Map of Grays Harbor County, Washington

Grays Harbor County overview:
Name:	Grays Harbor County
FIPS code:	53-027
State:	Washington
Founded:	April 14, 1854
Named for:	Grays Harbor
Seat:	Montesano
Largest city:	Aberdeen
Total Area:	2,224 sq mi (5,760 km²)
Land Area:	1,902 sq mi (4,930 km²)
Total Population:	75,636
Population Density:	38.3/sq mi (14.8/km²)

Grays Harbor County location map. Where is Grays Harbor County?

Grays Harbor County location on the U.S. Map. Where is Grays Harbor County. — Location of Grays Harbor County in the the United States.

Grays Harbor County location on the Washington map. Where is Grays Harbor County. — Location of Grays Harbor County in Washington.

History

The county is presently named after a large estuarine bay near its southwestern corner. On May 7, 1792, Boston fur trader Robert Gray crossed the bar into a bay which he called Bullfinch Harbor, but which later cartographers would label Chehalis Bay, and then Grays Harbor.

The area that now comprises Grays Harbor County was part of Oregon Territory in the first part of the nineteenth century. On December 19, 1845, the Provisional Government of Oregon created two counties (Vancouver and Clark) in its northern portion (which is now the state of Washington). In 1849, the name of Vancouver County was changed to Lewis County, and on April 14, 1854, a portion of Lewis County was partitioned off to become Chehalis County. This county’s boundaries have not changed since its creation, but on June 9, 1915, its name was changed to Grays Harbor County to eliminate confusion with the town of Chehalis in Lewis County.

Grays Harbor County Road Map

Grays Harbor CountyStreet Map. — Street map of Grays Harbor County, Washington. Source: OpenStreetMap (OSM)

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,224 square miles (5,760 km), of which 1,902 square miles (4,930 km) is land and 322 square miles (830 km) (14%) is water.

Geographic features

State parks

Griffiths-Priday State Park
Lake Sylvia State Park
Ocean City State Park
Pacific Beach State Park
Twin Harbors State Park
Westhaven State Park (now part of Westport Light State Park)
Westport Light State Park

Major highways

State Route 8
U.S. Route 12
U.S. Route 101
State Route 105
State Route 107
State Route 109

Adjacent counties

Jefferson County – north
Mason County – northeast
Thurston County – east/southeast
Lewis County – south/southeast
Pacific County – south

National protected areas

Chehalis Indian Reservation
Colonel Bob Wilderness
Copalis National Wildlife Refuge
Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge
Olympic National Forest (part)
Olympic National Park (part)
Quinault Indian Reservation