Seattle, Diocese of

SEATTLE, DIOCESE of. – Diocese and city in the State of Washington (U.S.A.). A suffragan of Portland, Oregon, the diocese of S. was first established as the Diocese of Walla Walla on 31 May 1850. The name was subsequently changed to Nesqually, and then changed once again to that of S. on 11 Sept. 1907.

S. covers an area of 36,644 square miles, with a total population (1950 census) of 1,880,615 inhabitants, of whom 192,000 are Catholics. There are 348 diocesan priests, of whom 207 are religious belonging to 7 different congregations, 108 parishes, 76 chapels, 58 missions, 14 stations, 17 women’s congregations (1,021 nuns), 1 seminary, 1 scho-

(photo Usia)