Washington
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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
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