What's the Chinese population in Seattle? (Tacoma, Vancouver: 2009, lawyer, live in)

[CanuckLawyer]

I'm a lawyer in Vancouver, BC, with a growing law firm that caters mainly to the Chinese population. I have been thinking of expanding my firm to Seattle, where some of my professional clients have gone to work for the IT industry, but I don't know what the Chinese population would be in Seattle.

Can someone give me some ideas about this? It seems that the Chinatown is quite a bit smaller. I'd also like any referrals to established law firms in the city that I can get some ideas from.

[Alcon]

Seattle's Chinatown is actually called the International District, or I-District. The local Chinese community lobbied to get it changed, but other communities protested. I believe I read that Filipinos actually constitute a plurality there, but are less politically organized.

In any case, 19,415 Seattleites reported being ethnically Chinese on the 2000 Census, making it about 3.4% of the population. Of course this pales in comparison to Vancouver. The population is increasing, though; the 2005 estimate put it at 3.9%.

While the Filipino population is more centralized to some degree, a lot of Chinese live in the suburban parts of Seattle. There are healthy Asian communities in many of Seattle's richer communities too, and plenty of Asian professionals.

I hope that helps.

[CanuckLawyer]

Thanks a lot, bud.

I know about the 2000 census, but do you have a link for that 2005 estimate? My client base is mainly Chinese, though, as most other law firms, I have a multi-ethnic clientele, so I'm wondering about the Chinese outside Seattle, like the outlying areas. 3.9% isn't a very big base, but I think I may be able to support a part-time position in family-law and criminal-law litigation.

What's the Chinese population outside Seattle?

[SeattlitefromNC]

You might want to look at Bellevue. Just going by what I have seen, Bellevue has a larger Chinese population than Seattle ... but you still aren't going to see much more than maaaaaaaaaaaaaaybe 5-8% of the population.

[scirocco22]

The estimated population of those of Chinese ethnicity in King County for 2005 is 55,771 +/-5,481. That will include the major suburbs of Seattle but will leave out the greater metro area of Tacoma and Everett.

Although small, Seattle has a very rich Chinese American history. As a side note, Wing Luke, who was elected to the Seattle City Council in March of 1962, was the first Chinese American to win a major elected office in the continental U.S. He was killed in a plane crash but was expected to have risen to higher office because of a brilliant reputation. Then, of course, in 1996 Gary Locke was elected governor of Washington. He was the first Asian American governor in the continental United States.

edit: actually, NC, I think Seattle has about double the Chinese population of Bellevue but you're right, percentage wise, Bellevue would probably have a larger percentage of Chinese Americans than Seattle.

--'rocco

[CanuckLawyer]

Originally Posted by scirocco22

The estimated population of those of Chinese ethnicity in King County for 2005 is 55,771 +/-5,481. That will include the major suburbs of Seattle but will leave out the greater metro area of Tacoma and Everett.

That's good news - 55K, plus a growing population, may be good enough. May I ask how you know this?

BTW, how far is Bellevue from Seattle?

[scirocco22]

Originally Posted by CanuckLawyer

That's good news - 55K, plus a growing population, may be good enough. May I ask how you know this?

BTW, how far is Bellevue from Seattle?

Oh, sorry, forgot to cite the reference ...U.S. Census Bureau estimates.

Bellevue is about 12 miles east of Seattle. It's a suburb but the "greater eastside" comprises several suburban cities so you will even have a larger base. When you count the whole eastside, I'm sure you're at least doubling that population figure and probably tripling or even more. Redmond (home to Microsoft), Kirkland, Issaquah, Sammamish, Mercer Island (home to Paul Allen), etc., etc., are considered part of the eastside along with the more affluent places such as Hunts Point, Clyde Hill, and Medina (home to Bill Gates).

--'rocco

[CanuckLawyer]

Thanks for the education, bud. The same is true for Vancouver - the city is important, but you should also look at the Greater Vancouver Regional District. I presume that, when you consider the Chinese in the greater King County/Sea-Tac area, you'd get over 100,000? That should be good enough to feed one lawyer equivalent.

[neptune]

Non-stop service to Shanghai beginning 2009!

[CanuckLawyer]

You got a link?