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

Yesler's house and elevated water system at 1st Avenue and Cherry St., looking east in one of the oldest surviving photographs of pioneer Seattle, ca. 1859
Photo by E. A, Clark, Courtesy UW Special Collections