Washington Counties, Demographics & Geography
Complete official guide to all 39 counties in Washington (WA). Explore 2024 US Census population estimates, county seats, FIPS codes, land areas, and interactive mapping tools powered by GeoMap Suite.
Washington County Breakdown
Showing 8 of 8 documented counties and seats.
County Name | FIPS | County Seat | Population (Census) | Land Area | Quick Tool |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King County (Seattle) | 53033 | Seattle | 2,269,675 | 2,115 sq mi | Lookup |
| Pierce County (Tacoma) | 53053 | Tacoma | 927,251 | 1,669 sq mi | Lookup |
| Snohomish County (Everett) | 53061 | Everett | 827,957 | 2,087 sq mi | Lookup |
| Spokane County | 53063 | Spokane | 539,339 | 1,764 sq mi | Lookup |
| Clark County (Vancouver) | 53011 | Vancouver | 503,311 | 628 sq mi | Lookup |
| Thurston County (Olympia) | 53067 | Olympia | 294,793 | 722 sq mi | Lookup |
| Kitsap County (Bremerton) | 53035 | Port Orchard | 275,605 | 395 sq mi | Lookup |
| Yakima County | 53077 | Yakima | 256,728 | 4,296 sq mi | Lookup |
Geographic Structure of Washington Counties
County Administration & Governance
In Washington, county governments manage vital public infrastructure, tax assessments, law enforcement, judicial courts, election administration, and public records. The county seat (Seattle and other municipal headquarters) houses the primary courthouse, commissioners, and sheriff’s department.
All Washington counties carry a unique 5-digit Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) code, where the first two digits (53) designate the state and the remaining three digits identify each specific jurisdiction.
Geographic & Demographic Highlights
- Most Populous County:King County (Seattle) (2,269,675 residents)
- Largest by Land Area:Yakima County (4,296 sq mi)
- State Capital:Olympia
- Census Bureau Region:West United States
Demographic calculations derive from the United States Census Bureau 2024 Population Estimates Program (PEP) and TIGER/Line geographic boundary files.