Biggest Cities in Washington

Washington State's urban population is heavily concentrated in the Puget Sound region, with a secondary urban center in Spokane on the eastern side of the Cascades.

Seattle — 749,000 (city); 4.0 million (metro). The largest city in Washington and the cultural and economic capital of the Pacific Northwest. Seattle combines a dramatic natural setting — water on three sides, Mount Rainier visible to the southeast on clear days — with one of the most dynamic tech economies in the world. The Pike Place Market, Capitol Hill, Ballard, and the South Lake Union (Amazon's neighborhood) all have distinct characters. Seattle is known for coffee (Starbucks was founded here in 1971), grunge music, rainfall, and progressive politics.

Spokane — 229,000 (city); 580,000 (metro). The largest city in eastern Washington and the dominant city of the Inland Northwest. Spokane sits on the Spokane River where it drops dramatically over basalt falls in the heart of downtown. The city serves as the commercial and healthcare hub for a region spanning eastern Washington, northern Idaho, and western Montana.

Tacoma — 222,000 (city); part of the Seattle metro. The gritty, underappreciated sibling of Seattle. Tacoma has a working port, the Museum of Glass (with a renowned Dale Chihuly collection), and the Point Defiance Park — 760 acres of old-growth forest and shoreline. The city has a long-standing "Tacoma aroma" reputation from its paper mills, though emissions have been reduced significantly.

Vancouver — 195,000. On the Columbia River across from Portland, Oregon, Vancouver, Washington is essentially Portland's northern suburb but a separate city in a different state. Often confused with Vancouver, Canada.

Bellevue — 152,000. Seattle's tech-wealthy eastern neighbor across Lake Washington. Bellevue has become a significant city in its own right, with Google, Microsoft, T-Mobile, and many other tech companies anchoring its downtown.

Olympia — 55,000. The state capital. Smaller than many expect for a state of Washington's size and wealth. Home to Evergreen State College and the state government complex.