Welcome to Skagit County
 About Skagit County
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Our Vision Skagit County is a safe, diverse, and welcoming community that supports sustainable growth and a vibrant economy, while preserving and enhancing our natural environment. Our Mission Skagit County government provides our community and natural environment with leadership that delivers inclusive support and services contributing to a safe, thriving, and sustainable place to live, work and play. Our Values
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Accommodations |
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| Approximately 40 hotels
and motels and more than 40 bed and breakfast inns are located in Skagit
County. There is also a wide variety of restaurants from fast food to world
class cuisine. |
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Communications |
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| Skagit County is home
to several weekly newspapers, one daily newspaper (The Skagit Valley Herald),
and three commercial radio stations. There are also many internet service
providers (ISPs) throughout the area. |
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Cultural Facilities |
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| Cultural
sites include the Skagit
County Historical Museum, the La Conner Quilt Museum located in the
historic Gaches Mansion, the Museum of Northwest Art, the Sedro-Woolley
Museum, the W. T. Preston stern wheeler, The Depot Arts Center in Anacortes
and the Anacortes Museum. There are seven public libraries, several community
halls and granges. See a film at one of the many multiplex theaters or
movie houses, including the historic
Lincoln Theatre in old downtown Mount Vernon or take in a live performance
at McIntyre
Hall, a state-of the art
performing arts facility located on the campus of Skagit Valley Community
College. There are many theatre, dance and music performance groups throughout
the county . Skagit County is also home to many world famous authors,
artists, and performers. |
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Climate |
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| The average annual rainfall
in the Anacortes area is 26 inches; in Mount Vernon 32.31 inches; and in
Concrete 65 inches. |
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Government |
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The Skagit
County Board of Commissioners governs with three members, each elected
from a respective district. The cities and towns in the county each support
a mayor-council form of government.
1800 Continental Place, Suite 100 Mount Vernon, WA 98273 (360) 416-1300 |
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Health Care |
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| The county is home to three hospitals;
Skagit Valley Hospital in Mount Vernon, United General Hospital in Sedro-Woolley
and Island Hospital in Anacortes. There are also several clinics, medical
centers, nursing facilities and retirement care homes in the county. |
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Industry |
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| Skagit County's economy
is booming and it is regarded as one of the fastest growing areas in the
state. Agriculture, fishing, wood products, tourism,
international trade, and specialized manufacturing make up the economy of
Skagit Valley. With its accessible ports and refineries, Skagit County is
also the center of the states petroleum industry. The national trend toward
employment in retail trades and personal/professional services also is evident
in Skagit County with malls and almost every national retail chain being
represented here. |
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Schools |
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| There are 44 primary
and secondary public schools in the seven school districts throughout the
county. There are also seven primarily church-related private schools. Skagit
Valley College, a two-year community college, has strong vocational programs.
Many of these schools are represented on our links page. |
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Taxes |
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| The
local tax rate on retail sales of non-food items is 8.10 percent in unincorporated
Skagit County. Property tax information can be found on the Assessor site here. |
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Transportation |
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Utilities |
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| Electricity is supplied
by Puget Sound Energy. Cascade Natural Gas provides natural gas in many
areas of the county. Water is supplied by Skagit County Public Utility District
1 or the City of Anacortes. Sewer service is available in Anacortes, Burlington,
Big Lake, Concrete, La Conner, Mount Vernon, and Sedro-Woolley. Verizon
telephone service, Wave Broadband and Comcast television is available in
the area. |
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Worship |
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| There are more than 120 places of worship in Skagit County, with a wide range of denominational focus. | |
Skagit County Demographic Data:
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