Parkland is a census-designated place (CDP) in Pierce County, Washington. The population was 35,803 at the time of the 2010 census and had grown to 38,623 as of the 2020 census. It is an unincorporated suburb of the city of Tacoma and is home to Pacific Lutheran University.

Parkland borders most of Tacoma's southern cutoff at 96th St, and borders with much of the northern cutoff of Spanaway, Washington, at 152nd St (or Military Rd E).

The most influential motorway is State Route 7/Pacific Ave, which travels north and south, and leads from Interstate 5 in Tacoma all the way to Mount Rainier. Pacific Ave is also a main commercial corridor through much of the county, including Parkland.

It was given its name by early white settlers for the park-like nature of the vast Garry Oak and blue camas flower prairie, and the many meandering creeks crossing it. In 1890, Norwegian-Americans from the Midwest chose this area as the site of their new college, which is now Pacific Lutheran University, home to 3,500 full-time students and the Lutes varsity sports teams.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 7.4&nbsp;square miles (19.1&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), of which, 7.4&nbsp;square miles (19.1&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) of it is land and 0.04&nbsp;square miles (0.1&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) of it (0.41%) is water.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Parkland had a population of 38,623. The median age was 33.7 years. 23.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 12.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.2 males age 18 and over.

There were 13,980 households in Parkland, of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 38.3% were married-couple households, 21.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 30.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

! Race !! Number !! Percent

|-

| White || 19,406 || 50.2%

|-

| Black or African American || 4,761 || 12.3%

|-

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 627 || 1.6%

|-

| Asian || 3,051 || 7.9%

|-

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 1,920 || 5.0%

|-

| Some other race || 3,466 || 9.0%

|-

| Two or more races || 5,392 || 14.0%

|-

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 6,401 || 16.6%

|}

2000 census

As of the census , the district had 7,942 students enrolled.

The following schools have portions of Parkland CDP in their attendance boundaries:

  • High schools:
  • Washington High School (most of the Franklin Pierce portion is zoned to this high school)
  • Franklin Pierce High School (in Clover Creek)
  • Middle schools:
  • Keithley Middle School (most of the Franklin Pierce portion is zoned to this middle school)
  • Morris E. Ford Middle School (in Midland)
  • Elementary schools:
  • Brookdale Elementary
  • Christensen Elementary
  • Elmhurst Elementary
  • James Sales Elementary
  • Collins Elementary (in Clover Creek)
  • Midland Elementary (in Midland)
  • Preschools:
  • Dr. Frank Hewins Early Learning Center

Portions of Parkland are in the Bethel School District and the Clover Park School District.

Notable people

  • Q. Allan Brocka, television and film director
  • Timothy Burkhart, serial killer
  • Jack Evans, professional wrestler
  • Bjug Harstad, pastor and founding president of Pacific Lutheran University
  • Oscar Harstad, MLB pitcher
  • Nils Joseph Hong, educator and president of Pacific Lutheran University
  • Demetrious Johnson, MMA fighter

References