Columbia County, Oregon

Columbia County is a located in the  of. It for the, which forms its eastern and northern borders. As of 2000, its population was 43,560. The is.

Economy
The primary industries are timber, fishing, water transportation, dairying, horticulture, and recreation. The extensive stands of old growth timber, which had attracted many of the early settlers to the area, were completely logged over by the 1950s. Second growth timber provides the raw material for local lumber and paper mills.

Geography
According to the, the county has a total area of 1,783 (688 ). 1,701 km² (657 sq mi) of it is land and 82 km² (32 sq mi) of it (4.59%) is water.

Adjacent Counties

 * - (west)
 * - (south)
 * - (southeast)
 * - (east)
 * - (east, north)
 * - (northwest)

Demographics
As of the of 2000, there were 43,560 people, 16,375 households, and 12,035 families residing in the county. The was 26/km² (66/sq mi). There were 17,572 housing units at an average density of 10/km² (27/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 94.42%, 0.24% or , 1.33% , 0.59% , 0.10% , 0.79% from , and 2.53% from two or more races. 2.51% of the population were or  of any race.

There were 16,375 households out of which 34.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.50% were living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.50% were non-families. 21.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county, the population was spread out with 27.30% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 26.00% from 45 to 64, and 11.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 100.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $45,797, and the median income for a family was $51,381. Males had a median income of $42,227 versus $27,216 for females. The for the county was $20,078. About 6.70% of families and 9.10% of the population were below the, including 11.60% of those under age 18 and 7.00% of those age 65 or over.

History
The and   inhabited this region for centuries prior to the  of, captain of the ship , in. The, traveled and camped along the Columbia River shore in the area later known as Columbia County in late 1805 and on their return journey in early 1806.

Columbia County, was created in 1854 from the northern half of. served as the county seat until 1857 when it was moved to St. Helens.

Unincorporated communities

 * Alston
 * Birkenfeld
 * Chapman
 * Delena
 * Fern Hill
 * Linberg
 * Marshland
 * Mayger
 * Marshland
 * Mayger


 * Natal
 * Neer City
 * Quincy
 * Shiloh Basin
 * Swedetown
 * Trenholm
 * Treharne
 * Woodsen
 * Yankton
 * Woodsen
 * Yankton