Counties with Population Density Less Than 100 Persons per Square Mile
This information has been prepared by the Office of Financial Management (OFM) in response to legislation passed by the 1999 Washington State Legislature and signed into law defining "rural" counties as those with population density of fewer than one hundred persons per square mile.
Note: This is not the U.S. Census Bureau definition of "rural;" it should be used only in the context of the laws using this specific definition.
Washington state laws that refer to population density
As of April 1, 2007, the following counties had a population density of fewer than one hundred persons per square mile. These calculations are based on the OFM April 1, 2007, population estimates, released June 27, 2007. Actual population densities in persons per square mile are shown in parentheses. The land area measurement excludes lakes and other water areas within.
| Adams (9.14) | Grant (30.77) | Pend Oreille (9.00) |
| Asotin (33.53) | Grays Harbor (36.93) | San Juan (90.90) |
| Benton (95.65) | Jefferson (15.76) | Skagit (66.45) |
| Chelan (24.37) | Kittitas (16.67) | Skamania (6.46) |
| Clallam (39.38) | Klickitat (10.63) | Stevens (17.35) |
| Columbia (4.72) | Lewis (30.78) | Wahkiakum (15.14) |
| Cowlitz (85.89) | Lincoln (4.46) | Walla Walla (45.89) |
| Douglas (19.94) | Mason (56.81) | Whatcom (88.84) |
| Ferry (3.43) | Okanogan (7.55) | Whitman (19.77) |
| Franklin (54.25) | Pacific (23.15) | Yakima (54.51) |
| Garfield (3.31) |
This list is in effect through June 30, 2008. It will be updated on July 1, 2008, using OFM county population estimates for April 1, 2008.
Sources:
Related information:
- Distressed Areas List for 2007 - counties with three year average unemployment rates equal to or greater than 120 percent of the statewide unemployment rate (Employment Security Department)
Last modified: March 31, 2008
E-mail: OFM.Forecasting@ofm.wa.gov
