Introduction:
The Oregon Territorial Legislature created King County on December 22, 1852. It is named after William Rufus De Vane King, acting vice-president under President Millard Fillmore, who had succeeded to the presidency upon the death of President Zachary Taylor.
Marshall J. Anderson conducted the first King County census in 1853 to determine the legislative districts for the Territorial Legislature. In 1853 the population was recorded at 170, and in 1857 the population decreased to 152. This 1857 census is the oldest surviving King County census.