1. History

2. Economy

3. Geography
    Geographic features  Major rivers and lakes  Adjacent counties  National protected areas 

4. Demographics
    2000 census  2010 census 

5. Government
    County law enforcement 

6. Communities
    City  Census-designated places  Other unincorporated communities 

7. See also

8. References

9. Further reading

10. External links

History

During the time of Washington Territory, the Territorial Legislature created Stevens County in 1863, containing the entire NE corner of the new state, as well as portions of Montana and Idaho. The original area of Stevens County was eventually carved off to form thirteen counties.^[6] The western section of Stevens County was separated (18 February 1899) and named Ferry County, in recognition of the Territory's final governor and the State's first governor, Elisha P. Ferry. The new county's area (2257 square miles) nearly equalled the remaining territory of Stevens County (2,541 square miles).

The town of Republic is the county's seat of government, as well as the largest town. It was founded at the end of the nineteenth century by gold prospectors, and was incorporated in 1900.

The original county courthouse, made of wood, burned in 1934. Its replacement, made of concrete and stucco, is presently being considered for historical preservation.^[7]

Economy

Ferry County reaches to Canada on the north, and to the Columbia River on the east. Its southern portion is in the boundary of the Colville Indian Reservation, controlled by the Colville Confederated Tribes, and its northern portion is largely occupied by Colville National Forest. As a result, only eighteen percent of the total county area is taxable-use ground.^[7] The county's economy is largely basedon timber-extraction, and mining.

Ferry County’s topography and climate make it an ideal recreation destination, so tourism is becoming a significant portion of the county's economy. Washington State Highway 20, designated a National Scenic Highway, crosses the county east-west, and has the state's highest navigable pass (5,575 feet above sea level).

The county seat, Republic, is the site of the Stonerose Interpretive Center and Fossil Site, which exhibits and explains Eocene-era fossils from an ancient lake bed north of Republic.^[7]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|2257|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|2203|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|54|sqmi}} (2.4%) is water.^[8] Most of the county is covered by the rugged Kettle River Range, which extends from the Canada–US border to its southernmost perimeter bounded by the Columbia River and Lake Roosevelt. Only a narrow north–south strip running the length of the county on the west between the San Poil River and the Okanogan County line is covered by the Okanogan Highland. Except for the town of Republic, the county is sparsely populated.

Geographic features

• Kettle River Range
• Copper Butte, highest point: {{convert|7140|ft|m|0}}
• Snow Peak, {{convert|7103|ft|m|0}}
• Scar Mountain, {{convert|7046|ft|m|0}}
• Wapaloosie Mountain, {{convert|7018|ft|m|0}}

• Sherman Peak, {{convert|7011|ft|m|0}}
• Bald Mountain, {{convert|6940|ft|m|0}}
• White Mountain, {{convert|6923|ft|m|0}}
• Columbia Mountain, {{convert|6782|ft|m|0}}
• Midnight Mountain, {{convert|6660|ft|m|0}}

• King Mountain, {{convert|6634|ft|m|0}}
• Edds Mountain, {{convert|6540|ft|m|0}}
• Sherman Pass, {{convert|5575|ft|m|0}}, highest mountain pass open all year in the state
• Okanogan Highland

Major rivers and lakes

• Columbia River
• Kettle River
• Sanpoil River
• Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake, called Lake Roosevelt
• Curlew Lake
• Swan Lake
• Ferry Lake
• Fish Lake
• Long Lake

Adjacent counties

• Stevens County, east
• Lincoln County, southwest
• Okanogan County, west
• Kootenay Boundary Regional District, British Columbia, north

National protected areas

• Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail (part)
• Colville National Forest (part)
• Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area (part)

Demographics

2000 census

As of the census^[14] of 2000, there were 7,260 people, 2,823 households, and 1,987 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|3|PD/sqmi|/km2}}. There were 3,775 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 75.48% White, 0.21% Black or African American, 18.28% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 2.23% from other races, and 3.46% from two or more races. 2.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 14.1% were of German, 9.5% United States or American, 9.1% Irish, and 7.6% English ancestry. 96.7% spoke English and 1.9% Spanish as their first language.

There were 2,823 households out of which 30.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.70% were married couples living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.60% were non-families. 24.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out with 26.90% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 23.40% from 25 to 44, 29.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 107.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,388, and the median income for a family was $35,691. Males had a median income of $32,103 versus $23,371 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,019. About 13.30% of families and 19.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.40% of those under age 18 and 10.30% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 7,551 people, 3,190 households, and 2,070 families residing in the county.^[15] The population density was {{convert|3.4|PD/sqmi}}. There were 4,403 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2.0|/sqmi}}.^[16] The racial makeup of the county was 76.3% white, 16.7% American Indian, 0.7% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 1.2% from other races, and 4.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.4% of the population.^[15] In terms of ancestry, 23.0% were German, 18.0% were English, 12.3% were Irish, and 3.7% were American.^[17]

Of the 3,190 households, 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.1% were non-families, and 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.75. The median age was 47.3 years.^[15]

The median income for a household in the county was $35,485 and the median income for a family was $43,576. Males had a median income of $41,755 versus $30,972 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,021. About 13.6% of families and 20.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.3% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over.^[18]

Government

County law enforcement

County-wide law enforcement is provided by Ferry County Sheriff Office, headquartered in Republic.

Henry Waisman was the county's first sheriff, appointed by the county commissioners following the county's 1899 organization, with a mandate to serve until the first general election in 1900. The county's first elected sheriff was A.E. Stewart.^[21]

The Sheriff's Office has had two line-of-duty deaths in its history, in 1981 and 2003. Both deaths were the result of aircraft crashes.^[22]

As of 2016 the sheriff is Ray Maycumber.^[23]

Communities

City

• Republic (county seat)

Census-designated places

• Barney's Junction
• Barstow
• Boyds
• Curlew
• Curlew Lake
• Danville
• Inchelium
• Keller
• Laurier
• Malo
• Orient
• Pine Grove
• Torboy
• Twin Lakes

Other unincorporated communities

• Covada
• Goldstake
• Harter
• Impach
• Karamin
• Kewa
• Meteor
• Orient
• Pollard
• Toroda
• West Fork

See also

• Ansorge Hotel
• Ferry County Carousel
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Ferry County, Washington
• Stonerose Interpretive Center and Fossil Site
• List of law enforcement agencies in Washington

References

Further reading

• {{cite book|title=An illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, State of Washington|publisher=Western Historical Pub. Co.|year=1904}}Available online through the Washington State Library's Classics in Washington History collection

External links

• Ferry County, Washington at HistoryLink.org
• Official website of Ferry County Government
• SummitPost.org, Kettle River Range (Washington State)
• {{dmoz|Regional/North_America/United_States/Washington/Counties/Ferry}}
• Sheriff's office official website

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