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0.1.4 Total Veterans & Veterans' Share of the Civilian Population Age 18+
Why is this important?
Our country’s military veterans are important members of our local communities. They have often served our country under the most challenging conditions. Many have witnessed death in battle, often of a friend. Some have returned with wounds, physical or psychological, that have not healed. Many still serve the community via a variety of organizations. They are supported by longstanding groups such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the American Legion. Sometimes, however, veterans require specific services from their communities in the form of specialized health care, requiring ongoing communication between local health services and the national Department of Veterans Affairs.
It is therefore important to track the trend of the local veteran population. This way, local policymakers, hospitals and clinics, and veterans' advocates can more accurately predict the demand for services or facilities aimed at assisting local veterans.
This indicator measures the number of military veterans living in Walla Walla & Columbia Counties combined, and as a share of the total population that is eligible for military service (ages 18 and older). Washington State and the U.S. are offered as benchmarks. Additional information, including the total number of veterans in the state and U.S., can be found in the "Download Data" section.
The Census offers 1-year estimates for areas with populations of 65,000 or more people; five-year estimates are available for all areas. One-year estimates use 12 months of collected data, while 5-year estimates use a 60-month rolling average. Due to the different methodologies used, it is important to use the same type of estimate when making a comparison.
Where are we?
During 2023, there were a total of 4,103 veterans living in Walla Walla & Columbia Counties combined, decreasing from 5,119, or by 19.8% since 2013 (not statistically significant)
During 2023, the share of veterans out of the eligible population living in:
- Walla Walla & Columbia Counties Combined was 8.42%, decreasing from 10.27% since 2013. (not statistically significant)
- Washington State was 8.89%, decreasing from 10.17% since 2013. (statistically significant)
- The U.S. was 6.86%, decreasing from 8.11% since 2013. (statistically significant)
Data Sources
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey (ACS) - Explore Census Data
Notes:
1) This information comes from a survey, so the data presented are estimates. All significant tests are done at the 90% confidence interval. The margin of errors is provided in the “Download Data” section.
2) Not all indicators can be tested for statistical significance. For example, some indicators use portions of data from multiple ACS sources, and the test is cannot be running. If available, the results of the test are offered. When no test results are offered, the statistical significance test was not able to be conducted.
3) Learn more about the ACS:
4) According to the US Census Bureau, the pandemic made the collection of accurate one-year estimates for the American Community Survey (ACS) impossible in 2020.