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Graham, Washington
Location of Graham, Washington
Location of Graham, Washington
Country United States
State Washington
County Pierce
Area
 • Total 21.4 sq mi (55.5 km2)
 • Land 21.4 sq mi (55.5 km2)
 • Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation
610 ft (186 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 32,658
 • Density 1,526/sq mi (588.4/km2)
Time zone UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
98338
Area code(s) 253
FIPS code 53-27785
GNIS feature ID 1511005

Graham is a community in Pierce County, Washington, United States. It's called a "census-designated place" (CDP) because it's a special area the government uses to collect information about people, even though it's not an official city.

Graham is located about 16 miles southeast of Tacoma. Many people have moved to Graham recently. In 2010, about 23,491 people lived there. By 2020, the population had grown to 32,658 people.

Graham's Location and Size

Graham is located in Washington State. It covers an area of about 21.4 square miles (55.5 square kilometers). All of this area is land.

People Living in Graham

Graham has grown a lot over the years.

Historical population
Census Pop.
2000 8,739
2010 23,491 168.8%
2020 32,658 39.0%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2000, about 8,739 people lived in Graham. There were nearly 3,000 households, which are groups of people living together. The population density was about 408 people per square mile.

Most people in Graham were White (about 90%). Other groups included African American, Native American, Asian, and Pacific Islander people. About 3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Many households in Graham had children under 18 (about 42.5%). Most families were married couples living together. The average household had about 2.9 people.

The population of Graham is spread across different age groups. About 30% of the people were under 18 years old. The median age was 35 years. This means half the people were younger than 35, and half were older.

In 2000, the average income for a household in Graham was about $52,824. For families, it was about $55,800. A small number of families and people lived below the poverty line.

Local Library

Graham has its own branch of the Pierce County Library System. It is a great place to find books and other resources.

Schools in Graham

Most of Graham is part of the Bethel School District. Some parts are in the Orting School District or the Puyallup School District.

Elementary Schools

  • Centennial Elementary School
  • Graham Elementary School
  • Kapowsin Elementary School
  • Nelson Elementary School
  • North Star Elementary School
  • Rocky Ridge Elementary School

Middle Schools

  • Cougar Mountain Middle School
  • Frontier Middle School
  • Liberty Middle School

High Schools

  • Graham-Kapowsin High School
  • Bethel High School

Private Schools

  • Bethel Baptist Christian School (for grades K4-12)

Nearby Colleges

Students from Graham can attend colleges nearby. These include:

  • Pacific Lutheran University (in Parkland)
  • Colleges in Tacoma
  • Colleges in Lakewood
  • Colleges in Puyallup
  • Colleges offering classes at Joint Base Lewis-McChord

Annual Events

Graham hosts the yearly Pierce County Fair & Highland Games. This event takes place at Frontier Park.

Communities Around Graham

Graham is surrounded by several other communities:

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Graham (Washington) para niños

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