Formed April 24, 1854 (14th county)
Wahkiakum County (3,978), Cathlamet (532)
The small concrete Classical Revival courthouse was built in 1921. The facility is on Main Street between Butler and River streets. Washington State Highway 4 is three blocks to the northeast. The building designer is Newton C. Gauntt. It features a metal roof. The courthouse has been enlarged. Wahkiakum County was established on April 24, 1854 from Cowlitz County as the 14th county and Cathlamet has always been the county seat. It is named for a Native American chief. The county seat was named for a Native American tribe.
Wahkiakum County government consists of a sheriff and 3 Commissioners. One Superior Court Judge serves Wahkiakum and Pacific counties and One District Court Judge serves Wahkiakum County. The county is on the southwest border with Oregon. The Columbia River is on their southern border. Seattle, Washington is northeast and Portland, Oregon is southwest. The county center is 9.6 miles North-Northwest of Cathlamet nearer Skamokawa. The county is surrounded clockwise by Lewis and Cowlitz counties and Oregon and Pacific County.
The area of the county is 287 square miles. It is 39 out of 39 in the state. It ranks 38 out of 39 in population in the state. It has a density of 13.86 persons per square mile making it 29 out of 39 in the state. Wahkiakum County has 13.4% of its population in its incorporated areas. There are no Interstates or United States Highways in the county. The county looks like a capital letter J lying on its face. Cathlamet is located in the southeast quarter of the county. Cathlamet is the county seat and, as the only incorporated city, it is the largest city. It is 13.4% of the county population. The county is pronounced WA-KEE-A-KUM. The county seat is pronounced KATH-LA-MET.
Cathlamet
