Brief Description: Honoring the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr.

Sponsors: Senators Kline, Franklin, Shin, Keiser, Weinstein, Poulsen, Thibaudeau, Prentice, Kohl-Welles, Eide, Finkbeiner, Rasmussen and Pridemore.

Senate Committee on Government Operations & Elections
House Committee on State Government Operations & Accountability

Background: King County was established from a portion of Thurston County by the Oregon Territorial Legislature on December 22, 1852. It was named for William Rufus DeVane King of Alabama, vice-president of the United States from 1853 to 1857 under the Franklin Pierce administration. On February 24, 1986, the King County Council changed the origin of the name to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Summary: King County is renamed in honor of Reverend Doctor Martin Luther
King, Jr.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      47   0
House      64   31

Effective: July 24, 2005