List of census-designated places in Washington facts for kids
A census-designated place (CDP) is a special kind of area in the U.S. state of Washington that the United States Census Bureau defines for counting people. It's like a town or village, but it doesn't have its own local government. Think of it as a neighborhood or a group of small communities that are close together.
CDPs are created so that the Census Bureau can collect and share information about how many people live in these areas, how old they are, and other details. This helps people understand more about where people live, even if those places aren't officially cities or towns.
There are 345 CDPs in Washington. They include many different types of places, from small villages to larger areas with businesses and even Air Force Bases. Each CDP has a name, is located in a specific county, and has a certain number of people living there.
What is a CDP?
A CDP is not a city or town that has its own mayor or city council. Instead, it's an area that looks like a community but is still part of a larger unincorporated county. The Census Bureau draws lines around these places just for statistical purposes. This means they are used for data collection and analysis, not for local laws or services.
For example, if you live in a CDP, your local services like police and fire departments are usually provided by the county government, not by a separate town government.
Why do CDPs exist?
CDPs are important because they help us understand population patterns in areas that aren't officially incorporated. Without CDPs, many smaller communities or growing neighborhoods outside of cities wouldn't be counted separately. This data helps with planning for schools, roads, and other important services. It also helps researchers and governments see how populations are spread out across the state.
Examples of CDPs in Washington
Washington has many CDPs, ranging from very small to quite large. For instance, some CDPs have only a few dozen residents, while others are home to tens of thousands of people.
Here are a few examples of CDPs in Washington, showing how different their populations can be:
- Laurier, in Ferry County, is one of the smallest, with only 4 people.
- Elbe, in Pierce County, has 39 people.
- Boyds, also in Ferry County, has 34 people.
- Parkland, in Pierce County, is one of the largest, with 38,623 people.
- South Hill, also in Pierce County, has 64,708 people.
- Graham, in Pierce County, has 32,658 people.
- Eastmont, in Snohomish County, has 24,059 people.
- Frederickson, in Pierce County, has 24,906 people.
- Mill Creek East, in Snohomish County, has 24,912 people.
- Hazel Dell, in Clark County, has 23,569 people.
- North Lynnwood, in Snohomish County, has 22,802 people.
- Cottage Lake, in King County, has 22,857 people.
- Union Hill-Novelty Hill, in King County, has 22,683 people.
- Silver Firs, in Snohomish County, has 22,174 people.
- Bothell West, in Snohomish County, has 22,015 people.
- Martha Lake, in Snohomish County, has 21,660 people.
- Salmon Creek, in Clark County, has 21,293 people.
- Five Corners, in Clark County, has 20,973 people.
- Silverdale, in Kitsap County, has 20,733 people.
- Orchards, in Clark County, has 27,729 people.
These examples show that CDPs can be very different in size, but they all help the Census Bureau get a clear picture of where people live in Washington.
See also
In Spanish: Anexo:Lugares designados por el censo en Washington para niños
- List of cities in Washington
- List of towns in Washington
- List of undesignated communities in Washington
