Snohomish County: Opportunity Lives Here

County at a Glance

Key facts

Geography & Location

Puget Sound to the Cascades

Snohomish County sits in northwest Washington, bordered by Puget Sound to the west and the Cascade Range to the east, directly north of King County and Seattle. Its western portion along the Salish Sea holds the majority of the population and the major cities, while the eastern portion is rugged, forested, and includes part of the Mount Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest. The county is roughly 2,196 square miles, with about 2,087 square miles of land. Downtown Everett is approximately 25 miles north of downtown Seattle via Interstate 5.

Population & Demographics

A growing, diverse county

Economy & Target Industries

Anchored by aerospace, growing across sectors

Snohomish County is home to about 30,000 businesses with a high concentrations of manufacturing employment. The economy is anchored by aerospace — led by Boeing's Everett plant, the largest building in the world by volume — and a supply chain of hundreds of aerospace companies. Beyond aerospace, the county is a center for advanced manufacturing, a growing life-science and medical-device cluster (including Philips and Fujifilm Sonosite, plus biotech firms), maritime industry anchored by the Port of Everett, healthcare, clean technology, and agriculture.

Quality of Life

Why people stay

Snohomish County pairs economic opportunity with an enviable quality of life: Puget Sound waterfront and marinas, quick access to Cascade hiking and skiing, historic downtowns, a vibrant arts and dining scene in Everett and beyond, and generally more attainable housing than neighboring King County. The Evergreen State Fair, waterfront festivals, and a network of parks and trails round out a lifestyle that helps employers attract and retain talent.