From boom towns to mormon outposts: The nine states of Washington

If you didn’t catch The Atlantic’s recent 12 States of America(opens in new tab) feature, it’s worth a look. Using demographic, economic, cultural, and political data, the authors categorize each of the nation’s 3,141 counties into one of 12 statistically distinct “types of place,” then look at family income over the past 30 years through that prism.

By their reckoning, Washington has nine of these 12 “states” – here’s where you can find them:

Boom Towns: Whatcom, Skagit, Island, Jefferson, Kitsap, Mason, Pierce, Kittitas, Walla Walla Relatively wealthy; before the last recession, saw rapid growth and increasing minority populations — **Boom Towns:**
*Whatcom, Skagit, Island, Jefferson, Kitsap, Mason, Pierce, Kittitas, Walla Walla*
Relatively wealthy; before the last recession, saw rapid growth and increasing minority populations.
**Hshd. Income 1980-2010: +$2021**

Immigration Nation: Located mostly in the Southwest; large Hispanic populations; lower incomes and higher poverty. — **Immigration Nation:**
*Okanogan, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Adams, Yakima*
Located mostly in the Southwest; large Hispanic populations; lower incomes and higher poverty.
**Hshd. Income 1980-2010: -$3854**

Service Worker Centers: Clallam, Pacific, Grays Harbor, Lewis, Cowlitz, Skamania, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Spokane, Asotin Tourist hubs and midsize towns where many workers live without benefits. — **Service Worker Centers:**
*Clallam, Pacific, Grays Harbor, Lewis, Cowlitz, Skamania, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Spokane, Asotin*
Tourist hubs and midsize towns where many workers live without benefits.
**Hshd. Income 1980-2010: -$2447**

Mormon Outposts: Klickitat County Clustered in the Mountain West; sparsely populated; lower-than-average incomes — **Mormon Outposts:**
*Klickitat*
Clustered in the Mountain West; sparsely populated; lower-than-average incomes.
**Hshd Income 1980-2010: -$1675**

Minority Central: Heavy populations of African Americans and Native Americans; lower incomes and higher poverty rates — **Minority Central:**
*Ferry*
Heavy populations of African Americans and Native Americans; lower incomes and higher poverty rates.
**Hshd Income 1980-2010: -$739**

Tractor Country: White and rural; sparse populations; an economic base of farming and agribusiness. — **Tractor Country:**
*Lincoln, Wahkiakum, Columbia, Garfield*
White and rural; sparse populations; an economic base of farming and agribusiness.
**Hshd. Income 1980-2010: -$2765**

Military Bastions: Located near military bases; middle-income; filled with soldiers, vets and their families. — **Military Bastions:**
*Thurston*
Located near military bases; middle-income; filled with soldiers, vets and their families.
**Hshd Income 1980-2010: +$945**

The Moneyed Burbs: King, Pierce, San Juan, Benton, Franklin County Higher-than-average family income and educational attainment; closely divided politically — **The Moneyed Burbs:**
*King, Pierce, San Juan, Benton, Franklin*
Higher-than-average family income and educational attainment; closely divided politically.
**Hshd. Income 1980-2010: +$3716**

Campus and Careers: Younger demographic; lots of college students and people starting postgraduate careers. — **Campus and Careers:**
*Whitman*
Younger demographic; lots of college students and people starting postgraduate careers.
**Hshd Income 1980-2010: +$669**

And while these three “states” can be found elsewhere in the U.S., you won’t find them here in Washington: