| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 1,201 | | |
| 1860 | 11,594 | 865.4% | |
| 1870 | 23,955 | 106.6% | |
| 1880 | 75,116 | 213.6% | |
| 1890 | 357,232 | 375.6% | |
| 1900 | 518,103 | 45.0% | |
| 1910 | 1,141,990 | 120.4% | |
| 1920 | 1,356,621 | 18.8% | |
| 1930 | 1,563,396 | 15.2% | |
| 1940 | 1,736,191 | 11.1% | |
| 1950 | 2,378,963 | 37.0% | |
| 1960 | 2,853,214 | 19.9% | |
| 1970 | 3,409,169 | 19.5% | |
| 1980 | 4,132,156 | 21.2% | |
| 1990 | 4,866,692 | 17.8% | |
| 2000 | 5,894,121 | 21.1% | |
| Est. 2009[2] | 6,664,195 | 13.1% | |
According to the U.S. Census, as of 2009, Washington has an estimated population of 6,664,195, which is an increase of 770,074, or 13.1%, since the year 2000.[19] This includes a natural increase of 221,958 people (that is, 503,819 births minus 281,861 deaths) and an increase from net migration of 287,759 people into the state. Immigration from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 157,950 people, and migration within the country produced a net increase of 129,809 people. Washington ranks first in the Pacific Northwest region in terms of population, followed by Oregon, and Idaho.
The center of population of Washington in the year 2000 was located in an unpopulated part of rural eastern King County, southeast of North Bend and northeast of Enumclaw.[20]
As of the Census 2000, the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue Metropolitan Area's population was 3,043,878, approximately half the state's total population.[21]
As of 2004, Washington's population included 631,500 foreign-born (10.3% of the state population), and an estimated 100,000 illegal aliens (1.6% of state population).[22]
6.7% of Washington's population was reported as under 5, 25.7% under 18, and 11.2% were 65 or older. Females made up approximately 50.2% of the population.
Largest cities
The largest cities in Washington according to 2009 state census estimates.[23]
| Rank | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle | 602,000 |
| 2 | Spokane | 205,500 |
| 3 | Tacoma | 203,400 |
| 4 | Vancouver | 164,500 |
| 5 | Bellevue | 120,600 |
| 6 | Everett | 103,500 |
| 7 | Spokane Valley | 89,440 |
| 8 | Federal Way | 88,580 |
| 9 | Kent | 88,380 |
| 10 | Yakima | 84,850 |
| 11 | Renton | 83,650 |
| 12 | Bellingham | 76,130 |
| 13 | Auburn | 67,485 |
| 14 | Kennewick | 67,180 |
| 15 | Lakewood | 58,840 |
Race
 | This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2009) |
| Demographics of Washington (csv) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| By race | White | Black | AIAN* | Asian | NHPI* |
| 2000 (total population) | 88.64% | 4.12% | 2.73% | 6.75% | 0.74% |
| 2000 (Hispanic only) | 7.00% | 0.23% | 0.28% | 0.15% | 0.06% |
| 2005 (total population) | 87.65% | 4.45% | 2.65% | 7.69% | 0.78% |
| 2005 (Hispanic only) | 8.16% | 0.33% | 0.30% | 0.20% | 0.07% |
| Growth 2000–05 (total population) | 5.49% | 15.37% | 3.54% | 21.57% | 12.25% |
| Growth 2000–05 (non-Hispanic only) | 3.88% | 13.41% | 2.18% | 21.11% | 11.20% |
| Growth 2000–05 (Hispanic only) | 24.32% | 47.88% | 15.40% | 41.33% | 24.11% |
| * AIAN is American Indian or Alaskan Native; NHPI is Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | |||||
The seven largest reported ancestries in Washington are: German (18.7%), English (12%), Irish (11.4%), Norwegian (6.2%), Mexican (5.6%), African (4.2%), and Filipino (3.7%).
Washington has the fourth largest Asian-American population of any state. The Filipino-American community is the largest Asian American subgroup in the state. Gary Locke was elected as the first Asian American governor (and so far, the only Chinese American governor of any US state) at the end of the 20th century.
There are many migrant Mexican American farm workers living in the southeast-central part of the state, and this population is also steadily increasing in Western Washington.
African Americans are less numerous than Asian Americans or Hispanic Americans in many communities in Washington, but have been elected as mayors of Seattle, Spokane, and Lakewood, and also as King County Executive. In Seattle, many African Americans are moving into the southern part of the city, as well as to many suburban areas such as South King County. Seattle's black population is largely concentrated on Rainier Valley and the Central District, which remains one of the only majority-black neighborhoods in the Pacific Northwest, the other being in Portland, Oregon's King neighborhood; it is about 40% African-American. Tacoma also has a rising African-American population.
Washington is the location of many Native American reservations, with some placing prominent casinos next to major interstate highways. Residents have adopted many of the artwork themes of the northwest coast Indians who were noted for totem poles, longhouses, dugout canoes and pictures of animals. Many cities have traditional names created by Native Americans such as Yakima, Seattle, Spokane, Puyallup, and Walla Walla.
Religion
Major religious affiliations of the people of Washington are:[24]
- Protestant: 49%
- Mainline: 23%
- Evangelical: 25%
- Other Protestant: 1%
- Unaffiliated: 25%
- Roman Catholic: 16%
- Latter-day Saint: 4%
- Muslim: 1%
- Jewish: 1%
- Other Religions: 3%
The largest denominations by number of adherents in 2000 were the Roman Catholic Church with 716,133; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with 178,000 (253,166 year-end 2007) ; and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America with 127,854.[25]
As with many other Western states, the percentage of Washington's population identifying themselves as "non-religious" is higher than the national average. The percentage of non-religious people in Washington is the highest of any state other than Colorado with 31%.
