Federal Way is a city located in King County, Washington, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 83,259. The population including surrounding unincorporated areas exceeds 110,000.

Originally a logging settlement, the area was first called "Federal Way" in 1929, when Federal Way School District #210 was created. The name derived from U.S. Highway 99, completed that decade, which ran through the area on its way from Everett and Seattle to Tacoma and Olympia. Two years later, Federal Way High School was built, and about 20 years later, the name was adopted by the local Chamber of Commerce. The city incorporated on February 28, 1990.

Federal Way is home to Weyerhaeuser, the largest private owner of softwood timberland in the world.

Geography and Location

Aerial map

Geography

Federal Way is located at 47°18'47" North, 122°20'21" West (47.312960, -122.339173)¹.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 54.8 km² (21.1 mi²). 54.5 km² (21.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.61% water.

As of the census of 2000, there are 83,259 people, 31,437 households, and 21,251 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,528.6/km² (3,959.4/mi²). There are 32,581 housing units at an average density of 598.2/km² (1,549.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 68.84% White, 7.94% African American, 0.89% Native American, 12.29% Asian, 1.02% Pacific Islander, 3.67% from other races, and 5.35% from two or more races. 7.53% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 31,437 households out of which 37.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% are married couples living together, 12.2% have a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% are non-families. 24.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 5.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.63 and the average family size is 3.17.

In the city the population is spread out with 28.2% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 7.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 32 years. For every 100 females there are 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 93.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $49,278, and the median income for a family is $55,833. Males have a median income of $41,504 versus $30,448 for females. The per capita income for the city is $22,451. 9.3% of the population and 6.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 12.5% are under the age of 18 and 6.5% are 65 or older.

Washington
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Largest Cities: Auburn | Bellevue | Bellingham | Bremerton | Edmonds | Everett | Federal Way | Kennewick | Kent | Kirkland | Lakewood | Olympia | Redmond | Renton | Richland | Seattle | Shoreline | Spokane | Tacoma | Vancouver | Yakima
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