Seattle metropolitan area
Metropolitan statistical area
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA MSA
Downtown Seattle skyline as seen from Kerry Park in October 2019
Downtown Seattle skyline as seen from Kerry Park in October 2019
Map of Seattle metropolitan area
A map of the Seattle MSA, highlighted in teal (the Combined Statistical Area is in navy blue)
Coordinates: 47°44′N 122°19′W / 47.74°N 122.32°W / 47.74; -122.32
Country United States
State Washington (state)
Largest citySeattle (762,500)
Other cities - Tacoma (220,800)
 - Bellevue (153,900)
 - Kent (137,900)
 - Everett (113,300)
 - Renton (107,500)
Area
 • Total5,872.35 sq mi (15,209.3 km2)
Highest elevation
14,411 ft (4,392 m)
Lowest elevation
0 ft (0 m)
Population
 • Total4,102,400
 • Rank15th in the U.S.
 • Density700/sq mi (270/km2)

The Seattle metropolitan area is an urban conglomeration in the U.S. state of Washington that comprises Seattle, its surrounding satellites and suburbs. It contains the three most populous counties in the state—King, Pierce, and Snohomish — and is considered part of the greater Puget Sound region. The United States Census Bureau defines the metropolitan area as the Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WA metropolitan statistical area. With an estimated population of 4,102,400 as of 2022,[1] it is the 15th largest metropolitan statistical area (MSA) in the United States and is home to over half of Washington's population.

Definition

Downtown Seattle seen from Bainbridge Island
Downtown Seattle seen from Bainbridge Island

As defined by the United States Census Bureau, the Seattle metropolitan area is made up of the following (see Fig. STB):

Based on commuting patterns, the adjacent metropolitan areas of Olympia, Bremerton, and Mount Vernon, along with a few smaller satellite urban areas, are grouped together in a wider labor market region known as the Seattle–Tacoma Combined Statistical Area (CSA) (See Figure STO), commonly known as the Puget Sound region. The population of this wider region is 4,686,536—roughly two-thirds of Washington's population—as of 2017.[1] The Seattle CSA is the 14th largest CSA, and the 13th largest primary census statistical area in the country. The additional metropolitan and micropolitan areas included are:

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18704,128—
188011,616181.4%
1890123,443962.7%
1900189,51853.5%
1910464,659145.2%
1920601,09029.4%
1930706,22017.5%
1940775,8159.9%
19501,120,44844.4%
19601,428,80327.5%
19701,832,89628.3%
19802,093,11214.2%
19902,559,16422.3%
20003,043,87818.9%
20103,439,80913.0%
20204,018,76216.8%
U.S. Decennial Census
2019 estimate

As of the 2020 census there was 4,018,762 people in the area.[2] In 2019 the estimated median income for a household in the Seattle metropolitan area was $94,027. The per capita income was $49,184.[3]

Map of southeast Seattle Metro towns
Map of southeast Seattle Metro towns
County 2020 Census 2010 Census Change Area Density
King County 2,269,675 1,931,249 +17.52% 2,115.56 sq mi (5,479.3 km2) 1,035/sq mi (399/km2)
Pierce County 921,130 795,225 +15.83% 1,669.51 sq mi (4,324.0 km2) 552/sq mi (213/km2)
Snohomish County 827,957 713,335 +16.07% 2,087.27 sq mi (5,406.0 km2) 397/sq mi (153/km2)
Total 4,018,762 3,439,809 +16.83% 5,872.34 sq mi (15,209.3 km2) 659/sq mi (254/km2)

Religion

According to the Pew Research Center's 2014 U.S. Religious Landscape Study, the Seattle metropolitan area's religious affiliation is as follows:[4]

Religious composition 2014
Christian 52%
 —Evangelical Protestant 23%
 —Mainline Protestant 10%
 —Black Protestant 1%
Catholic 15%
Non-Christian Faiths 10%
 —Jewish 1%
 —Muslim < 1%
 —Buddhist 2%
 —Hindu 2%
Unaffiliated 37%
Don't know 1%

Cities

Seattle
Seattle
Tacoma
Tacoma
Bellevue
Bellevue
Everett
Everett
Major
Other

Commerce

The Seattle metropolitan area is home to numerous large scale businesses.[5] Retail giants such as Microsoft, Amazon, REI, Nordstrom, Starbucks, and Costco were founded and continue to be headquartered in the greater Seattle area.[5]

Over the past decade, tech companies began expanding their roots into the Seattle metropolitan area and opening offices on both sides of Lake Washington (Seattle and Bellevue, primarily). These companies, traditionally known for their history in Silicon Valley and the bay area, include Facebook, Salesforce, Google, and Zynga.[6]

Transportation

See also: Transportation in Seattle

Major airports

Aerial view of Seattle–Tacoma International Airport
Aerial view of Seattle–Tacoma International Airport

The largest airport in the region is Seattle–Tacoma International Airport in SeaTac, an International airport that serves as a commercial hub for Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines.

The other airports in the area are:

Major highways

See also: Metropolitan Seattle Freeways

Mass transit

References

  1. ^ a b "ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES". United States Census Bureau.((cite web)): CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ "2020 Population and Housing State Data". United States Census Bureau, Population Division. August 12, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  3. ^ "Census profile: Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Metro Area". Census Reporter. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  4. ^ "Religious Landscape Study". Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  5. ^ a b "About Seattle". Seattle Chamber of Commerce.((cite web)): CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ Wingfield, Nick (June 2, 2011). "Bay Area Technology Firms Put Down Roots in Seattle". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  7. ^ Blethen, Ryan (March 4, 2019). "How the first day of commercial flights from Paine Field went". The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
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