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Covington, WA

Frequently asked questions

Covington, WA

Covington is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 20,777 at the time of the 2020 census. Before the 2010 census, Covington was counted as part of the Covington-Sawyer-Wilderness CDP.

The area presently known as Covington was originally known as Jenkins Prairie. Between 1899 and 1900 the Northern Pacific Railway built a cut-off between Auburn and Kanaskat, improving the company's primary east-west route across Stampede Pass. Richard Covington, a surveyor for the Northern Pacific Railroad worked out of Fort Vancouver establishing the line through western Washington to complete the line from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Auburn. According to the NP's construction records at the University of Montana's K. Ross Toole Archives, the primary contractors were banker Horace C. Henry of Seattle, Washington, and long-time railroad contractor Nelson Bennett of Tacoma, Washington, the NP's prime contractor for Stampede Tunnel, which he completed in 1888. The project engineer in Auburn was George Allen Kyle. The NP's principal assistant engineer in Tacoma, overseeing both Kyle and Bennett's work, was Charles S. Bihler.

In 1900, during the building of the Palmer Cut-Off from Kanaskat to Auburn, the Northern Pacific installed a 2,850-foot passing track, a 700-foot loading track, a second class section house (which broke down to $1,000 for construction, $100 for an outhouse, and $50 for furnishings), a 24-man bunkhouse, a box tank and standpipe for watering steam locomotives at Covington. By 1908 the tiny village was home to the Covington Lumber Company, which had set up a mill capable of cutting 85,000 board feet of timber a day. No photograph is known to exist of the station at this site, apparently built after the cut-off construction. It operated on and off until the Great Depression and was removed in 1941.

A school district was established in 1937. Over the years the area grew as an unincorporated area of Kent. A vote to incorporate Covington as a city was passed on November 6, 1996, the same day as a similar measure creating neighboring Maple Valley. Covington was officially incorporated as a city on August 31, 1997.

Covington is located in southern King County. The city is surrounded by Kent to the west, Auburn to the southwest, and Maple Valley to the east. Pipe Lake is located in Covington and adjacent to Maple Valley. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.96 square miles (15.44 km²), of which, 5.86 square miles (15.18 km²) is land and 0.10 square miles (0.26 km²) is water.

Covington places a strong emphasis on health and wellness for its residents. MultiCare Covington Medical Center offers comprehensive health services, including wellness check-ups and preventive care programs. Planet Fitness offers comprehensive fitness programs including cardio, strength training, and group exercise classes. The Covington Parks & Recreation Department is a popular destination, featuring swimming pools, water slides, and fitness facilities for all ages. Start your wellness journey at Pinnacle Medical Wellness for comprehensive physical therapy services tailored to your needs. For those seeking a relaxing massage, Elements Massage provides professional massage therapy just a short drive away in Kent. Outpatient Physical Therapy offers another excellent option for physical rehabilitation and therapy. Engage in group fitness classes and personal training at LA Fitness to stay active and healthy.

Top sites in Covington WA include Bellevue Botanical Garden, Pacific Raceways, Meridian Valley Country Club, and Lake Meridian Park. 

Population: 21,374 (2022). Elevation: 381 ft (116 m). ZIP Code: 98042. Area Code(s): 253, 564. Area: 6.04 sq mi (15.65 km²).

FAQs

Is Covington, WA a good place to live?

Covington is in King County. Living in Covington offers residents a sparse suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Covington, there are a lot of parks. Many families and young professionals live in Covington and residents tend to have moderate political views. The public schools in Covington are above average.

What is the history of Covington, WA?

The area presently known as Covington was originally known as Jenkins Prairie. Between 1899 and 1900 the Northern Pacific Railway built a cut-off between Auburn and Kanaskat, improving the company's primary east-west route across Stampede Pass. Richard Covington, a surveyor for the Northern Pacific Railroad worked out of Fort Vancouver establishing the line through western Washington to complete the line from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Auburn.

What are the demographics of Covington, WA?

With 21,125 people, Covington is the 69th most populated city in the state of Washington out of 635 cities. The largest Covington racial/ethnic groups are White (64.3%) followed by Asian (11.5%) and Hispanic (9.1%). In 2022, the median household income of Covington households was $123,065. Covington households made slightly more than Mukilteo households ($123,036) and Lake Bosworth households ($122,917). However, 2.7% of Covington families live in poverty.

Sources

City of Covington

Wikipedia

Washington Demographics

Niche

Bellevue Botanical Garden 

Pacific Raceways

Meridian Valley Country Club 

Lake Meridian Park

MultiCare Covington Medical Center

Planet Fitness

Pinnacle Medical Wellness

Elements Massage

Outpatient Physical Therapy

LA Fitness

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 (in the United States) immediately.