There are roughly 17.1 million veterans living in the U.S., according to data from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Though, the VA anticipates the percentage of the U.S. population with military experience will continue to decline over the next couple of decades—by 2046, it expects the number of living U.S. veterans to decrease by 29%.
Stacker compiled a list of the counties with the most veterans in Washington using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest percent of residents that are veterans based on the Census' 2024 5-year estimate.
Alaska, Virginia, and Montana are home to the most veterans per capita. American veterans live in virtually all of the country's 3,144 counties.
Keep reading to see where the most veterans live in your home state.
#39. Adams County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 3.6% (494 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 3
--- Korean War: 48
--- Vietnam War: 208
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 106
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 109
#38. Whitman County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 4.2% (1,666 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 3
--- Korean War: 44
--- Vietnam War: 517
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 413
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 358
#37. King County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 4.5% (82,668 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 1,150
--- Korean War: 4,327
--- Vietnam War: 26,245
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 18,189
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 21,747
#36. Yakima County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 5.4% (9,764 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 204
--- Korean War: 428
--- Vietnam War: 3,767
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,807
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,809
#35. Franklin County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 5.9% (4,004 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 5
--- Korean War: 97
--- Vietnam War: 982
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,103
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,393
#34. Whatcom County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.3% (11,811 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 78
--- Korean War: 501
--- Vietnam War: 4,942
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 2,794
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 2,404
#33. Chelan County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.4% (3,989 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 63
--- Korean War: 352
--- Vietnam War: 1,877
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 722
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 616
#32. Grant County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.5% (4,727 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 16
--- Korean War: 158
--- Vietnam War: 1,519
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,007
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 931
#31. Snohomish County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.9% (44,982 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 390
--- Korean War: 1,152
--- Vietnam War: 13,637
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 11,663
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 12,782
#30. Douglas County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.3% (2,448 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 29
--- Korean War: 120
--- Vietnam War: 821
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 558
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 592
#29. Benton County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.5% (11,824 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 90
--- Korean War: 642
--- Vietnam War: 4,160
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 2,453
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 3,219
#28. San Juan County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.5% (1,211 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 21
--- Korean War: 91
--- Vietnam War: 587
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 151
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 139
#27. Kittitas County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.6% (2,959 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 37
--- Korean War: 86
--- Vietnam War: 937
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 624
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 742
#26. Walla Walla County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.8% (3,832 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 82
--- Korean War: 399
--- Vietnam War: 1,387
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 653
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 664
#25. Clark County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8% (32,030 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 241
--- Korean War: 1,066
--- Vietnam War: 10,937
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 8,075
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 8,554
#24. Okanogan County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9% (3,040 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 26
--- Korean War: 225
--- Vietnam War: 1,355
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 460
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 537
#23. Lewis County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.4% (6,262 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 116
--- Korean War: 352
--- Vietnam War: 2,469
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,223
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,412
#22. Skagit County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.4% (9,667 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 54
--- Korean War: 387
--- Vietnam War: 3,694
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 2,093
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 2,180
#21. Spokane County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.5% (40,421 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 177
--- Korean War: 1,479
--- Vietnam War: 12,972
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 10,806
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 11,297
#20. Klickitat County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.9% (1,899 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 3
--- Korean War: 20
--- Vietnam War: 848
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 499
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 520
#19. Cowlitz County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 10.3% (8,982 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 45
--- Korean War: 299
--- Vietnam War: 3,423
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,876
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,853
#18. Asotin County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 10.5% (1,900 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 11
--- Korean War: 172
--- Vietnam War: 677
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 348
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 413
#17. Garfield County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 10.5% (200 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 7
--- Vietnam War: 99
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 22
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 29
#16. Skamania County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 10.8% (1,114 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 29
--- Korean War: 116
--- Vietnam War: 410
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 138
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 271
#15. Grays Harbor County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 10.9% (6,769 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 12
--- Korean War: 254
--- Vietnam War: 2,828
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,612
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,168
#14. Pierce County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 10.9% (75,769 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 433
--- Korean War: 1,781
--- Vietnam War: 20,755
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 22,897
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 28,601
#13. Stevens County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 11% (4,171 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 22
--- Korean War: 131
--- Vietnam War: 2,003
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 946
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 625
#12. Lincoln County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 11.2% (1,007 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 1
--- Korean War: 25
--- Vietnam War: 424
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 293
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 269
#11. Pacific County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 11.5% (2,340 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 61
--- Korean War: 67
--- Vietnam War: 1,040
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 390
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 451
#10. Clallam County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 11.6% (7,526 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 48
--- Korean War: 334
--- Vietnam War: 3,396
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,330
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,223
#9. Columbia County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 11.6% (381 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 19
--- Vietnam War: 206
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 72
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 62
#8. Ferry County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 11.7% (718 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 36
--- Vietnam War: 312
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 144
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 85
#7. Jefferson County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 11.7% (3,465 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 221
--- Vietnam War: 1,781
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 633
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 677
#6. Thurston County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 12.6% (28,932 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 106
--- Korean War: 784
--- Vietnam War: 8,058
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 9,301
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 11,649
#5. Pend Oreille County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 12.7% (1,444 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 63
--- Vietnam War: 653
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 216
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 253
#4. Mason County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 13.7% (7,457 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 23
--- Korean War: 197
--- Vietnam War: 2,910
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 2,131
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,514
#3. Kitsap County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 14.6% (30,744 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 130
--- Korean War: 763
--- Vietnam War: 8,582
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 11,729
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 12,018
#2. Island County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 15.3% (9,905 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 76
--- Korean War: 211
--- Vietnam War: 3,302
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 3,289
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 3,436
#1. Wahkiakum County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 15.7% (602 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 2
--- Korean War: 7
--- Vietnam War: 320
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 101
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 90
