In the past year, Cowlitz County reached a population density of over 100 people per square mile for the first time, meaning it is no longer considered a rural county by some state laws, the Washington State Office of Financial Management reported.
However, because it was considered rural before 2009, this change will not affect its ability to receive state rural development funds, which the county uses to fund infrastructure projects.
State law defines a rural county as one with a population density of fewer than 100 people per square mile or an area smaller than 225 square miles. Cowlitz County has an area of 1,141 square miles.
Various federal agencies have their own definitions for rural counties based on population density, town size or proximity to urban centers.
The Office of Financial Management publishes yearly state population estimates each April.
The 2025 estimates are based on changes that occurred between April 2, 2024, and April 1, 2025.
As of this year, 29 out of the 39 counties in Washington are considered rural. San Juan and Island counties, which have a population density of 107 and 425 people per square mile respectively, are included because of their size.
Cowlitz and Clark counties are the only two in the area that are not considered rural based on population density, while Lewis, Skamania and Wahkiakum counties are considered rural.
Rural counties in Washington are able to collect a sales and use tax of up to 0.09% to fund economic development and affordable housing projects.
That tax is subtracted from other sales taxes required by the state, meaning the total tax paid by consumers stays the same.
Because Cowlitz County was considered rural as of Aug. 1, 2009, it will be able to continue collecting this tax until its expiration date in 2054, said Mikhail Carpenter, the communications manager for the Washington State Department of Revenue, which administers the tax.
The county expects to receive around $2.8 million from the tax this year, Commissioner Rick Dahl said. The Board of County Commissioners typically assigns them to infrastructure projects.
“The commissioners try to focus these funds on projects that facilitate growth and commerce to our county,” he said.
According to the county website, it has received $34 million from the program since it began identifying projects in 1998. In the past, those funds have gone toward things like expanding municipal water services and the Port of Longview’s rail extension project, Dahl said.
