A Quick Guide to Redmond, WA

The “Bicycle Capital of the Northwest”, Redmond is a fixture in the “high-tech” district of the Seattle metro area, located 16 miles east of the big city. In the last 17 years Redmond’s population has grown by more than 30 percent, a spurt fueled in part by the presence of globally-renowned companies like Nintendo of America and Microsoft.

History

The Redmond area boasts a habitation record stretching back at least 10,000 years, making it one of the oldest inhabited places in the American Northwest. The 1870s saw the arrival of the first European settlers, among them Luke McRedmond who filed a Homestead Act claim on the land that eventually became known as Redmond. Prior to his arrival, the settlement was called Salmonberg due to the huge number of salmon populating the region’s rivers and streams.Cultural

Attractions

Redmond is home to Washington state’s only velodrome. Given the city’s nickname, it’s no surprise that the year’s biggest cultural attraction is Redmond Derby Days, which celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2015. Held the second weekend of July, the event begins with a bicycle race around Lake Sammamish and includes other, smaller bike races, a beer garden, carnival, and more.

Lovers of the arts flock to Redmond’s Eastside Symphony, Second Story Repertory, and Redmond Performing Arts Center. Other attractions include Redmond Lights, an annual holiday festival; the Concerts at Marymoor, a summer concert series attracting critically-acclaimed performers; and the Redmond Saturday Market, the oldest farmers market on Seattle’s east side.

Amenities

Like many Seattle-area cities, Redmond heavily emphasizes outdoor amenities. The city boasts 23 public parks covering over a thousand acres. The largest of these is Marymoor Park, which offers a 48-acre off-leash dog park, an outdoor theater, numerous sports fields, a climbing rock, and a model airplane flying field.

For hikers, bikers, and equestrians, Redmond has more than 17 miles of developed trails. The most popular of these, the Sammamish River Trail, connects to the Burke-Gilman Trail, the East Lake Sammamish Trail, and the Puget Power Trail.

Neighborhoods

Redmond’s status as Washington State’s “tech capital” makes for an extremely diverse community of neighborhoods, with people from all corners of the globe calling Redmond home. Some of Redmond’s more notable sections include Avondale/White, Hollywood/York, Ames Lake, and Novelty Hill. Many of the city’s residents are involved in some form of technological career; in fact, Redmond has more residents working in computers and mathematics than 95 percent of other American cities.

Also of interest is the fact that Redmond, despite its modest population, has a high percentage of residents who use public transportation for their weekly commute.

Schools

Redmond belongs to the Lake Washington School District, which includes all of Kirkland and parts of Woodinville and Sammamish. There are 10 elementary schools in Redmond, three middle schools, and two high schools, one of which is the Nikola Tesla STEM High School. There are also three private schools and, for performing arts students, the Conservatory High School.

If you’re interested in homes for sale in Redmond, WA, contact the experienced team at Better Properties Eastside today.