Washington is astate in thePacific Northwest region of the United States. As of the2020 U.S. census, it is the13th-most populous state, with7,705,281 inhabitants, and ranked18th by land area, spanning 66,456 square miles (172,120 km²) of land.^[1][2] Washington is divided into 39counties and contains 281municipalities that are classified into cities and towns.^[3][4] Approximately65.4% of the state's population lives inincorporated municipalities.^[5]

The most populous municipality in Washington isSeattle with 737,015 residents, and the least populous municipality isKrupp with 49 residents.^[1][6] The state has ten cities with populations greater than 100,000 residents and sixteen with populations between 50,000 and 100,000 residents; the majority of cities have fewer than 5,000 residents.^[7] Seattle is also the largest municipality by land area, at 83.83 sq mi (217.1 km²), whileBeaux Arts Village is the smallest at 0.08 sq mi (0.21 km²); both are located inKing County.^[8] The oldest municipality isSteilacoom, which was incorporated in 1854;^[9] the most recent municipality to incorporate wasSpokane Valley in 2003.^[10] Five municipalities have also been disincorporated with their governments dissolved; the most recent wasWestlake in 1966.^[11]

The state has five categories for its 281 municipalities that vary based on population at the time of incorporation or reorganization. As of 2022^[update], 197 are code cities, 10 are first-class cities, 5 are second-class cities, and 69 are towns; one city remains unclassified.^[3] All municipalities have an electedcity or town council and an executive—either amayor ormanager—to oversee administration of the government. The municipal government generally provides someemergency services, a court system, road maintenance, planning and permitting, parks and recreation, and some utilities.^[7]

There arefour classifications for municipalities in the state of Washington: code city, first-class city, second-class city, and town. Municipalities can also be unclassified if they did not organize under these classifications. Each has their own powers and limitations that vary and are defined by state laws in Titles 35 and 35A of theRevised Code of Washington.^[12] These powers include the ability to collect general taxes to fundmunicipal services and specialized taxes for specific uses; providingemergency services,urban planning, andwater treatment among other services; and enforce laws passed by thecity council.^[7][13] After Washington wasadmitted as a U.S. state in 1889, thestate legislature created classifications for local municipalities, each with a population threshold.^[14] First-class and code cities with populations greater than 10,000 are authorized under thestate constitution to adopt acharter that grantshome rule powers at the local level.^[15]

As of 2022^[update], Washington has ten first-class cities that are permitted to adopt and operate under a home rule charter; they are required to have a population of at least 10,000 residents at the time of their incorporation or reorganization. The state has five second-class cities that have limited authority and can only use powers granted by the state legislature; they are required to have at least 1,500 residents at the time of their incorporation or reorganization.^[12] There are 68 towns that also have a limited authority and had fewer than 1,500 residents at the time of their incorporation or reorganization. In 1994, the minimum population to incorporate a municipality was raised from 300 to 1,500 by the state legislature, which has prevented the creation of new towns.^[12][16]

The state legislature created another classification—the code city—in 1967 to grant greater control to cities, who sought expanded home rule authority to address complex issues as they urbanized. As of 2022^[update], the state has 197 municipalities that are code cities—the most of any classification.^[3] They are authorized to perform any function not specifically restricted in the state constitution or by state law. Any area with 1,500 residents is allowed to incorporate as a code city, and any code city with at least 10,000 residents are allowed to adopt a charter.^[12][16] Existing cities and towns are allowed to reorganize as a code city if they meet the population threshold and the change is approved by voters.^[12][17] As of 2022^[update], one city remains unclassified—Waitsburg, inWalla Walla County—and continues to use the 1881territorial charter under which it was organized.^[12] It is allowed to exercise the powers of a code city under a 2003 law passed by the state legislature.^[16]

Non-charter cities and towns are authorized to adopt one of three forms of government for day-to-day municipal operations:commission,mayor–council,council–manager.^[10] The most common form is mayor–council, which has an electedmayor who takes office separately from the elected city council. The council–manager form is used by some municipalities and has a hiredcity manager as the chief executive of the government, while the mayor holds a ceremonial role and presides over city council meetings.^[10] As of 2020^[update], a total of the 227 municipalities that use a mayor–council system comprise 58 percent of Washington residents in incorporated areas; the 54 municipalities that use a council–manager system, which are all code and first-class cities, comprise 42 percent of residents in incorporated areas.^[10] The city commission system—which assigns its three elected commissioners as the heads of municipal departments—was last used byShelton in 2017 and not adopted by another municipality.^[10][18]

• 
  Downtown skyline ofSeattle, the most populous city in Washington
• 
  Aerial view ofSpokane, the second-most populous city in Washington
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  Skyline ofTacoma, the third-most populous city in Washington
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  Skyline ofVancouver, the fourth-most populous city in Washington
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  Aerial view ofBellevue, the fifth-most populous city in Washington
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  Aerial view ofKent, the sixth-most populous city in Washington
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  The skyline ofEverett, the seventh-most populous city in Washington

• Washington (state) statistical areas
• List of counties in Washington
• List of census-designated places in Washington
• List of unincorporated communities in Washington

• Title 35 RCW (governing all cities)
• Title 35A RCW (governing code cities)
• Association of Washington Cities

• Cities in Washington (state)
• Lists of cities in the United States by state
• Lists of towns in the United States
• Washington (state) geography-related lists

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