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The Commemorative
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The Commemorative Quarter for Washington

The 2000 Census showed that King County had a population of 1,737,034 people. This represented 29.47% of the total population of Washington, making it the state's most populous county (out of 39 counties).

From the Census Estimates for 2009<1>, King had a population of 1,916,441 people. This is an increase of 10.33% since the 2000 Census.

The following table shows the recent changes in population. Other than 2000, the population counts have been estimated by the Census Bureau.

YearPopulationChange
Since 2000		Year-to-Year Change
20101,931,249+11.18%+0.77% since 2009
20091,916,441+10.33%+1.71% since 2008
20081,884,242+8.47%+1.44% since 2007
20071,857,506+6.94%+1.39% since 2006
20061,832,059+5.47%+1.57% since 2005
20051,803,691+3.84%+1.16% since 2004
20041,782,942+2.64%+0.75% since 2003
20031,769,753+1.88%+0.34% since 2002
20021,763,669+1.53%+0.38% since 2001
20011,756,988+1.15%+1.15% since 2000
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20001,737,034The Last Census

King County had 742,237 Housing Units<2> at the time of the 2000 Census.

The 2000 Census shows that King County has a total area<3> of 2,306 square miles [5,973 km²]. Of this total, 2,126 square miles [5,506 km²] of the area is land, with the balance (7.82%) being water (180.5 square miles [467.5 km²]).

Using the above population and land area values, King County had a population density of 817 people per square mile [315.5 people/km²], making it the most densely populated county in Washington.

US Census QuickFacts

The Census Bureau has created documents containing demographic information that are called QuickFacts. A QuickFact that is specific to King County is available. The QuickFact also contains a comparison between King and the state of Washington.

Click here for the King County QuickFact (QF-53033).

Below are some of the communities that are located in King County:

CommunityCensus
QuickFact		Population
(2009 Est)		Population
(2000 Census)		Change in
  Population
SeattleQF-5363000616,627563,3749.45%
BellevueQF-5305210126,626109,56915.57%
Federal WayQF-532351585,82783,2593.08%
KentQF-533541585,53079,5247.55%
AuburnQF-530318063,47740,31457.46%
RentonQF-535774562,00250,05223.88%
ShorelineQF-536396052,77553,025-0.47%
RedmondQF-535753552,40645,25615.8%
KirklandQF-533594048,49945,0547.65%
SammamishQF-536111542,33634,10424.14%
BothellQF-530738032,93930,1509.25%
BurienQF-530885031,92031,8810.12%
Des MoinesQF-531763529,25829,267
SeaTacQF-536228826,62925,4964.44%
IssaquahQF-533380524,93011,212122.35%
Mercer IslandQF-534500524,53022,03611.32%
Maple ValleyQF-534315021,02014,20947.93%
KenmoreQF-533517020,78218,67811.26%
CovingtonQF-531529018,49213,78334.17%
TukwilaQF-537262517,37117,1811.11%

Below are the counties that adjoin and form the boundaries of King County. A link to their specific Census QuickFact has been provided.

CountyCensus
QuickFact		DirectionPopulation
(2009 Est.)		Population
(2000 Census)		Change in
Population
ChelanQF-53007   E72,37266,6168.64%
KittitasQF-53037   SE39,53233,36218.49%
PierceQF-53053   S796,836700,82013.7%
SnohomishQF-53061   N694,571606,02414.61%

The western boundary of the county is on Pudget Sound.

Other Roadside Stops ...

About Washington

Communities in Washington

Off-the-Road Links ...

U.S. Census Bureau
Census QuickFact for King County

Footnotes ...

<1>On a yearly basis, the US Census Bureau creates an estimate of the county's population. Keep in mind that this is an estimate and not an actual count. The last physical count was the 2000 Census and the next count will be for the 2010 Census.

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<2>A Housing Unit is a broad term for those places where people live (whether occupied or temporarily vacant), such as a house, an apartment, a mobile home, or an area that is considered as a separate living quarter. Separate living quarters (consisting of one or more rooms) are considered to be those places where people live, sleep and eat separately from others and that have access to the outside (either directly or by a shared hallway).

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<3>The area value has been supplied by the US Census Bureau and it can be different than the geographic boundaries of King. The value given by the Census Bureau reflects their statistical (or sampling) requirements.

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<4>All Quarter-dollar coin images from the United States Mint.

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