Seattle

Overview

Seattle is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Known as the "Emerald City" due to the lush evergreen forests that surround it, Seattle is situated on a narrow isthmus between Puget Sound (an inlet of the Pacific Ocean) and Lake Washington. It is a global hub for high technology, aviation, and the coffee industry.

Geography and Climate

Seattle is located in a seismically active region and is famous for its hilly terrain. The city was originally built on several steep hills, some of which were leveled in the early 20th century through massive "regrading" projects.

• The Isthmus: Seattle is one of only a few major U.S. cities situated on an isthmus.
• The "Rain" Myth: While Seattle is famous for rain, it actually receives less annual precipitation (approx. 37 inches) than New York City or Miami. Its reputation comes from the frequency of light drizzle and overcast days.
• Floating Bridges: Due to the depth of Lake Washington, the region is home to several of the world's longest floating bridges, including the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge.

Historical Milestones

• 1851: The Denny Party arrives at Alki Point, marking the founding of the modern settlement.
• 1869: Seattle is officially incorporated as a city. It was named after Chief Si'ahl (Chief Seattle) of the Duwamish and Suquamish tribes.
• 1889: The Great Seattle Fire destroys the entire central business district. The city was rebuilt on top of the ruins, creating the "Seattle Underground" still visible today.
• 1897: The Klondike Gold Rush begins, establishing Seattle as the premier gateway to Alaska and the Yukon.
• 1962: Seattle hosts the Century 21 Exposition (World's Fair), for which the Space Needle and Monorail were constructed.

Iconic Seattle Facts

• Coffee Culture: Seattle is the birthplace of Starbucks (founded in 1971 at Pike Place Market) and is widely considered the coffee capital of the United States.
• Music Heritage: The city is the birthplace of Jimi Hendrix and the origin point of the Grunge music movement (Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden) in the 1990s.
• The First Gas Station: Seattle claims to be the site of the world's first specialized gas station, opened by Standard Oil in 1907.
• Houseboats: Seattle has one of the largest populations of floating homes in the U.S., famously popularized by the film Sleepless in Seattle.
• The Gum Wall: Located in an alleyway under Pike Place Market, this local landmark is covered in thousands of pieces of used chewing gum and is considered one of the "germiest" tourist attractions in the world.

Economics and Innovation

Seattle has a history of "boom and bust" cycles, transitioning from timber and fishing to heavy manufacturing and eventually high tech.

• Aviation: For decades, the city's economy was dominated by Boeing, leading to the nickname "Jet City."
• Tech Giants: The Seattle metropolitan area is the headquarters for Amazon and Microsoft, making it a primary global center for e-commerce and software engineering.
• Shipping: The Port of Seattle is a major gateway for trade with Asia and the starting point for most Alaska-bound cruises.

Also See

• Space Needle
• Pike Place Market
• Puget Sound
• Mount Rainier
• History of Washington State