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

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

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census

Washington Population News Articles

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

A new tool suggests we’re underestimating the environmental cost of new roads – October 21, 2021

Washington wineries considering dramatic changes for climate change – October 14, 2021

Climate change forces WA apple cider industry to adjust – October 12, 2021

Farewell, fall: Climate change snuffing out much of western Washington’s autumn foliage – October 5, 2021

‘Nobody likes to swim in poopy water:’ Washington beaches close due to high bacteria level – July 23, 2021

Advocates voice concerns as Washington state’s aviation commission considers expanding an airport – April 30, 2021

After devastating fires, Washington considers moving embattled sage grouse onto the state endangered species list – April 29, 2021

Washington State’s Population Up Nearly 15% From 2010 – April 26, 2021

Major Carbon Sources, WA Measure Could Give Buildings Makeovers – January 29, 2021

Washington Becomes First State to Hold Climate Assembly – January 20, 2021

Centralia coal-burning plant shutters unit nine years after Washington law passes to cut emissions – December 31, 2020

Washington state prepares to adjudicate Lake Roosevelt water rights – October 30, 2020

U.S. Navy, state leaders at odds over proposal that could affect Washington’s orcas – October 10, 2020

Wildfire smoke is still hurting Washington, weeks later – October 6, 2020

Bellingham Population nearing 100,000 People – October 5, 2020

East Fork partnership draft cleanup plan released – Aug 31, 2020

Natural Gas Industry Misleads, Environmental Groups Say – Aug 31, 2020

A Novel Building Material Gets a Big Washington State Test Run – Aug 30, 2020

Building a more resilient, sustainable, equitable King County: Executive Constantine announces regional strategy to confront climate change – Aug 27, 2020

Oregon, Washington policymakers grapple with the Columbia River Gorge – Aug 16, 2020

A reminder that the Southern resident orcas are still struggling – July 6, 2020

Climate Change Forcing Farmers to Choose Between Low Yields or Income Instability – July 10, 2020

Washington population tops 7.6 million – June 30, 2020

How Has the Coronavirus Shutdown Affected Air Quality? – June 29, 2020

Here’s What Climate Change Means for Wildfires in the West – June 23, 2020

With more people staying home, Washington skies are cleaner – April 6, 2020

UPDATE: Washington State Adopts California’s Zero-Emission Vehicle Mandate – Mar 25, 2020

For the first time, Washington will regulate Columbia-Snake River dams if they violate federal pollution rules – May 15, 2020

Air quality report: Washington cities see worst-ever air quality rankings over three-year period – April 23, 2020

Puget Sound was supposed to be healthy by now. It’s not – December 4, 2019

Communities around Sea-Tac Airport exposed to a unique mix of air pollution associated with aircraft – December 3, 2019

Sorry, climate: Washington state’s carbon emissions stay stubbornly high – November 20, 2019

Washington Partnership Fosters Collaboration for Flood Plain Restoration – November 19, 2019

People moved to Washington and Idaho most from these states in 2018 – November 7, 2019

Washington falls slightly in State Energy Efficiency Scorecard rankings – October 7, 2019

WDFW putting climate change, population growth at forefront of new planning process – October 4, 2019

A population explosion on popular trails: One more impact of growth – September 24, 2019

Endangered orca population continues decline – August 9, 2019

Cost of commuting about to spike in Seattle – August 8, 2019

Fecal contamination found at 41 percent of beaches in Wash. State – July 23, 2019

How this rainy July could help ease — but not fix — WA’s drought – July 16, 2019

71% of Washington state’s population now living in drought-affected area – June 6, 2019

Human Population Growth Threatens Endangered Whales – June 3, 2019

In Washington state, classrooms are putting climate change at the forefront of K-12 education – May 28, 2019

Seattle population increases but 93 U.S. cities are growing faster, census data says – May 23, 2019

Fact-checking presidential candidate Jay Inslee on climate change and ‘the worst air in the world’ – March 8, 2019

More regional airports studied as Washington eyes population growth – March 6, 2019

Civil Engineers Give Washington ‘C’ on Infrastructure Report – January 28, 2019

Washington Is Growing Really Fast: Report – January 27, 2019

Washington unveils plan to better prevent and respond to wildfire – January 21, 2019

Washington Governor Highlights Climate in State of the State – January 15, 2019

Researcher: Calf Born to Endangered Pacific Northwest Orcas – January 11, 2019