Seattle metropolitan area

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"Seattle Metro" redirects here. For the public transit authority of Seattle and surrounding areas, see King County Metro.
Seattle metropolitan area
Metropolitan statistical area
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA MSA
Downtown Seattle skyline as seen from the Kerry Park in October 2019
Downtown Seattle skyline as seen from the Kerry Park in October 2019
Map of Seattle metropolitan area
A map of the Seattle MSA, highlighted in teal (the Combined Statistical Area is in navy blue)
Coordinates: 47°44′N 122°19′W / 47.74°N 122.32°W / 47.74; -122.32
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
Largest citySeattle (753,675)
Other cities - Tacoma (217,827)
 - Bellevue (148,164)
 - Kent (132,319)
 - Everett (111,475)
 - Renton (101,751)
Area
 • Total5,872.35 sq mi (15,209.3 km2)
Highest elevation
14,411 ft (4,392 m)
Lowest elevation
0 ft (0 m)
Population
 • Total4,018,598
 • Rank15th in the U.S.
 • Density659/sq mi (250/km2)

The Seattle metropolitan area is an urban conglomeration in the U.S. state of Washington that comprises Seattle, its surrounding satellites and suburbs. It contains the three most populous counties in the state—King, Snohomish, and Pierce—and is considered part of the greater Puget Sound region. The United States Census Bureau defines the metropolitan area as the Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WA metropolitan statistical area. With an estimated population of 4,018,598 as of 2020,[1] it is the 15th largest metropolitan statistical area (MSA) in the United States and is home to over half of Washington's population.

Definition[]

Downtown Seattle seen from Bainbridge Island

As defined by the United States Census Bureau, the Seattle metropolitan area is made up of the following (see Fig. STB):

  • Seattle–Bellevue–Everett metropolitan division
    • King County: Seattle and its immediate vicinity
    • Snohomish County: north of Seattle
  • Tacoma metropolitan division
    • Pierce County: south of Seattle

Based on commuting patterns, the adjacent metropolitan areas of Olympia, Bremerton, and Mount Vernon, along with a few smaller satellite urban areas, are grouped together in a wider labor market region known as the Seattle–Tacoma–Olympia Combined Statistical Area (CSA) (See Figure STO), commonly known as the Puget Sound region. The population of this wider region is 4,686,536—roughly two-thirds of Washington's population—as of 2017.[1] The Seattle CSA is the 14th largest CSA, and the 13th largest primary census statistical area in the country. The additional metropolitan and micropolitan areas included are:

Census statistics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18704,128—
188011,616181.4%
1890123,443962.7%
1900189,51853.5%
1910464,659145.2%
1920601,09029.4%
1930706,22017.5%
1940775,8159.9%
19501,120,44844.4%
19601,428,80327.5%
19701,832,89628.3%
19802,093,11214.2%
19902,559,16422.3%
20003,043,87818.9%
20103,439,80913.0%
2019 (est.)3,979,84515.7%
U.S. Decennial Census
2019 estimate

As of the 2020 census there was an estimated 4,018,598 people and 1,541,245 households united residing within the area.[2] The racial makeup of the Seattle metropolitan area were as follows:[3]

hideRacial composition 2019
White 72.8%
 —non-Hispanic white 89.6%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 10.4%
 —Mexican 7.3%
 —Puerto Rican 0.6%
 —Cuban 0.2%
Asian 14.6%
 —Chinese 3.7%
 —Filipino 1.7%
 —Vietnamese 2.0%
 —Japanese 1.0%
 —Korean 1.1%
Black or African-American 8.2%
Two or more races: 6.9%
Pacific Islander 0.8%
Native American or Alaskan Native 2.4%

In 2019 the estimated median income for a household in the Seattle metropolitan area was $94,027. The per capita income was $49,184.[4]

Map of southeast Seattle Metro towns
County 2019 Estimate 2010 Census Change Area Density
King County 2,252,782 1,931,249 +16.65% 2,115.56 sq mi (5,479.3 km2) 1,035/sq mi (399/km2)
Pierce County 904,980 795,225 +13.80% 1,669.51 sq mi (4,324.0 km2) 525/sq mi (203/km2)
Snohomish County 822,083 713,335 +15.25% 2,087.27 sq mi (5,406.0 km2) 384/sq mi (148/km2)
Total 3,979,845 3,439,809 +15.70% 5,872.34 sq mi (15,209.3 km2) 659/sq mi (254/km2)

Religion[]

According to the Pew Research Center's 2014 U.S. Religious Landscape Study, the Seattle metropolitan area's religious affiliation is as follows:[5]

hideReligious composition 2014
Christian 52%
 —Evangelical Protestant 23%
 —Mainline Protestant 10%
 —Black Protestant 1%
Catholic 15%
Non-Christian Faiths 10%
 —Jewish 1%
 —Muslim < 1%
 —Buddhist 2%
 —Hindu 2%
Unaffiliated 37%
Don't know 1%

Cities[]

Seattle
Tacoma
Bellevue
Everett
Major
  • Seattle
  • Tacoma
  • Bellevue
  • Everett
Other

Commerce[]

The Seattle metropolitan area is home to numerous large scale businesses.[6] Retail giants such as Microsoft, Amazon, REI, Nordstrom, Starbucks, and Costco were founded and continue to be headquartered in the greater Seattle area.[6]

Over the past decade, tech companies began expanding their roots into the Seattle metropolitan area and opening offices on both sides of Lake Washington (Seattle and Bellevue, primarily).[7] These companies, traditionally known for their history in Silicon Valley and the bay area, include Facebook, Salesforce, Google, and Zynga.[8]

Transportation[]

See also: Transportation in Seattle

Major airports[]

Aerial view of Seattle–Tacoma International Airport

The largest airport in the region is Seattle–Tacoma International Airport in SeaTac, an International airport that serves as a commercial hub for Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines.

The other airports in the area are:

Major highways[]

See also: Metropolitan Seattle Freeways
  • US 2.svg U.S. Route 2
  • I-5.svg Interstate 5
  • WA-7.svg State Route 7
  • WA-9.svg State Route 9
  • WA-16.svg State Route 16
  • WA-18.svg State Route 18
  • I-90.svg Interstate 90
  • WA-99.svg State Route 99
  • US 101.svg U.S. Route 101
  • WA-202.svg State Route 202
  • I-405.svg Interstate 405
  • WA-520.svg State Route 520
  • WA-522.svg State Route 522
  • I-605.svg Interstate 605 (proposed)
  • I-705.svg Interstate 705

Mass transit[]

  • Sound Transit, trains, buses, light rail in Puget Sound area
  • Community Transit, buses in Snohomish County except Everett
  • King County Metro, buses in King County
  • Pierce Transit, buses in Pierce County
  • Everett Transit, bus service in the city of Everett
  • Intercity Transit, bus service in Thurston County
  • Mason Transit Authority, bus service in Mason County
  • Seattle Streetcar, streetcar service in the city of Seattle
  • Seattle Center Monorail

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Bureau, U.S. Census. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  2. ^ "ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES". United States Census Bureau.
  3. ^ Bureau, U.S. Census. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  4. ^ "Census profile: Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area". Census Reporter. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  5. ^ "Religious Landscape Study". Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b "About Seattle". Seattle Chamber of Commerce.
  7. ^ Wingfield, Nick (June 2, 2011). "Bay Area Technology Firms Put Down Roots in Seattle". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  8. ^ Wingfield, Nick (June 2, 2011). "Bay Area Technology Firms Put Down Roots in Seattle". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  9. ^ Blethen, Ryan (March 4, 2019). "How the first day of commercial flights from Paine Field went". The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
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