Population booms with economy

Published 9:00 pm Friday, June 30, 2006

OLYMPIA – Washington’s population has surged by 120,000 in the past year, pushing the total to nearly 6.4 million, and more growth is expected as the state economy continues to generate new jobs.

Washington’s employment has been growing twice as fast as the national average and is proving to be a magnet for strong population growth, said Theresa Lowe, the state’s chief population expert.

If the trend continues, Washington will grow to 6.8 million people by 2010 – an increase of 1 million over the course of this decade.

“As always, continued growth depends on how Washington’s employment opportunities stack up against what other states have to offer,” Lowe said in a report released by the governor’s budget office Friday.

Washington added 77,000 jobs last year and is on track to produce another 95,000 this year, the Office of Financial Management said.

The latest estimate of the state population is 6,375,600. Migration from outside the state accounted for 81,000 of the 120,000 new Washington residents, with California accounting for nearly half of the newcomers. An estimated 38,000 Californians moved here and got driver’s licenses.

Since 2000, growth has been largely concentrated in Western Washington, with the largest gains in King County (98,254), Pierce County (72,682), Snohomish County (65,776) and Clark County (58,262).

The fastest-growing counties since the 2000 census: Franklin, 30.1 percent; Clark, 16.9; Benton, 12.7; and Kittitas, 12.1.

The population of cities and towns topped 3.9 million as of April, up more than 380,000 since the 2000 census. Annexations and new incorporations accounted for about a third of the increase.

Seattle remains the state’s undisputed largest city, gaining slightly over the past year to hit 578,700. Spokane kept its bragging rights for No. 2, remaining just ahead of Tacoma in size. The next 10, in order: Vancouver, Bellevue, Everett, Spokane Valley, Federal Way, Kent, Yakima, Bellingham, Kennewick and Lakewood.

Washington’s population

TOP 10 CITIES

Seattle: 578,700

Spokane: 201,600

Tacoma: 199,600

Vancouver: 156,600

Bellevue: 117,000

Everett: 101,100

Spokane Valley: 87,000

Federal Way: 86,530

Kent: 85,650

Yakima: 81,710

TOP 10 COUNTIES

King: 1,835,300

Pierce: 773,500

Snohomish: 671,800

Spokane: 443,800

Clark: 403,500

Kitsap: 243,400

Yakima: 231,800

Thurston: 231,100

Whatcom: 184,300

Benton: 160,600

Source: Office of Financial Management