbrier County before Kanawha County was formed.  The county came to be in 1804 January, after the Virginia General assembly passed an act to authorize its launching. The county’s name came from Hon. George Mason who was a close ally of George Washington, the brain behind the Virginian Constitution. Mason County witnessed massive growth after the Revolutionary War ended. As of 1860, the county had a population slightly higher than nine thousand.

The county is known for its massive range of natural resources, including but are not limited to timber, salt brine, pulpwood, gravel, oil, clay, and natural gas. Mason County is known as one of the Ohio Valley counties found in the West Virginia county lines. The county has known rivers such as the Ohio River flowing along the western and northern boundaries at an estimated distance of fifty-six miles and the Kanawha River, which flows at the heart of the county for approximately eighteen miles.

How Big is Mason County?

As per statistics provided by the Employment Security Leadership, Mason County is a 1051 square-mile area comprising 92 square-mile water surface area and 959 square-mile land area. The population density of Mason County as per the 2020 census is 65,726 people, which makes it the 20th most populated Washington State. The county’s largest ethnic groups are whites, who make up 75.4 percent of the population. The county’s median household income is estimated at $57,634. Sadly, more than 8 percent of families in Mason County live in abject poverty.

Where is Mason County?

The county map shows that Mason is found in Washington State. The county lines are found at 123°11′ west longitude and 47°21′ north latitude. Mason County has one hospital, known as the Mason General Hospital, which is located in Shelton. The hospital is run by Washington Public Hospital District.

Cities and Towns In and Near Mason County 

Mason County’s seat is Shelton, which sits at the westernmost part of Puget Sound. The county seats population is slightly over 10,000 people. The city ranks 161 out of the 500 municipalities in Washington when it comes to the total population. Shelton is run by a council-manager-like government, and the county offices are located in this city. The county sits close to several towns and cities, including Eldon, Lilliwaup, lake Cushman, and Harstine Island.

Mason County is located 41 miles away from Seattle, WA, 78 miles from Victoria, Canada, 125 miles from Surrey, Canada, 126 miles from Portland, OR, and 136 miles from Vancouver, Canada. It borders a selection of small local towns such as the Union, WA, Brockdale, WA, Skokomish, WA, Hoodsport, WA, Bayshore, WA, and Tahuya, WA.

The Mason County Development Records 

Mason County has achieved outstanding development records over the last several years. The move by the county to boost employment rates pushed the county court to issue industrial development bonds to finance the construction of new plants and reduce the pollution levels associated with the existing plant. Furthermore, the county officials have invested millions of dollars from the Federal Revenue Sharing Funds kit to purchase land in Waggener and Clendenin’s districts made for recreational use.

The two biggest West Virginia electric utility plants are in Mason County: Philip Sporn Power plant and Mountaineer Power plant.  The county has experienced massive industrial growth lately, thanks to the many industries and businesses initiated. As a leading producer of different products in Washington, Mason County has manufacturing facilities known for creating fabricated metal products, coal, chemicals, lumber products, plastic components, dairy products, and plastics.

Mason County is also a leading producer of lubricants, phosphate, rubber materials, tires, and many other products. In the county’s eastern and northern areas lies a variety of minerals, which has seen the birth of several mining companies in the area. Gas and oils are produced commercially in Point Pleasant.

Leading Attractions in Mason County 

Mason County is known as the heart of lovely attractions, including plains and rolling hills. It’s also the home to a variety of cornfields and scenic cattle farms. In this county are a vocational school, three high schools, and two junior high schools. In Mason County, you will find the West Virginia State Farm Museum, a fifty-acre area located four miles from Point Pleasant.  The museum offers a variety of attractions, including an 1870-built one-room schoolhouse, 1800-built log house, and the county store for molasses, local crafts, and cornmeal. There are also other attractions such as three-large buildings, a blacksmith shop, and a petting zoo.

The county provides dozens of unique summer attractions, including the 22-acre Lake, where you can go swimming, fishing, or paddle-boating. The 18-hole mini-golf course in the western area of the park provides a relaxing recreational destination. For passionate comping zealots, the county offers sixty campsites to match your specific camping needs. There are also dozens of festive and nightlife activities, including the Battle Days celebration and the Sternwheel Regatta River Festival. The climate and weather in this county support all-season explorations.

Olympic National Park is known for its large snow-capped mountains, sunny beaches, and green rain forests. Access to the park is made more accessible by the many trails and roads leading to most interior parts of the park. One section of the frequently visited park is the Hurricane Ridge, which sits 200 feet high. Those who love fishing, water skiing, boating, and jet skiing can take a tour to Mason Lake. It’s a 1000 acre area with a beautiful shoreline covering an area of 10.9 miles. Mason Lake is the county’s second-biggest freshwater lake.