Thurston County, Washington

The content on the Thurston County website is currently provided in English. We are providing the “Translation” for approximately 10 languages. The goal of the translation is to provide visitors with limited English proficiency to access information on the website in other languages. The translations do not translate all types of documents, and it may not give you an exact translation all the time. The translations are made through an automated process, which may not result in accurate or precise translations, particularly of technical and legal terminology.
County Contacts
Logo

Thurston County Washington

Demographics Definitions

Use the following categories and definitions for clarification when completing a self-identification demographics survey. 

 

Race and Ethnicity

Race - a social construct that has historically been used to classify people according to physical characteristics. 

Ethnicity - Refers to a shared culture, such as language, practices, and beliefs. 

AMERICAN INDIAN OR ALASKAN NATIVE: a person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America), and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment.

ASIAN: a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian Subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.

BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN: a person having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa.

NATIVE HAWAIIAN OR OTHER PACIFIC ISLANDER: a person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.

WHITE: a person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East or North Africa.

TWO OR MORE RACES: all persons who identify with more than one of the above five races.

HISPANIC OR LATINO: a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race. 

 

Disability

You are considered to have a disability if you have a physical or mental impairment or medical condition that substantially limits one or more of your major life activities, or you have a history or record of such an impairment or medical condition. 

Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, or HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn’s Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, or other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema

 

Veteran Status

Disabled Veteran: One of the following:

  • A veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or
  • A person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

Recently Separated Veteran: A veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran’s discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service.

Active Duty Wartime or Campaign Badge Veteran: A veteran who served on active duty (A) in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service in any campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense or (B) during one or more of the periods of war described below:

  • Korean Conflict: June 27, 1950–January 31, 1955;
  • Vietnam Era: February 28, 1961–May 7, 1975 for veterans serving in the Republic of Vietnam or August 5, 1964–May 7, 1975 for all other cases;
  • Persian Gulf War: August 2, 1990–current.

Armed Forces Service Medal Veteran: A veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.