List of municipalities in Washington explained

Washington is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. As of the 2020 U.S. census, it is the 13th-most populous state, with inhabitants, and ranked 18th by land area, spanning 66456sqmi of land.[1] [2] Washington is divided into 39 counties and contains 281 municipalities that are classified into cities and towns.[3] [4] Approximately of the state's population lives in incorporated municipalities.[5]

The largest municipality by population in Washington is Seattle with 737,015 residents, and the smallest municipality by population is Krupp with 49 residents.[1] [6] The state has ten cities with populations greater than 100,000 residents and sixteen with populations between 50,000 and 100,000 residents; the majority of cities have fewer than 5,000 residents.[7] Seattle is also the largest municipality by land area, at 83.84mi2, while Beaux Arts Village is the smallest at 0.08mi2; both are located in King County.[8] The oldest municipality is Steilacoom, which was incorporated in 1854;[9] the most recent municipality to incorporate was Spokane Valley in 2003.[10]

The state has five classifications for its 281 municipalities: 197 are code cities, 10 are first-class cities, 5 are second-class cities, 69 are towns, and 1 is an unclassified city.[3] All municipalities have an elected city or town council and an executive—either a mayor or manager—to oversee administration of the government. The municipal government generally provides policing, fire protection, emergency services, a court system, road maintenance, planning and permitting, parks and recreation, and some utilities.[7]

Classification of municipalities

Legally, a city in Washington can be described primarily by its class. There are five classes of municipalities in Washington: first-class city, second-class city, town, unclassified city, and code city.

A city in Washington can be described by its form of government. Cities and towns are specifically authorized three forms of government: commission, mayor–council, council–manager. The last city to use the three-member commission form of government was Shelton; it adopted a council–manager structure in 2017. Most cities in Washington have the mayor–council form of government, which calls for an elected mayor and an elected city council. Cities with a council–manager system have an elected council and appointed city manager. In addition, if the population of code cities is over 10,000, they may incorporate as charter code cities. They may then "set out any plan of government deemed 'suitable for the good government of the city'" (RCW 35A.08.050), which need not be a commission, mayor–council, or council–manager form. No charter code city has opted for a different type of government .[10]

List of municipalities

County seat[11] [12]
State capital and county seat
NameType[13] County[14] Population[15] Change,
2010–2020
Land area[16] Population density
2020 census2010 censussq mikm2
AberdeenGrays Harbor10.87disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Airway HeightsSpokane6.01disp=tableNaNdisp=table
AlbionTownWhitman0.39disp=tableNaNdisp=table
AlgonaKing1.29disp=tableNaNdisp=table
AlmiraTownLincoln0.51disp=tableNaNdisp=table
AnacortesSkagit11.7disp=tableNaNdisp=table
ArlingtonSnohomish9.81disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Asotin1.14disp=tableNaNdisp=table
AuburnKing,
Pierce
29.58disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Bainbridge IslandKitsap27.61disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Battle GroundClark8.54disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Beaux Arts VillageTownKing0.08disp=tableNaNdisp=table
BellevueKing33.46disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Whatcom28.14disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Benton CityBenton2.47disp=tableNaNdisp=table
BingenKlickitat0.62disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Black DiamondKing6.55disp=tableNaNdisp=table
BlaineWhatcom5.58disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Bonney LakePierce8.22disp=tableNaNdisp=table
BothellKing,
Snohomish
13.64disp=tableNaNdisp=table
BremertonKitsap28.43disp=tableNaNdisp=table
BrewsterOkanogan1.15disp=tableNaNdisp=table
BridgeportDouglas1.07disp=tableNaNdisp=table
BrierSnohomish2.2disp=tableNaNdisp=table
BuckleyPierce3.86disp=tableNaNdisp=table
BucodaTownThurston0.58disp=tableNaNdisp=table
BurienKing10.04disp=tableNaNdisp=table
BurlingtonSkagit4.28disp=tableNaNdisp=table
CamasClark14.08disp=tableNaNdisp=table
CarbonadoTownPierce0.42disp=tableNaNdisp=table
CarnationKing1.16disp=tableNaNdisp=table
CashmereChelan1.16disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Castle RockCowlitz2.1disp=tableNaNdisp=table
TownWahkiakum0.51disp=tableNaNdisp=table
CentraliaLewis7.62disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Lewis5.81disp=tableNaNdisp=table
ChelanChelan6.69disp=tableNaNdisp=table
CheneySpokane4.34disp=tableNaNdisp=table
ChewelahStevens2.95disp=tableNaNdisp=table
ClarkstonAsotin2.06disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Cle ElumKittitas4.49disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Clyde HillKing1.06disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Whitman3.78disp=tableNaNdisp=table
College PlaceWalla Walla3disp=tableNaNdisp=table
ColtonTownWhitman0.62disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Stevens3.08disp=tableNaNdisp=table
ConconullyTownOkanogan0.21disp=tableNaNdisp=table
ConcreteTownSkagit1.17disp=tableNaNdisp=table
ConnellFranklin7.69disp=tableNaNdisp=table
CosmopolisGrays Harbor1.39disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Coulee CityTownGrant0.92disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Coulee DamOkanogan,
Douglas,
Grant
0.72disp=tableNaNdisp=table
TownIsland1.27disp=tableNaNdisp=table
CovingtonKing5.93disp=tableNaNdisp=table
CrestonTownLincoln0.41disp=tableNaNdisp=table
CusickTownPend Oreille0.51disp=tableNaNdisp=table
DarringtonTownSnohomish1.73disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Lincoln1.67disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Columbia1.44disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Deer ParkSpokane6.89disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Des MoinesKing6.41disp=tableNaNdisp=table
DuPontPierce5.82disp=tableNaNdisp=table
DuvallKing2.45disp=tableNaNdisp=table
East WenatcheeDouglas3.79disp=tableNaNdisp=table
EatonvilleTownPierce1.83disp=tableNaNdisp=table
EdgewoodPierce8.39disp=tableNaNdisp=table
EdmondsSnohomish8.92disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Electric CityGrant1.99disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Kittitas1.99disp=tableNaNdisp=table
ElmaGrays Harbor2.55disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Elmer CityTownOkanogan0.24disp=tableNaNdisp=table
EndicottTownWhitman0.3disp=tableNaNdisp=table
EntiatChelan2.18disp=tableNaNdisp=table
EnumclawKing,
Pierce
5.17disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Grant10.44disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Snohomish33.19disp=tableNaNdisp=table
EversonWhatcom1.35disp=tableNaNdisp=table
FairfieldTownSpokane0.62disp=tableNaNdisp=table
FarmingtonTownWhitman0.36disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Federal WayKing22.3disp=tableNaNdisp=table
FerndaleWhatcom7.03disp=tableNaNdisp=table
FifePierce5.76disp=tableNaNdisp=table
FircrestPierce1.58disp=tableNaNdisp=table
ForksClallam4.12disp=tableNaNdisp=table
TownSan Juan2.18disp=tableNaNdisp=table
GarfieldTownWhitman0.94disp=tableNaNdisp=table
GeorgeGrant1.38disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Gig HarborPierce5.9disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Gold BarSnohomish1.06disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Klickitat2.96disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Grand CouleeGrant1.26disp=tableNaNdisp=table
GrandviewYakima6.44disp=tableNaNdisp=table
GrangerYakima1.73disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Granite FallsSnohomish2.19disp=tableNaNdisp=table
HamiltonTownSkagit1.2disp=tableNaNdisp=table
HarrahTownYakima0.27disp=tableNaNdisp=table
HarringtonLincoln0.39disp=tableNaNdisp=table
HartlineTownGrant0.33disp=tableNaNdisp=table
HattonTownAdams0.37disp=tableNaNdisp=table
HoquiamGrays Harbor9.54disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Hunts PointTownKing0.31disp=tableNaNdisp=table
IlwacoPacific2.07disp=tableNaNdisp=table
IndexTownSnohomish0.23disp=tableNaNdisp=table
IoneTownPend Oreille0.53disp=tableNaNdisp=table
IssaquahKing12.13disp=tableNaNdisp=table
KahlotusFranklin0.38disp=tableNaNdisp=table
KalamaCowlitz3.57disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Cowlitz8.14disp=tableNaNdisp=table
KenmoreKing6.15disp=tableNaNdisp=table
KennewickBenton27.45disp=tableNaNdisp=table
KentKing33.75disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Kettle FallsStevens1.08disp=tableNaNdisp=table
KirklandKing17.81disp=tableNaNdisp=table
KittitasKittitas0.78disp=tableNaNdisp=table
KruppTownGrant0.58disp=tableNaNdisp=table
La CenterClark2.59disp=tableNaNdisp=table
La ConnerTownSkagit0.4disp=tableNaNdisp=table
LaceyThurston17.2disp=tableNaNdisp=table
LaCrosseTownWhitman0.85disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Lake Forest ParkKing3.52disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Lake StevensSnohomish9.17disp=tableNaNdisp=table
LakewoodPierce17.06disp=tableNaNdisp=table
LamontTownWhitman0.29disp=tableNaNdisp=table
LangleyIsland1.01disp=tableNaNdisp=table
LatahTownSpokane0.32disp=tableNaNdisp=table
LeavenworthChelan1.45disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Liberty LakeSpokane6.25disp=tableNaNdisp=table
LindTownAdams1.11disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Long BeachPacific1.38disp=tableNaNdisp=table
LongviewCowlitz14.8disp=tableNaNdisp=table
LymanTownSkagit0.67disp=tableNaNdisp=table
LyndenWhatcom5.44disp=tableNaNdisp=table
LynnwoodSnohomish7.88disp=tableNaNdisp=table
MabtonYakima0.84disp=tableNaNdisp=table
MaldenTownWhitman0.66disp=tableNaNdisp=table
MansfieldTownDouglas0.32disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Maple ValleyKing6disp=tableNaNdisp=table
MarcusTownStevens0.22disp=tableNaNdisp=table
MarysvilleSnohomish20.75disp=tableNaNdisp=table
MattawaGrant0.92disp=tableNaNdisp=table
McClearyGrays Harbor2.05disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Medical LakeSpokane3.37disp=tableNaNdisp=table
MedinaKing1.44disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Mercer IslandKing6.38disp=tableNaNdisp=table
MesaFranklin1.66disp=tableNaNdisp=table
MetalineTownPend Oreille0.31disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Metaline FallsTownPend Oreille0.2disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Mill CreekSnohomish4.64disp=tableNaNdisp=table
MillwoodSpokane0.7disp=tableNaNdisp=table
MiltonPierce,
King
2.78disp=tableNaNdisp=table
MonroeSnohomish6.1disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Grays Harbor10.38disp=tableNaNdisp=table
MortonLewis0.82disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Moses LakeGrant17.95disp=tableNaNdisp=table
MossyrockLewis0.69disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Skagit12.3disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Mountlake TerraceSnohomish4.06disp=tableNaNdisp=table
MoxeeYakima2.37disp=tableNaNdisp=table
MukilteoSnohomish6.26disp=tableNaNdisp=table
NachesTownYakima0.87disp=tableNaNdisp=table
NapavineLewis2.89disp=tableNaNdisp=table
NespelemTownOkanogan0.19disp=tableNaNdisp=table
NewcastleKing4.45disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Pend Oreille1.47disp=tableNaNdisp=table
NooksackWhatcom0.87disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Normandy ParkKing2.49disp=tableNaNdisp=table
North BendKing4.35disp=tableNaNdisp=table
North BonnevilleSkamania2.53disp=tableNaNdisp=table
NorthportTownStevens0.57disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Oak HarborIsland9.65disp=tableNaNdisp=table
OakesdaleTownWhitman1.04disp=tableNaNdisp=table
OakvilleGrays Harbor0.55disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Ocean ShoresGrays Harbor8.52disp=tableNaNdisp=table
OdessaTownLincoln0.81disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Okanogan2.01disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Thurston18.22disp=tableNaNdisp=table
OmakOkanogan3.86disp=tableNaNdisp=table
OrovilleOkanogan1.69disp=tableNaNdisp=table
OrtingPierce2.71disp=tableNaNdisp=table
OthelloAdams4disp=tableNaNdisp=table
PacificKing,
Pierce
2.42disp=tableNaNdisp=table
PalouseWhitman1.05disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Franklin33.96disp=tableNaNdisp=table
PaterosOkanogan0.51disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Pe EllTownLewis0.59disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Garfield1.78disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Clallam10.71disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Kitsap9.64disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Jefferson6.94disp=tableNaNdisp=table
PoulsboKitsap4.74disp=tableNaNdisp=table
PrescottWalla Walla0.4disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Benton4.66disp=tableNaNdisp=table
PullmanWhitman10.93disp=tableNaNdisp=table
PuyallupPierce14.14disp=tableNaNdisp=table
QuincyGrant6.05disp=tableNaNdisp=table
RainierThurston1.74disp=tableNaNdisp=table
RaymondPacific4.09disp=tableNaNdisp=table
ReardanTownLincoln0.5disp=tableNaNdisp=table
RedmondKing16.57disp=tableNaNdisp=table
RentonKing23.47disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Ferry1.42disp=tableNaNdisp=table
RichlandBenton39.23disp=tableNaNdisp=table
RidgefieldClark7.34disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Adams1.75disp=tableNaNdisp=table
RiversideTownOkanogan0.89disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Rock IslandDouglas1.13disp=tableNaNdisp=table
RockfordTownSpokane0.66disp=tableNaNdisp=table
RosaliaTownWhitman0.63disp=tableNaNdisp=table
RoslynKittitas4.39disp=tableNaNdisp=table
RoyPierce0.48disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Royal CityGrant1.16disp=tableNaNdisp=table
RustonPierce0.26disp=tableNaNdisp=table
SammamishKing20.42disp=tableNaNdisp=table
SeaTacKing10.06disp=tableNaNdisp=table
King83.83disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Sedro-WoolleySkagit4.31disp=tableNaNdisp=table
SelahYakima4.58disp=tableNaNdisp=table
SequimClallam6.32disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Mason5.82disp=tableNaNdisp=table
ShorelineKing11.64disp=tableNaNdisp=table
SkykomishTownKing0.31disp=tableNaNdisp=table
SnohomishSnohomish3.52disp=tableNaNdisp=table
SnoqualmieKing7.18disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Soap LakeGrant1.54disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Pacific1.64disp=tableNaNdisp=table
South Cle ElumTownKittitas0.4disp=tableNaNdisp=table
South PrairieTownPierce0.38disp=tableNaNdisp=table
SpangleSpokane0.35disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Spokane68.76disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Spokane ValleySpokane37.72disp=tableNaNdisp=table
SpragueLincoln1.05disp=tableNaNdisp=table
SpringdaleTownStevens1.13disp=tableNaNdisp=table
St. JohnTownWhitman0.67disp=tableNaNdisp=table
StanwoodSnohomish2.93disp=tableNaNdisp=table
StarbuckTownColumbia0.2disp=tableNaNdisp=table
SteilacoomTownPierce2.01disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Skamania1.93disp=tableNaNdisp=table
SultanSnohomish3.27disp=tableNaNdisp=table
SumasWhatcom1.47disp=tableNaNdisp=table
SumnerPierce7.53disp=tableNaNdisp=table
SunnysideYakima7.53disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Pierce49.71disp=tableNaNdisp=table
TekoaWhitman1.23disp=tableNaNdisp=table
TeninoThurston1.46disp=tableNaNdisp=table
TietonYakima0.86disp=tableNaNdisp=table
ToledoLewis0.39disp=tableNaNdisp=table
TonasketOkanogan0.94disp=tableNaNdisp=table
ToppenishYakima2.14disp=tableNaNdisp=table
TukwilaKing9.19disp=tableNaNdisp=table
TumwaterThurston17.5disp=tableNaNdisp=table
TwispTownOkanogan1.17disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Union GapYakima5.58disp=tableNaNdisp=table
UniontownTownWhitman0.92disp=tableNaNdisp=table
University PlacePierce8.34disp=tableNaNdisp=table
VaderLewis0.93disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Clark48.74disp=tableNaNdisp=table
WaitsburgWalla Walla1.16disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Walla Walla13.85disp=tableNaNdisp=table
WapatoYakima1.16disp=tableNaNdisp=table
WardenGrant2.93disp=tableNaNdisp=table
WashougalClark5.95disp=tableNaNdisp=table
WashtucnaTownAdams0.66disp=tableNaNdisp=table
TownDouglas0.87disp=tableNaNdisp=table
WaverlyTownSpokane0.41disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Chelan10.58disp=tableNaNdisp=table
West RichlandBenton22.12disp=tableNaNdisp=table
WestportGrays Harbor3.69disp=tableNaNdisp=table
White SalmonKlickitat1.54disp=tableNaNdisp=table
WilburTownLincoln1.32disp=tableNaNdisp=table
WilkesonTownPierce0.47disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Wilson CreekTownGrant0.97disp=tableNaNdisp=table
WinlockLewis1.29disp=tableNaNdisp=table
WinthropTownOkanogan0.93disp=tableNaNdisp=table
WoodinvilleKing5.62disp=tableNaNdisp=table
WoodlandCowlitz,
Clark
4.11disp=tableNaNdisp=table
WoodwaySnohomish1.17disp=tableNaNdisp=table
YacoltTownClark0.58disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Yakima27.81disp=tableNaNdisp=table
Yarrow PointTownKing0.37disp=tableNaNdisp=table
YelmThurston5.71disp=tableNaNdisp=table
ZillahYakima1.82disp=tableNaNdisp=table

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: August 12, 2021 . 2020 Population and Housing State Data . United States Census Bureau . November 2, 2021.
  2. Web site: 2010 . State Area Measurements and Internal Point Coordinates . United States Census Bureau . November 28, 2024.
  3. Web site: Rey . Oskar . September 6, 2022 . Why Are There so Many Types of Cities and Counties? A Guide to Municipal Classifications and Forms of Government . . November 28, 2024.
  4. Web site: October 2011 . Guide to 2010 State and Local Census Geography: Washington . United States Census Bureau . November 28, 2024.
  5. Web site: September 25, 2024 . April 1, 2024 Population of Cities, Towns and Counties Used for Allocation of Selected State Revenues . 9 . . November 28, 2024.
  6. News: Balk . Gene . May 21, 2020 . Seattle drops out of top 5 for growth among major U.S. cities; here are the new leaders . . November 28, 2024.
  7. Web site: Exploring Washington's Cities and Towns . 3–4 . . November 28, 2024.
  8. Web site: September 2012 . Washington: 2010 Population and Housing Unit Counts 2010 Census of Population and Housing . III2 . . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924133654/http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-2-49.pdf . September 24, 2015 . August 3, 2016.
  9. News: Leventis . Angie . April 23, 2004 . State's first town marks time . B1 . . . November 28, 2024.
  10. Web site: February 23, 2024 . City and Town Forms of Government . Municipal Research and Services Center . November 28, 2024.
  11. Web site: Arc of Statehood . Washington State Capitol Campus . . November 28, 2024.
  12. Web site: Court Directory: County–City Reference List . . November 28, 2024.
  13. Web site: Washington City and Town Profiles . Municipal Research and Services Center . November 28, 2024.
  14. Web site: September 10, 2024 . Domestic Names Search Application . . . November 28, 2024.
  15. Web site: June 28, 2024 . Decennial Census Counts of Population for the State, Counties, Cities and Towns . ., . November 28, 2024. with corrections.
  16. Web site: 2020 Gazetteer Files . United States Census Bureau . November 28, 2024.