King County, Washington

King County
City Hall Park and King County Courthouse in downtown Seattle
City Hall Park and King County Courthouse in downtown Seattle
Flag of King County
Official logo of King County
Map of Washington highlighting King County
Location within the U.S. state of Washington
Map of the United States highlighting Washington
Washington's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 47°28′N 121°50′W / 47.467°N 121.833°W / 47.467; -121.833
Country United States
State Washington
FoundedDecember 22, 1852
Named for
SeatSeattle
Largest citySeattle
Area
 • Total2,307 sq mi (5,980 km2)
 • Land2,116 sq mi (5,480 km2)
 • Water191 sq mi (490 km2)  8.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total2,269,675
 • Estimate 
(2023)
2,271,380 Increase
 • Density980/sq mi (380/km2)
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
Congressional districts1st, 7th, 8th, 9th
Websitewww.kingcounty.gov
ASN
  • 2544

King County is located in the U.S. state of Washington. The population was 2,269,675 in the 2020 census,[1] making it the most populous county in Washington, and the 12th-most populous in the United States. The county seat is Seattle,[2] 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., 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 SeattleTacomaBellevue 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 the late 20th century and early 21st century as bedroom communities before becoming job centers for the technology industry.[3]

  1. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  2. ^ "Court Directory: County-City Reference List". Washington Courts. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  3. ^ Talton, Jon (January 2, 2022). "The history — and destiny — of Seattle's relationship with Bellevue is marked by connection and competition". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 25, 2024.