1970 Census: Population of Seattle dwindles to 530,000, less than half of total King County population of 1,150,000, in 1970.

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In 1970, the U.S. Census determines that the Seattle population has dwindled by more than 25,000 persons to a total of 530,831 persons. The population of the rest of King County, in contrast, has increased by 250,000 persons since the 1960 census. The total population of King County is 1,159,369. Boeing is the major factor in the county’s growth.

Following are the population figures for Washington state counties and cities, and for King County cities and towns.

(Note that Washington population totals were revised after the 1970 census was published. An asterisk (*) beside a county or municipality denotes that 1980 census publications were used for the 1970 census figure.)

In 1970, the largest of the 39 counties in Washington state were:

King 1,159,369*
Pierce 412,344*
Spokane 287,487
Snohomish 265,236
Yakima 145,212*
Clark 128,454
Kitsap 101,732
Whatcom 81,950
Thurston 76,894
Cowlitz 68,616

In 1970, the largest cities in Washington state were:

Seattle 530,831
Spokane 170,516
Tacoma 154,407*
Bellevue 61,196*
Everett 53,622
Yakima 45,588
Vancouver 41,859*
Bellingham 39,375
Bremerton 35,307
Renton 25,878*

In 1970, largest towns in King County were:

Seattle 530,831
Bellevue 61,196*
Renton 25,878*
Auburn 21,653*
Mercer Island city 19,047
Kent 17,711*
Kirkland 14,970*
Redmond 11,020*
Bothell 5,420*
Enumclaw 4,703

In 1970, incorporated town populations in King County (listed alphabetically) were:

Algona 1,276
Auburn 21,653*
Beaux Arts 475
Belleuve 61,196*
Black Diamond 1,160
Bothell 5,420*
Carnation 530
Clyde Hill 2,987
Des Moines 3,951*
Duvall 607
Enumclaw 4,703
Hunts Point 578
Issaquah 4,313
Kent 17,711*
Kirkland 14,970*
Lake Forest Park 2,530
Medina 3,455
Mercer Island city 19,047
Mercer Island town 772
Milton (King & Pierce Cos) 2,607 (7 in King County)
Normandy Park 4,202*
North Bend 1,625
Pacific 1,831
Redmond 11,020*
Renton 25,878*
Seattle 530,831
Skykomish 283
Snoqualmie 1,260
Tukwila 3,509*
Yarrow Point 1,101*

Sources:
U.S. Bureau of Census, Department of Commerce, 1970 Census of Population: Volume 1, Characteristics of the Population, Part 49 Washington (Washington DC: US Government Printing Office, 1973), 49-11, 49-12, 49-13, 49-15; U.S. Bureau of Census, Department of Commerce, 1980 Census of Population: Volume 1 Characteristics of the Population, Chapter A: Number of Inhabitants, Part 49, Washington (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1982), 49-15, 49-16, 49-17.

By Greg Lange, January 01, 1900

Freeway demonstration on Interstate 5, University District, Seattle, May 5, 1970
Photo by Alan Lande