The 15th Census of the United States, conducted just months after the stock market crash of 1929, carries some evidence of the early effects of the Great Depression. The boom years are clearly over, the state's population is growing at a slower rate, and unemployment figures are inching up. The populations of the 10 largest counties show generally modest growth, but 12 counties see decreases. Racially, Washington remains overwhelmingly white (97.29 percent of total population) and the foreign-born population is only 19.51 percent as large as that of the native-born, down from 24.31 percent in 1920. The percentage of the state's total population that is female grows at an 18.5 percent rate over 1920, while the male growth rate during the same period is only 12.48 percent, although men still outnumber women and will for the next 40 years.
1930 Census: OverviewThe 1930 U.S. Census counted 1,563,396 persons residing in Washington state, an increase of 206,755 over the 1920 census count of 1,356,621. This 15.2 percent increase was a downturn from the 18.1 percent increase that the 1920 census had revealed, and far smaller than the 120.4 percent growth rate seen in the 1910 count. The 1920 census had 14 Washington counties losing population between 1910 and 1920; the 1930 count showed a small improvement, with 12 counties having seen their populations decrease in the previous decades.
Another indication of slower growth was population density. Washington has a land surface of 66,836 square miles, and there were 23.4 persons per square mile in 1930, a modest increase of 3.1 persons per square mile over the 1920 density of 20.3. This increase was just slightly less than the percentage density increase of 3.2 persons per square mile that occurred between 1910 and 1920. But again, this was paltry when compared to the decade between 1900 and 1910, when population density increased by 9.3 persons per square mile.
Population and Growth: Counties
Washington's counties had reached their final form by the time of the 1930 census, and no new ones were added in the intercensus years, making population comparisons between counties somewhat easier than was possible in the 1910 and 1920 censuses, both of which saw new counties added to the state in the preceding decade.
There were 39 counties in Washington state in 1930. Skamania County remained the least populous, with 2,891 persons, a increase of 534 (22.66 percent) from the 1920 count of 2,357. King County remained the state’s most populous at 463,517, an increase of 74,244 (19.1 percent) over 1920’s count of 389,273, but a substantially smaller percentage increase than was seen between 1910 and 1920 (36.8 percent). These same two counties marked the extremes in density, as well, with Skamania having only 1.7 persons per square mile, and King County having 219.6 persons per square mile. In terms of physical size, Okanogan County was the state's largest, at 5,221 square miles, followed by Yakima County at 5,059 square miles. San Juan County was the smallest, at 178 square miles, followed by Island County, at 208 square miles.
The 10 largest counties in terms of population in the 1930 census were:
- King: 463,517 (74,244 increase, or 19.1 percent, above 1920 count of 389,273)
- Pierce:163,842 (19,715 increase, or 13.7 percent, above 1920 count of 144,127)
- Spokane: 150,477 (9,188 increase, or 6.5 percent, above 1920 count of 141,289)
- Snohomish: 78,861 (11,171 increase, or 16.5 percent, above 1920 count of 67,690)
- Yakima: 77,402 (13,692 increase, or 21.5 percent, above 1920 count of 63,710)
- Whatcom: 59,128 (8,528 increase, or 16.9 percent, above 1920 count of 50,600)
- Grays Harbor: 59,982 (15,237 increase, or 34.1 percent, above 1920 count of 44,745)
- Clark: 40,316 (7,511 increase, or 22.9 percent, above 1920 count of 32,805)
- Lewis: 40,034 (3,194 increase, or 8.7 percent, above 1920 count of 36,840)
- Skagit: 35,142 (1,269 increase, or 5.3 percent, above 1920 count of 33,873)
Clark County made the top-10 list in 1930, and Kitsap County dropped off. Twelve counties lost population between 1920 and 1930. The five counties with the largest population decrease in percentage terms were:
- Grant: down 27.1 percent
- Lincoln: down 21.6 percent
- Adams: down 19.8 percent
- Douglas: down 19.5 percent
- Ferry: down 16.5 percent
Population and Growth: Cities and Towns
Five Washington cities had populations greater than 25,000 in 1930, the same as in the 1920 census. Those five, with numerical and percentage comparisons to 1920 census counts, were:
- Seattle 1930: 365,583 1920: 315,312 (+15.9 percent)
- Spokane 1930: 115,514 1920: 104,437 (+10.6 percent)
- Tacoma 1930: 106,817 1920: 96,965 (+10.2 percent)
- Bellingham 1930: 30,823 1920: 25,585 (+20.5 percent)
- Everett 1930: 30,567 1920: 27,644 (+10.6 percent)
The next five largest cities in Washington, having populations between 10,000 and 25,000, with numerical and percentage comparisons to 1900 census counts:
- Yakima 1930: 22,101 1920: 18,539 (+19.2 percent)
- Aberdeen 1930: 21,723 1920: 15,337 (+41.6 percent)
- Vancouver 1930: 15,766 1920: 12,637 (+24.8 percent)
- Walla Walla 1930: 15,976 1920: 15,503 (+3.1 percent)
- Hoquiam 1930: 12,766 1920: 10,058 (+26.9 percent)
Both Aberdeen and Vancouver moved up one rank since 1920, while Walla Walla slipped from second to fourth.
Seattle was the 20th largest city in the United States in 1930, the same position it held a decade earlier. Two other Washington cities made the top 100 list -- Spokane, at No. 70 and Tacoma, at No. 79.
Population Distribution: Urban vs. Rural
The census bureau adopted a substantially new definition of "urban territories" for use in the 1930 census.
The 1920 census had defined "urban territories" as "cities and other incorporated places of 2,500 inhabitants or more." For the 1930 census, "urban territories" were defined to include both cities and other incorporated places of 2,500 or more population, and townships and other political subdivisions, not incorporated in whole or in part as municipalities, with a total population of 10,000 or more and an average density of 1,000 or more persons per square mile. (There was actually a third category used in the 1930 census, but it applied to only three states in which towns of less than 10,000 residents generally were not incorporated.)
All persons not counted as living within urban territories were considered to be inhabitants of rural areas, and this category was subdivided into "rural farm" and "rural non-farm."
Urban Population:
Counts for urban territories were further broken down to reflect how many inhabitants there were in cities and towns of varying sizes. The first number in parentheses below represent the number of cities or towns of the defined size.
- More than 100,000 inhabitants (3): 587,914 (37.6 percent of total state population)
- 25,000-100,000 (2): 61,390 (3.93 percent of total state population)
- 10,000-25,000 (10): 142,702 (9.13 percent of total state population)
- 5,000-10,000 (4): 27,976 (1.79 percent of total state population)
- 2,500-5,000 (19): 64,548 (4.13 percent of total state population)
In 1930, a total of 884,530 (56.58 percent of all Washington residents) lived in the state's 38 urban areas, an increase of 135,825 (18.14 percent) above the 1920 count of 748,705 living in 35 urban areas (55.18 percent of all Washington residents).
Rural Population:
The total number of persons living in rural areas in Washington in 1930 was 678,857 (43.42 percent of all Washington residents). Although this was a numerical increase of 70,971 (11.68 percent) above the 1920 count of 607,886, it was a substantial decrease in percentage terms from the 1920 figure of 47 percent.
Of the total number of rural residents 300,143 (44.21 percent) lived on farms and 378,714 (55.79 percent) were classified as rural non-farm.
Population Characteristics: Sex
Men substantially outnumbered women in Washington state in 1930, but the gap continued to narrow:
- 1930 male population: 826,392 (52.86 percent of total population)
- 1920 male population: 734,701 (54.16 percent of total population)
- 1920-1930 increase: 76,038 (+12.48 percent)
- 1930 female population: 737,004 (47.14 percent of total population)
- 1920 female population: 621,920 (45.84 percent of total population)
- 1920-1930 increase: 115,084 (+18.50 percent)
Although men still held a large numerical lead in population in 1930, the percentage increase for women was higher than that for men, and the female population's numerical increase outstripped that for males by 39,046. The accelerating rate of growth of the female population demonstrated a continuing trend that was to put women in the majority by the 1970 census.
Population Characteristics: General Nativity
"Nativity" for purposes of the 1930 census was used to differentiate between U.S. residents born in America ("Native Born") and those who had immigrated from elsewhere ("Foreign Born"). Counts from this era reflect that a large number of immigrants were still coming to America and to Washington state, but they also showed a slowing of the trend, with the percentage of foreign-born residents significantly lower in 1930 than it was in 1920.
- 1930 Washington state native-born population: 1,308,138 (83.67 percent)
- 1930 Washington state foreign-born population: 255,258 (16.33 percent)
- 1920 Washington state native-born population: 1,091,329 (80.44 percent)
- 1920 Washington state foreign-born population: 265,392 (19.56 percent)
- Increase in native-born population 1920-1930: 216,809 (+19.87 percent)
- Decrease in foreign-born population 1920-1930: 10,134 (-3.82 percent)
The 1930 census was the first to show a decrease in foreign-born population in Washington state, going all the way back to the census of 1860.
Population Characteristics: Race
The 1930 census used the following racial classifications: White, Negro, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Hindu, Hawaiian, Korean, and Mexican. The terms "White" and "Negro" were used to distinguish between European Americans and those of African descent. This was the first census to use "Mexican" as a racial category, a practice that was later discontinued with the acknowledgment that "Hispanic" is more of a linguistic definition than a racial one. All persons of Hispanic descent who did not list their race as either "White" or "Indian" were included in the category of "Mexican." The below percentage figures may not total 100 percent due to rounding.
- 1930 White population: 1,521,099 (97.29 percent of total state population)
- 1930 Japanese population: 17,837 (1.14 percent of total state population)
- 1930 Indian population: 11,253 (0.72 percent of total state population)
- 1930 Negro population: 6,840 (0.44 percent of total state population)
- 1930 Filipino population: 3,480 (0.22 percent of total state population)
- 1930 Chinese population: 2,195 (0.14 percent of total state population)
- 1930 Mexican population: 562 (statistically insignificant)
- 1930 Hindu population: 53 (statistically insignificant)
- 1930 Hawaiian population: 52 (statistically insignificant)
- 1930 Korean population: 25 (statistically insignificant)
Population Characteristics: Age
Washington was a relatively youthful state in 1930, with the largest age grouping (274,406, or 17.55 percent of the total population) composed of those between 5 and 14 years of age, although this was down slightly from the 18.1 percent shown in the 1920 census. The totals for various age groups were:
- 5 years and under: 114,854
- 5 to 9 years: 136,013
- 10-14 years: 138,393
- 15-19 years: 137,922
- 20-24 years: 130,401
- 25-29 years: 120,651
- 30-34 years: 115,448
- 35-44 years: 240,938
- 45-54 years: 198,503
- 55-64 years: 126,790
- 65-74 years: 74,515
- 75 years and older: 26,988
- Age unknown: 1,980
Population Characteristics: Education
The educational statistics in the 1930 census are not as detailed as would become common in later counts, but do give a general idea of the educational status of the state's residents, and they show that school attendance had increased rather dramatically over the 1920 figures, especially among those in the 16 to 17 age group:
- Number of persons 7 to 13 years of age: 194,814
- Number of persons 7 to 13 years of age attending school: 190,375 (97.72 percent, up from 94.7 percent in 1920)
- Number of persons age 14 and 15: 55,300
- Number of persons age 14 and 15 attending school: 52,843 (95.56 percent, up from 88.6 percent in 1920)
- Number of persons age 16 and 17: 55,021
- Number of persons age 16 and 17 attending school: 42,262 (76.81 percent, up from 54.5 percent in 1920)
- Number of persons age 18-20 years: 81,347
- Number of persons age 18-20 years attending school: 27,353 (33.63 percent, up from 21.5 percent)
In addition, the 1930 census counted 18,811 children under age 7 attending school, and 18,141 persons over age 21 attending school.
Analyzing the date a little further, the census provides statistics for urban and rural education:
- Total urban population ages 5-20: 438,375
- Total in school: 331,644 (75.7 percent)
- Total male urban population ages 5-20: 222,485
- Total in school: 166,939 (75 percent)
- Total female urban population ages 5-20: 215,890
- Total in school: 164,705 (76.3 percent)
- Total rural population ages 5-20: 209,688
- Total in school: 157,311 (75 percent)
- Total male rural population ages 5-20: 110,047
- Total in school: 80,801 (73.4 percent)
- Total female rural population ages 5-20: 99,641
- Total in school: 76,510 (76.8 percent)
The 1930 census adopted a new definition of illiterate, including in that category all persons 10 years of age and older who could not both read and write. This was in contrast to the 1920 census, which classified as illiterate all persons 10 years of age or older who were unable to write in any language (not necessarily English), and regardless of the ability to read. In 1930, the ability to read and write one's own name, standing alone, was deemed not sufficient to qualify a person as "literate."
The number of persons over the age of 10 who were characterized as illiterate in the 1930 census was:
- Persons between age 10 and 20 who were illiterate: 13,458 (1.0 percent, down from 1.7 percent in 1920)
- Males between age 10 and 20 who were illiterate: 7,043 (1.0 percent, down from 1.7 percent of males in age group)
- Females between age 10 and 20 who were illiterate: 6,415 (1.0 percent, down from 1.6 percent of females in age group)
- Persons 21 years old and older who were illiterate: 12,634 (1.3 percent, down from 2.1 percent in 1920)
- Males 21 years old and older who were illiterate: 6,527 (1.2 percent, down from 2.1 percent in 1920)
- Females 21 years old and older who were illiterate: 6,107 (1.3 percent, down from 2.1 percent in 1920)
Population Characteristics: Marital Status
The following statistics regarding marital status of Washington residents were revealed in the 1930 census: (total may not equal 100 percent due to rounding)
- Males 15 years of age and older: 628,346
- Males 15 years of age and older who were single: 224,798 (35.77 percent)
- Males 15 years of age and older who were married: 357,702 (56.93 percent)
- Males 15 years of age and older who were widowed: 28,951 (4.61 percent)
- Males 15 years of age and older who were divorced: 14,876 (2.37 percent)
- Females 15 years of age and older: 545,790
- Females 15 years of age and older who were single: 122,694 (22.48 percent)
- Females 15 years of age and older who were married: 352,466 (64.58 percent)
- Females 15 years of age and older who were widowed: 56,054 (10.27 percent)
- Females 15 years of age and older who were divorced: 13,701 (2.51 percent).
In 1930, the divorce rate, while still very low by present-day standards, showed a moderate increase over the 1920 figures:
- 1920 divorce rate for men: 1.5 percent
- 1930 divorce rate for men: 2.37 percent
- 1920 divorce rate for women: 1.8 percent
- 1930 divorce rate for women: 2.51 percent
Consistent with previous censuses, the statistics show that the percentage of females who were widowed was twice that of males.
Population Characteristics: Employment
The 1930 census looked at the employment picture for men and women 10 years of age or older, using the total number of Washington residents in that age range (1,312,529) as the basis for statistical comparisons:
- Total men and women gainfully employed 1930: 664,730 (50.64 percent of age group)
- Total men and women gainfully employed in 1920: 578,667 (52.5 of age group)
- Total 1930 male population age 10 years or older: 698,610
- Total men gainfully employed 1930: 538,054 (77.02 percent)
- Total 1920 male population age 10 years or older: 605,288
- Total men gainfully employed 1920: 485,767 (80.3 percent)
- Total 1930 female population age 10 years or older: 613,919
- Total women gainfully employed 1930: 126,676 (20.63 percent)
- Total 1920 female population age 10 years or older: 496,641
- Total women gainfully employed 1920: 92,900 (18.7 percent)
Two trends can be seen in the foregoing statistics. First, the early effects of the Great Depression, which is considered to have begun in 1929, are illustrated by the decreasing percentage of employed men in the 10 year and older category. And the trend of more women entering the workplace is shown by the higher percentage of employed women in that age group as compared to the 1920 figures.
Those individuals 10 years of age or older in 1930 who were employed were distributed across the following trades and occupations: (may not total 100 percent due to rounding)
- Manufacturing and mechanical industries: 188,411 (28.34 percent of employed persons)
- Agriculture: 104,077 (15.65 percent of employed persons)
- Trade: 93,536 (14.07 percent of employed persons)
- Domestic and personal service: 64,480 (9.70 percent of employed persons)
- Transportation and communication: 60,234 (9.1 percent of employed population)
- Clerical occupations: 51,367 (7.73 percent of employed population
- Professional service: 48,988 (7.37 percent of employed population)
- Forestry and fishing: 31,921 (4.80 percent of employed population)
- Public service (not elsewhere classified): 15,996 (2.41 percent of employed population)
- Extraction of minerals: 5,720 (0.86 percent of employed population)
It is of interest to note that in 1930 there were 2,661 children between ages 10 and 15 years of age who were gainfully employed in Washington state, representing 1.6 percent of the total population in that age group.
