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Washington Population News Articles

Population Density

Historic & Projected Growth

Population by County


POPULATION DENSITY

People per square mile, 2010:   101.2

People per square mile, 2020: 115.9


HISTORIC & PROJECTED GROWTH 1790 TO 2040

Year
Population
1790
0
1800
0
1810
0
1820
0
1830
0
1840
0
1850
1,201
1860
11,594
1870
23,955
1880
75,116
1890
357,232
1900
518,103
1910
1,141,990
1920
1,356,621
1930
1,563,396
1940
1,736,191
1950
2,378,963
1960
2,853,214
1970
3,413,244
1980
4,132,353
1990
4,866,692
2000
5,894,121
2010
6,724,540
2020
7,705,281
2030
*8,746,493
2040
*9,776,126

Sources: Census figures from U.S. Bureau of the Census & *Estimates from Weldon Cooper Center, Demographics Research Group
(The Census Bureau and Weldon Cooper Center have not yet provided updated State projections to reflect 2020 census numbers.)


Population by County

Census 2020 Population
Census 2010 Population
Change from 2010
Percent Change
WASHINGTON
7,705,281
6,724,540
980,741
14.58%
Adams County
20613
18,728
1,885
10.07%
Asotin County
22285
21,623
662
3.06%
Benton County
206873
175,177
31,696
18.09%
Chelan County
79074
72,453
6,621
9.14%
Clallam County
77155
71,404
5,751
8.05%
Clark County
503311
425,363
77,948
18.33%
Columbia County
3952
4,078
-126
-3.09%
Cowlitz County
110730
102,410
8,320
8.12%
Douglas County
42938
38,431
4,507
11.73%
Ferry County
7178
7,551
-373
-4.94%
Franklin County
96749
78,163
18,586
23.78%
Garfield County
2286
2,266
20
0.88%
Grant County
99123
89,120
10,003
11.22%
Grays Harbor County
75636
72,797
2,839
3.90%
Island County
86857
78,506
8,351
10.64%
Jefferson County
32977
29,872
3,105
10.39%
King County
2269675
1,931,249
338,426
17.52%
Kitsap County
275611
251,133
24,478
9.75%
Kittitas County
44337
40,915
3,422
8.36%
Klickitat County
22735
20,318
2,417
11.90%
Lewis County
82149
75,455
6,694
8.87%
Lincoln County
10876
10,570
306
2.89%
Mason County
65726
60,699
5,027
8.28%
Okanogan County
42104
41,120
984
2.39%
Pacific County
23365
20,920
2,445
11.69%
Pend Oreille County
13401
13,001
400
3.08%
Pierce County
921130
795,225
125,905
15.83%
San Juan County
17788
15,769
2,019
12.80%
Skagit County
129523
116,901
12,622
10.80%
Skamania County
12036
11,066
970
8.77%
Snohomish County
827957
713,335
114,622
16.07%
Spokane County
539339
471,221
68,118
14.46%
Stevens County
46445
43,531
2,914
6.69%
Thurston County
294793
252,264
42,529
16.86%
Wahkiakum County
4422
3,978
444
11.16%
Walla Walla County
62584
58,781
3,803
6.47%
Whatcom County
226847
201,140
25,707
12.78%
Whitman County
47973
44,776
3,197
7.14%
Yakima County
256728
243,231
13,497
5.55%

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census


Washington Population News Articles

State agencies sued for violating climate law – Feb 5, 2025

As erosion and floods swallow buildings, Washington’s coastal communities strain to adapt – Jan 31, 2025

Spokane Point-In-Time count initial data reveals urgent need for affordable housing – Jan 29, 2025

What Trump’s climate policy rollbacks may mean for WA – Jan 22, 2025

This small western Washington town has seen a 46% increase in population. See where it is – Oct 26, 2024

Washington Map Shows Where State Could Be Underwater From Sea Level Rise – Oct 26, 2024

Washington Commissioner of Public Lands race centers on how to manage forests in the face of climate change – Oct 21, 2024

Washington named among states with the largest homeless communities – Sept 30, 2024

State lays out plan to tackle impacts of climate change in Washington – Sept 30, 2024

This small western Washington town has seen a 46% increase in population. See where it is – Aug 13, 2024

Washington prepares for more fires as dry season peaks – Aug 8, 2024

Five Things to Know About Refugees in Seattle – Aug 1, 2024

99.5% of Washington Rivers Are Too Polluted for Swimming – July 19, 2024

Washington state diverted $340M in federal COVID funds to immigrants, including via $1,000 checks – Feb 3, 2024

$47 million infrastructure investment helps pave the way for more than 3,000 new affordable housing units – Jan 30, 2024

Washington had sixth-highest U.S. homelessness rate in 2023 – Jan 11, 2024

Smoke reduced life expectancy across Washington – Jan 10, 2024

Washington is No. 7 on U-Haul Growth Index of States With Biggest Gain in Population – Jan 8, 2024

Senator Murray Announces Nearly $15 Million for Clean School Buses Across WA State Through Program She Established in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – Jan 8, 2024

Seattle air quality among worst in world due to wildfire smoke – August 20, 2023

Discover the 10 Fastest-Growing Counties in Washington State – August 13, 2023

Washington cities, counties now required to plan for climate change – August 8, 2023

Study: 49,000 new homes built last year in Washington not enough – August 2, 2023

ICE now using two Washington airports for deportation flights – August 2, 2023

Drought declared in 12 Washington counties – July 25, 2023

King County isn’t king of building housing – September 9, 2022

Parts of Washington experienced worst air quality in the world this week, NWS says – September 9, 2022

As population grows, this Eastern Washington county looks to nuclear power – August 25, 2022

Tri-Cities population growth outpaces housing availability – August 23, 2022

Central, eastern Washington at higher risk of wildfires this year due to drought conditions, experts say – May 24, 2022

How Washington’s vineyards are adapting to a changing climate: Travel For Good – May 17, 2022

Citizens group appeals King County permit for controversial asphalt plant near Cedar River – May 6, 2022

Fecal pollution restricts shellfish harvest in Mason, Pierce, Snohomish, and Thurston counties – May 4, 2022

Washington state moves to electrify new buildings by requiring heat pumps – Apr 29, 2022

Contractor from Battle Ground fined $136,000 for water quality violations – February 1, 2022

Proposed law would force cities to increase housing density in single-family neighborhoods – January 20, 2022

Granite fined $36K for asphalt plant emissions – January 18, 2022

Inslee calls on lawmakers to address safe housing, clean transportation – January 11, 2022

How we’ve grown – January 5, 2022

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