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
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