Snohomish County is filling up so quickly that its growth rate is tied for 15th among the nation’s largest counties, according to updated U.S. Census Bureau figures released Thursday.
The county, now the 87th largest in the nation, grew 11 percent from 2000 to 2006.
In those six years, it swelled by 63,863 people – up from 606,024 to 669,887, census figures show.
Among the nation’s 100 most-populous counties that are still growing quickly, Snohomish is one of the few not in the sun belt.
If forecasts are accurate, the county population will balloon to more than 938,400 people by 2025, said Steve Toy, principal demographer for Snohomish County.
Immigration is playing a role. Between 2000 and 2006, Snohomish County became home to more people from foreign countries than any other county in Washington except for King, figures show.
Over the past six years, the new census numbers show 14,182 people moved to Snohomish County from outside the U.S. That compares with 78,631 in King County and 9,866 in Clark County.
Robust employment and affordable housing appear to be driving the growth, experts said Thursday.
Between 2005 and 2006, Snohomish County added 14,323 people – more residents than any other county in the state except for King.
“My first guess is it’s housing first, and jobs second,” said Deborah Knutson, president of the Snohomish County Economic Development Council. Many who live in Snohomish County still commute south each day, she said.
Jobs and affordable housing are the reasons immigrants are arriving as well, said Van Dinh-Kuno, executive director of the Refugee and Immigrant Services Network, a nonprofit group that serves Snohomish, Island, Skagit, Whatcom and San Juan counties.
“The people are coming here because the housing is affordable, that’s the main thing,” Dinh-Kuno said.
Her organization works in conjunction with Everett Community College to provide English classes, vocational and skills training, and classes in citizenship for immigrants.
Also, in Snohomish County, “the social service agencies work well together” to connect immigrants with jobs and other resources, Dinh-Kuno said.
Even with a sharp rise in prices across Snohomish County, housing still looks like a bargain compared with King County. The median price for a single-family home as of last month was $356,000 in Snohomish County, compared with about $430,000 in King County.
“The No. 1 factor is that people drive until they can find where they can find a home they can afford, and that most often ends up being in Snohomish County,” said Nathan Gorton, executive vice president of the Snohomish County-Camano Association of Realtors.
Last month, Snohomish County had 3,100 more jobs than a year ago, according to employment statistics. In recent years, the county ranked near the top in the state for job creation, said Donna Thompson, labor economist with the Employment Security Department. Much of that can be traced to the Boeing Co.’s strong rebound in the past three years.
“We’re doing better than most of the state, and the state’s doing better than most of the rest of the country,” she said.
Herald writer Scott North contributed to this report.
Reporter Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439 or sheets@heraldnet.com.
Top counties in population growth in Washington, 2005 to 2006:
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