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Native Americans populated the Northwest for thousands of years. In the 1800s, the area’s native peoples included the Duwamish, a Salish tribe. During westward expansion, new settlers arrived in the area, including David Denny and his party in 1851. Until the Gold Rush of 1897, Seattle remained a small fishing and logging town. Over a century and a half later, Seattle has grown into a bustling, high-tech port named for Chief Noah Sealth of the Duwamish.
Seattle has been through many physical changes. It was once a frontier town composed of bachelors and its famous Space Needle was once multi-colored. The turn of the twentieth century saw a massive regrade of the downtown city blocks; hills were razed and dumped into the tidelands. The “Great Fire” of June 6, 1889 reduced the business district to ashes and the February 28, 2000 earthquake shook-up historical Pioneer Square. Seattle’s residents, however, have successfully built an entrepreneurial-minded city, starting with enterprises selling to Klondike gold-seekers to modern-day giants such as Boeing, Microsoft, and Starbucks empires.
Lush parks dot the city of Seattle; they are emerald green due to copious amounts of rain. Although many people believe Seattle experiences the most rain out of any U.S. city, they are mistaken. Seattle gets about 36.2 inches of rain a year; Chicago gets 39 inches, and Washington D.C. gets 40.3 inches.
Seattle Facts
Population
City of Seattle: 572,600
King County: 1,793,583
Washington State: 6,287,759
--Average yearly rainfall of 36.2 inches (92 cm)
--The average number of days of sun in a year is 55
--7th largest population of artists in the country
--Over 2,200 restaurants in greater Seattle
--147.52 miles of fresh water shoreline and 53.38 miles of saltwater shoreline for a total of 200.90 miles of shoreline
--One of the healthiest cities in the country
For more facts about Seattle, including recreation, events and festivals, restaurants, traffic, police and crime, etc., visit:
http://www.seattle.gov
The cosmopolitan center of the Pacific Northwest boasts diverse neighborhoods and plenty of activities. Find out for yourself through the following media:
Daily Newspapers (Available for purchase on street corners, in grocery and convenience stores, cafes, bookstores, etc.)
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/
The Seattle Times http://seattletimes.nwsource.com
The University of Washington’s Daily (free) http://www.thedaily.washington.edu/
Weekly Newspapers (Found in cafes and on street corners)
The Stranger www.thestranger.com
Seattle Weekly www.seattleweekly.com
Real Change www.realchangenews.org
Northwest Asian Weekly www.nwasianweekly.com
Seattle Gay News www.sgn.org
The Seattle Press www.seattlepress.com
Radio (a sample list of some Seattle stations)
KPLU 88.5 FM – Jazz
KEXP 90.3 FM – Local and eclectic
KBCS 91.3 FM – Worldwide jazz and folk
KUBE 93.3 FM – Hip hop and rhythm & blues
KMPS 94.1 FM – Country
KUOW 94.9 FM – National Public Radio news, local radio programs
KBSG 97.3 FM – Oldies
KING 98.1 FM - Classical
KISW 99.9 FM – Rock
KPLZ 101.5 FM – Hits of the 80’s and 90’s
KCMS 105.3 FM – Christian
KISS 106.1 FM – Pop and dance
KNDD 107.7 FM – Alternative Rock
KIRO 710 AM – News and talk
KJR 950 AM – Sports
KOMO 1000 AM – News
KKDZ 1250 AM – Radio Disney
KKMO 1350 AM – Spanish
KXPA 1540 AM – Spanish
RainyDawg Radio – http://www.rainydawg.org/ (UW Student Internet Radio)
Television
KING – NBC Channel 5 – Local news, weather, and other programs
KCTS – PBS Channel 9 – Public broadcasting, family television
KCQP – FOX Channel 13 – Local news, weather, and other programs
Coffee
Seattle is known around the world for its coffee culture. Coffee shops range from little unique mom & pop joints to Starbucks, which are on practically every street corner. Coffee shops are great for first dates, studying, or hanging out with friends. Take a moment to learn some coffee lingo, grab a drink, and then curl up in a comfy chair.
Planes
Started in 1916, Boeing is the leading American aircraft and aerospace manufacturer. Headquartered in Chicago, Boeing has its largest manufacturing facility in Everett, WA. From space technology to civil aircraft to US defense, Boeing remains a large employer in the Western Washington region.
Computers
Microsoft is the world’s largest software company, and it is headquartered in nearby Redmond, WA. Founded in 1975, Microsoft develops, manufactures, and supports a wide range of software products for various computer platforms. Founders Bill Gates and Paul Allen both have ties to the University of Washington, and frequently contribute funds and resources to help further research and education.
Music
In the early 1990s, Seattle hit the music scene with the invention of grunge music. From 1991-1994, the “Seattle sound” became both a music and fashion phenomenon. Local bands such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, and Hole found their way into mainstream pop culture.
The Space Needle
One of Seattle’s most famous landmarks, the Space Needle, was built for the 1962 World’s Fair. At the time it was built, it was the tallest building west of the Mississippi River. Today, the Space Needle features an observation desk, rotating restaurant, and gift shop.
Rain
Yes, it rains frequently in Seattle. Many times, however, the rain is very light and you will not need an umbrella. A waterproof jacket with a hood is typically what Seattleites use to stay dry.
University District
Also known as the U-District, this area is home to UW, a variety of restaurants and coffee shops, movie theaters, second hand stores, a farmers market, and more. “The Ave,” or University Way, is the district’s main shopping corridor and is a great place for people watching.
Capitol Hill
Capitol Hill is known for its diverse population, gay-friendly community, and nightlife. It has great bars and clubs, restaurants, clothing shops, movie theaters, cafes, bookstores. Home to Seattle Central Community College, Capitol Hill is just a quick bus ride away from the U-District.
Ballard
Ballard has Scandinavian and fishing village roots, but it is fast changing into a hip shopping area. Brick-lined Ballard Ave. is ideal for shopping during the day; its stylish restaurants attract crowds at night. The Ballard Locks and the fish ladder are big tourist destinations.
Belltown
Home to many upscale condos and apartments, Belltown is one of Seattle’s classiest areas. Belltown is just north of Pike Place Market, and has many bars, clubs, restaurants, and upscale clothing boutiques. Also, the new Olympic Sculpture Park opened near Belltown in January 2007.
International District (I.D.)
Located just south of downtown, the International District is one the city’s oldest neighborhoods, rich with Asian-American history and culture. When you go, visit the Wing Luke Asian Museum and enjoy one of the many delicious restaurants. You can find anything from ramen to vegetarian dim sum in the I.D.
Columbia City
Recently, this Southern Seattle area has turned into an artsy, trendy neighborhood. Many great restaurants can be found here, along with a very popular farmers market.
Wallingford
Compared to the nearby U-District, this Seattle neighborhood has a slightly older population and a quieter atmosphere. Wallingford boasts an independent movie theater and has a number of great restaurants, bars, bakeries, and cafes.
Fremont
Dubbed the “Center of the Universe” by locals, Fremont is one of the quirkiest neighborhoods in Seattle. It is home to upscale shops, bars, restaurants, cafes, and an enormous Troll statue under the Aurora bridge.
Sandpoint
A mostly residential neighborhood, Sandpoint is right on the west shore of Lake Washington. Magnuson Park, located in Sandpoint, is a giant park that includes a dog park, kite-flying area, beach, and public art displays. It is just north of UW’s Radford Court.
Greenlake
On any given day, Greenlake is bustling with activity. The neighborhood is centered around a lake that is surrounded by a paved path. Runners, walkers, bike riders, and other exercisers can be found on the path at any time of the day. Cafes, bars, restaurants, and beautiful homes can also be found in the neighborhood.
Eastlake
The Eastlake neighborhood is mostly residential. However, you may want to check out the houseboats on Lake Union and Portage Bay—these are part of Seattle’s unique character.
Montlake
This neighborhood is almost entirely residential, and is home to Seattle’s most impressive park: The Washington Park Arboretum. The Arboretum is a must-see!
Pioneer Square
This historic area is a fun place to go with friends from out of town. Tourists love the Underground Tour, which explains the history of the area. Visit the huge Elliot Bay bookstore or take a ferry to Bainbridge Island—the ferries leave from Pier 52, just west of Pioneer Square.
South Lake Union
Paul Allen of Microsoft fame has helped to turn this neighborhood into a bustling area of activity. New shops and restaurants have recently entered the neighborhood, as have new condo developments. Don’t forget to visit the flagship REI on Yale Street.
Madison Park
This a kid-friendly neighborhood, with eateries such as an ice cream parlor, pizza shop, and burger joint. The best part of Madison Park? Its beach! On sunny days in July and August, swim out to the floating raft to get an amazing view of Mount Rainier.
Web sites
http://www.nwsource.com (a good site for event information)
http://www.seattle.citysearch.com (a guide to entertainment and recreation)
http://www.seeseattle.org (information from Seattle’s Convention and Visitor’s Bureau)
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