Thurston County Demographics

A map of Thurston County's Population by Race

Thurston County, Washington had a population of 294,793 in 2020. It was 70.6% White, 3.0% Black, 5.7% Asian, 9.8% Hispanic, 2.9% Native American/Other, and 7.9% Multiracial. This map presents the population of Thurston County, with one dot drawn for each person counted in the 2020 Census, color-coded by race.

Thurston County is the 6th most populous county of the 39 counties in Washington.

Thurston County's White Population

207,985 residents of Thurston County identify as White, or 70.6%. This makes the White share of the population of Thurston County slightly larger than the White share of the population of Washington (63.8% White). Of the 39 counties in Washington, Thurston County is ranked #26 in terms of White residents as a share of the population.

Thurston County is more White than neighboring Pierce County (61.9% White). Thurston County is less White than neighboring Mason County (75.5% White), Lewis County (79.7% White), Kitsap County (72.2% White), and Cowlitz County (79.5% White).

Thurston County's Black Population

8,893 residents of Thurston County identify as Black, or 3.0%. This makes the Black share of the population of Thurston County roughly similar to the Black share of the population of Washington (3.8% Black). Of the 39 counties in Washington, Thurston County is ranked #4 in terms of Black residents as a share of the population.

Thurston County is more Black than neighboring Mason County (1% Black), Lewis County (0.6% Black), Kitsap County (2.7% Black), and Cowlitz County (0.7% Black). Thurston County is less Black than neighboring Pierce County (6.8% Black).

Thurston County's Asian Population

16,878 residents of Thurston County identify as Asian, or 5.7%. This makes the Asian share of the population of Thurston County roughly similar to the Asian share of the population of Washington (9.4% Asian). Of the 39 counties in Washington, Thurston County is ranked #5 in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population.

Thurston County is more Asian than neighboring Mason County (1.2% Asian), Lewis County (1% Asian), Kitsap County (5.1% Asian), and Cowlitz County (1.6% Asian). Thurston County is less Asian than neighboring Pierce County (6.7% Asian).

Thurston County's Hispanic Population

29,024 residents of Thurston County identify as Hispanic, or 9.8%. This makes the Hispanic share of the population of Thurston County roughly similar to the Hispanic share of the population of Washington (13.7% Hispanic). Of the 39 counties in Washington, Thurston County is ranked #21 in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population.

Thurston County is more Hispanic than neighboring Kitsap County (8.8% Hispanic). Thurston County is less Hispanic than neighboring Mason County (11.6% Hispanic), Lewis County (10.7% Hispanic), and Pierce County (12.1% Hispanic).

Thurston County's Native American/Other Population

8,644 residents of Thurston County identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other, or 2.9%. This makes the Native American/Other share of the population of Thurston County roughly similar to the Native American/Other share of the population of Washington (2.6% Native American/Other). Of the 39 counties in Washington, Thurston County is ranked #12 in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population.

Thurston County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Lewis County (1.9% Native American/Other), and Cowlitz County (2.3% Native American/Other). Thurston County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Mason County (4% Native American/Other), and Pierce County (3.6% Native American/Other).

Thurston County's Multiracial Population

23,369 residents of Thurston County identify as Multiracial, or 7.9%. This makes the Multiracial share of the population of Thurston County roughly similar to the Multiracial share of the population of Washington (6.6% Multiracial). Of the 39 counties in Washington, Thurston County is ranked #3 in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population.

Thurston County is more Multiracial than neighboring Mason County (6.8% Multiracial), Lewis County (6% Multiracial), and Cowlitz County (6.2% Multiracial). Thurston County is less Multiracial than neighboring Pierce County (8.8% Multiracial), and Kitsap County (8.3% Multiracial).

Source: 2020 Census State Redistricting Data and Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.