Okanogan

Formed February 1, 1888 (34^th county)

Okanogan County (41,120), Okanogan (2,552), Omak (4,845)

The 1914 Neo-Classical concrete courthouse was remodeled in 1950.  The courthouse is on a square at 3^rd Avenue and Oak Street.  United States Highway 97 Business is three blocks to the southeast of the location.  The building has been enlarged twice.  George H. Keith is the building designer.  The courthouse features a tower with a working clock and a tile roof.  It is being remodeled in 2024.  Ruby City was the first county seat and Conconully had an 1891 courthouse previously.  Okanogan County was founded on February 1, 1888 from Stevens County as the 34^th county.  The county and its county seat are a Native American word meaning “rendezvous.” 

Okanogan County government consists of a sheriff, an attorney, a clerk, a treasurer, an auditor, and an assessor (executive).  It has 3 Commissioners (legislative.)  Two Superior Court Judges and Two District Court Judges serve Okanogan County (judicial.)  Okanogan County is in the northern part of Washington on the border with Canada.  The Columbia River forms its southern border.  Seattle, Washington is southwest and Spokane, Washington is southeast of the county.  The county center is 16.6 miles North of Okanogan nearer Riverside.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Canada and Ferry, Lincoln, Douglas, Chelan, Skagit, and Whatcom counties. 

The area of the county is 5315 square miles.  It is 1 out of 39 in the state.  It ranks 24 out of 39 in population in the state.  It has a density of 7.74 persons per square mile making it 34 out of 39 in the state.  Okanogan County has 39.7% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 95 originates in the county and heads south into Chelan County.  The county looks like a block cow facing west.  The City of Okanogan is located in the southern third of the county.  Omak is directly northeast of Okanogan.  Okanogan is the county seat and Omak is the largest city.  Okanogan is 6.2% of the county population while Omak is 11.8% of the county population.  The county and county seat are pronounced OEK-A-NOE-GAN.  The largest city is pronounced OE-MAK.