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Kelly Hulin, Director New Media khulin@heraldnet.com

Market Information on Snohomish County

Overview

Snohomish County is located in the greater Puget Sound region and lies 20 miles to the north of Seattle. The geographic composition of the county varies from the beaches of the Puget Sound on the westernmost border to the alpine wilderness of the Cascade mountain range to the east. King County and metropolitan Seattle lie to the direct south with Skagit County and ultimately the Canadian border 50 miles to the north.

Snohomish County has experienced rapid growth in the past two decades and continues to grow both in population and economic output. The county is supported by a broad employment base that ranges from agriculture to aerospace, yet is close enough to Seattle to allow residents to commute daily to the downtown urban center. From farmhouses to waterfront homes to high-rise condominiums and from quaint mom-and-pop antique shops to shopping malls, Snohomish County offers both old world charm and modern amenities.

Growth

Snohomish County is the third most populated county in the state of Washington. The county experienced rapid growth during the 1980’s and 1990’s, with 70% growth from 1980 to 2000 [1], due to population creep from the Seattle area, an influx of out of state residents and a regional technology boom. Today the county continues to grow, albeit at a slower pace, and is currently the sixth fastest growing county in the state showing growth of 6.4% from 2000 to 2004 [1].

Snohomish County 2000 – 2006 Estimated Population (1)
2000 ......... 606,000
2001 ......... 618,600
2002 ......... 628,000
2003 ......... 637,500
2004 ......... 644,800
2005 ......... 655,800
2006 ......... 671,800



Employment

Snohomish County enjoys a broad mix of public and private companies, from agriculture and natural resource based industries to world leading aerospace and biotechnology companies. Job creation is strong with 239,000 people currently employed in the county and an unemployment rate of 4.5%[3]. Aerospace manufacturer Boeing is both the largest employer and largest private employer in the county with 20,000 employees while Naval Station Everett leads public employers with 6,000 total employees.


Top 10 Employers in Snohomish County

Company...................................Product or Service......................Employees
Boeing..........................................Aerospace Manufacturing............23,000
Naval Station Everett..................U.S. Naval Base...............................6,000
Premera Blue Cross..................Health Insurer....................................3,300
Providence Medical Center.....Medical Services/Hospital...............3,200
Washington State......................State Government..............................3,000
Snohomish County Gov...........County Government..........................2,600
Tulalip Tribes Enterprise.........Casino/Real Estate............................2,100
Rinker Materials NW................Sand/Gravel Mining...........................2,000
Everett School District..............Public Education................................1,700
Verizon Northwest....................Communications................................1,600

[2]
Demographics

The demographic makeup of Snohomish County reflects that of the greater Puget Sound region with a population that is more educated and wealthier than the American average. The majority of Snohomish County residents are married, 35 -54 years old, have some college education and own their home.

Snohomish County Demographic Snapshot

Gender
Men...............330,300..........50.1%
Women........328,800..........49.9%

Race/Ethnicity
Caucasian...............538,100..........81.6%
African American.......10,300............1.6%
Asian...........................51,900............7.9%
Hispanic.....................40,300.............6.1%
Other...........................18,800.............2.8%

Age
20-34........................132,400.............20.1%
35-54........................211,800.............32.1%
55+............................130,100.............19.7%
Median Age...........................36.3

Education
High School Grad...124,700............29.1%
Some College/AA....146,400...........34.1%
College Grad Plus...130,500..........30.4%

Life Stage
Married.......................310,200..........59.4%

Household Income
Less than $25,000.....40,700..........16.2%
$25,000- $49,000.......63,700..........25.3%
$50,000- $74,999.......57,300..........22.8%
$75,000- $99,999.......41,700..........16.6%
$100,000 or more.......47,900..........19.1%
Median HH Income............$58,800
Average HH Income...........$73,700

Employment
Employed...................335,400..........64.7%

Housing Units
Total.............................264,000
Owner Occupied........168,200.........63.7%
Renter/Other..................83,329.........31.6%
[4]

Sources:

1. Washington Office of Financial Management 2005
2. Snohomish County Economic Development Council 2006
3. Washington Department of Employment Security 2006
4. DemographicsNow SRC 2005