Snohomish County Map

About Snohomish County Map

View above map of Snohomish county showing interstate highwaysm other roads, airports, rivers, major cities, county seat and national parks.

Facts about Snohomish County

Snohomish County, Washington

Welcome to Snohomish County, a forward-thinking county in the Puget Sound region of the Pacific Northwest. Our unique blend of technology, nature and people makes our residents proud to call us home. Close enough to Seattle, yet worlds apart, Snohomish County combines the advantages of a thriving business environment, ample recreational opportunities and a strong sense of community, all while continuing to evolve as a global leader in the aerospace, technology and outdoor industries. As of early 2026, the estimated population of Snohomish County is 875,930 or about 1.5 percent annual growth, which is still strong, yet slowing down a bit. We are the third most populous county in Washington, with a mid-2024 estimated population of 864,113 people. As part of the Seattle metropolitan area, Snohomish County is home to many wonderful places to live, work and visit, with Everett serving as our county seat. Ideally located for work and play, Snohomish County offers employment and educational opportunities in manufacturing, education and other fields of interest, as well as plenty of choice for family and unstructured recreation. All these elements, and a spirit of community that works together to address current issues such as affordable housing, land use and sustainability to name a few, make Snohomish County a great place to call home, too.

Etymology and Historical Foundations

Snohomish County was named after the Snohomish people, a Coast Salish tribe of the Lushootseed Nation of indigenous peoples. Their name comes from their Lushootseed word Sduhubš (pronounced approximately Sdoh-doh-hohbsh), meaning "lowland people" or "the braves". This name alludes to the fact that the Sdohobsh had lived along the Snohomish and Pilchuck rivers and their surrounding lowlands for thousands of years prior to the arrival of Europeans. With the signing of the Point Elliott Treaty in 1855, which allocated the Tulalip Reservation to Native Americans and ceded the land to white settlers, John Gould and Peter Goutre established trading posts at Tulalip Bay in 1853. The area was separated from what was then known as Island County on 14 January 1861 and named as a county in its own right. Its county seat was first located at Mukilteo in July 1861, then moved to Snohomish in July of the same year. In 1897, after a disputed election, the county seat was again moved to Everett. Timber, agriculture and mining were mainstays of the economy of the county during these years, as was dealing with the social and economic effects of the Depression with the aid of programs of the New Deal, and the surge of wartime work in the shipyards that came to Puget Sound with the entry of the United States into World War II. In 1967, Boeing located its new wide-bodied jet aircraft plant near Paine Field in Everett, thus preserving the county's place in the economy of the Pacific Northwest. Today, the county celebrates its roots, while also striving to honor the heritage of its indigenous peoples through appropriate cultural and reconciliation programs.

Geography and Climate

Snohomish County covers 2,196 square miles of land and water, including 2,087 square miles of land, making it Washington's 13th largest county by land area. It is a transition zone between Puget Sound lowlands and the Cascade Mountains alpine region. Snohomish County borders: Skagit County, King County, Chelan County and Okanogan County to the east, and Island County and Kitsap County to the west. Saltwater beaches and rich river valleys of the west end abruptly in dense forests and mountainous country of the east, reaching its mountainous part reaching up to Glacier Peak at 10,541 ft. About 68 percent of the county is forest, 18 percent is rural, 9 percent is urban, and 5 percent is agricultural land with much of the latter being within the Mount Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest. The county's main rivers are the Snohomish River which is the union of the Skykomish and Snoqualmie rivers, and the Stillaguamish. They flow west into the Salish Sea. These low-lying river valleys are prone to periodic flooding but are essential to agriculture and wildlife. The mild winters with wet weather (20°-40° F) and dry summers (55°-65° F) are characteristic of the lowlands of the western part of the county. Precipitation averages around 35 in. Along with infrequent convergence zone storms, these are the extremes the county's western residents endure. In contrast, winter temperatures in the highlands of the eastern part of the county reach 60° F to 40° F while summers bring record highs of 109° F which occurred during the heat dome of July 2021.

Demographics and Community Life

The year 2026 will bring a population of approximately 875,930 to Snohomish County. The county’s population density will remain low at about 396 people per square mile. The low density will be a result of the county’s large land area and the population being heavily concentrated in southwestern urban areas that are closer to Seattle and Interstate 5. The 2024 projected population for the county is 864,113 (4. an increase of 4.4 percent since the 2020 census estimated population of 827,957. The annual growth rate to the county is expected to remain at 1.5 percent with an ongoing basis of growth from new migrants to the county and from in county family growth. The median age for the county is estimated to remain at 38.6 with 21.6 percent of the population under the age of 18, and 15.5 percent 65 years of age or older. The county continues to be well-suited for supporting programs aimed at youth and the elderly. The county’s racial and ethnic diversity also continues to grow with 71.3 percent White (61.0 percent non-Hispanic); 16.3 percent Asian; 4.6 percent Black; 1.7 percent American Indian and Alaska Native; 0.7 percent Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander; 5.4 percent some other race; and 12.7 percent Hispanic, Latino, or of Latino, and in combination with another racial or ethnic group(s). The median household income is estimated to be $111,246 with a poverty rate of 8.6 percent. Affordable housing and workforce development are areas that the county may choose to target for future programs. The county’s education level is still very high with 93.1 percent of adults 25 years of age and over having completed high school and 38.2 percent having received a bachelor’s degree or higher. Additionally, the county’s foreign-born population is estimated to be 19.3 percent. Diversity and international knowledge along with the diversity of small business ownership are all valued components of the county’s population. Health care indicators that may be of interest include: 7.1 percent of the population under the age of 65 are without health insurance and 8.8 percent of the population has some type of disability. Health care access and supportive services to help people cope with disabilities are important population needs that will continue into 2026.

Economy and Employment Landscape

Executive Summary For 2026, the economy of Snohomish County will remain stable in the face of somewhat weak national and regional indicators, with an estimated December 2025 unemployment rate of 5.1 percent. This is a little higher than the predicted national rate of 4.1 percent, the same as the state rate of 5.3 percent, and marginally higher than the pre-COVID recovery rate of 5 percent. Estimated nonfarm employment was 304,200 in November 2023, an increase of 900 from November 2022, as estimated as 337,157 for 2024, and 352,693 for 2029, with growth rates for 2019–2024 of 1.4 percent, one of the highest in the Pacific Northwest. The largest employment sectors in the county include manufacturing, which contains aerospace companies such as Boeing and produces about 55,884 workers, as well as government, which accounts for about 41,000 employees, healthcare and social assistance, and retail. The countywide median household income is estimated at $108,000, the per capita income about $62,000, and there were an estimated 20,258 employer establishments in 2023 paying $19.98 billion annually to employees. These figures include the largest employer, Boeing with about 29,600 workers, as well as such significant healthcare employers as Providence Swedish with about 7,350. Technologies related to Boeing such as composite materials and robotics are major components of several regional technology centers. Ocean shipping and related maritime businesses and other recent additions to the county economy include e commerce, tech-related new businesses, and renewable energy firms and providers. The county has a somewhat weak recovery under 1 percent annual job growth predicted for 2024 and 2025, but many existing and proposed regional efforts for workforce development and the development of small businesses are underway, and intended to lower the county’s historically high dependence on the aerospace industry while creating more equitable economic opportunity for all residents and improving countywide economic resilience.

Government and Political Dynamics

Snohomish County is governed under a home rule charter which uses an executive-council form of government with a County Executive who focuses on providing a more personal form of county governance and a five member council that focuses on issues of public safety, fiscal responsibility and quality of life including the adoption of the county budget. The council is a partisan body of five members representing the public safety, community and economic development, environment/human services, public works and general government needs of the County's constituents. The County Executive is Democrat Dave Somers, elected in 2016. The five member Council as of 2023 consists of: Republican Nate Nehring (District 1), representing the suburban areas of Monroe and Lake Stevens, as well as rural areas of both Monore and Snow Lake Districts. Democrat Megan Dunn (District 2), representing the city of Edmonds, part of Mukilteo and the surrounding areas. Democrat Strom Peterson (District 3), representing Mukilteo, parts of Everett and the surrounding communities. Democrat Jared Mead Mead (District 4), representing the cities of Lynnwood and Gold Bar, parts of Index, and the communities of Pilchuck, Machias and parts of Monroe. Republican Sam Low (District 5), representing most of Everett, parts of Mountlake Terrace, and the rural communities of Snow Lake and Johnson's Corner. The County's judicial branch is composed of a Superior Court with 17 judges and a District Court with 9 judges. The official website of the county is snohomishcountywa.gov. As of the 2016 presidential election, the county has voted Democratic since 1988; however the county has a diverse population and primary election voter turnout has been low (below 45 percent except for 2020). The county's compliance with the Growth Management Act focuses county government infrastructure and economic policies on issues of housing, transportation and the environment. These policies are carried out through a cooperative process which brings together members of both parties in order to benefit the County's citizens.

Education and Intellectual Pursuits

The 15 school districts in Snohomish County that serve more than 100,000 K–12 students have a strong tradition of excellent education. In 2022–2023, the county’s graduation rates were 93.1 percent and bachelor’s attainment rates for residents were 38.2 percent. The county’s larger districts are Edmonds and Everett School Districts, each with more than 20,000 students, respectively. The district’s student count is growing in the rural areas following post-COVID adjustments. A total of 68 private schools support student learning. The county’s higher education institutions include Edmonds College with 5,301 students (2019–2020) that has the Central Washington University College of Education and a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences degree since 2017; Everett Community College (4,173 students); and Cascadia College (1,826 students) in partnership with the University of Washington in Bothell. Additionally, Washington State University Everett opened its doors to students in 2017 and is a hub for the growing fields of STEM and applied sciences with a focus on innovation needed by the aerospace and tech industries and more. In February 2026, county voters approved levies and bonds for $2.9 billion to fund facilities and programs in our schools to ensure students are learning in safe and modern facilities.

Transportation and Infrastructure

Transportation in Snohomish County, where the majority of residents, 875,930, live is a critical system that includes highways like Interstate 5 (40 miles north and south), State Routes 9, 99 and 527 and U.S. Route 2 (east and west). The county has 1,600 miles of roads and more than 200 bridges. Community Transit’s preliminary 2026-2027 budget is $560 million, funds local and commuter buses for 130,000 more hours of service per year, and continues building out the Swift bus rapid transit program, including the Blue Line (opened 2009) and new Green and Orange lines that opened in 2024. New Gold Line service is expected to open in 2029. New Sound Transit light rail to Lynnwood is expected to open in 2024 in time for use by riders of the new lines. New passenger flights from Paine Field began in 2019. Ferries carry passengers from Edmonds to Kingston and from Mukilteo to Clinton. This array of projects — $1.1 million in 2025 grants for roundabouts, I-5 overcrossings and other multimodal projects — will enhance the safety and environmental sustainability of the region’s transportation system for both commuters and families. Funds will go toward rebuilding and rehabilitating I-5 and including zero-emission buses in the county’s fleet.

Communities and Cultural Fabric

Communities in Snohomish County have created a dynamic of urban and suburban living and working, along with a strong agricultural base and rural lands, in the 18 incorporated cities and two towns, as well as the many unincorporated areas of the county. Everett, the county seat, is the hub of a metropolitan area, with rapidly growing cities like Marysville, Edmonds and Lynnwood. The smaller cities of Snohomish, Stanwood and Sultan preserve much of their historic downtown area and strong agricultural roots, while bedroom communities like Bothell (partly in King County) and Mill Creek offer all the amenities needed for those commuting to Seattle. Native American Culture: The Tulalip, Stillaguamish and Sauk-Suiattle tribes have lived for thousands of years in the county and their legacy is celebrated in tribal events and in historic landmarks such as the Swinomish Indian Village and Canal. The county is also a major repository of nautical, artistic and agricultural history, with access to the Salish Sea and river valleys, all combining to create a unique cultural experience. The Edmonds Creative District and other county arts programs also enhance the area’s quality of life while promoting economic development and social well-being through a variety of projects and programs serving people in need, affirming the county's people-first philosophy. Storylines that have been created and are being lived out in Snohomish County reflect the legacy of Native American peoples, the county's pioneers and the innovation and progress of today, all while honoring both the past and the future in its ever-changing landscape.