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The Commemorative Quarter for Washington

The 2000 Census showed that Pierce County had a population of 700,820 people. This represented 11.89% of the total population of Washington, making it the state's 2nd most populous county (out of 39 counties).

From the Census Estimates for 2009<1>, Pierce had a population of 796,836 people. This is an increase of 13.7% 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
2010795,225+13.47%-0.2% since 2009
2009796,836+13.7%+1.24% since 2008
2008787,099+12.31%+1.69% since 2007
2007774,049+10.45%+1.28% since 2006
2006764,241+9.05%+1.97% since 2005
2005749,468+6.94%+1.1% since 2004
2004741,321+5.78%+0.69% since 2003
2003736,260+5.06%+1.06% since 2002
2002728,555+3.96%+1.72% since 2001
2001716,248+2.2%+2.2% since 2000
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2000700,820The Last Census

Pierce County had 277,060 Housing Units<2> at the time of the 2000 Census.

The 2000 Census shows that Pierce County has a total area<3> of 1,806 square miles [4,678 km²]. Of this total, 1,678 square miles [4,348 km²] of the area is land, with the balance (7.06%) being water (127.6 square miles [330.4 km²]).

Using the above population and land area values, Pierce County had a population density of 417.4 people per square mile [161.2 people/km²], making it the state's 4th most densely populated county (out of 39 counties).

US Census QuickFacts

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

Click here for the Pierce County QuickFact (QF-53053).

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

CommunityCensus
QuickFact		Population
(2009 Est)		Population
(2000 Census)		Change in
  Population
TacomaQF-5370000199,638193,5563.14%
LakewoodQF-533803857,71058,211-0.86%
PuyallupQF-535669537,74333,01114.33%
University PlaceQF-537346530,68529,9332.51%
Bonney LakeQF-530717017,1689,68777.23%
EdgewoodQF-53206459,8419,0898.27%
SumnerQF-53684359,8408,50415.71%
Gig HarborQF-53267357,2406,46511.99%
FircrestQF-53239706,2785,8686.99%
SteilacoomQF-53677706,1276,0491.29%

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

CountyCensus
QuickFact		DirectionPopulation
(2009 Est.)		Population
(2000 Census)		Change in
Population
KingQF-53033   N1,916,4411,737,03410.33%
KitsapQF-53035   N240,862231,9693.83%
KittitasQF-53037   E39,53233,36218.49%
LewisQF-53041   S74,74168,6008.95%
MasonQF-53045   W58,01649,40517.43%
ThurstonQF-53067   SW250,979207,35521.04%
YakimaQF-53077   SE239,054222,5817.4%

The northwestern boundary of the county is on Pudget Sound.

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U.S. Census Bureau
Census QuickFact for Pierce 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 Pierce. 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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