Most diverse counties in Washington

Written by:
October 16, 2021
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Most diverse counties in Washington

The United States has a longstanding reputation as being a melting pot (or salad bowl), with its diversity manifesting itself across many different demographics. However, some places across the country are notably more heterogeneous than others.

Stacker compiled a list of the most diverse counties in Washington using data from using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest Simpson's diversity index score. Simpson's diversity index measures community diversity on a scale of 0 (least diverse) to 1 (most diverse), more on the calculation can be read here.

Think you know which counties in your home state might be the most diverse? Keep reading to see if your predictions are correct.

#39. Lincoln County

- Index: 0.126
- Total population: 10,574
- White: 93.4% (9,881)
- Black or African American: 0.8% (83)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.5% (162)
- Asian: 0.7% (69)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.3% (27)
- 2 or more races: 2.6% (271)
- Some other Race: 0.8% (81)

#38. Klickitat County

- Index: 0.136
- Total population: 21,721
- White: 92.9% (20,173)
- Black or African American: 0.7% (160)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 2.5% (548)
- Asian: 0.7% (155)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (2)
- 2 or more races: 2.2% (473)
- Some other Race: 1.0% (210)

#37. Skamania County

- Index: 0.137
- Total population: 11,753
- White: 92.8% (10,911)
- Black or African American: 0.5% (58)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.8% (213)
- Asian: 1.1% (131)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (14)
- 2 or more races: 2.3% (275)
- Some other Race: 1.3% (151)

#36. Asotin County

- Index: 0.143
- Total population: 22,421
- White: 92.5% (20,731)
- Black or African American: 0.5% (116)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.1% (256)
- Asian: 0.9% (192)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (51)
- 2 or more races: 3.9% (865)
- Some other Race: 0.9% (210)

#35. San Juan County

- Index: 0.147
- Total population: 16,788
- White: 92.3% (15,497)
- Black or African American: 0.9% (149)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.0% (163)
- Asian: 1.3% (219)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (39)
- 2 or more races: 2.5% (418)
- Some other Race: 1.8% (303)

#34. Garfield County

- Index: 0.162
- Total population: 2,230
- White: 91.3% (2,037)
- Black or African American: 0.0% (0)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.0% (0)
- Asian: 3.2% (71)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 5.5% (122)
- Some other Race: 0.0% (0)

#33. Jefferson County

- Index: 0.172
- Total population: 31,285
- White: 90.9% (28,425)
- Black or African American: 0.6% (178)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 2.0% (625)
- Asian: 1.6% (516)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (57)
- 2 or more races: 3.8% (1,195)
- Some other Race: 0.9% (289)

#32. Wahkiakum County

- Index: 0.173
- Total population: 4,268
- White: 90.8% (3,877)
- Black or African American: 1.3% (54)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.7% (31)
- Asian: 1.9% (79)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (1)
- 2 or more races: 1.7% (72)
- Some other Race: 3.6% (154)

#31. Lewis County

- Index: 0.188
- Total population: 78,145
- White: 89.9% (70,251)
- Black or African American: 0.5% (414)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.7% (508)
- Asian: 1.3% (1,024)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (174)
- 2 or more races: 5.3% (4,160)
- Some other Race: 2.1% (1,614)

#30. Pend Oreille County

- Index: 0.190
- Total population: 13,377
- White: 89.9% (12,021)
- Black or African American: 0.4% (49)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 3.9% (523)
- Asian: 1.0% (130)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (3)
- 2 or more races: 2.6% (352)
- Some other Race: 2.2% (299)

#29. Columbia County

- Index: 0.198
- Total population: 3,992
- White: 89.4% (3,568)
- Black or African American: 0.9% (36)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (7)
- Asian: 1.8% (72)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 1.1% (42)
- 2 or more races: 5.3% (212)
- Some other Race: 1.4% (55)

#28. Stevens County

- Index: 0.202
- Total population: 44,655
- White: 89.1% (39,788)
- Black or African American: 0.4% (192)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 5.0% (2,225)
- Asian: 0.6% (290)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (55)
- 2 or more races: 3.8% (1,715)
- Some other Race: 0.9% (390)

#27. Cowlitz County

- Index: 0.205
- Total population: 106,778
- White: 89.0% (94,987)
- Black or African American: 0.8% (847)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.5% (1,625)
- Asian: 1.3% (1,365)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (217)
- 2 or more races: 5.6% (6,000)
- Some other Race: 1.6% (1,737)

#26. Kittitas County

- Index: 0.214
- Total population: 45,897
- White: 88.5% (40,611)
- Black or African American: 1.0% (443)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.6% (285)
- Asian: 1.6% (729)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.9% (401)
- 2 or more races: 3.7% (1,702)
- Some other Race: 3.8% (1,726)

#25. Spokane County

- Index: 0.226
- Total population: 505,505
- White: 87.8% (443,791)
- Black or African American: 1.7% (8,444)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.3% (6,817)
- Asian: 2.3% (11,553)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.6% (2,799)
- 2 or more races: 4.8% (24,212)
- Some other Race: 1.6% (7,889)

#24. Clallam County

- Index: 0.226
- Total population: 75,392
- White: 87.7% (66,144)
- Black or African American: 1.1% (825)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 4.9% (3,701)
- Asian: 1.7% (1,284)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (21)
- 2 or more races: 3.9% (2,904)
- Some other Race: 0.7% (513)

#23. Grays Harbor County

- Index: 0.227
- Total population: 72,779
- White: 87.7% (63,802)
- Black or African American: 1.2% (859)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 4.2% (3,075)
- Asian: 1.5% (1,096)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.3% (200)
- 2 or more races: 4.3% (3,164)
- Some other Race: 0.8% (583)

#22. Pacific County

- Index: 0.236
- Total population: 21,688
- White: 87.2% (18,907)
- Black or African American: 0.4% (76)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 2.5% (549)
- Asian: 1.7% (365)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.4% (86)
- 2 or more races: 3.8% (819)
- Some other Race: 4.1% (886)

#21. Clark County

- Index: 0.279
- Total population: 473,252
- White: 84.6% (400,298)
- Black or African American: 1.8% (8,409)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.6% (2,764)
- Asian: 4.6% (21,752)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.8% (3,751)
- 2 or more races: 5.1% (24,064)
- Some other Race: 2.6% (12,214)

#20. Island County

- Index: 0.279
- Total population: 82,866
- White: 84.6% (70,072)
- Black or African American: 3.1% (2,603)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.0% (840)
- Asian: 4.9% (4,046)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.4% (316)
- 2 or more races: 4.7% (3,875)
- Some other Race: 1.3% (1,114)

#19. Walla Walla County

- Index: 0.291
- Total population: 60,365
- White: 83.7% (50,534)
- Black or African American: 1.8% (1,074)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.7% (393)
- Asian: 1.7% (999)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (99)
- 2 or more races: 4.6% (2,767)
- Some other Race: 7.5% (4,499)

#18. Mason County

- Index: 0.296
- Total population: 63,804
- White: 83.5% (53,269)
- Black or African American: 1.3% (800)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 2.5% (1,591)
- Asian: 1.2% (752)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.4% (277)
- 2 or more races: 5.8% (3,717)
- Some other Race: 5.3% (3,398)

#17. Whatcom County

- Index: 0.299
- Total population: 220,821
- White: 83.3% (184,006)
- Black or African American: 1.0% (2,204)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 2.9% (6,437)
- Asian: 4.1% (9,120)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.3% (668)
- 2 or more races: 4.7% (10,328)
- Some other Race: 3.6% (8,058)

#16. Whitman County

- Index: 0.311
- Total population: 49,231
- White: 82.4% (40,573)
- Black or African American: 2.2% (1,084)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (170)
- Asian: 8.5% (4,169)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (81)
- 2 or more races: 4.8% (2,355)
- Some other Race: 1.6% (799)

#15. Benton County

- Index: 0.315
- Total population: 197,518
- White: 82.1% (162,240)
- Black or African American: 1.6% (3,198)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.8% (1,526)
- Asian: 2.6% (5,069)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (141)
- 2 or more races: 3.9% (7,705)
- Some other Race: 8.9% (17,639)

#14. Skagit County

- Index: 0.315
- Total population: 125,612
- White: 82.1% (103,131)
- Black or African American: 0.9% (1,110)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.9% (2,356)
- Asian: 1.9% (2,388)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (311)
- 2 or more races: 3.9% (4,885)
- Some other Race: 9.1% (11,431)

#13. Thurston County

- Index: 0.328
- Total population: 279,711
- White: 81.5% (227,952)
- Black or African American: 3.2% (8,826)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.4% (3,810)
- Asian: 5.7% (15,832)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.8% (2,265)
- 2 or more races: 6.1% (16,970)
- Some other Race: 1.5% (4,056)

#12. Chelan County

- Index: 0.334
- Total population: 76,229
- White: 80.4% (61,268)
- Black or African American: 0.6% (492)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.9% (651)
- Asian: 0.8% (615)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (31)
- 2 or more races: 3.8% (2,890)
- Some other Race: 13.5% (10,282)

#11. Kitsap County

- Index: 0.337
- Total population: 265,882
- White: 80.9% (215,015)
- Black or African American: 2.7% (7,129)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.0% (2,596)
- Asian: 4.8% (12,876)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.8% (2,174)
- 2 or more races: 7.6% (20,211)
- Some other Race: 2.2% (5,881)

#10. Yakima County

- Index: 0.383
- Total population: 249,697
- White: 77.3% (192,911)
- Black or African American: 1.2% (2,918)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 4.0% (10,004)
- Asian: 1.0% (2,447)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (288)
- 2 or more races: 3.3% (8,260)
- Some other Race: 13.2% (32,869)

#9. Ferry County

- Index: 0.392
- Total population: 7,578
- White: 76.4% (5,789)
- Black or African American: 0.1% (11)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 13.1% (994)
- Asian: 0.7% (53)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.3% (20)
- 2 or more races: 8.6% (654)
- Some other Race: 0.8% (57)

#8. Snohomish County

- Index: 0.415
- Total population: 798,808
- White: 75.4% (601,915)
- Black or African American: 3.1% (24,369)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.9% (7,353)
- Asian: 10.8% (86,121)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.5% (4,197)
- 2 or more races: 6.3% (50,089)
- Some other Race: 3.1% (24,764)

#7. Okanogan County

- Index: 0.451
- Total population: 41,842
- White: 72.5% (30,320)
- Black or African American: 0.4% (186)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 9.6% (4,019)
- Asian: 0.9% (358)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.3% (106)
- 2 or more races: 5.5% (2,300)
- Some other Race: 10.9% (4,553)

#6. Pierce County

- Index: 0.451
- Total population: 877,013
- White: 72.9% (639,612)
- Black or African American: 6.8% (59,213)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.3% (11,170)
- Asian: 6.3% (55,571)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 1.5% (12,848)
- 2 or more races: 8.3% (72,509)
- Some other Race: 3.0% (26,090)

#5. Douglas County

- Index: 0.455
- Total population: 42,023
- White: 69.3% (29,137)
- Black or African American: 0.5% (203)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.7% (300)
- Asian: 0.7% (305)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.3% (112)
- 2 or more races: 3.4% (1,411)
- Some other Race: 25.1% (10,555)

#4. Franklin County

- Index: 0.465
- Total population: 92,009
- White: 70.5% (64,838)
- Black or African American: 2.2% (2,068)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.3% (1,163)
- Asian: 2.2% (2,016)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (195)
- 2 or more races: 4.8% (4,420)
- Some other Race: 18.8% (17,309)

#3. Grant County

- Index: 0.467
- Total population: 95,502
- White: 68.9% (65,761)
- Black or African American: 0.8% (810)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.2% (1,146)
- Asian: 1.0% (946)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (36)
- 2 or more races: 4.2% (4,034)
- Some other Race: 23.8% (22,769)

#2. Adams County

- Index: 0.502
- Total population: 19,594
- White: 65.1% (12,761)
- Black or African American: 1.0% (203)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 4.1% (796)
- Asian: 0.8% (154)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (41)
- 2 or more races: 2.1% (405)
- Some other Race: 26.7% (5,234)

#1. King County

- Index: 0.550
- Total population: 2.2 million
- White: 64.0% (1,404,324)
- Black or African American: 6.5% (141,790)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.6% (13,057)
- Asian: 17.6% (386,404)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.8% (16,944)
- 2 or more races: 6.4% (140,606)
- Some other Race: 4.2% (92,377)

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