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Washington population grows to nearly 7.2 million

Published 1:04 pm Thursday, June 30, 2016

Washington population grows to nearly 7.2 million
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Washington population grows to nearly 7.2 million
Washington’s population increased by 122,300 to 7,183,700 over the past year, and about 5,000 of them attended Evangelist Franklin Graham’s rally in Olympia on Wednesday. (Steve Bloom / The Olympian)

Associated Press

OLYMPIA — State officials say Washington’s population grew by an estimated 1.73 percent over the past year — the largest percentage increase since 2007.

The Office of Financial Management said Thursday the number of people in Washington increased by 122,300 to 7,183,700.

Migration was the big reason for the spike in population. From 2015 to 2016, OFM said net migration to the state totaled 87,100, compared to 57,600 the previous year.

Nearly 80 percent of the state’s total population increase occurred in the five largest metropolitan counties — Clark, King, Pierce, Snohomish and Spokane.

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