Counties with the most veterans in Washington
There are roughly 17.5 million veterans living in the U.S., according to data from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Though, the VA anticipates the percentage of the U.S. population with military experience will continue to decline over the next couple of decades—by 2046, it expects the number of living U.S. veterans to decrease by 35%.
Stacker compiled a list of the counties with the most veterans in Washington using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest percent of residents that are veterans based on the Census' 2023 5-year estimate.
Alaska, Virginia, and Wyoming are home to the most veterans per capita. American veterans live in virtually all of the country's 3,142 counties.
Keep reading to see where the most veterans live in your home state.
#39. Adams County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 3.8% (511 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 38
--- Vietnam War: 211
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 108
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 123
#38. King County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 4.7% (85,740 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 1,559
--- Korean War: 4,962
--- Vietnam War: 27,781
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 19,284
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 21,353
#37. Whitman County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 4.7% (1,863 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 13
--- Korean War: 55
--- Vietnam War: 547
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 546
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 454
#36. Yakima County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 5.6% (10,098 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 263
--- Korean War: 528
--- Vietnam War: 3,925
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,972
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,541
#35. Franklin County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.3% (4,176 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 11
--- Korean War: 143
--- Vietnam War: 994
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,134
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,438
#34. Whatcom County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.8% (12,529 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 128
--- Korean War: 564
--- Vietnam War: 5,179
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 2,694
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 2,496
#33. Grant County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7% (4,999 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 91
--- Korean War: 192
--- Vietnam War: 1,724
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,070
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,032
#32. Snohomish County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.1% (46,046 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 574
--- Korean War: 1,341
--- Vietnam War: 14,173
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 11,513
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 12,638
#31. Chelan County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.2% (4,397 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 73
--- Korean War: 316
--- Vietnam War: 2,128
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 728
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 650
#30. Kittitas County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.4% (2,737 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 50
--- Korean War: 103
--- Vietnam War: 820
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 713
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 603
#29. Douglas County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.5% (2,451 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 26
--- Korean War: 141
--- Vietnam War: 876
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 456
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 443
#28. Benton County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.8% (12,074 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 133
--- Korean War: 661
--- Vietnam War: 4,259
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 2,553
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 3,030
#27. San Juan County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8% (1,268 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 24
--- Korean War: 89
--- Vietnam War: 669
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 160
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 115
#26. Clark County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.3% (32,400 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 345
--- Korean War: 1,038
--- Vietnam War: 11,214
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 8,439
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 7,743
#25. Walla Walla County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.3% (4,074 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 105
--- Korean War: 400
--- Vietnam War: 1,486
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 780
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 733
#24. Okanogan County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.4% (3,106 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 29
--- Korean War: 255
--- Vietnam War: 1,392
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 452
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 441
#23. Lewis County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.5% (6,223 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 132
--- Korean War: 346
--- Vietnam War: 2,692
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,114
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,302
#22. Spokane County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.9% (41,887 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 244
--- Korean War: 1,707
--- Vietnam War: 14,279
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 11,605
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 10,461
#21. Skagit County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 10% (10,160 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 71
--- Korean War: 485
--- Vietnam War: 3,844
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,938
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 2,461
#20. Cowlitz County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 10.2% (8,816 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 73
--- Korean War: 336
--- Vietnam War: 3,262
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,632
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,700
#19. Grays Harbor County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 10.8% (6,620 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 41
--- Korean War: 276
--- Vietnam War: 3,086
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,502
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,001
#18. Klickitat County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 10.8% (2,041 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 3
--- Korean War: 14
--- Vietnam War: 866
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 570
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 580
#17. Skamania County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 10.8% (1,096 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 34
--- Korean War: 69
--- Vietnam War: 391
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 170
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 255
#16. Stevens County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 10.8% (4,047 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 6
--- Korean War: 184
--- Vietnam War: 1,947
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 941
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 514
#15. Asotin County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 10.9% (1,965 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 23
--- Korean War: 179
--- Vietnam War: 742
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 432
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 456
#14. Columbia County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 11.2% (371 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 14
--- Vietnam War: 168
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 83
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 37
#13. Lincoln County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 11.4% (1,002 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 1
--- Korean War: 42
--- Vietnam War: 422
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 235
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 250
#12. Pierce County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 11.5% (79,222 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 570
--- Korean War: 1,972
--- Vietnam War: 22,559
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 23,763
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 29,232
#11. Jefferson County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 12.1% (3,561 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 245
--- Vietnam War: 1,954
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 550
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 594
#10. Clallam County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 12.3% (7,963 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 90
--- Korean War: 474
--- Vietnam War: 3,948
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,397
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,101
#9. Pacific County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 12.4% (2,495 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 92
--- Korean War: 141
--- Vietnam War: 1,227
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 335
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 385
#8. Ferry County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 12.5% (759 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 34
--- Korean War: 46
--- Vietnam War: 312
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 116
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 98
#7. Thurston County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 12.9% (29,303 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 170
--- Korean War: 877
--- Vietnam War: 8,408
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 9,580
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 11,199
#6. Pend Oreille County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 13.3% (1,482 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 8
--- Korean War: 41
--- Vietnam War: 706
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 198
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 219
#5. Garfield County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 13.6% (263 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 7
--- Vietnam War: 148
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 36
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 27
#4. Mason County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 13.6% (7,319 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 33
--- Korean War: 246
--- Vietnam War: 3,133
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,975
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,268
#3. Kitsap County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 14.9% (30,917 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 188
--- Korean War: 870
--- Vietnam War: 9,208
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 11,417
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 11,235
#2. Island County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 15.7% (10,145 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 93
--- Korean War: 236
--- Vietnam War: 3,345
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 3,103
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 3,385
#1. Wahkiakum County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 15.8% (588 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 2
--- Korean War: 7
--- Vietnam War: 297
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 121
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 51
