A Quick Guide to Seattle, WA

With a population of about 714,000, Seattle is the largest city in Washington and the biggest metropolis in the Pacific Northwest. Seattle is also the United States’ fastest-growing major city, posting a 3.1% annual growth rate as of July 2016. If you’re researching homes for sale in Seattle, Better Properties Eastside offers this quick guide to “The Emerald City”. History Seattle was founded by Arthur Denny and the “Denny Party”, who arrived from Illinois in late 1851 and established a settlement on the eastern shore of Elliott Bay.

The city is named after a local Indian chief, Chief Si’ahi. Though logging was Seattle’s first major industry, the city’s geographic position as an important trade route encouraged a transition to shipbuilding and commercial endeavors. After World War II, the Boeing Company was integral in making the city a mecca for aircraft manufacturing. Microsoft had a similar influence in the 1980s, establishing Seattle as one of the world’s leading technology sectors.

Cultural attractions

Seattle offers numerous cultural attractions. The city is perhaps best known (in a cultural sense) for its rich musical history. It played an integral role in the development and popularity of jazz, and Seattle is where musicians like Quincy Jones and Ray Charles began their careers. Seattle also has deep roots in the rock genre: Jimi Hendrix was a Seattle native, as are the grunge bands Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, and Soundgarden. Seattle has a vibrant performing arts scene, and hosts one of America’s largest Gay Pride festivals. Other cultural attractions include the Henry Art Gallery, the Seattle Aquarium, and the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park.

Amenities

For outdoor enthusiasts, Seattle is heaven. Regularly cited as one of the fittest cities in the U.S., Seattle offers numerous outdoor activities: kayaking, rock climbing, motor boating, sailing, skiing, cycling, and more. Green Lake Park hosts one of the city’s most popular trails, offering beautiful scenery in the form of bluffs, beaches, and forests. Seattle’s public transportation system integrates electric trolleybuses, something only a few other U.S. cities do. Seattle is also well-known for its ferry system, which is the largest in the United States and the third-largest in the world. The city is also noted for its emphasis on mass transit over automobile usage.

Neighborhoods

Many of Seattle’s neighborhoods are located on hills – not surprising since Seattle, like Rome, is said to lie on seven hills. Capitol Hill, Beacon Hill, and First Hill are arguably the best-known of Seattle’s numerous neighborhoods; they’re located close to the downtown area and occupy some of the city’s hilliest terrain. Suburbs north of the city center are close to Lake Washington Canal, which connects Lake Washington to Puget Sound. Four natural bodies of water converge here, including Union Bay and Salmon Bay. Seattle’s population is incredibly diverse. The city has more mixed-race residents than any other large city in the U.S., and is home to a thriving Asian-American community.

Schools

Given its size, there are dozens of elementary, middle, and high schools dispersed throughout Seattle, of both the public and private variety. Most public schools are in the Seattle School District, though several in the city’s southern area are part of the Renton School District. Seattle is one of the country’s most literate cities, and has the highest percentage of college graduates of any large U.S. city. For more information on homes in Seattle and houses for sale in Bellevue, contact our property experts today.