Welcome to the first issue of a quarterly blog featuring Whitman County Trends! The site was launched in May of this year to inform the residents about many aspects of life of Whitman County, via data. The Trends is generously supported by the Port of Whitman. We hope you enjoy the blog which may take you to the website. As always, EWU and Port appreciate feedback.
Recent Updates
In AGRICULTURE:
Total Market Value of Agricultural Products Sold & Average Sales per Farm
Agriculture ranks third among the leading sectors in Whitman County. (Government, largely state government, is in first place; manufacturing is in second.) The most recent (2022) Census of Agriculture survey estimated that total sales in the sector amounted to $465 million, largest on record. On a per farm basis, sales were just shy of $500,000.
In ECONOMIC VITALITY:
Total Small Businesses (Establishments with 0-9 Employees) and as a Share of All Businesses
In most counties, very small businesses, here defined as fewer than 10 employees, dominate the economic landscape. Whitman County is no exception. However, 2023 saw a steep decline in their numbers from 2022: 889 versus 1,118. As a share of all businesses, Whitman County has shown slightly higher shares than statewide.
Non-employer Establishments Total & Per 1,000 Residents
Firms with employees are not the only type of business. Sole proprietors is another form. Nationally, the gig economy has led to a rise in these firms. For the most recent year (2021) of data from a Census survey, this is also true of Whitman County as well. It is likely that the pandemic contributed to the boost of non-employer firms between 2020 and 2021, as they rose from 2,169 to 2,370.
In HEALTH:
Total Number of Licensed Physicians (MDs & DOs) and Rate per 1,000 Residents
Adequacy of healthcare access is difficult to define. Clinicians of various types, from aides to physicians, contribute to the overall labor force. This indicator uses one, but a significant occupation - physicians - as the metric. It is clear that there has been little growth in the physician workforce over the past eight years. As a rate per 1,000 residents, however, there has been a slight increase. Still, the relative abundance of physicians here is much less than the state average.
In HOUSING:
Housing Affordability Index for All Buyers
While much attention about housing has focused on prices, it is also important to consider the ability to pay those prices as well. In other words, introduce income into the assessment. The all-buyer HAI is a ratio of current median income to the costs associated with the current purchase of a median resale price of a home. Above 100, the HAI characterizes the market as “affordable.” That characterization is hardly the case in Whitman County, as the HAI for the second quarter of this year was 54. For the last three quarters, the county’s HAI has been below that of the state.
In HOUSING cont.:
Housing Affordability Index (HAI) for First Time Buyers
This HAI examines affordability for lower income households. Its income assumption is 70% of the median while the housing costs are at 85% of the median resale home. This HAI is lower yet than the all-buyer version. For the first quarter of 2024, it stood at 39!
In PUBLIC SAFETY :
Total Violent Crimes & Violent Crimes per 1,000 Residents
Violent crimes consist of the most heinous committed. For this indicator, four types are tracked: murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault. While the data show an overall decline from 2016 to 2022, violent crimes soared in 2023, led by aggravated assaults. Still, on a per capita, or 1,000-residents basis, the overall rate in the county lies far below the U.S. and state benchmarks.
Total Reported Sexual Assault Crimes and Sexual Assault per 100,000 Residents
No explanation is necessary to describe why this type of crime is so repugnant. The number and rate peaked in 2018, then declined to half the levels during the pandemic. 2023 witnessed a rebound but the number shows little increase from 2014. It is worth noting, however, the Whitman County’s rate has generally been higher than the state rate.
In TOURISM, ARTS, & RECREATION:
Total Accommodation Retail Sales and Annual Growth Rate
Receipts from lodging establishments represents the purest form of visitor spending. Restaurants and bars amount to another important spending category, but residents obviously contribute to their revenues. By this measure, visitor spending scored a record year in 2023. Sales at hotels, motels, B&Bs, VRBOs were nearly $24 million. Interestingly, the growth rate of visitor spending in the county, by this measure, has largely matched the rate observed statewide.
Access to local parks and recreation activities contribute greatly to quality-of-life assessments, qualitative or quantitative. Since there are no turnstiles at the gate for parks and since any receipts from government-led recreational activities are not easily available, this indicator uses governmental expenditures to measure the importance of these amenities. It is presented in two ways: per capita and as a share of personal income. It is not surprising that the per capita levels here are lower than statewide: students don’t contribute too much to local government coffers. On an income basis, however, Whitman County scores a bit higher than the state average.
updated 10.24.24
New Intern Features
Drew Dillon
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
Major: Economics and Business System Analytics
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2025
Post-graduation plans: Find a good job in a new city.
After a few months of working on the Trends project, my favorite thing so far:
The actual work for sure. What I do for The Insitute does not feel like work most of the time. I enjoy solving the puzzles that come with data analysis and there are lots of puzzles to be solved here. I also really enjoy the people I work with. Dr. Cullen and Dr. Jones are amazing, as well as my fellow interns. We make a great team.
Kellan Burns
Hometown: Spokane, WA
Major: Computer Science
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2025
Post-graduation plans: Start a career as a software developer.
After a few months of working on the Trends project, my favorite thing so far:
My favorite thing so far is seeing the real-life meaning of our work. The data we collect often tells a different story from what people expect, and I think it makes people look at the world a bit differently. I’ve already learned lots here, and I’m excited for this year with Dr. Jones, Dr. Cullen, and the other interns at The Institute.