Washington

San Juan

17,788
2020 population
1870
first census record
16
census records

About San Juan

San Juan, Washington, first appears in the United States federal census in 1870, when it recorded a population of 554. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 17,788.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Gulf of Georgia Warfare (San Juan Islands), and 21 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202017,788
201015,769
200014,077
199010,035
19807,838
19703,856
19602,872
19503,245
19403,157
19303,097
19203,605
19103,603
19002,928
18902,072
1880948
1870554
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in San Juan

Military engagements that took place in San Juan, Washington.

Gulf of Georgia Warfare (San Juan Islands)
1000

Historic places in San Juan

National Register of Historic Places listings in San Juan, Washington.

San Juan Island National Historic Site
Friday Harbor
Patos Island Light Station
East Sound
Moran State Park
Olga
San Juan Island, Lime Kiln Light Station
Friday Harbor
Rosario
Orcas Island
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Other counties in Washington

Explore census history and historic records for more Washington counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about San Juan County, Washington

This page charts the census history of San Juan County, Washington. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about San Juan

When does San Juan first appear in the US census?
San Juan, Washington first appears in the federal census in 1870, with a recorded population of 554.
What is the population of San Juan?
At the most recent federal census (2020), San Juan had a recorded population of 17,788.
Were any battles fought in San Juan?
1 documented military engagement took place in San Juan, including Gulf of Georgia Warfare (San Juan Islands).
How many historic places are in San Juan?
21 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in San Juan, Washington.
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