King County is growing and has a diverse multitude of residents, based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The census counted 1,931,249 residents in King County, a number that confirms King County’s rapid population growth during the first decade of the 21st century.
Based on data collected in April of 2010, the county gained just under 200,000 residents, an increase of 11.2 percent, since the last complete census in 2000.
King County grew faster than the nation as a whole, which grew at a rate of 9.7 percent nationwide.
The data also confirms the growing diversity of King County’s population. The number of non-Hispanic white persons is slightly smaller than it was in 2000. The entire population increase consisted of Asian-Americans, accounting for nearly half the increase over the decade, and Hispanic or Latino persons accounting for more than one-third. Additionally, there were smaller increases in the African-American, Pacific Islander and Native American populations, and persons who reported more than one race.
Recent Census Bureau estimates indicate that King is the nation’s 14th most populous county, and is larger than 14 states including Idaho, Montana, Alaska and West Virginia. However, the release of Census 2010 is not yet complete; by mid-March we’ll know if King County retains its ranking.
King County’s population growth comprised nearly one-quarter of Washington state’s 830,000 increase during the decade. The state increase of 14 percent was enough to gain an additional seat in Congress, the only state outside the Sunbelt to do so in 2010. The Census data released today will be used to redraw Congressional, legislative and county council district boundaries during 2011.
