Douglas County

Douglas County is located in the state of Washington, U.S. It was formed from cutting a portion of Lincoln County in 1883 on November 28th.   

Douglas County gets its name from the United States Senator of Illinois, Stephen A. Douglas. Unfortunately, he died five months before the county’s creation. Besides being a politician, Stephen was also a lawyer and an advocate for popular sovereignty. It is a doctrine that fought for the right for each county to decide whether or not to have slavery. 

Waterville is its county seat, a town founded in 1885 and holds 1.138 people. It is a town known for wheat farming. The Cascade Mountain Range and the ground covered with the yellow wheat farm and cherry orchids give Waterville beautiful scenery. Many historic buildings, such as Waterville Museum, Christian Schmidt, and Nifty Theatre, are found here. Other towns in Douglas County are Mansfield and Coulee Dam.  

The largest city in Douglas County is Wenatchee. Others include; Rock Island and Bridgeport.  

Population 

Douglas County sits on 1849 square miles; 1,819 square miles is land and 29 square miles of water.  

As of the census in 2020, Douglas County holds a population of 42,938 people. The ethnic make-up is as follows: White 63.4%, Black 0.8%, Asian 1.1%, Hispanic 32.3%, American Indian and Alaska Native 2.1%, mixed race 2.7%, and Native Hawaiian 0.3%.   

County Offices 

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office 

Arrest documents are a public record in Douglas County. They are produced by the law enforcement agencies and kept by the County Sheriff. The information provides the following 

1. Offenders basic information

• Name
• Age
• Sex
• Race 
• Mugshot
• Description of physical features, such as eyes, height, and weight

2. Notes on the arrest

• Date of arrest
• Arresting officer and agency
• Type of offense
• Charge account

If you are interested in getting a criminal record, visit the Sheriff’s office at The Olympia Office or mail to request it. Send the mail request to their address at:  

Washington State Patrol, Identification and Background Check Section 

P.O.Box 42633 Olympia,  

WA 98504 – 2633. 

You are required to provide your ID, information on the record, and a processing fee of $38 and $58 for fingerprint records.  

You can reach the Sheriff’s office through the following contacts: 

Phone: (509) 884-0941 

Email: [email protected] 

The also county has a portal where they post sex offenders registry, and it is accessible to the public.  

The Douglas County Clerk maintains the records. They contain reports on cases heard in the Municipal, District, and Superior Courts. The details include; case files, affidavits, transcripts, dockets, and final depositions.  

Douglas County Assessor 

The County Assessor is in charge of evaluating the real estate in Douglas and assessing tax for properties. You can reach out to them for the following: 

• Property tax due date
• Your property tax bill
• Property tax appeal  
• To report any enhancements

The offices are located in Waterville, 213 South Rainier Street. Their phone number is (509) 745 -8521.  

Douglas Treasurer And Tax Collectors’ Office 

The Treasurer is responsible for all the county’s finances, including collecting tax for both personal and property. The address to the office is 213 South Rainier Street, Waterville, Washington. Their phone number is (509) 745-8525, and Fax is (509) 745-8412.  

Douglas County Courthouse 

The Courthouse was built in 1905 in Waterville. In 1975 it found a spot in the National Register of Historic Places.   

Here are addresses and contacts for the courts in Douglas County: 

• Superior Court

203 South Rainier  

P.O.Box 516, Waterville, WA 98858 

Fax: (509) 745-8529 

Phone number: (509) 745-8027 

• Superior Court, Juvenile

110 2nd Street NE 

Suite 102, East Wenatchee, WA 98802 

Fax: (509) 884-2822 

Phone number: ((509) 884-3545  

• District Court 

East Wenatchee 

Location: 110 2nd St NE 

Fax: (509) 884-5973 

Phone number: (509) 884-3536 

Bridgeport Branch 

Location:1206 Columbia Avenue 

P.O.Box 73, Bridgeport, WA 98813 

Fax: (509) 686-0532 

Phone: (509) 686-2034 

• Municipal Court

Location: 271 9th St NE 

Fax: (509) 886-4501 

Phone: (509) 884-0680 

What to Do in Douglas County, Washington 

1. Daroga State Park

The park is located along the Columbia River and occupies a hundred and twenty-seven acres of land. The residents and visitors can enjoy; fishing, camping, bike riding, boat riding, water skiing, and picnics.  

The park also has two basketball courts, soccer, baseball, golf, and softball fields for people who enjoy sports.  

Animal lovers have not been left behind; you can watch birds or view wildlife.   

2. Lincoln Rock State Park

The Lincoln Rock State Park is situated on the east side of Lake Entiat. It got its name from an explorer who saw a rock resembling President Abraham Lincoln’s face. People can enjoy several activities such as swimming, boat riding, fishing, picnics, camping, walking, jogging, and bike riding.  

They can also utilize the sports facilities provided. The park has basketball and tennis courts and fields for other ball games, like baseball and soccer. It also has a playground for the kids.   

There are eighty picnic tables to host people, thirty shelters, and a kitchen. If you plan to go fishing, you will be required to provide a recreational license.  

For bookings or more information, call them at (509) 670-6457.  

3. Martin Scott Winery

Suppose you want to know about wine and do a wine tasting while in Douglas County, Martin Scott Winery is where to go. You also get to enjoy a beautiful view of Mission Ridge when tasting the wine or having their Thursday night dinner. It is the perfect place to go to unwind.  

4. Douglas County Museum

The museum preserves the history of Douglas County. Besides viewing the rock and mineral, you get to see the fossil of the two-headed calf. The museum also exhibits tools used during the Black Hawk war, such as arrows, spears, and cannonballs.  

The Economy 

The job market in Douglas County has grown by 1.3%, and it is expected to keep rising in the future. The unemployment rate is at 3.30%. The average income is at $23116, while the U.S average is at $28555. 

Douglas County Offices by Type