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About Seattle
sSeattle is the largest city in the Pacific Northwest region of the United
States. It is located in the U.S. State of Washington between Puget Sound and
Lake Washington, nearly 108 miles (174 km) south of the United States–Canadian
border in King County, of which it is the county seat.
Seattle was founded in the 1850s and named after Chief Seattle, also known as
Noah Sealth. As of 2006, the city had an estimated population of 578,800 and a
metropolitan population of almost 3.8 million. Seattle is the hub for the
Greater Puget Sound region. Its official nickname is the Emerald City, the
result of a contest by a civic-minded association in the early 1980s to
designate a pleasant nickname for the city; the name alludes to the lush
evergreen trees in the surrounding area. It is also referred to informally as
the Rainy City, the Gateway to Alaska, Queen City, and Jet City, due to the
local influence of Boeing. Seattle residents are known as Seattleites.
Seattle is known as the birthplace of grunge music, and it has a reputation for
heavy coffee consumption: locally founded coffee companies include Starbucks and
Tully's Coffee. Seattle was also the site of the 1999 meeting of the World Trade
Organization, and the attendant demonstrations by anti-globalization activists,
which were in keeping with Seattle's Democratic history and reputation for
liberal politics. Researchers at Central Connecticut State University ranked
Seattle the most literate city in America in 2005.
Based on per capita income, Seattle ranks 36th of 522 studied areas in the state
of Washington.
Geography
Seattle is located on the Salish Sea, between Puget Sound and Lake Washington.
West beyond the Sound, Seattle faces the Olympic Mountains; across Lake
Washington beyond the Eastside suburbs are the Issaquah Alps and the Cascade
Range.
The city itself is hilly, though not uniformly so. Some of the hilliest areas
are quite near the center, and Downtown rises rather dramatically away from the
water. The geography of Downtown and its immediate environs has been
significantly altered by regrading projects, a seawall, and the construction of
an artificial island, Harbor Island, at the mouth of the city's industrial
Duwamish Waterway.
The rivers, forests, lakes, and fields were once rich enough to support one of
the world's few sedentary hunter-gatherer societies. Today, a ship canal passes
through the city, incorporating Lake Union near the heart of the city and
several other natural bodies of water, and connecting Puget Sound to Lake
Washington. Opportunities for sailing, skiing, bicycling, camping, and hiking
are close by and accessible almost all of the year.
An active geological fault, the Seattle Fault, runs under the city. Although
neither the Seattle Fault nor the Cascadia Subduction Zone have caused an
earthquake since the city’s founding, the city has been hit by four major
earthquakes: December 14, 1872 (magnitude 7.3); April 13, 1949 (7.1); April 29,
1965 (6.5); and the Nisqually Earthquake of February 28, 2001 (6.8). The
Cascadia subduction zone poses the even greater threat of a 9.0 or greater
earthquake capable of seriously damaging the city and collapsing many buildings,
particularly in the downtown area.
Seattle is located at 47°37′35″N, 122°19′59″W (47.626353, −122.333144)¹, which
is a spot in the middle of the Marriott Residence Inn at 800 Fairview Avenue N,
on the south end of Lake Union.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 369.2
km² (142.5 mi²)GR1, 217.2 km² (83.9 mi²) of which is land and 152.0 km² (58.7
mi²) water. The total area is 41.16% water.
Climate
Seattle's climate is mild, with the temperature moderated by the sea and
protected from winds and storms by the mountains. Despite being partially in the
rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains, the city of Seattle has a reputation for
frequent rain.[19] In reality, the "rainy city" receives an unremarkable 38
inches (970 mm) of precipitation a year, less than most major Eastern Seaboard
cities, such as New York City which averages 47.3 inches (1200 mm). Seattle's
worldwide reputation for rain derives from the fact that it is cloudy an average
of 226 days per year (vs. 132 in New York City) and the fact that most of its
precipitation falls as drizzle or light rain, with snow typically falling within
the city limits only once or twice a year. While not all that much rain falls in
total, then, the winters are filled with days on which at least a little rain
does fall, and if it doesn't rain it usually looks like it could. Average
temperatures range from the mid-to-upper 30s (just above 0 °C) at night in
winter to the mid/upper 70s (mid 20s °C) for summer highs. Seattle's hottest
recorded temperature was 100 °F (37.7 °C) on July 20, 1994; the coldest recorded
temperature was 0 °F (-17.7 °C) on January 31, 1950. 80 miles (130 km) to the
west, the Hoh Rain Forest, in the Olympic National Park, records an annual
average rainfall of 142 inches (3600 mm), and the state capital, Olympia, south
of the rain shadow, receives 52 inches (1320 mm). Snowfall is infrequent,
especially at lower altitudes, and is usually light and short-lived. On January
13, 1950, Seattle's record for snowfall was set at 20 inches (508 mm).[20]
Sunnier and drier "California weather" typically dominates from mid-July to
mid-September. An average of 0.79 inches (20 mm) of rain falls in July and an
average of 1.02 inches (26 mm) falls in August.
The Puget Sound Convergence Zone is an important feature of the Seattle area's
weather. In the convergence zone, air arriving in the area from the north meets
air flowing in from the south. Both streams of air originate over the Pacific
Ocean; airflow is split by the Olympic Mountains to Seattle's west, then
reunited by the Cascade Mountains to the east. When the air currents meet, they
are forced upward, resulting in convection. An active convergence zone results
in rain at the very least (snow in the Cascades), and sometimes more severe
weather such as thunderstorms and hail. Usually the zone forms north of Seattle
in the Edmonds/Lynnwood area, but depending on the relative strengths of the
winds it can range as far south as Pierce County or as far north as Skagit
County. [21]
An exception to Seattle's dampness often occurs in El Niño years, when the
marine weather systems track as far south as California and little precipitation
falls in the Puget Sound area. Since the region's water comes from mountain
snowpacks during the drier summer months, El Niño winters not only produce
substandard skiing but can result in water rationing and a shortage of
hydro-electric power the following summer.
U.S. Census of 2000, Seattle had a population of 563,374 and in all the Greater
Puget Sound metropolitan area is home to almost 3.8 million people. The
population today is approximately 73.40% White Americans, one of the highest
percentages of whites for a major American city. The city also has one of the
nation's highest percentages of multiracial ancestry: 4.70% claim ancestry from
two or more races. [24] According to the 2000 U.S. Census, 13.71% of Seattleites
are Asian Americans, 8.44% are African Americans, 1.10% are Native Americans,
0.50% are Pacific Islander American, and 6.84% are from other backgrounds. 5.28%
of the population is Hispanic or Latino of any race. Seattle's robust economy
and multi-cultural backgrounds has attracted immigrants from all over the world.
The median income for a household in the city is $45,736, and the median income
for a family is $62,195. Males have a median income of $40,929 versus $35,134
for females. The per capita income for the city is $30,306. 11.8% of the
population and 6.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total
people living in poverty, 13.8% are under the age of 18 and 10.2% are 65 or
older.
Seattle has seen a major increase in legal and illegal immigration in recent
decades. The foreign-born population increased 40% between the 1990 and 2000
censuses.[24] Hispanics are believed to be the most rapidly growing ethnic group
in Washington, with an estimated increase of 10% just in the years 2000 to 2002,
though they have tended to settle outside the city, in rural areas where
agricultural jobs are abundant.[25]
It is estimated that 1.25% of the population is homeless, and that up to 14% of
Seattle's homeless are children and young adults. Local non-profit organizations
dealing with poverty and related issues include the Fremont Public Association,
the Asian Counseling and Referral Service, and the Seattle Indian Center. In
September 2005, King County adopted a "Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness", one
of whose near-term results is a shift of funding from homeless shelter beds to
permanent housing.[26]
In 2005, Men's Fitness magazine named Seattle the fittest city in the U.S.
Education
Main article: Education in Seattle
Seattle has an educated population: of Seattle's population over the age of 25,
47.2% (vs. a national average of 24%) hold a bachelor's degree or higher; 93%
(vs. 80% nationally) have a high school diploma or equivalent. In fact, Seattle
has the highest percentage of college graduates of any major U.S. city. [31] In
addition to the obvious institutions of education, there are significant adult
literacy programs and considerable homeschooling. Seattle is also the most
literate city in the United States based on a study done by CCSU. [32]
Like most urban American public school systems, Seattle Public Schools have been
subject to numerous controversies. Seattle's schools desegregated without a
court order, but continue to struggle to achieve racial balance in a
demographically divided city (the south part of town being much more ethnically
diverse than the north). The schools have maintained high enough educational
standards to keep white flight (and middle-class flight in general) to a
minimum, but some of the area's suburban public school systems — not all of them
in wealthy suburbs — have consistently higher test scores. Notably, Seattle
schools seem to be failing their minority students, as high academic standards
are not realized uniformly by all racial groups in many of the city's secondary
schools.
The public school system is supplemented by a moderate number of private
schools: five of the high schools are Catholic, one is Lutheran, and six are
secular.
Post-secondary education in Seattle is dominated by the University of
Washington. With over 40,000 under-graduates and post-graduates, it is the
largest school in the Pacific Northwest and is ranked among the top research
universities in the United States. Most prominent of the city's other
universities are Seattle University, a Jesuit university, and Seattle Pacific
University, founded by the Free Methodists. There are also a handful of smaller
schools, such as City University, a private secular school, and others mainly in
the fine arts, business and psychology. Seattle is also served by North Seattle,
Seattle Central, and South Seattle Community Colleges.
Landmarks
The Space Needle is Seattle's most recognizable landmark, having been featured
in the logo of the television show Frasier and the backgrounds of the television
series Grey's Anatomy, not to mention countless films. The Needle dates from the
1962 Century 21 Exposition. Contrary to popular belief, the Space Needle is
neither the tallest structure in Seattle nor is it in Downtown. This
misconception results from the Space Needle often being photographed from Queen
Anne Hill, where it is closer to the viewer than are the downtown skyscrapers.
The fairgrounds surrounding the Needle have been converted into Seattle Center,
which remains the site of many local civic and cultural events, such as
Bumbershoot, Folklife, and the Bite of Seattle.
The Seattle Center Monorail runs from Seattle Center to Westlake Center, a
downtown shopping mall -- a distance of about a mile. The monorail is currently
out of service following an accident on November 26, 2005.
Other notable Seattle landmarks include the Smith Tower, Pike Place Market, the
Fremont Troll, the Experience Music Project (which is at Seattle Center), the
new Seattle Central Library, the Washington Mutual Tower, and the Columbia
Center, which is the fourth tallest skyscraper west of the Mississippi River and
the twelfth tallest in the nation. (On June 16, 2004, the 9/11 Commission
reported that the original plan for the September 11, 2001 attacks included the
Columbia Center as one of ten targeted buildings.)[33]
Starbucks Coffee has been at Pike Place Market since the coffee company was
founded there in 1971. The first store is still operating a block south of its
original location.
Transportation
Even though Seattle is old enough that railways and streetcars once dominated
its transportation system, the city is now largely dominated by automobiles.
Seattle is also serviced by an extensive network of bus routes and two commuter
rail routes connecting it to many of its suburbs.
Public transportation
The first streetcars appeared in 1889 and were instrumental in the creation of a
relatively well-defined downtown and strong neighborhoods at the end of their
lines. Unfortunately, the advent of the automobile proved to be the death knell
for rail in Seattle. Tacoma-Seattle railway service ended in 1929 and the
Everett-Seattle service came to an end in 1939, replaced by inexpensive
automobiles running on the recently developed highway system. With the removal
or paving over of the rails on city streets and the arrival of trolleybuses,
1941 brought the end of streetcars in Seattle. This left only an extensive
network of buses to provide mass transit within the city and throughout the
region.[39]
Seattle is serviced by three transit authorities. King County Metro provides
frequent stop bus service within the city and surrounding county, of which about
fifteen of its bus routes serving are hybrid buses using a combination of diesel
fuel when outside the downtown area and overhead electrical wires while in the
downtown area. Like Vancouver, British Columbia and San Francisco, California,
Seattle is one of the few cities in North America that use electric
trolleybuses.
The second transit authority that services Seattle is Sound Transit, which
provides express bus service between the suburbs and downtown Seattle. Beginning
September 18, 2000, Sound Transit began operating "Sounder", a commuter rail
system that connects Seattle to Tacoma and another of other suburbs to the south
and Everett other suburbs to the north.[40] Sound Transit also began
construction on the 15.7 mile Central Link Light Rail in November 2003 that will
connect downtown Seattle to SeaTac Airport. Ultimately the Link Light Rail
system will connect downtown to University of Washington (already funded) and
Northgate Mall to the north, Bellevue and Redmond to the east, and Federal Way,
Des Moines, and possibly as far south as Tacoma.[41]
The third, and possibly most interesting, transit authority is the largest
network of ferries in the United States, third largest in the world, that
connects Seattle to Bainbridge Island and Vashon Island in Puget Sound and
Bremerton and Southworth on the Kitsap Peninsula. This ferry system is operated
by Washington State Ferries and consists of 10 routes (4 servicing Seattle), 20
terminals (2 in Seattle), and 28 vessels (8 servicing Seattle).[42]
A monorail line constructed for the 1962 Exposition still exists today between
Seattle Center and downtown and is used by tourists and by commuters from the
north, who often find it cheaper to park at Seattle Center and take the 1 mile
route to work rather than taking their car downtown. On November 26, 2005 the
monorail's two trains collided on a curve near Westlake Center where a design
flaw made it impossible to pass safely. Both trains are currently being repaired
at an estimated cost of $3-4 million and are not expected to be in operation
until summer 2006.[43]
In the 1990s the city proposed building a longer monorail as a real commuter
service replacing the existing tourist attraction, but nothing came of two voter
approved initiatives in the 90s. Ultimately Seattle voters approved the creation
of the 14 mile Green Line connecting West Seattle and Ballard to downtown in
November 2002. Controversy over scope, governance, financial difficulties, and
other issues led to two additional votes with the final vote, November 2005,
bringing the Green Line to an end.[44]
The South Lake Union line of the Seattle Streetcar passed full City Council on
June 27, 2005. The streetcar is "on track" to be built and operating by 2007.
The 2.6 mile (4.2 km) streetcar line will run between Westlake Center in
downtown Seattle and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Property owners
along the right-of-way will pay about $25 million of the $45 million total
capital cost through a local improvement district.[45]
Major highways
While Seattle has its share of interstates, I-5 and I-90, and state routes, SR
99, SR 509, SR 520, SR 522, and SR 523, the most interesting features of its
roadway system are the floating bridges. Evergreen Point Floating Bridge, Lacey
V. Murrow Memorial Bridge, and Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge are the 1st, 2nd,
and 5th longest floating bridges in the world and connect Seattle to Mercer
Island, Bellevue, and Kirkland across Lake Washington.[citation needed] Another
interesting feature is a double decked elevated structure called the Alaskan Way
Viaduct that runs along the Seattle waterfront between the football and baseball
stadiums to the south and the Battery Street Tunnel to the north.
Airports
Seattle's commercial airport is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, locally
known as Sea-Tac Airport and located in the city of SeaTac, which is named for
the airport. It is operated by the Port of Seattle and provides service to many
destinations throughout North America, Europe, and East Asia. The airport is a
hub for Alaska Airlines and its regional subsidiary Horizon Air. Seattle is also
a focus city for United Airlines.
Seattle's general-aviation airport is Boeing Field. Southwest Airlines recently
requested permission to move its services from Sea-Tac to Boeing Field but did
not receive permission.
Street layout
Main article: Street layout of Seattle
Seattle's streets are laid out in a cardinal-direction grid pattern, except in
the central business district: early city leaders Arthur Denny and Carson Boren
insisted on orienting their plats relative to the shoreline rather than to true
North, so streets meet at unusual angles where Denny's plat meets "Doc"
Maynard's to the south and Boren's to the north. This inconsistency creates
frequent confusion for visitors and newcomers when they attempt to navigate the
streets at the edges of the business district. Largely as a result of Seattle's
topography, only one street, one highway, and one freeway run uninterrupted
entirely through the city.
See Seattle neighborhoods for articles on individual neighborhoods, including
information on major thoroughfares.
Utilities
Unlike most neighboring cities, water and electricity are provided by public
city agencies: Seattle Public Utilities and Seattle City Light. Privately owned
utility companies serving Seattle are Puget Sound Energy (natural gas), Seattle
Steam Company (steam), Qwest (landline telephone service), and Comcast (and to a
lesser extent Millennium Digital Media) (cable television).