Pierce County, Washington

County in Washington, United States

County in Washington

Pierce County

County

Old City Hall in Tacoma.

Old City Hall in Tacoma.

Flag of Pierce County

Flag

Official seal of Pierce County

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of Washington

Location within the U.S. state of Washington

Washington's location within the U.S.

Washington's location within the U.S.

Country| File:Flag of the United States.svg United States
State| File:Flag of Washington.svg Washington
Founded| December 22, 1852
Named for| Franklin Pierce
Seat| Tacoma
Largest city| Tacoma
Area

• Total| 1,806 sq mi (4,680 km2)
• Land| 1,670 sq mi (4,300 km2)
• Water| 137 sq mi (350 km2)  7.6%%
Population

(2020)

• Total| 921,130
• Estimate

(2021)

| 925,708 Increase
• Density| 510/sq mi (200/km2)
Time zone| UTC−8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−7 (PDT)
Congressional districts| 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th
Website| www.piercecountywa.gov

File:Mt. Rainier, 1932.jpg

Mount Rainier from Ricksecker Point, 1932

File:Tacoma skyline and I-705 from the East 34th Street Bridge.jpg

Tacoma—seat of Pierce County

File:Mount Rainier Hazard Map-en.svg

Mount Rainier hazard map

Pierce County is a county in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, the population was 921,130,[1] up from 795,225 in 2010, making it the second-most populous county in Washington, behind King County, and the 60th-most populous in the United States. The county seat and largest city is Tacoma.[2] Formed out of Thurston County on December 22, 1852, by the legislature of Oregon Territory,[3][4] it was named for U.S. President Franklin Pierce. Pierce County is in the Seattle metropolitan area (formally the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, metropolitan statistical area).

Pierce County is home to Mount Rainier, the tallest mountain and a volcano in the Cascade Range. Its most recent recorded eruption was between 1820 and 1854. There is no imminent risk of eruption, but geologists expect that the volcano will erupt again. If this should happen, parts of Pierce County and the Puyallup Valley would be at risk from lahars, lava, or pyroclastic flows. The Mount Rainier Volcano Lahar Warning System was established in 1998 to assist in the evacuation of the Puyallup River valley in case of eruption.

## Contents

* 1 Geography
* 1.1 Geographic features
* 1.2 Adjacent counties
* 1.3 National protected areas
* 2 Demographics
* 2.1 2000 census
* 2.2 2010 census
* 3 History
* 4 Government
* 5 Politics
* 6 Economy
* 7 Education
* 7.1 Higher education
* 7.2 Library system
* 8 Transportation
* 8.1 Major highways
* 8.2 Ferry routes
* 9 Arts and culture
* 10 Law enforcement
* 11 Communities
* 11.1 Cities
* 11.2 Towns
* 11.3 Census-designated places
* 11.4 Unincorporated communities
* 12 See also
* 13 References
* 14 External links

## Geography[edit | edit source]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,806 square miles (4,680 km2), of which 1,670 square miles (4,300 km2) is land and 137 square miles (350 km2) (7.6%) is water.[5] The highest natural point in Washington, Mount Rainier, at 14,410 feet (4,392 m), is located in Pierce County. Rainier is locally called Tahoma or Takhoma, both native names for the mountain.

### Geographic features[edit | edit source]

* Anderson Island
* Carbon River
* Cascade Range
* Case Inlet
* Commencement Bay
* Fox Island
* Herron Island
* Ketron Island
* Key Peninsula
* Lake Tapps (Washington)
* McNeil Island
* Mount Rainier, highest point in both the county and Washington state.
* Nisqually River
* Puget Sound
* Puyallup River
* Raft Island
* Tacoma Narrows

Pierce County also contains the Clearwater Wilderness area.

### Adjacent counties[edit | edit source]

* King County — north
* Yakima County — east
* Lewis County — south
* Thurston County — west/southwest
* Mason County — west/northwest
* Kitsap County — north/northwest

### National protected areas[edit | edit source]

* Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest (part)
* Mount Rainier National Park (part)
* Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge (part)

## Demographics[edit | edit source]

Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1860| 1,115| | —
1870| 1,409| | 26.4%
1880| 3,319| | 135.6%
1890| 50,940| | 1,434.8%
1900| 55,515| | 9.0%
1910| 120,812| | 117.6%
1920| 144,127| | 19.3%
1930| 163,842| | 13.7%
1940| 182,081| | 11.1%
1950| 275,876| | 51.5%
1960| 321,590| | 16.6%
1970| 411,027| | 27.8%
1980| 485,643| | 18.2%
1990| 586,203| | 20.7%
2000| 700,820| | 19.6%
2010| 795,225| | 13.5%
2020| 921,130| | 15.8%
2021 (est.)| 925,708| [6]| 0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2020[1]

### 2000 census[edit | edit source]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 700,820 people, 260,800 households, and 180,212 families residing in the county. The population density was 417 people per square mile (161/km2). There were 277,060 housing units at an average density of 165 per square mile (64/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 78.39% White, 6.95% Black or African American, 1.42% Native American, 5.08% Asian, 0.85% Pacific Islander, 2.20% from other races, and 5.11% from two or more races. 5.51% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.1% were of German, 8.6% Irish, 8.2% English, 6.3% American, and 6.2% Norwegian ancestry.

There were 260,800 households, out of which 35.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.80% were married couples living together, 11.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.20% under the age of 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 31.30% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 10.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $45,204, and the median income for a family was $52,098. Males had a median income of $38,510 versus $28,580 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,948. About 7.50% of families and 10.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.20% of those under age 18 and 7.20% of those age 65 or over.

### 2010 census[edit | edit source]

As of the 2010 census, there were 795,225 people, 299,918 households, and 202,174 families residing in the county.[12] The population density was 476.3 inhabitants per square mile (183.9/km2). There were 325,375 housing units at an average density of 194.9 per square mile (75.3/km2).[13] The racial makeup of the county was 74.2% white, 6.8% black or African American, 6.0% Asian, 1.4% Native American, 1.3% Pacific islander, 3.5% from other races, and 6.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 9.2% of the population.[12] In terms of ancestry, 20.5% were German, 13.1% were Irish, 10.7% were English, 6.3% were Norwegian, and 4.2% were American.[14]

Of the 299,918 households, 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.6% were non-families, and 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.09. The median age was 35.9 years.[12]

The median income for a household in the county was $57,869 and the median income for a family was $68,462. Males had a median income of $50,084 versus $38,696 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,446. About 8.1% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.0% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.[15]

## History[edit | edit source]

The area was originally home to the present day Nisqually, Puyallup, Squaxin, Steilacoom, and Muckleshoot tribes. Puyallup villages were predominately near what would later become Tacoma and Nisqually settlements were in what would become southern Pierce County. Two major trails of the tribes were a northern route through Naches Pass and a southern route along the Mashel River linking with Eastern Washington tribes. Trade networks among the region’s indigenous peoples were well established long before the coming of white settlers.[16]

In 1792 British Captain George Vancouver and his party of explorers came via ship to the shores of the region, and named a number of sites in what would become Pierce County, i.e. Mt. Rainier.[citation needed]

In 1832 Fort Nisqually was sited by the British Hudson's Bay Company's chief trader, Archibald McDonald. It was the first permanent European settlement on the Salish Sea. In cooperation with the local indigenous people, a storehouse for blankets, seeds, and potatoes was built at the mouth of Sequalitchew Creek.

In 1839 the Nisqually Methodist Episcopal Mission was established,[17] bringing the first U.S. citizens to settle in the Puget Sound region, near the Sequalitchew Creek canyon.

In 1841 the United States Exploring Expedition set up an observatory on the bluff near the creek to survey, map and chart the waters of Puget Sound.

In 1843 the Second Fort Nisqually was erected. Business became mainly agricultural, and the fort was relocated on a flat-plains area near the banks of Sequalitchew Creek for cattle.[18] The Fort Nisqually property was turned over to American control in 1859.

In 1846 the Oregon Treaty established the 49th Parallel as the boundary between British Canada and the United States, which left what was to become Pierce County on U.S. territory. In response to increasing tensions between Indians and settlers, the United States Army established Fort Steilacoom in 1849 at the site of the traditional home of the Steilacoom Tribe.

In 1850, Captain Lafayette Balch sited his land claim next to the fort and founded Port Steilacoom. In 1854 the town of Steilacoom became Washington Territory's first incorporated town.

In 1854 the Treaty of Medicine Creek was enacted between the United States and the local tribes occupying the lands of the Salish Sea. The tribes listed on the Treaty of Medicine Creek are Nisqually, Puyallup, Steilacoom, Squawskin (Squaxin Island), S'Homamish, Stehchass, T'Peeksin, Squi-aitl, and Sa-heh-wamish. The treaty was signed on December 26, 1854, by Isaac I. Stevens, governor and superintendent of Indian Affairs of Washington territory at the time. The native tribes were told the treaty would help them by paying them for some of the land. It ended up taking prime farmland and relocating the tribes onto rough reservations. Chief Leschi of the Nisqually tribe protested the treaty. He and his people marched to Olympia to have their voices heard but Isaac Stevens ordered them away.[citation needed] When the natives refused to leave, Isaac Stevens would eventually call martial law and - after the beginning of the Puget Sound War in 1855 - initiate a search for Chief Leschi in order to arrest him. Chief Leschi was eventually captured and put on trial. The first jury couldn’t come to a verdict, so Isaac Stevens had the trial done a second time. This time Leschi was found guilty. Chief Leschi was hanged on February 19, 1858.[19] On December 10, 2004 a historical court convened in Pierce County ruled "as a legal combatant of the Indian War Leschi should not have been held accountable under law for the death of an enemy soldier," thereby exonerating him of any wrongdoing.[1]

## Government[edit | edit source]

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File:Logo of Pierce County, Washington.svg

The logo often used to depict county government services and departments

Pierce County has adopted and is governed by a Charter. This is allowed by section 4 of Article XI of the Washington State Constitution. The Pierce County Executive, currently Bruce Dammeier (R), heads the county's executive branch.[20] The Assessor-Treasurer Mike Lonergan,[21] auditor Julie Anderson, Prosecuting Attorney Mary Robnett,[22] and Sheriff Ed Troyer.

The Pierce County Council is the elected legislative body for Pierce County and consists of seven members elected by district. The council is vested with all law-making power granted by its charter and by the State of Washington, sets county policy through the adoption of ordinances and resolutions, approves the annual budget and directs the use of county funds. The seven members of the County Council are elected from each of seven contiguous and equally populated districts, with each councilmember representing approximately 114,000 county residents. Each county councilmember is elected to serve a four-year term.

* Dave Morell (R), District 1
* Hans Zeiger (R), District 2
* Amy Cruver (R), District 3
* Ryan Mello (D), District 4
* Marty Campbell (D), District 5
* Jani Hitchen (D), District 6
* Derek Young (D), District 7—Chair[20]

Beneath the Washington Supreme Court and the Washington Court of Appeals, judicial power rests first in the Pierce County Superior Court, which is divided into 22 departments - each headed by an elected judge, as well as a clerk of the superior court and eight superior court commissioners. Below that is the Pierce County District Court - with eight elected judges, the Tacoma Municipal Court - with three elected judges, and the Pierce County Juvenile Court. Tacoma houses the Pierce County Courthouse.

The people of Pierce County voted on November 5, 1918, to create a Port District. The Port of Tacoma is Pierce County's only Port District. It is governed Port of Tacoma Commission - five Port Commissioners, who are elected at-large countywide and serve four-year terms. The Port of Tacoma owns six container terminals, one grain terminal and an auto import terminal; all of which are leased out to foreign and domestic corporations to operate. In addition, the port owns and operates two breakbulk cargo terminals.

Many charter amendments have been on the ballot in the last five years, but sequential numbering does not carry over from year-to-year.

## Politics[edit | edit source]

Pierce County is split between four U.S. congressional districts:[23]

* Washington's 6th congressional district includes the city of Tacoma west of Washington State Route 7, Gig Harbor, and the Key Peninsula. The 6th district has been represented since 2013 by Derek Kilmer (Democrat).
* Washington's 8th congressional district covers the eastern half of the county, from Bonney Lake east to Mt. Rainier. The 8th district has been represented since 2019 by Kim Schrier (Democrat).
* Washington's 9th congressional district, which following the 2011 redistricting now only includes Northeast Tacoma and the Port of Tacoma in Pierce County. The 9th district has been represented since 1997 by Adam Smith (Democrat).
* Washington's 10th congressional district, newly created in the 2011 redistricting, contains much of the territory in Pierce County lost by the 9th Congressional district including parts of the city of Tacoma south of I-5 and east of Washington State Route 7, Puyallup, Lakewood, and Joint Base Lewis-McChord. The 10th district is currently represented by Marilyn Strickland, a former Mayor of Tacoma. Prior to Strickland, the district was represented by Denny Heck (Democrat), who was the first to represent the 10th congressional district after its creation in 2013.

United States presidential election results for Pierce County, Washington[24] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

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No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 197,730  | 42.61%  | 249,506  | 53.76% | 16,845  | 3.63%
2016 | 146,824  | 40.78%  | 172,538  | 47.92% | 40,655  | 11.29%
2012 | 148,467  | 43.04%  | 186,430  | 54.05% | 10,035  | 2.91%
2008 | 141,673  | 42.76%  | 181,824  | 54.88% | 7,839  | 2.37%
2004 | 150,783  | 48.05%  | 158,231  | 50.43% | 4,779  | 1.52%
2000 | 118,431  | 44.04%  | 138,249  | 51.41% | 12,246  | 4.55%
1996 | 89,295  | 37.35%  | 120,893  | 50.57% | 28,885  | 12.08%
1992 | 77,410  | 32.10%  | 102,243  | 42.40% | 61,496  | 25.50%
1988 | 94,167  | 48.42%  | 96,688  | 49.72% | 3,618  | 1.86%
1984 | 112,877  | 57.85% | 79,498  | 40.75%  | 2,733  | 1.40%
1980 | 90,247  | 51.13% | 64,444  | 36.51%  | 21,820  | 12.36%
1976 | 74,668  | 46.92%  | 78,238  | 49.16% | 6,242  | 3.92%
1972 | 84,265  | 56.91% | 56,933  | 38.45%  | 6,867  | 4.64%
1968 | 51,436  | 37.90%  | 72,670  | 53.54% | 11,612  | 8.56%
1964 | 40,164  | 31.88%  | 84,566  | 67.13% | 1,243  | 0.99%
1960 | 57,188  | 46.32%  | 64,292  | 52.07% | 1,995  | 1.62%
1956 | 57,078  | 49.40%  | 57,728  | 49.96% | 738  | 0.64%
1952 | 56,515  | 49.66% | 56,132  | 49.32%  | 1,164  | 1.02%
1948 | 34,396  | 37.89%  | 50,674  | 55.82% | 5,716  | 6.30%
1944 | 31,626  | 36.62%  | 53,269  | 61.68% | 1,475  | 1.71%
1940 | 27,188  | 33.85%  | 51,670  | 64.34% | 1,453  | 1.81%
1936 | 18,331  | 26.23%  | 48,988  | 70.09% | 2,572  | 3.68%
1932 | 19,006  | 29.09%  | 38,451  | 58.86% | 7,870  | 12.05%
1928 | 35,748  | 66.02% | 17,402  | 32.14%  | 996  | 1.84%
1924 | 21,376  | 47.70% | 4,232  | 9.44%  | 19,210  | 42.86%
1920 | 22,048  | 51.89% | 8,259  | 19.44%  | 12,184  | 28.67%
1916 | 16,780  | 43.28%  | 18,940  | 48.85% | 3,050  | 7.87%
1912 | 6,517  | 20.59%  | 6,855  | 21.65%  | 18,285  | 57.76%
1908 | 10,935  | 60.84% | 4,936  | 27.46%  | 2,103  | 11.70%
1904 | 9,773  | 70.63% | 2,351  | 16.99%  | 1,712  | 12.37%
1900 | 6,269  | 59.20% | 3,702  | 34.96%  | 618  | 5.84%
1896 | 4,651  | 45.14%  | 5,570  | 54.06% | 82  | 0.80%
1892 | 3,954  | 37.07% | 3,621  | 33.95%  | 3,090  | 28.97%

## Economy[edit | edit source]

The largest public employer in Piece County is Joint Base Lewis–McChord, which contributes about 60,000 military and civilian jobs.[25] The largest private employers are MultiCare Health System and CHI Franciscan Health, which operate the two largest hospitals in the county.[26]

Pierce County agriculture has been an instrumental part of the local economy for almost 150 years. However, in the last half century much of the county's farmland has been transformed into residential areas. Pierce County has taken aggressive steps to reverse this trend; the county recently created the Pierce County Farm Advisory Commission.[27] This advisory board helps local farmers with the interpretation of land use regulations as well as the promotion of local produce. The creation of the Pierce County Farm Advisory Commission will attempt to save the remaining 48,000[28] acres of Pierce County farmland. Despite the loss of farmland, Pierce County continues to produce about 50% of the United States' rhubarb.[29]

## Education[edit | edit source]

The following is a list of the public school districts with territory, no matter how small, in Pierce County (even if their schools and/or district administrations are in other counties):[30]

* Auburn School District
* Bethel School District
* Carbonado School District
* Clover Park School District
* Dieringer School District
* Eatonville School District
* Fife School District
* Franklin Pierce School District
* Orting School District
* Peninsula School District
* Puyallup School District
* Steilacoom Historical School District
* Sumner-Bonney Lake School District
* Tacoma Public Schools
* University Place School District
* White River School District
* Yelm School District

Private schools include the Cascade Christian Schools group, Life Christian School and Academy, Bellarmine, Annie Wright Schools and Charles Wright Academy. Libraries include the Pierce County Library System, the Tacoma Library System, and the Puyallup Public Library.

### Higher education[edit | edit source]

The largest institutions of higher education are University of Puget Sound in Tacoma and Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland. Both are religiously affiliated private universities.

Tacoma Community College in Tacoma and Pierce College in Steilacoom are public community colleges. Bates Technical College and Clover Park Technical College are public technical colleges.

Central Washington University has a branch campus in Steilacoom. University of Washington Tacoma is a branch campus of University of Washington.The Evergreen State College also has a campus in Tacoma.

### Library system[edit | edit source]

The Pierce County Library is the fourth largest library system in the state.[31] There are currently 20 branches, including:

* Administrative Center and Library
* Anderson Island
* Bonney Lake
* Buckley
* Dupont
* Eatonville
* Fife
* Gig Harbor
* Graham
* Key Center
* Lakewood
* Milton/Edgewood
* Orting
* Parkland/Spanaway
* South Hill
* Steilacoom
* Summit
* Sumner
* Tillicum
* University Place

The Pierce County Library System currently employs 394 people, and serves 579,970 citizens throughout 1,773 square miles. Established in 1944, the library system serves all of unincorporated Pierce County, as well as annexed cities and towns of: Bonney Lake, Buckley, DuPont, Eatonville, Edgewood, Fife, Gig Harbor, Lakewood, Milton, Orting, South Prairie, Steilacoom, Sumner, University Place and Wilkeson.[31] There are currently more than 1 million physical materials (books, videos, etc.) in the system, and more than 480,000 online or downloadable media items.[32] Total 2016 general fund revenue is estimated at $29,709,541.

## Transportation[edit | edit source]

The Port of Tacoma is the sixth busiest container port in North America, and one of the 25 busiest in the world, playing an important part in the local economy. This deep-water port covers 2,400 acres (9.7 km2) and offers a combination of facilities and services including 34 deepwater berths, two million square feet (190,000 m2) of warehouse and office space, and 131 acres (530,000 m2) of industrial yard. An economic impact study showed that more the 28,000 jobs in Pierce County are related to the Port activities.

Pierce County is home to Pierce County Airport and Tacoma Narrows Airport, both are general aviation airports.

Pierce County's official transportation provider is Pierce Transit. It provides buses, paratransit, and rideshare vehicles. The regional Sound Transit runs the Tacoma Link light rail line through downtown Tacoma, and provides several regional express buses. Sound Transit also runs Sounder, the regional commuter railroad through Pierce County that stops in the following places: Sumner, Puyallup, Tacoma, South Tacoma, and Lakewood. Amtrak also travels through the county with a stop in Tacoma. Also, Intercity Transit provides transportation between Tacoma, Lakewood, and Thurston County.

On December 18, 2017, an Amtrak train derailed in the county, at an overpass over southbound Interstate 5, hitting several vehicles. Thirteen of 14 rail cars derailed, killing three on board the train, and injuring dozens more on board and on the highway.[33]

### Major highways[edit | edit source]

* File:I-5.svg Interstate 5
* File:I-705.svg Interstate 705
* File:WA-7.svg State Route 7
* File:WA-16.svg State Route 16 (Tacoma Narrows Bridge)
* File:WA-99.svg State Route 99
* File:WA-167.svg State Route 167
* File:WA-410.svg State Route 410
* File:WA-512.svg State Route 512
* File:WA-509.svg State Route 509

### Ferry routes[edit | edit source]

* Point Defiance–Tahlequah ferry (operated by Washington State Ferries)
* Steilacoom–Anderson Island ferry (operated by Pierce County)

## Arts and culture[edit | edit source]

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Arts organizations within Pierce County include: the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts,[34] Grand Cinema,[35] Lakewood Playhouse, Museum of Glass,[36] Northwest Sinfonietta, Speakeasy Arts Cooperative,[37] Tacoma Art Museum,[38] Tacoma Little Theater, Tacoma Concert Band, Tacoma Musical Playhouse,[39] Tacoma Opera, Symphony Tacoma, Dance Theater Northwest, Washington State History Museum and others. The City of Tacoma celebrates "Art at Work" month every November to encourage participation and support for the arts community in that city. ArtsFund,[40] a regional United Arts Fund, has been supporting the arts community in Pierce County since 1969. LeMay-America’s Car Museum opened in 2012 in Tacoma. The Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, founded in 1983 in Tacoma, houses the world's largest private collection of original manuscripts and documents.[citation needed]

The Pierce County Daffodil Festival and Parade was established in 1934 and is held annually in April.[citation needed] The Washington State Fair is held every September in Puyallup.[citation needed]

## Law enforcement[edit | edit source]

The Pierce County Sheriff's Department was founded in 1853, shortly after incorporation of the county.[41]

Pierce County was noted for gangs, drugs, and criminal activity starting in the mid to late 1980s. Tacoma's Hilltop neighborhood had gangs that were selling crack cocaine and gang violence. Increased police patrols and community watch programs led to reduced crime in the mid to late 2000s. As of 2006, 38% of the methamphetamine labs (138 sites) cleaned up by the Washington Department of Ecology were in Pierce County. This reduction from a high of 589 labs in 2001 comes in part to a new law restricting the sale of pseudoephedrine and in part due to tougher prison sentences for methamphetamine producers.[42]

## Communities[edit | edit source]

### Cities[edit | edit source]

* Auburn (partial)
* Bonney Lake
* Buckley
* DuPont
* Edgewood
* Fife
* Fircrest
* Gig Harbor
* Lakewood
* Milton (partial)
* Orting
* Pacific (partial)
* Puyallup
* Roy
* Ruston
* Sumner
* Tacoma (county seat)
* University Place

### Towns[edit | edit source]

* Carbonado
* Eatonville
* South Prairie
* Steilacoom
* Wilkeson

### Census-designated places[edit | edit source]

* Alder
* Alderton
* Anderson Island
* Artondale
* Ashford
* Browns Point
* Canterwood
* Clear Lake
* Clover Creek
* Crocker
* Dash Point
* Elbe
* Elk Plain
* Fife Heights
* Fort Lewis
* Fox Island
* Frederickson
* Graham
* Greenwater
* Herron Island
* Home
* Kapowsin
* Ketron Island
* Key Center
* La Grande
* Lake Tapps
* Longbranch
* Maplewood
* McChord AFB
* McKenna
* McMillin
* Midland
* North Fort Lewis
* North Puyallup
* Parkland
* Prairie Heights
* Prairie Ridge
* Purdy
* Raft Island
* Rosedale
* South Creek
* South Hill
* Spanaway
* Stansberry Lake
* Summit
* Summit View
* Vaughn
* Waller
* Wauna
* Wollochet

### Unincorporated communities[edit | edit source]

* American Lake
* Bee
* Burnett
* Crescent Valley
* Cromwell
* Electron
* Elgin
* Firwood
* Glencove
* Lakebay
* McNeil Island
* National
* Ohop
* Paradise
* Point Fosdick
* Shore Acres
* Shorewood Beach
* Sunny Bay
* Sunrise Beach
* Sylvan
* Tehaleh
* Victor
* Villa Beach

## See also[edit | edit source]

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Pierce County, Washington
* Tacoma–Pierce County Health Department

## References[edit | edit source]

Specific

1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ Reinartz, Kay. "History of King County Government 1853–2002" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 1, 2007. Retrieved December 29, 2007.
4. ^ "Milestones for Washington State History -- Part 2: 1851 to 1900". HistoryLink.org. March 6, 2003.
5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
6. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". Retrieved April 5, 2022.
7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 26, 2015. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
12. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
13. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
14. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
15. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
16. ^ "Pierce County -- Thumbnail History".
17. ^ "DuPont History Museum | Historic Timeline".
18. ^ Indian Claims Commission Decisions. Native American Rights Fund. 1978.
19. ^ "Pierce County -- Thumbnail History".
20. ^ a b "Pierce County Council | Pierce County, WA - Official Website".
21. ^ "Assessor - Treasurer | Pierce County, WA - Official Website". www.piercecountywa.gov. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
22. ^ "Prosecuting Attorney's Office | Pierce County, WA - Official Website". www.piercecountywa.gov. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
23. ^ "Democracy for Washington: Washington Congressional Districts Map". Retrieved January 18, 2013.
24. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
25. ^ Johnson, Kirk (October 7, 2013). "In Military City, Government Reassurances Are Little Comfort". The New York Times. p. A14. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
26. ^ Cockrell, Debbie (November 30, 2018). "Health care, public sector dominate major employers list as real estate also fuels growth". The News Tribune. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
27. ^ "Pierce County Farm Advisory Commission". Archived from the original on October 14, 2007. Retrieved November 4, 2008.
28. ^ "Preserving Farmland and Farmers: Pierce County Agriculture Pierce County Farm Advisory Commission" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 1, 2006. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
29. ^ "Pierce County Agriculture". Pierce County Washington. Archived from the original on July 31, 2009. Retrieved July 9, 2009.
30. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Pierce County, WA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022. \- Text list
31. ^ a b "Pierce County Library > Library History". www.piercecountylibrary.org. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
32. ^ "Pierce County Library > Fast Facts". www.piercecountylibrary.org. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
33. ^ Veronica Rocha; Brian Ries; Amanda Wills (December 18, 2017). "Amtrak train derails in Washington: Live updates". CNN. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
34. ^ "Energizing community through live performance - Tacoma Arts Live". www.tacomaartslive.org. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
35. ^ "Independent, International, and Local Films | Grand Cinema". www.grandcinema.com. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
36. ^ "Museum of Glass". Museum of Glass. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
37. ^ "Speakeasy Arts Cooperative". www.speakeasyartscooperative.com. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
38. ^ "Tacoma Art Museum". Tacoma Art Museum. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
39. ^ "TMP: Tacoma Musical Playhouse". www.tmp.org. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
40. ^ "ArtsFund | Donate to ArtsFund and help the King & Pierce County performing arts community build a rich culture in the arts". www.artsfund.org. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
41. ^ "Sheriff | Pierce County, WA - Official Website". www.piercecountywa.gov. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
42. ^ Mulick, Stacey; Meth battle sees new fronts Archived May 24, 2007, at the Wayback Machine; The News Tribune (Tacoma); February 19, 2007.

General

* Pierce County, Washington@USCB United States Census Bureau

## External links[edit | edit source]

* File:Commons-logo.svg Media related to Pierce County, Washington at Wikimedia Commons
* Official website

Places adjacent to Pierce County, Washington

| Kitsap County | King County | Kittitas County

|
|

| North |
Mason County |

WestPierce County, WashingtonEast

| Yakima County
| South |
Thurston County | Lewis County |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Pierce County, Washington, United States

County seat: Tacoma

Cities|

* Auburn‡
* Bonney Lake
* Buckley
* DuPont
* Edgewood
* Enumclaw‡
* Fife
* Fircrest
* Gig Harbor
* Lakewood
* Milton‡
* Orting
* Pacific‡
* Puyallup
* Roy
* Ruston
* Sumner
* Tacoma
* University Place

Map of Washington highlighting Pierce County

Towns|

* Carbonado
* Eatonville
* South Prairie
* Steilacoom
* Wilkeson

CDPs|

* Alder
* Alderton
* Anderson Island
* Artondale
* Ashford
* Browns Point
* Canterwood
* Clear Lake
* Clover Creek
* Crocker
* Dash Point
* Elbe
* Elk Plain
* Fife Heights
* Fort Lewis
* Fox Island
* Frederickson
* Graham
* Greenwater
* Herron Island
* Home
* Kapowsin
* Ketron Island
* Key Center
* La Grande
* Lake Tapps
* Longbranch
* Maplewood
* McChord AFB
* McKenna
* McMillin
* Midland
* North Fort Lewis
* North Puyallup
* Parkland
* Prairie Heights
* Prairie Ridge
* Purdy
* Raft Island
* Rosedale
* South Creek
* South Hill
* Spanaway
* Stansberry Lake
* Summit
* Summit View
* Tehaleh
* Vaughn
* Waller
* Wauna
* Wollochet

Other
communities|

* Burnett
* Cromwell
* Electron
* Glencove
* Lakebay
* Leber
* McNeil Island
* Paradise

Indian reservation|

* Muckleshoot‡
* Puyallup

Military bases|

* Joint Base Lewis–McChord (Fort Lewis, McChord Field)

Ghost towns|

* Fairfax
* Hillhurst
* Melmont

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Washington

Olympia (capital)

Topics|

* Outline
* Municipalities
* Census-designated places
* Federal lands
* Indian reservations
* Geography
* Earthquakes
* History
* Highways
* Music
* Parks
* People
* Symbols
* Tourist attractions

Society|

* Cannabis
* Crime
* Culture
* Demographics
* Economy
* Education
* Politics

Politics|

| Government|

* Law
* Constitution
* Governors
* Legislature
* Legislative districts
* House
* Senate
* Ballot measures
* Congressional delegations
* Congressional districts
* City governments

|

State agencies|

* Agriculture
* Archaeology and Historic Preservation
* Commerce
* Corrections
* Early Learning
* Ecology
* Employment Security
* Enterprise Services
* Financial Institutions
* Fish and Wildlife
* Health
* Information Services
* Labor and Industries
* Licensing
* Liquor and Cannabis Board
* Military
* Natural Resources
* Parks
* Institute for Public Policy
* Public Disclosure Commission
* Public Stadium Authority
* Retirement Systems
* Revenue
* Services for the Blind
* Social and Health Services
* State Patrol
* Student Achievement Council
* Transportation
* Utilities and Transportation

Regions|

| Western|

* Kitsap Peninsula
* Long Beach Peninsula
* Olympic Peninsula
* Puget Sound
* San Juan Islands
* Skagit Valley

|

Eastern/Inland|

* Central Washington
* Columbia Plateau
* Methow Valley
* Okanogan Country
* Palouse
* Yakima Valley

Shared|

* Cascade Range
* Columbia Gorge
* Columbia River

Largest
cities|

* Seattle
* Spokane
* Tacoma
* Vancouver
* Bellevue
* Kent
* Everett
* Renton
* Spokane Valley
* Federal Way
* Yakima
* Kirkland
* Bellingham
* Auburn
* Kennewick
* Pasco
* Redmond
* Marysville
* Sammamish
* Lakewood
* Richland
* Shoreline
* Olympia
* Lacey
* Burien

Metropolitan
areas|

* Greater Seattle
* Greater Spokane
* Tri-Cities metropolitan area
* Wenatchee metropolitan area
* Greater Portland and Vancouver

Counties|

* Adams
* Asotin
* Benton
* Chelan
* Clallam
* Clark
* Columbia
* Cowlitz
* Douglas
* Ferry
* Franklin
* Garfield
* Grant
* Grays Harbor
* Island
* Jefferson
* King
* Kitsap
* Kittitas
* Klickitat
* Lewis
* Lincoln
* Mason
* Okanogan
* Pacific
* Pend Oreille
* Pierce
* San Juan
* Skagit
* Skamania
* Snohomish
* Spokane
* Stevens
* Thurston
* Wahkiakum
* Walla Walla
* Whatcom
* Whitman
* Yakima

* '
* '

* v
* t
* e

Seattle metropolitan area

Major cities|

* Seattle
* Tacoma
* Bellevue
* Kent
* Everett

Other cities|

* Bremerton
* Mount Vernon
* Oak Harbor
* Silverdale
* Anacortes
* Shelton
* Olympia

Counties|

* King
* Pierce
* Snohomish
* Thurston
* Kitsap
* Skagit
* Island
* Mason

Coordinates: 47°03′N 122°07′W﻿ / ﻿47.05°N 122.11°W﻿ / 47.05; -122.11
*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
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