Census Data for Federal Way
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Federal Way a population of 96,200 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Federal Way a population of 89,306 people.
The city of Federal Way is located in King County. The 2010 Census gave King County; a population of 1,931,249 people. This means that Federal Way had 4.62% of the county's total population, making it King's 5th most populous community.
At the same time, Washington had a population of 6,724,540 people, meaning that Federal Way had 1.33% of the total population of Washington - making it the state's 11th most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Federal Way has a total area of 22.46 square miles [58.2 km²]. Of this total, a small amount of the area is covered by water (0.2 square miles [0.5 km²]).
King County has a land area of 2,115 square miles [5,479.3 km²]. At 22.26 square miles [57.7 km²], Federal Way has 1.05% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a city like Federal Way, they draw a boundary around the area in which they are going to conduct their count - this defines the sampling area (usually a polygon). The shape of the sampling area can be quite complex and it's important to keep in mind that the boundaries of the sampling area may or may not match the recognized boundaries of the city.
- Things like population, area and housing for Federal Way reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Federal Way might be different, it's best to check with the U.S. Census Bureau to resolve any difference between the two.
- Not only does the sampling area define boundaries, it also has a GPS location (latitude & longitude) that indicates a point within the sampling area (usually the center of the polygon, known as the centroid). At the time of the 2010 Census, the sampling area was located at:
- Lat: 47° 18' 31" (or 47.31°)
- Lon: -122° 20' 9" (or -122.34°)
Housing Units ...
At the time of the 2010 Census, Federal Way had 35,444 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 89,306 people, this averages 2.52 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows Federal Way had a land area of 22.26 square miles [57.7 km²]. This translates to 1,578 Housing Units per square mile [609 housing units/km²].
King County ...
Federal Way is located in King County<4>.
The county had a population of 1,931,249 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 89,306 people, Federal Way represented 4.62% of the county's total.
In addition, where the city of Federal Way has a population density of 3,976 people per square mile [1,535 people/km²], King County averages 912 people per square mile [352.5 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for King County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Federal Way, they start by specifying the boundaries of the area to be counted. This area (or sampling area) is a polygon and its shape can be quite complex - it may or may not match the geographical boundaries of Federal Way. It's important to note that from one Census to the next, the shape and location of the polygon can change.
- Continue Reading ...
- Although we don't have specific information about the shape of the polygon for Federal Way or how it changed has over time, there is some information that can give us some hints. For example, since the shape of the sampling area is directly related to the shape of the polygon, any change to area probably indicates a new shape for the polygon.
- If you need precision or details about the methodology of the Census, you should visit the U.S. Census Bureau for a definitive answer.
Location ...
While generally coinciding with the GPS location (latitude/longitude) of Federal Way, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Federal Way.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Censuses, the location was given as:
Lat: 47.308837° (or 47°18'31" N)
- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) have assigned a unique GNIS identifier (#2410494) to Federal Way. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Federal Way. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 47.309057° (or 47°18'32" N)
- Lon: -122.335720° (or -122°20'8" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 124.3 feet to the southwest<5> of the point given by the GNIS for Federal Way. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Federal Way.
Lon: -122.336104° (or -122°20'9" W)
Miscellaneous Information for Federal Way ...
The Federal government has assigned various identifying codes to each community, county and state. At one time or another, the US Census Bureau has used one (or more) of the following identifiers when referring to either King County or the city of Federal Way:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 53 (Washington)
- County Code: 033 (King County)
- Place Code: 23515 (Federal Way)
- State & County Code: 53/033 (Washington / King County)
- State & Place Code: 53/23515 (Washington / Federal Way)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Federal Way is located in Census Region #4 (the West Region) and Division #9 (the Pacific Division).
- The US Postal Service ZIP Code ...
- While some people have used ZIP codes to identify a community, the ZIP codes were actually created to make mail delivery more efficient by grouping addresses together. Although a ZIP Code doesn't specifically identify a city like Federal Way, they do identify addresses that are in (or near) the city. It's important to remember that the boundaries of the ZIP Code can be changed, re-assigned, eliminated or overlapped with other ZIP Codes.
- Our list of ZIP codes for Federal Way:<6>
- & .
- Census ZCTA Codes ...
- The US Census Bureau created statistical entities that they call ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) and these ZCTAs are frequently confused with the ZIP codes that come from the US Postal Service (USPS).
- ZCTAs were first created for the 2000 Census and at that time, they were based upon the USPS ZIP codes. While largely covering the same areas, the boundaries of a ZCTA do not necessarily match the boundaries of a postal ZIP code with the same number. For example, while a postal ZIP code can cross a county or state line, a Census ZCTA can not. They should be treated as separate entities with no correlation between them.
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for Federal Way.
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for Federal Way: www.cityoffederalway.com/
The official website for King County: www.metrokc.gov/
The official website for State of Washington: https://access.wa.gov/
The official website of the U.S. Census Bureau
The official website of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN)
The official website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Footnotes ...
| <1> | Every year, the US Census Bureau creates a population estimate for the preceeding year. Keep in mind that this value is an estimate and not an actual count. The most recent Census estimate is for the year 2019. |
| <2> | Every 10 years (eg- 1990, 2000, 2010), the US Census Bureau conducts a Constitutionally-mandated count (or enumeration) of people living within the United States. This count is called a Decennial Census. The last Decennial Census was the 2010 Census, with the next one planned for 2020. |
| <3> | 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). |
| <4> | If you're interested in how the shape of Washington's counties, including King, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 130 degrees and a distance of 124.3 feet. |
| <6> | When looking for a ZIP Code, whether Federal Way or elsewhere, it's always best to check the website of the United States Postal Service (USPS). |