Race and Ethnicity

Overview:

The single ethnic classification and seven race classifications identified by the U.S. Census are published in greater detail including; King County subregional population, origin data where available, and place of birth.  The above hyperlinks will navigate to specific categories.

  Download Data | Source:  2006 Claritas Update (Census Tract)

*Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is published here for comparison purposes only.  The sum of the seven race categories following the black border equals the Total King County population.  Read "Race Classification" below for further context 

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Ethnicity: Hispanic/Latino

Hispanic/Latino origin was the sole ethnicity surveyed in the 2000 U.S. Census.

Key Facts

As a percentage, the Hispanic/Latino population is the fastest growing population in each of King County’s sub-regions.

• In 2006 the Hispanic/Latino population was estimated at 121,793.

• In 2000 the King County Hispanic/Latino population was 95,242.

• Growth between 2000 and 2006 was 27.9%.

• This population currently comprises 6.7% of the King County population.

• This population is estimated to represent 7.8% of the King County population in 2011

Download Data | Source: Claritas 2006 Update (Census Tract Level)

North King County

• Population in 2006: 7,125

• Growth rate of 26.2% between 2000 and 2006

• Population currently makes up 5.1% of the total North King County sub-region.

East King County

• Population in 2006: 22,466

• Growth rate of 35.0% between 2000 and 2006, representing the fastest growth in the county.

• Population currently makes up 5.0% of subregion. This represents the lowest percent of between King County's subregions.

South South King County

• Population in 2006: 56,081

• Growth rate of 29.7% between 2000 and 2006

• Population comprises 8.8% of region.  This represents the highest regional concentrate of Hispanic/Latino population

Seattle

• Population in 2006: 36,121

• Growth rate is 21.6%, which represents the lowest growth rate in King County.

• Population makes up 6.2% of Seattle residents.

Race Classification

The 2000 U.S. Census included the question "Is this person Spanish/Hispanic/Latino."  This ethnicity was recorded as a separate and distinct classification from Race, which immediately followed this question.  By collecting data this way the Census Bureau can record whether a person is or is not of Hispanic/Latino origin separately from their race. Therefore, Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is not considered a separate race by the Census Bureau definition.  Persons of Hispanic/Latino origin may be of any race.

Elsewhere in this Assessment Hispanic/Latino is published set-aside as a stand-alone category distinct from races, and the race classifications are published immediately below.  Each race category in these tables and charts may include people who identify as Hispanic/Latino.

In the table immediately following, persons of Hispanic/Latino origin are broken out by the race categories selected.  For further reading on the distinction between Ethnicity and Race refer to the U.S. Census bureau  http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/c2kbr01-1.pdf

2006 Hispanic/Latino Population By Self Reported Race Classification
African American/Black	2,654
American Indian / Alaska Native	2,094
Asian	1,444
Native Hawaiian /  Other Pacific Islander	361
White	51,635
Other	51,022
Two or More Races	12,583
TOTAL	121,793

Download Data | Source: Claritas 2006 Update (Census Tract Level)

Origin

Individuals identifying themselves as Hispanic/Latino were given additional geographic-based identifiers to indicate ancestry. The following options were available: Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba & Other.

Download Data | Source: Claritas 2006 Update (Census Tract Level)

• Mexican descent was the largest self-identified group with 80,446 individuals (66.1%) of the Hispanic/Latino population in 2006.

• “Other” Hispanic/Latino (individuals who self-identified as Hispanic/Latino but did not choose Mexico, Puerto Rico or Cuba as place of origin) made up 33,849 (27.8%) of the Hispanic/ Latino population in 2006.

Place of Birth

• American Community Survey 2005 estimate: 47.4% of the population is foreign born.

• In the 2000 decennial census, this same population was reported at 41.2% foreign born (with subregional breakout shown below).

Download Data | Source: U.S. Census 2000 Summary File 3, Table PCT63 extract

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Race: African American/Black

Key Facts

• The King County African American/Black population in 2006 was 102,458.

• African American/Black population represents 5.7% of King County.

• 1990-2000 growth rate: 32.2% (22,860)

• 2000 to 2006 growth rate 9.1% (8,583)

• 2000-2006 changes ranged from a decrease of 4.4% (Seattle) to a growth rate of 25.0% (south).

• 2000 U.S. Census: 93,875 African American/Black people (5.4% of King County)

• In 2011 the African Americans/Black population is estimated to be 5.9% of the King County population.                             

Download Data | Source: Claritas 2006 Update (Census Tract Level)

North King County

• Population was 2,905 in 2006.

• Growth rate: 16.4% from 2000-2006

East King County

• Population of 6,379 in 2006

• Growth rate of 12.6% between 2000 and 2006.

South King County

• Population was 47,733 in 2006.

• Growth rate was 25.0%. (9,551).

• South County now has larger African American/Black population than Seattle.

To add some perspective, there was more growth in the South King County African American/Black population than all other sub-regions combined.

Seattle

• Population was 45,441 in 2006.

• Rate of decline was 4.4%.

• This is the only subregion to report a decline in this population group.

• Seattle now has the second highest African American/Black subregional population.
   

Place of Birth

The 2000 US Census reported that 11.8%of the African American/Black population was foreign born.       

Download Data | Source: U.S. Census 2000 Summary File 3, Table PCT63 extract

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Race: American Indian/Alaska Native

Context: American Indian/Alaska Native

Per the US Census Bureau “the term ‘American Indian’ or ‘Alaska Native’ refers to people having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America including Central America, who maintain tribal affiliation or community attachment.”  This definition is controversial and is not broadly accepted among American Indian populations. In the United States, the categorization of people as American Indians has political implications beyond those associated with other racial classifications.

Key Facts

• The King County American Indian/Alaska Native population in 2006 was 17,079.

• The American Indian/Alaska Native population represents 0.9% of King County.

• 1990-2000 growth rate: 0.4% (62)

• 2000 to 2006 growth rate 7.3% (1,157)

• 2000-2006 changes ranged from a growth rate of 1.0% in Seattle to 21.6% in East King County

Download Data | Source: Claritas 2006 Update (Census Tract Level)

North King County

• Population was 978 in 2006.

• Growth rate: was 8.9% from 2000-2006.

East King County

• Population was 2,293 in 2006.

• Growth rate: 21.6% from 2000-2006

• This region reports the highest growth rate in the county.

South King County

• Population was 8,094 in 2006.

• Growth rate: 8.2% from 2000-2006

• This region has the largest American Indian and Alaska Native population.

Seattle

• Population was 5,714 in 2006.

• Growth rate: 1.0% from 2000-2006

• This is the slowest growth rate in the county.

Per the American Community Survey 2005 results, 13.7% of the American Indian and Alaska Native population was foreign born.

Download Data | Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2005 American Community Survey^[1]

Additional reading on the American Indian/Alaska Native population can be found under Crosscutting Issues section under the page Racial Equity and Homelessness under the title Relocation Programs of Native Peoples

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Race: Asian

Key Facts

• Asian population in King County is the largest non-white population, with 230,607 individuals.

• Between 2000 and 2006, the Asian population grew by 42,862 persons.

• Population makes up 12.8% of King County in 2006, up from 10.8% in 2000.

• The growth rate in this population was 22.8%.

• Between 2000 and 2006 the Asian population’s increase as an overall percentage of the King County population was 2.0%.

• Between 2000 and 2011 the overall growth rate is expected to be 43.6%.  

Download Data | Source: Claritas 2006 Update (Census Tract Level)

North King County

• Population was 14,606 in 2006.

• Growth rate: 18.1% from 2000-2006

East King County

• Population was 58,904 in 2006.

• Growth rate: 33.6% from 2000-2006

• This represents the fasted growth rate in King County.

South King County

• Population was 73,453 in 2006.

• With 16,079, South King County had the largest numeric growth

• Growth rate: 28.0% from 2000-2006

Seattle

• Population was 83,644 in 2006.

• Growth rate: 13.2% from 2000-2006

• The Asian population makes up 14.5% of the Seattle sub-region

Origin

Persons of Asian descent were given twelve options for additional identification on the 2000 U.S. Census: Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Asian Indian, Korean, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Hmong, Laotian, Thai, “Other” and “Two or More Asian.”

Growth rates among the Asian sub-categories ranged from a high of 29.2% (Asian Indian) to a low of 19.0% (Laotian).

Chinese, Non Taiwanese

• This was the highest reported sub-population with 51,433.

• This population represents 22.7% of the Asian population.

Filipino

• This is the second largest sub-population with 40,815 persons in 2006.

• The Filipino population represents 17.7% of the persons of Asian descent.
   

Vietnamese

• Vietnamese descent represents the third largest Asian population with 33,253 in 2006.

• This population makes up 14.4% of the Asian population.

Japanese

• This is the fourth largest Asian sub-category with 26,348 persons.

• This population represents 11.4% of the Asian population.

• Growth in the population was 22.8%.

Indian Subcontinent

• This sub-population is number 6, behind Korean descent but is distinguished for recording the largest growth rate at 29.2%.

• The population was reported at 20,455 in 2006.

• This sub-population represents 8.9% of the Asian population.