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1860 Census: Population in King County in 1860 tops 300.
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In 1860, the first federal census of Washington Territory counts 302 people in King County. Fear of a reoccurrence of an Indian uprising concentrates the county population, estimated at 188, near Seattle. The Washington Territorial Auditor also reports this year, on persons, hogs, pears, potatoes, and other items of interest.
The Federal Census
Of the 19 counties in the territory, King County ranked 12th. Kitsap County, created out of King County in 1857, exceeded King County with a population of 544.
The largest counties in Washington Territory:
- Clark 2,384
- Thurston 1,507
- Walla Walla 1,318
- Pierce 1,115
- Spokane 996
- Kitsap 544
- Jefferson 531
- Pacific 420
- Cowlitz 406
- Lewis 384
- Whatcom 352
- King 302
Report of Territorial Auditor (on King County)
The Washington Territorial Auditor counted persons, pears, potatoes, and other items and submitted his report to the Legislature on December 13, 1860. His count of white persons is slightly different from that of federal census takers. Here is his report:
- Number of persons subject to a poll tax 160
- Number of white male inhabitants 206
- Number of white males over 21, 179
- Number of female inhabitants 68
- Number of males under 21 years of age 38
- Number of females under 18 years of age 33
- Total white population 280
- Number of horses 53
- Number of mules 16
- Number of neat cattle 581
- Number of fowls 495
- Number of hogs 162
- Number of apple trees 4,391
- Number of pear trees 157
- Number of plum trees 197
- Number of apricot trees 25
- Number of pear trees 503
- Number of cherry trees 87
- Number of quince 327
- Number of Siberien crab 3
- Number of acres in blue grass 8
- Number of acres in clover 13 ¼
- Number of acres in timothy 80 ½
- Number of acres in buckwheat 2 ½
- Number of acres in wheat 37 ¼
- Number of acres in oats 103 ½
- Number of acres in rye 21
- Number of acres in barley ½
- Number of acres in peas 26 ¾
- Number of acres in potatoes 71
- Number of acres in taxable land 579
Sources:
Population Abstract of the United States ed. by John L. Andriot (McLean, Virginia: Andriot Associates, 1983), 841, 844; Clarence B. Bagley, History of Seattle (Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1916), 659-661; Journal of the House of Representatives of the Territory of Washington,
Eighth Session of the Legislative Assembly...December 3, 1860 (Olympia: James Lodge, Public Printer, 1861), 105-106, 138.
By Greg Lange, January 01, 1900
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