The North Olympic Peninsula population crested over the 100,000 mark in the 2010 Census.
The combined population of Jefferson and Clallam counties was 101,276 in the count taken last year — compared with 90,478 in 2000.
Both counties showed steady growth over the last decade, and each contributed to the state’s capture of a 10th congressional seat.
Clallam County’s population rose by 10.7 percent since 2000 — from 64,525 to 71,404 — according to data released this week.
Jefferson County’s population swelled by 15.1 percent — from 25,953 to 29,872 — over the decade.
“We’re not surprised,” said Philip Morley, Jefferson County administrator.
“Like Clallam, Jefferson County is a desirable place to live and people want to move here, and we welcome that.”
Four cities
Overall, Washington’s population grew by 14.1 percent and the state gained another seat in the U.S. Congress.
The Census figures show that Port Angeles, population 19,038, remains by far the largest city on the North Olympic Peninsula, while Sequim is the fastest-growing, with a 52.4 percent growth rate.
Although it grew by 3.5 percent, Port Angeles fell out of the top 50 for most populous cities in Washington state.
It ranked No. 43 in 2000 and No. 51 out of 280 cities and incorporated towns in the 2010 Census.
The state’s five largest cities remained unchanged, with Seattle — 608,660 people in 2010 — Spokane (208,916), Tacoma (198,397), Vancouver (161,791) and Bellevue (122,363) holding down their top five spots.
All four incorporated cities on the Peninsula have grown since 2000.
While Sequim led the way — with growth that Clallam County Administrator Jim Jones attributed partially to annexation — Forks swelled by 13.2 percent, Port Townsend grew 9.4 percent, and Port Angeles was up 3.5 percent.
Clallam County changes
Jones said the new numbers could potentially change the boundaries of the three county districts.
However, complete data for specific unincorporated parts of the county is not yet available.
The Clallam County charter requires that the districts be divided into even thirds based on population. Boundaries must roughly be drawn from north to south.
Every 10 years, Clallam County forms a five-member districting commission, which appoints a districting master to propose new boundaries for the three county districts, if necessary, when the complete Census data is released in April.
“They [counties] don’t all do it all the same way,” Jones said.
“Our charter tells us how to do it.”
Different system
Unlike its charter county neighbor, Jefferson County follows state law for redistricting.
The Office of Financial Management will forward Census information to Morley and the Jefferson County commissioners.
“It will allow us then to be able to evaluate on a more detailed geographic basis whether we need to do any redrawing of the districts,” Morley said.
At the state level, Census data will inform a five-member citizen commission tasked with redrawing the state’s congressional and legislative district maps.
“We’re anxious to get started, but our first task as a commission is to incorporate the new population data into our redistricting database and our plan-drawing tools,” said Laura Powell, chairwoman of the Redistrict Commission, in a statement.
“At the earliest opportunity, we want interested groups and individuals to be able to access this wealth of information.”
Beyond new legislative boundaries, the information is used to distribute federal funds for basic services like roads, schools and hospitals.
Clallam and Jefferson counties led the state with an 80 percent voluntary participation rate. Census takers last year went door to door to interview the people who did not mail back the 10-question form.
Other measurements
Comparing the four cities, Sequim had highest per capita rate of people over 18, at 84.8 percent, followed by Port Townsend (83.9 percent), Port Angeles (79.4 percent) and Forks (70.8 percent).
Port Townsend residents were the most likely to describe themselves as white (92.4 percent) followed by Sequim (91.3 percent), Port Angeles (88.6 percent) and Forks (67.7 percent).
In Forks, 914 residents described themselves as Hispanic or Latino, 233 as American Indian and Alaska Native, 42 as Asian, 16 as black or African-American, 638 as some other race and 210 as two or more races.
Statewide, the Latino population rose by 71.2 percent to about 755,000 people, or about 11 percent of the state’s 6.7 million residents.
Asians are the second-largest minority now at 7 percent, followed by African-Americans at 3.6 percent. The white population is now at 73 percent of the state’s residents.
Housing occupancy was down in Port Angeles (91.2 percent in 2010), Port Townsend (87.5 percent) and Sequim (88.7 percent).
Forks saw its housing occupancy go up from 85.9 percent in 2000 to 92 percent last year.
Topping the list of county population growth was Franklin County in Eastern Washington, which saw its population jump by 58 percent, from about 50,000 to nearly 80,000.
Clark, Thurston, Whatcom and Benton counties saw their populations spike by more than 20 percent.
Pacific and Garfield counties were the only counties to see a population drop.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
