Formed March 14, 1854 (11th county)
Mason County (60,699), Shelton (9,834)
The Colonial Revival masonry structure was constructed in 1929. It is located at the intersection of 5th and Pine streets. Washington State Highway 3 passes five blocks to the east of the site. Joseph Henry Wohleb provided the designs. The building was remodeled in 2013. There was an 1888 facility earlier. A 1986 Annex supports the courthouse. The county was established on March 14, 1854 from King County as the 11th county. Oakland was the first county seat until 1888 when Shelton became the seat. The county is named for the Secretary of the Washington Territory C. H. Mason. Shelton was named for Territorial Legislator David Shelton.
Mason County government consists of a sheriff and 3 Commissioners. Three Superior Court Judges and One District Court Judge serve Mason County. The county is located in western Washington. Seattle, Washington is east and Portland, Oregon is southeast of the county. The county center is 13 miles North of Shelton nearer Hoodsport. The county is surrounded clockwise by Kitsap, Pierce, Thurston, Grays Harbor, and Jefferson counties.
The area of the county is 1051 square miles. It is 30 out of 39 in the state. It ranks 20 out of 39 in population in the state. It has a density of 57.75 persons per square mile making it 14 out of 39 in the state. Mason County has 16.2% of its population in its incorporated areas. United States Highway 101 passes north to south through the county from Jefferson County to Thurston County. The county could be described as a keystone lying on its side and the southeast corner mad wavy. Shelton is located in the southeast quarter of the county. Shelton is the county seat and the largest city since it is the only incorporated city. It is 16.2% of the county population. This county is in the Shelton Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Shelton
