Pierce County cities and towns

Last month we looked at the list of cities and towns in the most populous county in the state. It's time for number two -- just over the southern border. Pierce County happens to be my home, too.

-1. Tacoma, 193,556
-2. Lakewood, 58,211
-3. Auburn, 43,047 (King, Pierce)
-4. Puyallup, 33,014

-5. University Place, 29,933

-6. Enumclaw, 11,116 (King, Pierce)

-7. Bonney Lake, 9,687
-8. Edgewood, 9,089
-9. Sumner, 8,504
10. Gig Harbor,6,465
11. Steilacoom, 6,049
12. Fircrest, 5,868

13. Milton, 5,795 (Pierce, King)

14. Pacific, 5,527 (King, Pierce)

15. Fife, 4,784
16. Buckley, 4,145
17. Orting, 3,760
18. DuPont, 2,452
19. Eatonville, 2,012
20. Ruston, 738
21. Carbonado, 621
22. Wilkeson, 395
23. Roy, 260
24. South Prairie, 226


Data source: 2000 Census

Washington cities & towns with 3-word names

Last month I posted a list of Washington counties with two word names. Today I thought I'd showcase even the even longer named cities and towns.

• Beaux Arts Village, King County
• Lake Forest Park, King County
• South Cle Elum, Kittitas County

King County cities and towns

I'll roll out city and town lists for each and every one of Washington's counties, but I thought I'd start with the one that has the most incorporated cities and towns. That, of course, is King County.

It has 39, including four that it shares with Pierce County on the southern border, and one that it shares with Snohomish on the northern border. From little town Skykomish to giant city Seattle -- what a range! The population figures are from the 2000 Census.

-1. Seattle, 563,374
-2. Bellevue, 109,827
-3. Federal Way, 83,259
-4. Kent, 79,524
-5. Shoreline, 53,296
-6. Renton, 50,052
-7. Redmond, 45,256
-8. Kirkland, 45,054
-9. Auburn, 43,047 (King, Pierce)
10. Sammamish, 34,104
11. Burien, 31,881
12. Bothell, 30,150 (King, Snohomish)
13. Des Moines, 29,267
14. SeaTac, 25,496
15. Mercer Island, 22,036
16. Kenmore, 18,678
17. Tukwila, 17,181
18. Maple Valley, 14,209
19. Covington, 13,783
20. Lake Forest Park, 12,871
21. Issaquah, 11,212
22. Woodinville, 9,194
23. Newcastle, 7,737
24. Normandy Park, 6,392
25. Milton, 5,795 (Pierce, King)
26. Pacific, 5,527 (King, Pierce)
27. North Bend, 4,746
28. Duvall, 4,616
29. Black Diamond, 3,970
30. Medina, 3,011
31. Clyde Hill, 2,890
32. Enumclaw, 2,627 (King, Pierce)
33. Algona, 2,460
34. Carnation, 1,893
35. Snoqualmie, 1,631
36. Yarrow Point, 1,008
37. Hunts Point, 443
38. Beaux Arts Village, 307
39. Skykomish, 214


Data source: 2000 Census

Counties with the most cities and towns

It's no surprise that most of the cities and towns are in the Puget Sound area. That is, of course, where the population is centered. But the three top counties on this list are followed immediately by five eastern Washington counties. The (usually) smaller rural towns organized themselves much earlier than their counterparts in the west -- many of which incorporated and started emerging from suburban sprawl only in the last fifteen years.

By the way-- there are many "towns" in Washington, but many are simply settlements or large adjacent neighborhoods. The numbers listed below include only those incorporated into organized formal local governments.

1. King County, 39
2. Pierce County, 24
3. Snohomish County, 20
4. Whitman County, 16
5. Grant County, 15
6. Yakima County, 14
7. Okanogan County, 13
7. Spokane County, 13
9. Grays Harbor County, 9
9. Lewis County, 9