Minorities push Washington's growth

By Haya El Nasser, USA TODAY
Updated 2m ago |

The surge in the Hispanic population is playing out in the Pacific Northwest much as it is in other parts of the USA: Their numbers in the state of Washington jumped 71% to 756,000 since 2000, according to 2010 Census data released Wednesday.

Seattle maintained its growth despite two major recessions, new Census data shows.

The Asian population also soared, up 49% to 476,000.

As a result, the non-Hispanic white population dropped from 79% to 73%, state demographer Yi Zhao says.

Almost three in 10 residents and four in 10 children are minorities.

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The growth of King County — the state's most populous and home to Seattle, the largest city — slowed to 11.2%, compared with almost 30% in the 1990s. The county has 1.9 million people.

Seattle maintained its growth, gaining 8% to 608,660, compared with a 9% jump the previous decade.

The region was hit hard in the past decade, first by the dot-com bust, then the nationwide recession.

King County still grew, "even after weathering two major recessions — an indicator, perhaps, that quality of life is driving migration here in addition to job opportunities," says Rick Olson, director of government relations and communication for the Puget Sound Regional Council.

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Spokane remains the state's second most populous city with 208,916, up 6.8%. No. 3 Tacoma's 2.5% growth was not enough to push it over the 200,000 mark (198,397).

"Washington's draw has broadened from logging and farming to aircraft and then high-tech," says William Frey, demographer at the Brookings Institution. "It's pretty diversified and has been able to come back from the dot-com bust and withstand a general recession."

Seattle's "cool city" image appeals to young people, he says, and natural amenities attract retirees. That "ensured continued growth in a turbulent decade."

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