Skamania County is a county in Washington, United States, straddling the Columbia River Gorge east of Vancouver. It had a population of 12,036 at the 2020 census and covers 1,683 square miles (4,360 km2) centred near 46°02′N 121°55′W.
Stevenson is the county seat and its postal code is 98648. The county has two incorporated cities and a handful of unincorporated communities, no civil townships. Skamania County sits in the Pacific time zone and is part of the Portland–Vancouver–Hillsboro, OR–WA metropolitan area.
Towns & Villages in Skamania County
Skamania County has two incorporated cities — Stevenson and North Bonneville — plus a scatter of unincorporated communities and a Census Designated Place along the Columbia River and Wind River valley. Type legend: City · seat, City, CDP, Unincorp.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stevenson | City · seat | — | 98648 |
| North Bonneville | City | — | 98639 |
| Carson | CDP | — | 98610 |
| Cook | Unincorp. | — | 98605 |
| Home Valley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mill A | Unincorp. | — | — |
| North Bonneville (former townsite) | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Prindle | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Saint Cloud | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Skamania | Unincorp. | — | 98648 |
| Stabler | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Underwood | Unincorp. | — | 98651 |
| Underwood Heights | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Willard | Unincorp. | — | — |
The old page listed several tract or resort-cabin subdivisions (Ericson View Tracts, Fort Rains, Hood View Tracts, Moffetts Hot Springs, Molfait Tracts, Saint Martins Hot Springs, Tire Junction) and a duplicate “Hood” entry that could not be confirmed as standing communities distinct from Underwood, Home Valley or the Bonneville Hot Springs resort area — dropped for lack of independent confirmation.
ZIP Codes
- 98648 — Stevenson (also serves Skamania)
- 98639 — North Bonneville
- 98610 — Carson
- 98605 — Cook
- 98651 — Underwood
Home Valley, Mill A, Prindle, Saint Cloud, Stabler and Willard share ZIPs with a nearby post office town rather than carrying their own code.
Geography
Skamania County spans the Columbia River Gorge, running from the river north into the Cascade foothills below Mount St. Helens and Mount Adams. About 90 percent of the county is forested, and 80 percent of that forest lies within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The Columbia River forms the county’s entire southern boundary, with the Wind River and Little White Salmon River draining north-south valleys into it.
Skamania County borders Lewis County to the north, Yakima County to the northeast, Klickitat County to the east, Hood River County, Oregon, to the south, Multnomah County, Oregon, to the southwest, and Clark County and Cowlitz County to the west.
Demographics
Skamania County had 12,036 residents at the 2020 census. Stevenson and the Carson CDP are its two largest population centres; the old scrape’s note that Carson has more residents than Stevenson-the-city reflects Stevenson’s small incorporated footprint rather than a sparse downtown. Median household income in Skamania County runs below the Washington median of $94,605, typical of the rural Gorge counties. Population density is roughly 7 people per square mile, among the lowest in western Washington.
Economy & Local Life
Timber and forest-products work, tied to the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, has long anchored the county’s economy, alongside a growing tourism sector built on Columbia River Gorge windsurfing and kiteboarding at Stevenson and Home Valley, hiking access to Mount St. Helens and Mount Adams, and fruit orchards around Underwood and Cook. The Bonneville Lock and Dam, on the Columbia opposite North Bonneville, is a major regional employer and a National Historic Landmark visitor site. Stevenson hosts the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center Museum.
History
Skamania County was created by the Washington Territorial Legislature on March 9, 1854, one of the territory’s original counties. Its name comes from a Chinook Jargon word meaning “swift waters,” a reference to the Columbia River’s Cascade Rapids, since submerged by the Bonneville Dam pool. North Bonneville was rebuilt on higher ground in the 1970s when the original townsite was flooded for the Bonneville Dam’s second powerhouse. In 1969 the county commission passed a still-cited ordinance making it a criminal offense to kill a Sasquatch within county limits.
Getting There
Washington State Route 14 runs the length of the county along the Columbia River, connecting to Interstate 84 across the river in Oregon via the Bridge of the Gods at Stevenson.
- Vancouver, Washington — 45 miles west
- Portland, Oregon — 50 miles southwest
- Hood River, Oregon — 20 miles east
- White Salmon, Washington — 15 miles east
The nearest commercial airport is Portland International Airport (PDX), about an hour’s drive from Stevenson.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Skamania County?
It is in southwestern Washington, along the Columbia River Gorge east of Vancouver and Portland.
What is the population of Skamania County?
12,036 at the 2020 census.
How big is Skamania County?
1,683 square miles (4,360 km2), one of the largest counties in Washington by land area despite its small population.
What is the Skamania County seat?
Stevenson is the county seat.
How many towns are in Skamania County?
Two incorporated cities, Stevenson and North Bonneville, plus a dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Skamania County?
98648 (Stevenson), 98639 (North Bonneville), 98610 (Carson), 98605 (Cook) and 98651 (Underwood) are the main codes.
Is it illegal to kill Bigfoot in Skamania County?
Yes — a 1969 county ordinance still on the books bans killing a “Sasquatch” or similar creature within county limits.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Washington.