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About :: County InformationSkamania Co., WashingtonCounty CapsuleLocated in the northwest corner of the Columbia Gorge region, Skamania County encompasses 1,656 - square miles. The county had an estimated population of 10,833 in 2006, up from 9,872 in 2000. The county is dominated by the Cascade Range, topped by Mount St. Helens. The mountain lost nearly 3,000 feet in height during and after its catastrophic May 18, 1981 eruption, and now measures approximately 8,000 feet. There are a number of other peaks over 5,000 feet in elevation. Over 90% of the county is forested and about 80% of the county is within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The Wind River and Washougal River flow through the southern areas, and the bulk of the county's population resides in communities along the north bank of the Columbia River and inside the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area. The 1993 completion of Skamania Lodge in Stevenson - partly funded by Scenic Act economic development monies - helped drive expansion of the county's tourism-oriented retail and service sectors. Occupancy rates at the destination resort have exceeded expectations, with the facility drawing considerable conference and meeting business. Retail and service sector employment increased from 270 in 1986 to 640 in 1994. The opening of the $10.5 million Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center provided another boost to the region's tourism economy. Located just west of Stevenson near Skamania Lodge, the 23,000 square-foot center depicts the historical, cultural and geologic development of the Columbia Gorge and is expected to draw tens of thousands of visitors annually. Windsurfing and other recreational activities in the Gorge, combined with continued growth in Skamania County's tourism trade, will likely lead to future retail, lodging and recreational development. Per capita income in 2004 was $24,371 compared with state and national figures of $35,041 and $33,050, respectively. Property values continue to climb, driven by scarce supply and increased demand by relatively affluent windsurfers and urban refugees. According to Skamania County Economic Development Council figures, the median price of a house was $356,500 in 2007 up from $167,000 in 1995. The county's total assessed value in 2005 was $819 million, up from $327.3 million in 1990. Points of InterestSkamania Lodge, Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center, Bonneville Dam, Dog Mountain Trailhead, Beacon Rock State Park, Drano Lake, The Hatchery, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Mount St. Helens, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Fort Cascades National Historic Site, Carson Hot Springs Resort, Bonneville Hot Springs Resort
County Statistics
Elevation at Stevenson
150'
Government
City:
Mayor/Council/Government
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515 East 2nd Street | The Dalles, OR 97058 |
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