These south Thurston areas diversified over the last decade, census data show
The populations of several south Thurston County communities diversified over the last decade, much like the county as a whole.
Data released by the U.S. Census Bureau included race and ethnicity data for Thurston County and its communities.
Over the past 10 years, the Thurston County population has grown by 16.9%, or 42,529 people, to 294,793, The Olympian previously reported. With this growth, the county ranked as the fifth fastest growing county and the sixth largest county in Washington state.
Yelm
Yelm, the largest south Thurston County city, saw its population increase by 55% (3,769) to 10,617, according to data analysis by The Olympian.
Though white people still make up most of the population in Yelm, growth among people who identified as other races grew at a faster rate.
The population of people who identify as two more races in Yelm increased by 188.4% (938) to 1,436. Meanwhile, the population of whites alone increased by just 36% (2,009) to 7,594.
Notably, the population of those who identify as Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander increased by 269.3% (175) to 240. The population of other races also saw significant growth:
- The population of those who identified as Asian alone increased by 143.4% (228) to 387.
- The population of those who identified as American Indian and Alaska Native alone increased by 64.8% (81) to 206.
- The population of those who identified as Black or African American alone increased by 60% (135) to 360.
- The population of those who identified as some other race alone increased by 106.3% (203) to 394.
- The population of those who identify as Hispanic or Latino, which can include multiple races, increased 98.6% (633) to 1,275 over the past 10 years.
At the same time, the population of those who identify as not Hispanic or Latino grew at a slower rate. This population grew by 50.5% (3,136) to 9,342.
Rainier
The city of Rainier held on as the second largest city in south Thurston County. There, the population grew overall by 32.1% (575) to 2,369 over the past 10 years.
Similarly to Yelm, growth among people who identify as two or more races outpaced all other races in Rainier where this population grew by 174.4% (143) to 225.
Over the same period, the white alone population increased by just 20.9% (341) to 1,969. Other races made up significantly smaller shares of the Rainier population:
- The population of those who identified as Asian alone increased by 147.4% (28) to 47.
- The population of those who identified as American Indian and Alaska Native alone increased by 42.9% (9) to 30.
- The population of those who identified as Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone increased by 700% (14) to 16.
- The population of those who identified as Black or African American remained at 22.
- The population of those who identified as some other race alone increased by 200% (40) to 60.
- The population of those who identify as Hispanic or Latino increased by 115.7%% (103) to 192 over the last decade.
Meanwhile, the population of those who identified as not Hispanic or Latino grew at a slower rate. This population grew by 27.7% (472) to 2,177.
Tenino
The city of Tenino, the smallest of the south Thurston County cities, grew overall by just 10.3% (175) to 1,870. There, the white alone population actually decreased by nearly 0.7% (10) to 1,528.
Meanwhile, the population of those who identify as two or more races increased by 164.1% (128) to 206.
The population of most other races in Tenino increased by modest amounts, except for those who identify as Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander. That population decreased by 3 to just 2.
As for the Hispanic or Latino population, this group grew by 18.4%% (23) to 148 over the last decade in Tenino. The population of those who identified as not Hispanic or Latino grew by 9.7% (152) to 1,722.
Rochester
Rochester, which is a census designated place rather than a city, grew by 153.9% (3,676) to a total population of 6,064 by 2020. This means it’s larger than the cities of Rainier and Tenino combined.
Unlike some other communities, the white alone population saw significant growth in Rochester where it increased by 142.1% (2,874) to 4,896.
Yet, like in other situations across the county, the population of those who identified as two or more races grew the fastest. This population increased by 734.2% (558) to 634.
Other races saw significant growth in Rochester:
- The population of those who identified as Asian alone increased by 100% (32) to 64.
- The population of those who identified as American Indian and Alaska Native alone increased by 38.6% (27) to 97.
- The population of those who identified as Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone increased by 2,400% (24) to 25.
- The population of those who identified as Black or African American alone increased by 106.7% (16) to 31.
- The population of those who identified as some other race alone increased by 84.3% (145) to 317.
The Hispanic or Latino population in Rochester increased by 138.6% (388) to 668 over the last decade. Yet, the population of those who do not identify as Hispanic or Latino grew at a faster rate. This population increased by about 156% (3,288) to 5,396.
Grand Mound
Grand Mound, which is also a census designated place rather than a city, saw its population increase by just 10.7% (320) to 3,301.
Though Grand Mound’s white alone population still makes up most of the area’s population, this group actually decreased by about 1.2% (30) to 2,408 over the last 10 years.
Notably, the population of those who identify as Black or African American also decreased here by 14.3% (3) to just 18.
Just as most other areas, the population of those who identified as two or more races grew the fastest. This population increased by 95.3% (164) to 336. Other races grew by modest amounts.
Grand Mound’s Hispanic or Latino population grew by 28.1% (135) to 615 over the last decade. Over the same period, the population of those who do not identify as Hispanic or Latino grew at a slower rate. This population increased by just 7.4% (185) to 1,686.
