Population and Demographics

Benton County was created by the Washington State Legislature on March 8, 1905. The County government

consists of an elected County Council, consisting of three full time County Commissioners. The Commissioners

are elected to four-year terms in a general election. Each commissioner represents a district determined by

population boundaries. Other elected county officials include: Assessor, Auditor, Clerk, Coroner, Prosecuting

Attorney, Treasurer, Sheriff, and Superior Court and District Court judges.

The U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000 reported Benton County’s population at 142,475 – a 26.6 percent increase since 1990. Estimates at the end of 2004, indicate the population of the county has increased to approximately 150,000. The median age was 34.4, with approximately 70.3 percent of the county population 18 years and over. Demographically, Benton County is considered an urban county, with population in the incorporated areas of 109,248 (77 percent). Population in the unincorporated areas is 33,227 (23 percent). Approximately 86.2 percent of the population is White and 12.5 percent Hispanic or Latino. The Census reports there are 18,707 residents (14.2 percent) who speak a language other than English at home, including 6.4 percent (8,391 people 5 years and over) who speak English less than “very well.” Spanish is the language other than English most often spoken at home by 13,425 residents (10.2 percent). Of those speaking Spanish at home, 6,394, or 4.9 percent of Benton County’s population, speak English less than “very well.”

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