Snohomish County () is a

county A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesChambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...

located in the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sover ...

Washington Washington commonly refers to: * Washington (state), United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A metonym for the federal government of the United States ** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...

. With a population of 827,957 as of the 2020 census, it is the third-most populous county in Washington, after nearby

King King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king. *In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the tit ...

and

Pierce Pierce may refer to: Places Canada * Pierce Range, a mountain range on Vancouver Island, British Columbia United States * Pierce, Colorado * Pierce, Idaho * Pierce, Illinois * Pierce, Kentucky * Pierce, Nebraska * Pierce, Texas * Pierce, We ...

counties, and the 75th-most populous in the United States. The

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...

and largest city is Everett. The county forms part of the

Seattle metropolitan area The Seattle metropolitan area is an urban conglomeration in the U.S. state of Washington that comprises Seattle, its surrounding satellites and suburbs. It contains the three most populous counties in the state—King, Snohomish, and Pierce ...

, which also includes King and Pierce counties to the south. The county's western portion, facing

Puget Sound Puget Sound ( ) is a sound of the Pacific Northwest, an inlet of the Pacific Ocean, and part of the Salish Sea. It is located along the northwestern coast of the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected ma ...

and other inland waters of the

Salish Sea , image = PNW-straits.jpg , alt = , caption = The Salish Sea, showing the open Pacific Ocean at lower left, and from there, heading inland: the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the narrow Puget Sound at lower ri ...

, is home to the majority of its population and major cities. The eastern portion is rugged and includes portions of the

Cascade Range The Cascade Range or Cascades is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, ...

, with few settlements along major rivers and most of it designated as part of

Mount Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest The Mount Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest in Washington is a National Forest extending more than along the western slopes of the Cascade Range from the Canada–US border to the northern boundary of Mount Rainier National Park. Administered ...

. Snohomish County is bound to the north by

Skagit County Skagit County is a county in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, the population was 129,523. The county seat and largest city is Mount Vernon. The county was formed in 1883 from Whatcom County and is named for the Skagit Ind ...

, to the east by Chelan County, to the south by King County, and to the west by Kitsap and Island counties. Snohomish County was created out of Island County on January 14, 1861, and is named for the indigenous

Snohomish people The Snohomish are a Lushootseed Native American tribe who reside around the Puget Sound area of Washington, north of Seattle. They speak the Lushootseed language. The tribal spelling of their name is ''Sdoh-doh-hohbsh,'' which means "lowland peo ...

. It includes the

Tulalip Indian Reservation The Tulalip Tribes of Washington (, lut, dxʷlilap), formerly known as the Tulalip Tribes of the Tulalip Reservation, is a federally recognized tribe of Duwamish, Snohomish, Snoqualmie, Skagit, Suiattle, Samish, and Stillaguamish people. ...

, which was established by the 1855

Point Elliott Treaty The Treaty of Point Elliott of 1855, or the Point Elliott Treaty,—also known as Treaty of Point Elliot (with one ''t'') / Point Elliott Treaty—is the lands settlement treaty between the United States government and the Native American tribes ...

, which relocated several indigenous

Coast Salish The Coast Salish is a group of ethnically and linguistically related Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast, living in the Canadian province of British Columbia and the U.S. states of Washington and Oregon. They speak one of the Coas ...

groups to the reservation. The county seat was originally at the city of Snohomish until an 1897 election moved it to Everett. Since the mid-20th century, areas of Snohomish County have developed into an

aerospace Aerospace is a term used to collectively refer to the atmosphere and outer space. Aerospace activity is very diverse, with a multitude of commercial, industrial and military applications. Aerospace engineering consists of aeronautics and astrona ...

manufacturing center, largely due to the presence of

Boeing The Boeing Company () is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, telecommunications equipment, and missiles worldwide. The company also provides leasing and product ...

in Everett, as well as

bedroom communities A commuter town is a populated area that is primarily residential rather than commercial or industrial. Routine travel from home to work and back is called commuting, which is where the term comes from. A commuter town may be called by many o ...

for workers in

Seattle Seattle ( ) is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest regio ...

. Snohomish County now has 18 incorporated cities and 2 towns with their own local governments, in addition to developed

unincorporated area An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either have ...

s. It is connected to nearby areas by roads (including

Interstate 5 Interstate 5 (I-5) is the main north–south Interstate Highway on the West Coast of the United States, running largely parallel to the Pacific coast of the contiguous U.S. from Mexico to Canada. It travels through the states of Califor ...

), railways, and transit systems. The county government is led by a five-member

county council A county council is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a county. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries. Ireland The county councils created under British rule in 1899 continue to exist in Irela ...

and

chief executive A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especially ...

elected by voters to four-year terms.

Etymology

"Snohomish" comes from the name of the largest Native American tribe in the area when settlers arrived in the 19th century. The name is spelled as "Sdoh-doh-hohbsh" in the

Lushootseed language Lushootseed (txʷəlšucid, dxʷləšúcid), also Puget Salish, Puget Sound Salish or Skagit-Nisqually, is a language made up of a dialect continuum of several Salish tribes of modern-day Washington state. Lushootseed is one of the Coast Salish ...

and has a disputed meaning with unclear origins.

Indian agent In United States history, an Indian agent was an individual authorized to interact with American Indian tribes on behalf of the government. Background The federal regulation of Indian affairs in the United States first included development of t ...

Dr. Charles M. Buchanan, who spent 21 years with the

Tulalip The Tulalip Tribes of Washington (, lut, dxʷlilap), formerly known as the Tulalip Tribes of the Tulalip Reservation, is a federally recognized tribe of Duwamish, Snohomish, Snoqualmie, Skagit, Suiattle, Samish, and Stillaguamish people. The ...

s, once said that he had "never met an Indian who could give a meaning to the word Snohomish". Chief William Shelton, the last hereditary

tribal chief A tribal chief or chieftain is the leader of a tribal society or chiefdom. Tribe The concept of tribe is a broadly applied concept, based on tribal concepts of societies of western Afroeurasia. Tribal societies are sometimes categorized as ...

of the Snohomish tribe, claimed that it meant "lowland people", a name associated with the tribe's location on the waters of the

; other scholars have claimed "a style of union among them", "the braves", or "Sleeping Waters". The name is also used for the

Snohomish River The Snohomish River is a river in Snohomish County, Washington, formed by the confluence of the Skykomish and Snoqualmie rivers near Monroe. It flows northwest entering Port Gardner Bay, part of Puget Sound, between Everett and Marysville. The ...

, which runs through part of the county, and the City of Snohomish, the former

that was renamed after the formation of the county. The current spelling of the name was adopted by the Surveyor General of Washington Territory in 1857, with earlier documents and accounts using alternative spellings. John Work of the

Hudson's Bay Company The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC; french: Compagnie de la Baie d'Hudson) is a Canadian retail business group. A fur trading business for much of its existence, HBC now owns and operates retail stores in Canada. The company's namesake business div ...

recorded the name "Sinnahmis" in 1824, while the

Wilkes Expedition The United States Exploring Expedition of 1838–1842 was an exploring and surveying expedition of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding lands conducted by the United States. The original appointed commanding officer was Commodore Thomas ap Catesby ...

of 1841 used "Tuxpam" to describe the

. The same river was named "Sinahomis" by Captain

Henry Kellett Vice Admiral Sir Henry Kellett, (2 November 1806 – 1 March 1875) was a British naval officer and explorer. Career Born at Clonacody in Tipperary County, Ireland, on 2 November 1806, Kellett joined the Royal Navy in 1822. He spent three yea ...

in 1847, and was accepted by the U.S. government for several years.

History

Native Americans in canoes on Mukilteo Beach, circa 1861–62

Snohomish County was originally inhabited by several

groups, predominantly settled along the western coastline and near the region's rivers. The Snohomish were the largest group and occupied an area from present-day

Warm Beach Warm Beach is a census-designated place (CDP) in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. The population was 2,437 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. Based on Washington locations by per capita income, per capita income, one of the ...

Shoreline A shore or a shoreline is the fringe of land at the edge of a large body of water, such as an ocean, sea, or lake. In physical oceanography, a shore is the wider fringe that is geologically modified by the action of the body of water past a ...

, while Stillaguamish lived in the

Stillaguamish River The Stillaguamish River is a river in the northwestern region of the U.S. state of Washington. It is mainly composed of two forks, the longer North Fork Stillaguamish () and the South Fork Stillaguamish. The two forks join near Arlington. From ...

basin. The region was first charted and named by European explorers in the late 18th century, beginning with Captain

George Vancouver Captain George Vancouver (22 June 1757 – 10 May 1798) was a British Royal Navy officer best known for his 1791–1795 expedition, which explored and charted North America's northwestern Pacific Coast regions, including the coasts of what a ...

and his British expedition. Vancouver arrived in

and

Port Gardner Bay Port Gardner, also known as Port Gardner Bay, is an inlet of Possession Sound on which the city of Everett, Washington is located. The Snohomish River flows into the north end of the bay. It was named by George Vancouver for his patron and former ...

on June 4, 1792, landing near present-day Everett. The

Treaty of Point Elliott The Treaty of Point Elliott of 1855, or the Point Elliott Treaty,—also known as Treaty of Point Elliot (with one ''t'') / Point Elliott Treaty—is the lands settlement treaty between the United States government and the Native American tribes ...

was signed at present-day

Mukilteo Mukilteo ( ) is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. It is located on the Puget Sound between Edmonds, Washington, Edmonds and Everett, Washington, Everett, approximately north of Seattle. The city had a population of 20,254 ...

on January 22, 1855, marking the cession of Coast Salish territories in the Puget Sound lowlands. The

was established to house the remaining tribes, including the Snohomish, Snoqualmie, and Skykomish. Snohomish County was created out of Island County on January 14, 1861. The territorial legislature designated

, the area's largest settlement, as the temporary

in January 1861. The county government was permanently moved to Cadyville, later Snohomish, in July of that year. After the incorporation of the city of Everett in 1893, the city's leaders attempted to move the county seat from Snohomish. A countywide general election on November 6, 1894, chose to relocate the county seat to Everett, amid controversy and allegations of illegal votes. After two years of litigation between the cities of Snohomish and Everett, the county seat was officially relocated to Everett in December 1896. One of the first county censuses was taken in 1862 by Sheriff Salem A. Woods. Early important pioneers in the Snohomish County region included

E. F. Cady Edson T. Cady, along with Emory C. Ferguson, co-founded Cadyville in 1860 to take advantage of a military road Congress planned that never materialized. Cadyville later became known as Snohomish, Washington. E.T. Cady sailed from New York on the ...

of Snohomish, E. C. Ferguson of Snohomish and Isaac Cathcart.

Geography

Snohomish County is part of the

Puget Sound region The Puget Sound region is a coastal area of the Pacific Northwest in the U.S. state of Washington, including Puget Sound, the Puget Sound lowlands, and the surrounding region roughly west of the Cascade Range and east of the Olympic Mountains. ...

Western Washington Western Washington is a region of the United States defined as the area of Washington state west of the Cascade Mountains. This region is home to the state's largest city, Seattle, the state capital, Olympia, and most of the state's residents. The ...

, bordered to the south by King County, to the west by

and other inland waters, to the north by

, and to the east by the Chelan County at the crest of the

. According to the

U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the county has a total square area of approximately , of which is land and , or 5.0%, is water. It is the 13th largest county in Washington by land area and is larger than the states of

Delaware Delaware ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Maryland to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. The state takes its name from the adjacent Del ...

and

Rhode Island Rhode Island (, like ''road'') is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is the List of U.S. states by area, smallest U.S. state by area and the List of states and territories of the United States ...

. The county's surface is covered by plains and rolling hills in the west, where the majority of settlements are, and mountainous terrain in the east. The Cascade Range passes through the eastern part of the county and is largely protected from development as part of the

. The mountain range includes the highest point in Snohomish County:

Glacier Peak Glacier Peak or Dakobed (known in the Sauk-Suiattle dialect of the Lushootseed language as "Tda-ko-buh-ba" or "Takobia") is the most isolated of the five major stratovolcanoes (composite volcanoes) of the Cascade Volcanic Arc in the U.S state of ...

, at above

sea level Mean sea level (MSL, often shortened to sea level) is an average surface level of one or more among Earth's coastal bodies of water from which heights such as elevation may be measured. The global MSL is a type of vertical datuma standardised g ...

. Several major rivers originate in the Cascades and flow west towards Puget Sound and other parts of the

, including the Stillaguamish and Snohomish (fed by the

Skykomish Skykomish is a town in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 198 as of the 2010 census, down from an estimated peak of "several thousand" in the 1920s. Located in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, 49 miles east ...

and Snoqualmie rivers). These rivers form several

valley A valley is an elongated low area often running between Hill, hills or Mountain, mountains, which will typically contain a river or stream running from one end to the other. Most valleys are formed by erosion of the land surface by rivers ...

s used for agriculture that occasionally flood during major weather events, such as

atmospheric river An atmospheric river (AR) is a narrow corridor or filament of concentrated moisture in the atmosphere. Other names for this phenomenon are tropical plume, tropical connection, moisture plume, water vapor surge, and cloud band. Atmospheric rivers ...

Climate

The lowland areas of western Snohomish County generally has a temperate

Mediterranean climate A Mediterranean climate (also called a dry summer temperate climate ''Cs'') is a temperate climate sub-type, generally characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, fairly wet winters; these weather conditions are typically experienced in the ...

similar to the rest of the central Puget Sound region with dry summers and wet winters. The county's weather is heavily influenced by maritime systems, pushed by prevailing westerly winds but dampened by the

Olympic Mountains The Olympic Mountains are a mountain range on the Olympic Peninsula of the Pacific Northwest of the United States. The mountains, part of the Pacific Coast Ranges, are not especially high – Mount Olympus is the highest at ; however, the easter ...

. The mean monthly temperatures for the county range from during the winter and in the summer. The record highest temperatures were set during a June 2021 heat wave, with highs of up to recorded in several areas. Annual precipitation ranges from in the west to in the upper elevations of the Cascades; the majority of the region's precipitation falls between October and March. The county's lowlands also has an average annual snowfall ranging from . The Puget Sound Convergence Zone, a known meteorological phenomenon, runs through southwestern Snohomish County and causes narrow bands of precipitation.

Flora and fauna

Approximately 68 percent of land in Snohomish County is classified as forestland, which is predominantly located in the eastern portions. These forests are dominated by conifer species such as

Douglas fir The Douglas fir (''Pseudotsuga menziesii'') is an evergreen conifer species in the pine family, Pinaceae. It is native to western North America and is also known as Douglas-fir, Douglas spruce, Oregon pine, and Columbian pine. There are three va ...

s, hemlocks, and

cedar Cedar may refer to: Trees and plants *''Cedrus'', common English name cedar, an Old-World genus of coniferous trees in the plant family Pinaceae *Cedar (plant), a list of trees and plants known as cedar Places United States * Cedar, Arizona * ...

s, with pockets of deciduous species in logged areas.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 827,957 people families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 321,523 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 66.1% white, 12.3% Asian, 3.54% black or African American, 1.3% Native American, 0.6% Pacific Islander, 5.4% other races, and 10.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 11.6% of the population.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 713,335 people, 268,325 households, and 182,282 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 286,659 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 78.4% white, 8.9% Asian, 2.5% black or African American, 1.4% Indigenous, 0.4% Pacific islander, 3.8% from other races, and 4.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 9.0% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 20.3% were

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

, 12.6% were

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

, 12.2% were

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

, 8.2% were

Norwegian Norwegian, Norwayan, or Norsk may refer to: *Something of, from, or related to Norway, a country in northwestern Europe * Norwegians, both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway * Demographics of Norway *The Norwegian language, including ...

, and 3.6% were

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

. Of the 268,325 households, 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.1% were non-families, and 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.12. The median age was 37.1 years. The median income for a household in the county was $66,300 and the median income for a family was $77,479. Males had a median income of $56,152 versus $41,621 for females. The per capita income for the county was $30,635. About 5.9% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 606,024 people, 224,852 households, and 157,846 families residing in the county. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...

was 290 people per square mile (112/km²). There were 236,205 housing units at an average density of 113 per square mile (44/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 85.6%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

, 1.7%

Black Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white have o ...

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 1.4% Native American, 5.8%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, 0.3%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe the original p ...

, 1.9% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, and 3.4% from two or more races. 4.7% of the population were

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race. 16.2% were of

, 10.0%

, 8.8%

, 8.4%

and 6.6% United States or American ancestry. There were 224,852 households, out of which 37.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.0% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.5% 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 3.13. In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.4% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 33.0% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males. The median income for a household in the county was $53,060, and the median income for a family was $60,726. Males had a median income of $43,293 versus $31,386 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the county was $23,417. About 4.9% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the

, including 7.6% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.

Law and government

County Executive

The

county executive A county executive, county manager or county mayor is the head of the executive branch of government in a United States county. The executive may be an elected or an appointed position. When elected, the executive typically functions either as a ...

Dave Somers David J. Somers (born 1953) is an American politician and fisheries biologist serving as the Snohomish County Executive, an office he has held since 2016. Somers previously served on the Snohomish County Council, representing the 5th district in ...

, a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

. Somers is a former

Snohomish County Council The Snohomish County Council is the legislative body of Snohomish County, Washington. The county council was created in 1979 and consists of five members serving four-year terms. Members ;Notes History The county council was created on No ...

member and took office as county executive on January 4, 2016, having won the seat from incumbent and fellow Democrat John Lovick. The county executive seat was chartered in the 1979. The first county executive was conservative Democrat Willis Tucker of Snohomish from 1980 to 1992. Following Tucker, the next county executive was Democrat Bob Drewel from 1992 to 2004, followed by Democrat Aaron Reardon from 2004 to 2013. Reardon resigned on May 31, 2013, amid a series of

political scandal In politics, a political scandal is an action or event regarded as morally or legally wrong and causing general public outrage. Politicians, government officials, party officials and lobbyists can be accused of various illegal, corrupt, unethic ...

s, and was replaced by former Snohomish County Sheriff and state legislator

John Lovick John Lovick is an American magician, writer, and director. Since the 1990s he has performed as a magician throughout the United States and Canada, as well as England, Australia, New Zealand, and Malaysia. His performing alter ego, Handsome ...

for the remainder of his term.

County Council

The county council is made up of: * Nate Nehring (R) – district 1 * Megan Dunn (D) – district 2 * Stephanie Wright (D) – district 3 * Jared Mead (D) – district 4 * Sam Low (R) – district 5

Politics

Snohomish County has been a reliably Democratic county in recent presidential elections (albeit to a lesser degree than neighboring King County and

). It has voted Democratic all but four times since 1932, with those four occasions being national Republican landslides in which the GOP candidate won over 400 electoral votes. It has not voted for a Republican since

George H. W. Bush George Herbert Walker BushSince around 2000, he has been usually called George H. W. Bush, Bush Senior, Bush 41 or Bush the Elder to distinguish him from his eldest son, George W. Bush, who served as the 43rd president from 2001 to 2009; pr ...

1988 File:1988 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The oil platform Piper Alpha explodes and collapses in the North Sea, killing 165 workers; The USS Vincennes (CG-49) mistakenly shoots down Iran Air Flight 655; Australia celebrates its Australian ...

Education

Snohomish County is one of the most-populous counties in the United States without a four-year,

baccalaureate degree A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...

-granting institution. Columbia College offers AA all the way up to a Master's in Business along with other Associate and bachelor's degrees.

Everett Community College Everett Community College (EvCC) is a public community college in Everett, Washington. EvCC educates more than 19,000 students every year at locations throughout Snohomish County, Washington, with most students and faculty at the main campus in E ...

and

Edmonds College Edmonds College, formerly Edmonds Community College, is a public community college in Lynnwood, Washington. More than 17,000 students annually take courses for credit toward a certificate or degree at the college. The college employs more than 1 ...

provide academic transfer degrees, career training and basic education in Snohomish County. Together, the two serve more than 40,000 people annually. About 40 percent of all high school graduates in Snohomish County begin their college education at Edmonds or Everett

community college A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries: many community colleges have an "open enrollment" for students who have graduated from high school (also known as senior sec ...

. Everett Community College is the legislatively appointed leader of the

University Center of North Puget Sound ThUniversity Center of North Puget Soundis a "center of universities" located in Gray Wolf Hall on Everett Community College's main campus in Everett, WA. The University Center supports over 25 bachelor's and master's degrees from public and priva ...

, which offers 25 bachelor's and master's degrees through Western Washington University, Washington State University, Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, The Evergreen State College, Hope International University, and the University of Washington Bothell. Edmonds College and

Central Washington University Central Washington University (CWU) is a public university in Ellensburg, Washington. Founded in 1891, the university consists of four divisions: the President's Division, Business and Financial Affairs, Operations, and Academic and Student Lif ...

have worked together since 1975 to provide higher education in Snohomish County. After earning a two-year degree online or on campus from Edmonds College, students can continue their studies for a bachelor's degree from Central Washington University-Lynnwood in Snoqualmie Hall, a shared building on the Edmonds CC campus.

Media

Residents receive much of their information from Seattle-based media, the most prominent of which include ''

The Seattle Times ''The Seattle Times'' is a daily newspaper serving Seattle, Washington, United States. It was founded in 1891 and has been owned by the Blethen family since 1896. ''The Seattle Times'' has the largest circulation of any newspaper in Washington (s ...

'' and regional TV news stations. '' The Herald'' in Everett is the county's most popular daily newspaper, while weekly newspapers such as the ''

Snohomish County Tribune The Pacific Publishing Company Publication Division produces print and digital editions serving the numerous neighborhood communities throughout Seattle. Its print editions include ''The Queen Anne'' and ''Magnolia News'', ''Madison Park Times'' ...

'', '' Everett Tribune'', ''

Marysville Globe The ''Marysville Globe'' is a weekly newspaper based in Marysville, Washington, United States. It is owned by Sound Publishing and was established in 1891. History The ''Marysville Globe'' was founded as ''The Leader'' in 1891 and changed its na ...

'', and ''

The Monroe Monitor The ''Monroe Monitor and Valley News'' was a weekly newspaper published in Monroe, Washington, United States. It had an estimated circulation of 4,000 in 2013. It was also one of the first within the state. History When B. F. Smyth founded the ...

'' serve their respective communities. The county is part of the Seattle broadcast television market and is served by several regional

television news News broadcasting is the medium of broadcasting various news events and other information via television, radio, or the internet in the field of broadcast journalism. The content is usually either produced locally in a radio studio or telev ...

stations, including KOMO,

KING King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king. *In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the tit ...

KIRO Kiro was a colonial post in what is now the Central Equatoria province of South Sudan on the west side of the Bahr al Jebel or White Nile river. It was in part of the Lado enclave. In 1900 there were said to be 1,500 troops from the Congo Free ...

KCTS KCTS-TV (channel 9) is a PBS member television station in Seattle, Washington, United States, owned by Cascade Public Media. Its studios are located at the northeast corner of Seattle Center adjacent to the Space Needle, and its transmitter is ...

, and

KCPQ KCPQ (channel 13) is a television station licensed to Tacoma, Washington, United States, broadcasting the Fox network to the Seattle area. It is owned and operated by the network's Fox Television Stations division alongside MyNetworkTV outlet ...

. Local radio stations based in the county include

KKXA KKXA (1520 kHz "Classic Country KXA") is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Snohomish, Washington and serving the Seattle metropolitan area. The station's broadcast license is held by CAAM Partnership, LLC., an entity controlled by the Sko ...

KRKO KRKO (1380 kHz, "Everett Radio") is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Everett, Washington. The station broadcasts an oldies-classic hits-sports radio format to the Seattle metropolitan area. The station was established in 1922, and is c ...

KSER KSER (90.7 FM) is a non-commercial radio station and airs a mix of music and news/public affairs. The station, which is owned and operated by the non-profit KSER Foundation, broadcasts at 90.7 MHz with an ERP of 5.8 kW and is licensed ...

, and

KWYZ KWYZ (1230 AM) is a U.S. radio station licensed to serve Everett, Washington. The station, which began broadcasting in 1957, is currently owned by Radio Hankook, Inc. Jean J. Suh, the owner of Radio Hankook, is a pioneer in Korean-language radi ...

. There are also smaller local publications, with significant online presences: ''The Monroe Monitor'', ''My Edmonds News'', ''Edmonds Beacon'', ''My Everett News'', ''The Mountlake Terrace News'', ''

News of Mill Creek News is information about current events. This may be provided through many different Media (communication), media: word of mouth, printing, Mail, postal systems, broadcasting, Telecommunications, electronic communication, or through the tes ...

'', ''The Mukilteo Beacon'', ''The Snohomish County Reporter'', and ''The Snohomish Times''.

Transportation

Roads

Snohomish County has five major routes that connect the county to the other counties and other areas. There are three major north–south routes:

, Washington State Route 9, State Route 9, and Washington State Route 99, State Route 99. The only complete east–west route is U.S. Route 2 in Washington, U.S. Route 2. *

* Interstate 405 (Washington), Interstate 405 * U.S. Route 2 in Washington, U.S. Route 2 * Washington State Route 9, State Route 9 * Washington State Route 92, State Route 92 * Washington State Route 96, State Route 96 * Washington State Route 99, State Route 99 * Washington State Route 104, State Route 104 * Washington State Route 203, State Route 203 * Washington State Route 204, State Route 204 * Washington State Route 522, State Route 522 * Washington State Route 524, State Route 524 * Washington State Route 525, State Route 525 * Washington State Route 526, State Route 526 * Washington State Route 527, State Route 527 * Washington State Route 528, State Route 528 * Washington State Route 529, State Route 529 * Washington State Route 530, State Route 530 * Washington State Route 531, State Route 531 * Washington State Route 532, State Route 532

Public transportation

Snohomish County is served by three public transit systems: Community Transit, which provides local service within the county (apart from the city of Everett) and commuter service to the Boeing Everett Factory, Downtown Seattle and the University of Washington campus; Everett Transit, a municipal system serving the city of Everett; and Sound Transit, which provides commuter rail service and Sound Transit Express, express bus service connecting to regional destinations in Seattle and Bellevue, Washington, Bellevue. Sound Transit runs four daily Sounder commuter rail, Sounder commuter trains at peak hours between Everett Station and Seattle, stopping at Mukilteo station, Mukilteo and Edmonds station (Washington), Edmonds. Intercity rail service is provided by Amtrak, which has two lines operating within Snohomish County: ''Amtrak Cascades'' between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia, stopping in Edmonds, Everett, and Stanwood station; and the ''Empire Builder'' between Seattle and Chicago, Illinois, stopping in Edmonds and Everett. Intercity bus service is provided by Greyhound Lines and Northwestern Trailways from Everett Station. Community Transit also operates a bus rapid transit service called Swift Bus Rapid Transit, Swift from Everett Station to the Aurora Village in

along the Washington State Route 99, State Route 99 corridor, which opened in 2009; the service is anticipated to be expanded in 2018, with a new line serving the Airport Road and Washington State Route 527, State Route 527 corridors, from the Boeing Everett Factory to Bothell, Washington, Bothell via Mill Creek, Washington, Mill Creek. Sound Transit is also planning to extend Link light rail service from Northgate, Seattle, Northgate to Lynnwood, Washington, Lynnwood in 2024, having won voter approval for the project in 2008. An additional extension to Everett, not yet approved by voters, has been proposed as part of a regional transit package. Island Transit also operates bus links through Snohomish County from Everett and Skagit County's Mount Vernon to Camano Island because the island does not have direct road access to its county-seat island, Whidbey Island.

Airports

Snohomish County has one major airport: Paine Field, otherwise known as Snohomish County Airport, which has had passenger service since March 2019. There are three smaller public airports that are open to general aviation: Arlington Municipal Airport (Washington), Arlington Municipal Airport in Arlington, Washington, Arlington, Darrington Municipal Airport in Darrington, Washington, Darrington, and Harvey Field in Snohomish. The county also has several private airports, including the Frontier Airpark and Green Valley Airfield in Granite Falls. The Martha Lake Airport in Martha Lake, Washington, Martha Lake was a former private airport that was closed in 2000 and was converted into a county park that opened in 2010.

Ferries

Snohomish County is also connected to adjacent counties by two ferry routes operated by Washington State Ferries. The Edmonds–Kingston ferry carries Washington State Route 104, SR 104 between Edmonds, Washington, Edmonds and Kingston, Washington, Kingston in Kitsap County, Washington, Kitsap County. The Mukilteo–Clinton ferry carries Washington State Route 525, SR 525 from Mukilteo to Clinton, Washington, Clinton on Whidbey Island.

Communities

Cities

* Arlington, Washington, Arlington * Bothell, Washington, Bothell (partly in King County) * Brier, Washington, Brier * Edmonds, Washington, Edmonds * Everett (county seat) * Gold Bar, Washington, Gold Bar * Granite Falls, Washington, Granite Falls * Lake Stevens, Washington, Lake Stevens * Lynnwood, Washington, Lynnwood * Marysville, Washington, Marysville * Mill Creek, Washington, Mill Creek * Monroe, Washington, Monroe * Mountlake Terrace, Washington, Mountlake Terrace *

* Snohomish * Stanwood, Washington, Stanwood * Sultan, Washington, Sultan * Woodway, Washington, Woodway

Towns

* Darrington, Washington, Darrington * Index, Washington, Index

Census-designated places

*Alderwood Manor, Washington, Alderwood Manor *Arlington Heights, Washington, Arlington Heights *Bothell East, Washington, Bothell East *Bothell West, Washington, Bothell West *Bryant, Washington, Bryant *Bunk Foss, Washington, Bunk Foss *Canyon Creek, Washington, Canyon Creek *Cathcart, Washington, Cathcart *Cavalero, Washington, Cavalero *Chain Lake, Washington, Chain Lake *Clearview, Washington, Clearview *Eastmont, Washington, Eastmont *Esperance, Washington, Esperance *Fobes Hill, Washington, Fobes Hill *Hat Island, Washington, Hat Island *High Bridge, Washington, High Bridge *Kayak Point, Washington, Kayak Point *Lake Bosworth, Washington, Lake Bosworth *Lake Cassidy, Washington, Lake Cassidy *Lake Goodwin, Washington, Lake Goodwin *Lake Ketchum, Washington, Lake Ketchum *Lake Roesiger, Washington, Lake Roesiger *Lake Stickney, Washington, Lake Stickney *Larch Way, Washington, Larch Way *Lochsloy, Washington, Lochsloy *Machias, Washington, Machias *Maltby, Washington, Maltby *Martha Lake, Washington, Martha Lake *May Creek, Washington, May Creek *Meadowdale, Washington, Meadowdale *Mill Creek East, Washington, Mill Creek East *Monroe North, Washington, Monroe North *North Lynnwood, Washington, North Lynnwood *North Marysville, Washington, North Marysville *North Sultan, Washington, North Sultan *Northwest Stanwood, Washington, Northwest Stanwood *Oso, Washington, Oso *Perrinville, Edmonds, Washington, Perrinville *Picnic Point, Washington, Picnic Point *Silvana, Washington, Silvana *Silver Firs, Washington, Silver Firs *Sisco Heights, Washington, Sisco Heights *Startup, Washington, Startup *Sunday Lake, Washington, Sunday Lake *Swede Heaven, Washington, Swede Heaven *Three Lakes, Washington, Three Lakes *Verlot, Washington, Verlot *

*Woods Creek, Washington, Woods Creek

Unincorporated communities

*Florence, Washington, Florence *Fortson, Washington, Fortson *Galena, Washington, Galena *Getchell, Washington, Getchell *Hazel, Washington, Hazel *Reiter, Washington, Reiter *Robe, Washington, Robe *Silverton, Washington, Silverton *Sisco, Washington, Sisco *Smokey Point, Washington, Smokey Point *Trafton, Washington, Trafton *

References

External links

Official Snohomish County websiteSnohomish County Tourism Bureau