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WASHINGTON 2 : Puget Sound - Everett; Bellingham

West of the Cascade Mountains in the northwest corner of the state, the 2nd covers an area that is mostly rural in its topography and socially conservative in its politics. Most of the district's population lives along Interstate 5, while the rural areas just west of the forested mountains provide residents with large plots of land and plenty of room to ride their horses.

During the last several decades, the older economic mainstays of farming, logging, lumber and paper began long declines that affected the economies and lifestyles of many of the communities. But in the 1980s and '90s, the economy and population exploded with growth in the technology industry. Infrastructure improvements have not kept pace, so traffic is a major concern. Tens of thousands of Boeing workers live in the district, making the community susceptible to that company's business cycles.

The 2nd was a Democratic district, but it is now fiercely contested. Labor plays a crucial role in elections, and its endorsement can be pivotal. Environmental concerns motivate many voters in Whatcom County. The western urban centers of Everett and Bellingham are liberal, while the eastern rural sections are highly independent with conservative tendencies and suspicions about eastern urban interests.

Major Industry
Aviation, computer software, shipping

Military Bases
Everett Naval Station, 5,465 military, 448 civilian; Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, 7,632 military, 1,428 civilian (1998)

Population
540,861 (1990)

Cities
Everett, 81,028; Bellingham, 61,043; Mount Vernon, 22,059 (1996)

People
42% rural, 38% urban; 12% age 65+ (ranks sixth of nine in state; middle third nationally); 60% married couples, 28% married couples with children; 18% college educated (ranks fifth of nine in state; middle third nationally); 52% white collar (ranks eighth of nine in state; bottom third nationally), 31% blue collar (ranks first of nine in state; middle third nationally) (1990)

Race
94% white, 1% black, 2% Asian; 3% Hispanic origin (1990)

Median Household Income
$31,305 (ranks fourth of nine in state; middle third nationally) (1990)

Unusual Features
Half a million visitors each April flock to the tulip festival in Skagit County, where the climate makes for ideal growing conditions.

© 2002 The Washington Post Company