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82-576: The Nisqually River forms the Pierce – Lewis county line, as well as the boundary between Pierce and Thurston counties. The river rises in southern Mount Rainier National Park , fed by the Nisqually Glacier on the southern side of Mt. Rainier. It flows west through Ashford and Elbe along Route 706 . It is then impounded for hydroelectricity by the Alder Dam , completed in 1944, and

164-900: 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. Libraries include the Pierce County Library System , the Tacoma Library System, and the Puyallup Public Library. The Pierce County Library is the fourth largest library system in the state. There are currently 20 branches, including: The Pierce County Library System currently employs 394 people, and serves 579,970 citizens throughout 1,773 square miles. Established in 1944,

246-470: 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. The area was originally home to the present-day Nisqually, Puyallup, Squaxin, Steilacoom, and Muckleshoot tribes. The majority of Puyallup villages were situated in proximity to

328-565: A larger margin for the Democrats than that seen in any previous election up to that point in time. Slightly more than 29% of Washington state's population reside in King County, making it a significant factor for the Democrats in a few recent close statewide elections. In the 2000 Senate election , King County's margin of victory pushed Maria Cantwell 's total over that of incumbent Republican Slade Gorton , defeating and unseating him in

410-717: 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. 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. The Assessor-Treasurer Mike Lonergan, auditor Julie Anderson, Prosecuting Attorney Mary Robnett, and Sheriff Ed Troyer . The Pierce County Council

492-513: A peninsular independence movement; King County lost what is now Kitsap County but preserved its entertainment industry. Coal was discovered in 1853 by M. Bigelow along the Black River , and in subsequent decades several companies formed to mine coal around Lake Washington and deliver it to Seattle. The Seattle and Walla Walla Railroad started servicing the Renton coal fields in 1877, and

574-540: A prominent activist and leader during the civil rights movement . The change was approved by the state government in 2005. It is one of three Washington counties that are included in the Seattle – Tacoma – Bellevue metropolitan statistical area along with Snohomish County to the north and Pierce County to the south. About two-thirds of King County's population lives in Seattle's suburbs , which largely developed in

656-418: A total of $ 123 million was spent on homelessness services by local governments in King County, including cities and the regional authority. The regional authority's five-year plan, released in 2023, estimates that $ 8 billion in capital costs would be required to build and staff 18,205 new units of temporary and transitional housing to address the homelessness crisis. The King County Executive heads

738-668: Is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington . The population was 2,269,675 in the 2020 census , making it the most populous county in Washington , and the 12th-most populous in the United States. The county seat is Seattle , also the state's most populous city . Originally named after US representative, senator, and then vice president-elect William R. King in 1852, the county government amended its designation in 1986 to honor Martin Luther King Jr. ,

820-546: Is connected to West Seattle at Fauntleroy and also has service to Southworth in Kitsap County. The county government's Marine Division operates the King County Water Taxi , a passenger ferry service that connects Downtown Seattle to West Seattle and Vashon Island . The passenger-only Kitsap Fast Ferries system operated by Kitsap Transit connects a terminal near Colman Dock to communities on

902-717: Is elected to serve a four-year term. 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 23 departments - each headed by an elected judge, as well as a clerk of the superior court and nine superior court commissioners. Below that is the Pierce County District Court - with eight elected judges,

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984-555: Is estimated at $ 29,709,541. 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 km ) and offers a combination of facilities and services including 34 deepwater berths, two million square feet (190,000 m ) of warehouse and office space, and 131 acres (530,000 m ) of industrial yard. An economic impact study showed that more

1066-469: Is held every September in Puyallup. The Pierce County Sheriff's Department was founded in 1853, shortly after incorporation of the county. 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

1148-538: Is home two federally-recognized tribes, the Muckleshoot tribe and the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe tribe, and other unrecognized groups. The Muckleshoot Indian Reservation is located southeast of Auburn and is home to a resident population of 3,606 as of the 2000 census. The Snoqualmie tribe's casino property was federally recognized as their reservation in 2006, however few tribe members live near

1230-561: Is land and 137 square miles (350 km ) (7.6%) is water. The highest natural point in Washington, Mount Rainier , at 14,410 feet (4,390 m), is located in Pierce County. Rainier is locally called Tahoma or Takhoma, both native names for the mountain. Pierce County also contains the Clearwater Wilderness area. As of the 2020 census , there were 921,130 people, and 339,840 households, and 230,520 families in

1312-672: 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

1394-524: Is the traditional territorial center of the Nisqually tribe , for which it was named, though they also lived throughout southern Puget Sound. The Treaty of Medicine Creek , one of the major Northwest treaties between Washington territory and the native population of Puget Sound, was signed near a creek at the delta of the Nisqually River. The Nisqually people were moved from the region surrounding

1476-567: Is used in the flag. Martin Luther King Jr. had visited King County once, for three days in November 1961. According to the United States Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 2,307 square miles (5,980 km ), of which 2,116 square miles (5,480 km ) is land and 191 square miles (490 km ) (8.3%) is water. King County has nearly twice the land area of the state of Rhode Island . The highest point in

1558-770: Is vested in the King County Superior Court and the King County District Court . Seattle houses the King County Courthouse . The county government manages elections, records, licensing, parks, wastewater treatment, and public health, among other duties. It also handles the criminal legal and incarceration system for all cities and unincorporated areas within King County. It has a sheriff's department that also provides basic policing to unincorporated areas. The Department of Local Services, established in 2019, serves as

1640-458: The 8th district includes areas east of Lake Sammamish and the immediate Green River Valley; and the 9th district comprises the southern areas of the county from Federal Way to Seattle, Mercer Island, and part of Bellevue. In the state legislature , the county has 17 districts that each elect two House members and one senator . The majority of state legislators from King County are Democrats; only four House members and two senators are from

1722-851: The Cascade Christian Schools group, Life Christian School and Academy, Bellarmine, Annie Wright Schools and Charles Wright Academy. Chief Leschi Schools , affiliated with the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), is in the county. 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

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1804-624: The Kitsap Peninsula . The center of population of the state of Washington in 2010 was located in eastern King County ( 47°19′51″N 121°37′12″W  /  47.330750°N 121.619994°W  / 47.330750; -121.619994  ( Washington center of population, 2010 ) ). King County's own center of population was located on Mercer Island ( 47°32′54″N 122°13′48″W  /  47.548320°N 122.229983°W  / 47.548320; -122.229983  ( King County center of population, 2010 ) ). As of

1886-541: The LaGrande Dam , completed in 1912 and rebuilt in 1945. They hold back Alder Lake and the inaccessible two-mile long LaGrande Reservoir. Before the construction of the dams, a natural fish barrier prevented anadromous fish from ascending the Nisqually above what is now La Grande Reservoir. Below Elbe, the river flows northwest through the foothills, passes near McKenna, Washington , and through Fort Lewis and

1968-648: The Muckleshoot tribal groups. In the first winter after the Denny Party landed at Alki Point , the settlement at the point consisted of a few dozen settlers and over a thousand Native Americans. The local tribes provided the settlers with construction labor, domestic service, and help with subsistence activities. On December 22, 1852, the Oregon Territory legislature formed King County out of territory from within Thurston County . The county

2050-725: The Newcastle fields in 1878. By 1880, King County produced 22% of the coal mined on the West Coast, most of that coal being found within the Renton Formation 's Muldoon coal seam. On February 24, 1986, the King County Council approved a motion to rename the county to honor civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. (no relation to William R. King), preserving the name "King County" while changing its namesake. The motion stated, among other reasons for

2132-756: The Nisqually Indian Reservation . The river crosses beneath Interstate 5 and into the Nisqually River Delta, which is the location of the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge . The delta as a whole, including federal, state, and private land, was designated in 1971 as a National Natural Landmark . The Nisqually enters the Nisqually Reach portion of Puget Sound approximately 15 miles (24 km) east of Olympia . The Nisqually River

2214-636: The Pierce Transit of Pierce County also operate routes that serve portions of King County. Most transit modes in the county use the ORCA card , a smart fare card system introduced in 2009. The county is home to three major ferry terminals that are served by Washington State Ferries , a state-run passenger and automobile ferry system. Colman Dock in Downtown Seattle is served by routes from Bainbridge Island and Bremerton ; Vashon Island

2296-528: 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. According to the United States Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 1,806 square miles (4,680 km ), of which 1,670 square miles (4,300 km )

2378-484: The Seattle metropolitan area (formally the Seattle -Tacoma- Bellevue , WA, metropolitan statistical area ). Pierce County is home to the volcano Mount Rainier , the tallest mountain 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

2460-665: 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

2542-623: The United States Senate . In 2004, King County gave a lead to Democrat Christine Gregoire in her 2004 victory gubernatorial election , pushing her ahead of Republican Dino Rossi , who led by 261 votes after the initial count. Rossi resided in the county at the time of the election, in Sammamish . In the 2020 presidential election , Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump by earning 75% of King County votes. Governor Jay Inslee also defeated Republican challenger Loren Culp with 74% of

Nisqually River - Misplaced Pages Continue

2624-407: The city streetcar system . Metro was the seventh-largest transit bus agency in the United States by ridership in 2019, with 121.3 million annual passenger trips and 400,000 per weekday. Sound Transit manages Link light rail , Sounder commuter rail , and Sound Transit Express buses in King County that provide connections to adjacent counties. The Community Transit of Snohomish County and

2706-639: The point-in-time count system, estimates 14,149 people in the county have experienced homelessness; the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) adopted a different methodology based on the number of people seeking services and estimated that 53,532 people in the county had been homeless at some point in 2022. According to a survey collected by service providers for the county government, 68.5 percent of respondents said they last had stable housing in King County and 10.8 percent had lived elsewhere in

2788-604: 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,

2870-464: The King County vote in the concurrent gubernatorial election . These were the largest margins by any candidate in a presidential race and a gubernatorial race since the county's creation. In 2004, voters passed a referendum reducing the size of the County Council from 13 members to 9. This resulted in all council seats ending up on the 2005 ballot. Some residents of eastern King County have long desired to secede and form their own county. This movement

2952-519: The North Pacific fishing fleet and the largest homeport for fishermen in the U.S. West Coast; four container ship terminals; two cruise ship terminals; the largest grain export terminal in the U.S. Pacific Northwest; three public marinas ; 22 public parks; and nearly 5,000 acres of industrial lands in the Ballard - Interbay and Lower Duwamish industrial centers . The King County Council

3034-749: The Republican Party. The people of King County voted on September 5, 1911, to create a Port District. King County's Port of Seattle was established as the first Port District in Washington State. The Port of Seattle is King County's only Port District. It is governed by five Port Commissioners, who are elected countywide and serve four-year terms. The Port of Seattle owns and operates many properties on behalf of King County's citizens, including Sea-Tac International Airport ; many seaport facilities around Elliott Bay , including its original property, publicly owned Fishermen's Terminal , home to

3116-843: 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,

3198-406: 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. The median income for a household in the county was $ 57,869 and the median income for

3280-460: The area that would eventually develop into Tacoma, while Nisqually settlements were primarily located in what is now southern Pierce County. The tribes had two main routes: a northern path traversing Naches Pass and a southern route following the Mashel River, which connected them to Eastern Washington tribes. Trade networks among the region's indigenous peoples were well-established long before

3362-619: The arrival of white settlers. 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 . 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

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3444-472: The basin. A replacement for the causeway is estimated to cost $ 4.2 billion. In the 1960s and 1970s, the Nisqually pursued their fishing rights along the river, which were stated in the Treaty of Medicine Creek but had been ignored. Nisqually tribal members, acting in concert with the nearby Puyallup tribe , endured harassment and arrest to fish in traditional waters. This led to the 1974 Boldt Decision , also known as, U.S. V. Washington 1974, which affirmed

3526-478: 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. On December 10, 2004, a historical court convened in Pierce County ruled "as

3608-469: The change, that " William Rufus DeVane King was a slaveowner " who "earned income and maintained his lifestyle by oppressing and exploiting other human beings," while Martin Luther King's "contributions are well-documented and celebrated by millions throughout this nation and the world, and embody the attributes for which the citizens of King County can be proud, and claim as their own." Because only

3690-480: The city of Seattle. According to data from the KCRHA, since late 2022 over 90 percent of shelter beds have been occupied on a consistent basis. Additional shelters, parking lots, and encampment sites are operated by charity organizations and churches in the area; during severe weather events such as heat waves and cold snaps, local governments open additional shelter spaces, but these often reach capacity. In 2021,

3772-618: The county is Mount Daniel at 7,959 feet (2,426 meters) above sea level. King County borders Snohomish County to the north, Kitsap County to the west, Kittitas County to the east, and Pierce County to the south. It also shares a small border with Chelan County to the northeast. King County includes Vashon Island and Maury Island in Puget Sound . The county has 760 lakes and 3,000 miles (4,800 km) of streams and rivers. King County has been identified as vulnerable to higher risks of flooding caused by climate change due to

3854-476: The county was 56.1% White (54.2% Non-Hispanic White ), 6.7% African American (6.5% Non-Hispanic Black), 19.9% Asian (19.8% Non-Hispanic Asian), 0.9% Pacific Islander (0.8% Non-Hispanic Pacific Islander), 0.5% Native American , 5.2% from other races, and 10.4% from two or more races . Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 10.7% of the population. As of the 2010 census , there were 1,931,249 people, 789,232 households, and 461,510 families residing in

3936-427: 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. 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 . Of the 299,918 households, 35.3% had children under

4018-544: The county's executive branch; the position has been held by Dow Constantine since 2009. The King County Prosecuting Attorney ( Leesa Manion since 2023), Elections Director, and the King County Assessor are elected executive positions. The King County Sheriff is appointed by the county executive and approved by the county council. It was previously an elected position from 1996 until 2020 and has been held by Patti Cole-Tindall since 2022. Judicial power

4100-521: The county's logo from an imperial crown to an image of Martin Luther King Jr. On March 12, 2007, the new logo was unveiled. The new logo design was developed by the Gable Design Group and the specific image was selected by a committee consisting of King County Executive Ron Sims , Council Chair Larry Gossett, Prosecutor Norm Maleng , Sheriff Sue Rahr, District Court Judge Corrina Harn, and Superior Court Judge Michael Trickey. The same logo

4182-480: The county. The population density was 552.2 people per square mile (213.2 people/km ). There were 359,489 housing units. The racial makeup of the county was 73.1% White, 8.0% African American, 1.8% Native American, 7.4% Asian, 1.8% Pacific Islander, and 7.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 12.2% of the population. 23.2% of the population was under 18, and 6.1% of people were under 5. 14.4% of people were over 65. The gender ratio

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4264-460: The county. The population density was 912.9 inhabitants per square mile (352.5/km ). There were 851,261 housing units at an average density of 402.4 per square mile (155.4/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 68.7% White (64.8% Non-Hispanic White ), 6.2% African American , 14.6% Asian , 0.8% Pacific Islander , 0.8% Native American , 3.9% from other races, and 5.0% from two or more races . Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 8.9% of

4346-452: The fourth quarter of 2021, the median home value in King County was $ 817,547, an increase of 19.6% from the prior year. In 2021 King County experienced its first population decline in 50 years. As of the 2020 census , there were 2,269,675 people, 917,764 households, and 537,466 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,073.0 inhabitants per square mile (414.3/km ) There were 969,234 housing units. The racial makeup of

4428-577: 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 acres of Pierce County farmland. Despite the loss of farmland, Pierce County continues to produce about 50% of the United States' rhubarb . The following is a list of the public school districts in Pierce County, including those that overlap with other counties: Private schools include

4510-544: The late 20th century and early 21st century as bedroom communities before becoming job centers for the technology industry . When Europeans arrived in the region that would become King County, it was inhabited by several Coast Salish groups. Villages around the site that would become Seattle were primarily populated by the Duwamish people . The Snoqualmie Indian Tribe occupied the area that would become eastern King County. The Green River and White River were home for

4592-452: 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. 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. Total 2016 general fund revenue

4674-551: The local arts community. ArtsFund, a regional United Arts Fund, has assisted the arts community in Pierce County. In 2012, LeMay-America's Car Museum opened its doors in Tacoma. Additionally, the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum , houses a large collection of original manuscripts and documents. The Pierce County Daffodil Festival and Parade is held annually in April. The Washington State Fair

4756-574: The local government for populated unincorporated areas. King County is part of four congressional districts that each elect a member of the United States House of Representatives ; the boundaries are redrawn every 10 years based on the results of the decennial census. The 1st district comprises the Eastside cities north of Bellevue ; the 7th district includes northern Seattle, West Seattle, Burien, Normandy Park, and Vashon Island;

4838-739: 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, 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

4920-586: The mid to late 2000s. As of 2006, 38% of the methamphetamine labs (138 sites) cleaned up by the Washington State 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. 47°03′N 122°07′W  /  47.05°N 122.11°W  / 47.05; -122.11 King County, Washington King County

5002-548: The number of waterways in the area. The county's oceanic ecosystems are predicted to face harmful chemical changes, while the mountainous ecosystems could experience a decrease in ice and snow. Since the mid-2000s, the county government has adopted policies to mitigate the effects of climate change and reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the region. The King County Metro serves the county with local routes, paratransit , vanpools , and rideshare in select areas. It also operates an electric trolleybus network in Seattle as well as

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5084-403: The population was 921,130, up from 795,225 in 2010, making it the second-most populous county in Washington, behind King County , and the 59th-most populous in the United States. The county seat and largest city is Tacoma . Formed out of Thurston County on December 22, 1852, by the legislature of Oregon Territory , it was named for U.S. President Franklin Pierce . Pierce County is in

5166-498: The population was claimed as members by religious congregations, although members of historically African-American denominations were underrepresented due to incomplete information. In 2014, King County had 944 religious organizations, the 8th most out of all US counties. King County has the third largest population of homeless or unsheltered people in the United States according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The agency's January 2023 report, based on

5248-445: The population. In terms of ancestry, 17.1% were German , 11.6% were English , 11.1% were Irish , 5.5% were Norwegian , and 2.9% were American . Of the 789,232 households, 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 41.5% were non-families, and 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size

5330-517: 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. Pierce County is split between three U.S. congressional districts: The largest public employer in Pierce County is Joint Base Lewis–McChord , which contributes about 60,000 military and civilian jobs. The largest private employers are MultiCare Health System and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health , which operate

5412-503: 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 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

5494-424: The reservation to build Fort Lewis. Several bridges were built across the Nisqually River in the 20th century for automobile traffic. The northbound bridge that carries Interstate 5 near the river's mouth was opened in 1938 for U.S. Route 99 and was followed by a southbound span in 1968. The bridges use a filled causeway to cross the delta that altered the river's course and contributed to increased flood risks in

5576-656: The reservation. In 2010 statistics, the largest religious group in King County was the Archdiocese of Seattle , with 278,340 Catholics worshipping at 71 parishes, followed by 95,218 non-denominational adherents with 159 congregations, 56,985 LDS Mormons with 110 congregations, 25,937 AoG Pentecostals with 63 congregations, 25,789 ELCA Lutherans with 68 congregations, 24,909 PC-USA Presbyterians with 54 congregations, 18,185 Mahayana Buddhists with 39 congregations, 18,161 UMC Methodists with 50 congregations, 14,971 TEC Episcopalians with 35 congregations, and 12,531 ABCUSA Baptists with 42 congregations. Altogether, 37.6% of

5658-413: The rights of several native tribes in Washington to harvest up to 50% of the return of salmon run within their traditional territories. "Nisqually-1", a specimen of Populus trichocarpa , grew on the bank of the Nisqually River. Its genome sequence was published in 2006. Pierce County, Washington Pierce County is a county in the U.S. state of Washington . As of the 2020 census ,

5740-400: The river after the signing of the treaty, settling on a reservation on Puget Sound east of Olympia. After a period of resistance by the Nisqually tribe, including such leaders as Chief Leschi , a new reservation three times the size of the original was established on the river. In 1917, the US Army occupied the Nisqually reservation, ordered people from their homes, and later condemned most of

5822-406: The state can charter counties, the change was not made official until April 19, 2005, when Governor Christine Gregoire signed into law Senate Bill 5332, which provided that "King county is renamed in honor of the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr." effective July 24, 2005. The County Council voted on February 27, 2006, to adopt the proposal sponsored by Councilmember Larry Gossett to change

5904-472: The state. Approximately 57 percent of the homeless population counted by HUD in King County was classified as unsheltered, either living in vehicles, encampments in public spaces, or other places. The number of unsheltered individuals increased significantly in the late 2010s, leading to clearing of encampments and other structures by local governments. The county has 5,115 emergency shelter beds and tiny house villages, of which 67 percent are in

5986-443: 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. When the natives refused to leave, Isaac Stevens would eventually call martial law and - after

6068-743: The train, and injuring dozens more on board and on the highway. Pierce County is home to a diverse array of arts organizations, including the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts, Grand Cinema, Lakewood Playhouse, Museum of Glass, Northwest Sinfonietta, Speakeasy Arts Cooperative, Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma Little Theater, Tacoma Concert Band, Tacoma Musical Playhouse, Tacoma Opera, Symphony Tacoma, Dance Theater Northwest, Washington State History Museum , and others. The city of Tacoma hosts an annual event called "Art at Work" month every November, promoting participation in and support for

6150-434: The two largest hospitals in the county. 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. This advisory board helps local farmers with

6232-557: 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. 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

6314-472: Was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.05. The median age was 37.1 years. The median income for a household in the county was $ 68,065 and the median income for a family was $ 87,010. Males had a median income of $ 62,373 versus $ 45,761 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 38,211. About 6.4% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line , including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over. King County

6396-550: Was 49.8% female and 50.2% male. The average household size was 2.65 people. The median income for a household was $ 82,574, but the per capita income was $ 39,036. 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line . As of the 2010 census , there were 795,225 people, 299,918 households, and 202,174 families residing in the county. The population density was 476.3 people per square mile (183.9 people/km ). There were 325,375 housing units at an average density of 194.9 units per square mile (75.3 units/km ). The racial makeup of

6478-497: Was established in 1969 and consists of nine members elected by districts to four-year terms. King County and Seattle are strongly liberal; the area is a bastion for the Democratic Party . No Republican presidential candidate has carried the county votes since Ronald Reagan 's landslide reelection victory in 1984 . In the 2008 election , Barack Obama defeated John McCain in the county by 42 percentage points,

6560-566: Was most vocal in the mid-1990s (see Cedar County, Washington ). It has recently been revived as Cascade County. According to a map published by the Seattle Times , four different geographic borders were considered. Additional plans (see Skykomish County, Washington ) also exist or have existed. School districts in the county include: Most of King County is served by the King County Library System , with

6642-683: Was named after Alabamian William R. King , who had just been elected Vice President of the United States under President Franklin Pierce . Seattle was made the county seat on January 11, 1853. The area became part of the Washington Territory when it was created later that year. King County originally extended to the Olympic Peninsula . According to historian Bill Speidel , when peninsular prohibitionists threatened to shut down Seattle's saloons, Doc Maynard engineered

6724-630: 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

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