It appears the battle over who can claim the title of second-largest city in Washington State will continue to wage between Spokane and Tacoma, according to a report released April 1. According to a July 1 memo from Ryan Petty, Tacoma’s community and economic development director, to City Manager Eric Anderson, the Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) reports the official 2009 population estimate for the City of Tacoma is 203,400 — an increase of 9,844 persons, or 5.1 per cent, above the 2000 federal census count. The official population estimate for the City of Spokane is 205,500 — an increase of 9,871, or 5 per cent, above the 2000 federal census count. Seattle remained the largest city, with an official population estimate of 602,000 — an increase of 38,624, or 6.9 per cent, above the 2000 federal census count.