The Assessor's Department is responsible for the local administration of our state property tax system.
The Auditor's Office is responsible for keeping the county government transparent and accountable as well as providing the citizens of Clallam County with a wide variety of services.
The Board of Equalization assists in the administration of determining property values by providing an impartial citizen petition forum for property owners.
The Board of Commissioners is responsible for providing the legislative and executive functions of County government. Legislative functions are accomplished at meetings of the Board by adopting ordinances, policies, or resolutions that set public policy and guide government functions. The Board is also responsible for most executive functions of County government.
The Coroner is responsible for investigating and certifying the manner and cause of death for certain types of death occurring within the County.
The Superior Court Clerk's Office primary responsibility is to file and index all records filed for the Clallam County Superior Courts and Family Court.
The Clallam County Department of Community Development is responsible for comprehensive planning, zoning, and processing of development and building permits.
WSU Clallam County Extension programs connect the people and communities of Clallam County with the knowledge base of Washington State University to promote quality of life and advance economic well-being through fostering inquiry, learning, and the application of research.
The Division of Emergency Management plans for and responds to both natural and man-made disasters.
Reviews the county budget, finance, accounts, purchasing, and annual reports.
Through leadership and community partnerships, Clallam County Department of Health and Human Services envisions a community in which individuals make healthy choices, access the health and human services they need, and live in a safe and healthy environment.
The Clallam County Human Resources & Risk Management Office provides information and expertise in these services to all County Offices and Departments.
The Information Technology Department provides information systems support, local area network support, and more.
Clallam County Juvenile and Family Services will do whatever it takes to provide prevention, treatment and accountability services for youth and their families. Services provided include Community Supervision, Court Services, At-Risk Youth Supervision, Diversion, Detention, CASA and Truancy assistance. The courts provide essential services, and the agency remains open.
Our mission is to protect citizens, land, and natural resources from the harmful effects of noxious weeds.
Clallam County Parks, Fair & Facilities manage facilities, fair, fields, and a variety of upland and water-access parks.
"We exercise the power given to us by the people to promote safety, justice and service."
Clallam County Public Works/Roads oversees administration, accounting, operations and maintenance, and communications for the Roads Division, Sewer and Solid Waste Utility Division, and ER&R.
The Sheriff's Office maintains the County Jail, provides security for the County Courts, and serves various legal papers throughout the county.
Find information about the Clallam County Superior Court.
The Clallam County Treasurer holds a key position of public trust in the financial affairs of local government.
Clallam County is a county in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, the population was 77,155,[1] with an estimated population of 77,616 in 2023. The county seat and largest city is Port Angeles; the county as a whole comprises the Port Angeles, WA Micropolitan Statistical Area. The name is a Klallam word for "the strong people". The county was formed on April 26, 1854. Located on the Olympic Peninsula, it is south from the Strait of Juan de Fuca, which forms the Canada–US border, as British Columbia's Vancouver Island is across the strait.
Clallam County was a bellwether, voting for the winning candidate in every presidential election from 1980 to 2020, holding the longest record for predicting official presidential election winners in the entire country. It has also voted the winning candidate in every election since 1920 except for 1968, 1976, and 2024.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,671 square miles (6,920 km2), of which 1,738 square miles (4,500 km2) is land and 932 square miles (2,410 km2) (35%) is water.
Located in Clallam County is Cape Alava, the westernmost point in both Washington and the contiguous United States, with a longitude of 124 degrees, 43 minutes and 59 seconds West (−124.733). Near Cape Alava is Ozette, the westernmost town in the contiguous United States. Clallam County also contains the west-northwesternmost, northwesternmost, and north-northwesternmost points in the contiguous United States.
The popular Twilight Saga novels and film series are set in Clallam County. The main storyline is set in Forks; however, the characters also visit neighboring Port Angeles.
The rural-comedy film series Ma and Pa Kettle (1949–1957) is set in a fictionalized Cape Flattery.
A popular YouTube series following the restoration of the historic sailing vessel Tally Ho took place in Sequim from 2017 to 2021 and often visited other places in Clallam County.[23] The county had demanded that donations and work on the project be stopped, citing lack of permits and an unwillingness to issue those permits.[24] In July 2021, Goolden's Sampson Boat Company and Tally Ho relocated to the nearby Port of Port Townsend, Washington, boatyard to complete the restoration there.
As of the 2010 census, there were 71,404 people, 31,329 households, and 19,713 families living in the county.[14] The population density was 41.1 inhabitants per square mile (15.9/km2). There were 35,582 housing units at an average density of 20.5 units per square mile (7.9 units/km2).[15] The racial makeup of the county was 87.0% white, 5.1% American Indian, 1.4% Asian, 0.8% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 1.8% from other races, and 3.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.1% of the population.[14] In terms of ancestry, 21.4% were German, 16.4% were English, 12.6% were Irish, 6.5% were Norwegian, and 5.2% were American.
Of the 31,329 households, 22.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.1% were non-families, and 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.70. The median age was 49.0 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $44,398 and the median income for a family was $54,837. Males had a median income of $44,609 versus $32,125 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,449. About 9.5% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.4% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.
Modern Clallam County is generally regarded as a competitive area politically. In the 2020 presidential election, Democrat Joe Biden won with 50.2% of the vote versus 46.8% of the vote for Republican Donald Trump. In the 2016 presidential election, Republican Donald Trump won with 46.4% of the vote, compared to 43.6% of the vote for Democrat Hillary Clinton. In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama narrowly won with 48.4% of the vote, compared to 48.0% of the vote for Republican Mitt Romney. In the 2008 presidential election, Barack Obama won the county with 50.5% of the vote, compared to 47.2% for candidate Republican John McCain.
Clallam County was a bellwether, holding the longest record, until 2024, for predicting official presidential election winners in the entire country.[5] In every election since 1920, except for 1968, 1976, and 2024, it has voted for the presidential election winner.
It voted the winning candidate in every presidential election from 1980 to 2020, the longest streak of any county in the country before ending its streak in 2024.[19][5] Clallam County also voted for Bob Ferguson in the 2024 Washington gubernatorial election for the first time since the 2000 Washington gubernatorial election, despite Ferguson underperforming Kamala Harris, indicating a potential leftward shift in the county.
Democratic candidates are generally most successful in the county seat and largest city, Port Angeles, which casts a significant number of votes. The city of Sequim and its general vicinity (excepting newer developments such as Bell Hill which tend to be Republican) is generally considered a battleground area. The Forks area is generally Republican, with the exception of American Indian areas. The Makah tribe areas around Neah Bay are some of the most Democratic areas in the state. Otherwise, with the exception of a few locations (such as Blyn and Jamestown near Sequim), unincorporated Clallam County has a strong Republican lean.