Whitman County Data

data1TRANSPORTATION

Airports

  • Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport
  • Lewiston-Nez Perce County Regional Airport
  • Spokane International Airport
  • Schoepflin Airport in Palouse
  • Private airports throughout the region

Motor Freight

  • Several major motor freight companies service Whitman County.
  • Numerous local and regional trucking companies offer service connecting the Palouse to the Pacific Northwest hub and beyond.

Major Highways

  • State Highway 26 connects Whitman County to Interstate 90 and the Seattle Metro area to the west.
  • State Highway 195 connects to destinations north and south.
  • State Highway 270 connects the major retail areas of Pullman, Washington and Moscow, Idaho.
  • Nearly 2,000 miles of county roads are maintained by county road crews and connect communities throughout the region.

Inland Port Facilities

  • The Port of Whitman manages industrial sites in Pullman and Colfax and on-water facilities at the Port of Wilma near Clarkston, Port of Central Ferry and at the Port of Almota. The latter three offer access to shipping on the Columbia / Snake River system.
  • Commercial railway access serves many areas in Whitman County.

data3DEMOGRAPHICS

Population

  • Whitman County – 48,177 (2015)
  • Pullman – 33,354
  • Colfax – 2,905
  • Palouse – 1,020
  • Tekoa – 835
  • Other rural communities range from 100 to 650

Whitman County Labor Market

  • Labor Force – 21,570
  • Number Employed – 20,620
  • Number Unemployed – 830
  • Unemployment Rate – 3.5%
  • Per Capita Income – $35,589
  • Educational Attainment, age 25+ – 52% college grad with degree

Major Industry

  • Government – 51%
  • Services – 19%
  • Wholesale, Retail, Trade – 11%
  • Manufacturing – 7%
  • Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing – 3%
  • Construction – 2%
  • Financing, Insurance – 2%
  • Transportation – 2%
  • Other – 2%
  • Real Estate, Rental, Leasing – 1%

Climate & Location

  • Elevation – ~2,300 feet (varies)
  • Whitman County Area – 2,159 square miles
  • Annual Rainfall – ~16 inches (varies)
  • Average Summer High Temperature – 68º F
  • Average Winter High Temperature – 37º F

data2SERVICES

Police

  • Washington State Patrol, Whitman County Sheriff, and the Palouse Police Department provide excellent police coverage and public safety support.

Fire

  • Fourteen separate Fire Districts and two city Fire Departments operate in Whitman County.  Palouse Fire/EMS Page

Emergency Medical

  • Emergency Medical Technicians and First Responders operate ambulances out of most locations.
  • Ambulances make runs to Pullman, Colfax and Spokane hospitals.
  • Air ambulance service is available out of Spokane.

911

  • Calls are routed through WHITCOM, a regional Enhanced 911 service, located at the Port of Whitman’s Pullman Industrial Park.

data4Healthcare

  • Pullman Regional Hospital
  • Whitman Hospital and Medical Center in Colfax
  • Gritman Medical Center in Moscow, Idaho
  • Palouse Health Center in Palouse
  • Medical Clinics, Assisted Living, and Nursing Home Facilities exist in numerous locations throughout the county.

Source: Southeast Washington Economic Development Association (www.seweda.org)