State's poverty rates fell in 1990s

Estimates show all but 10 counties have decline in rates

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Originally published December 20, 2001

OLYMPIA -- Poverty rates fell by 10 percent in Washington during the 1990s, according to new Census estimates.

A reminder of the 1990s prosperity may be cold comfort to a state where 38,000 jobs have been lost since January.

But most counties made strides in reducing poverty rates during good economic times. The Associated Press looked at poverty rates from 1989 to 1998, the most recent figures available. In 1998 569,830 people were living in poverty in Washington state, 10 percent of the population.

All but 10 counties reduced their poverty rates during the period. Douglas, Kittitas and Yakima counties saw the biggest declines. The counties with flat or increasing poverty rates are Thurston, Klickitat, Cowlitz, Kitsap, Island, Adams, Clallam, Garfield, Ferry and Lincoln. Thurston County's poverty rates did not change.

Child poverty rates fell 18 percent from 1989 to 1998 in Washington. Child poverty decreased in all but four counties: Lincoln, Island, King and Whitman. Statewide in 1998, there were 206,558 children living in poverty, 14 percent of the population under 18.

The federal poverty level in 1998 was $16,450 for a family of four. Now it's $17,650.

The new estimates were being released today.

Of the Census Bureau's high, middle and low estimates of poverty and income, The AP's analysis focused solely on the middle figures. Because those estimates are built from survey data and statistical models, the margins of error may affect comparisons between different areas or comparisons of a single area's numbers over time.

State Sen. Bob Morton, R-Kettle Falls, said declines in the mining, timber and agricultural industries are hurting Ferry and Lincoln counties, both in his district.

Sharon Hart, executive director of the Island County Economic Development Council, said that while the average hourly wage in her county increased 75 percent from 1990 to 1997, underemployment might be fueling the poverty rates.

She said that statewide, the move from welfare to work may contribute to poverty rates.

"There's a lot of working poor in this state," Hart said.

Poverty rates for Washington's counties

Poverty rates declined in most Washington counties from 1989 to 1998, according to Census estimates.

County name, followed by number of people living in poverty, followed by percent change in poverty rate from 1989 to 1998:

- Adams: 2,464, 3 percent

- Asotin: 3,202, -14 percent

- Benton: 13,547, -6 percent

- Chelan: 8,330, -13 percent

- Clallam: 7,832, 6 percent

- Clark: 29,703, -8 percent

- Columbia: 546, -11 percent

- Cowlitz: 11,755, 1 percent

- Douglas: 3,421, -35 percent

- Ferry: 1,385, 9 percent

- Franklin: 8,145, -18 percent

- Garfield: 245, 7 percent

- Grant: 10,810, -9 percent

- Grays Harbor: 10,819, -1 percent

- Island: 5,510, 1 percent

- Jefferson: 3,071, -9 percent

- King: 126,999, -5 percent

- Kitsap: 20,322, 1 percent

- Kittitas: 3,998, -24 percent

- Klickitat: 2,934, 0 percent

- Lewis: 9,658, -9 percent

- Lincoln: 1,216, 18 percent

- Mason: 5,810, -8 percent

- Okanogan: 7,543, -12 percent

- Pacific: 3,227, -1 percent

- Pend Oreille: 2,111, -12 percent

- Pierce: 69,907, -13 percent

- San Juan: 1,018, -6 percent

- Skagit: 11,065, -13 percent

- Skamania: 968, -17 percent

- Snohomish: 39,479, -10 percent

- Spokane: 49,591, -11 percent

- Stevens: 6,133, -11 percent

- Thurston: 18,005, 0 percent

- Wahkiakum: 408, -14 percent

- Walla Walla: 6,829, -17 percent

- Washington: 569,830, -10 percent

- Whatcom: 17,460, -13 percent

- Whitman: 4,749, -13 percent

- Yakima: 39,617, -23 percent

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

The Olympian Copyright 2001

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