Demographics - Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Snohomish County's current population and growth rate?
The total population of Snohomish County was estimated to be 717,000 as of April 1, 2011, according to the Washington State Office of Financial Management. This includes a total unincorporated population estimate of 304,435 (42% of total county population) and a total incorporated (city) population estimate of 412,565 (58% of total county population).
Total population in Snohomish County increased by 3,665 (0.5%) in the year since the 2010 US Census showed a total population of 713,335 for Snohomish County. This is considerably less than the annual average population growth of 9,840 (1.5%) during the ten-year period from 2001-2011, according to the Office of Financial Management.
2. How many residential building permits have been issued?
During 2010, residential building permits were issued for a total of 2,265 new housing units countywide (including single family units, duplexes, multi-family units and mobile homes). Of this total, 1,357 (60%) were issued by the county in unincorporated areas, while the cities issued permits for 908 units (40%) in incorporated areas.
The current level of residential permitting is considerably less than the annual level experienced during the previous decade. During the ten-year period from 2000-2009, the total number of housing units permitted by all jurisdictions in Snohomish County averaged 5,096 total housing units per year.
3. What are the population and job forecasts?
The population forecast for Snohomish County for the year 2025 is 909,453. This number represents the total future population that Snohomish County and its cities have planned for in their comprehensive plans. The employment forecast is for 358,355 jobs in 2025, an increase from the 2002 employment estimate of 213,875 jobs.
4. How many jobs are in Snohomish County?
Nonagricultural wage and salary employment in Snohomish County as of May 2011 totaled 248,500 jobs, according to the Washington State Employment Security Department. this amount was up by 4,300 jobs (1.8%) compared with the May 2010 total of 244,200 nonagricultural jobs.
5. What is the unemployment rate?
The May 2011 unemployment rate was 9.2% for Snohomish County, down from 10.0% in May 2010, according to the Washington State Employment Security Department. Snohomish County's unemployment rate over the last ten years was lowest in April 2007 at 3.8%, and highest in February 2010 at 11.1%.
6. What is the minority and racial makeup of Snohomish County?
The 2010 Census showed that Snohomish County's population was 74% white and non-Hispanic, while 26% was a racial or ethnic minority. Among the minority groups, Hispanic and non-Hispanic Asian populations were the largest, with each group individually representing 9% of the county's total population.
In 2000, by comparison, Snohomish County's population was 83% white and non-Hispanic, while 17% was a racial or ethnic minority. Hispanic and non-Hispanic Asian populations were the largest minority groups at that time as well, accounting for 5% and 6%, respectively, of the county's total population.
White non-Hispanic population growth accounted for 23% of the county's total population growth between 2000 and 2010, while minority population growth accounted for 77%. In particular, most minority population growth was either Hispanic or non-Hispanic Asian population growth, with these two groups representing 33% and 26%, respectively, of Snohomish County's total population growth during this time period.