Bellevue
Bellevue is the fifth largest city in Washington. Located between two beautiful lakes with a population of 120,000 only minutes away by bridge from Seattle and its urban lifestyle. Money Magazine said Bellevue has more jobs than people because of all-star employers like Microsoft, Expedia, Google, Eddie Bauer and Nintendo. These companies have attracted the brightest and most creative professionals of the decade. Called the high-tech and retail center of the ˜Eastside with more than 130,000 jobs, Bellevue is a skyline of gleaming high-rises.
As business booms, much of Bellevue still has that small-town feel. With thriving, woodsy neighborhoods filled with trees and nature it has large friendly streets without sidewalks. Towns like Medina, Clyde Hill, Hunts Point and Yarrow Point are home to some of the top CEOs in America. Microsoft’s Bill Gates, Amazon’s Jeff Besos, John Stanton the Nordstrom family, along with Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, and coach Pete Carroll, all call Bellevue home. There’s a vast network of green spaces and recreational facilities that keep people calling Bellevue area city in a park and parks are everywhere.
In Bellevue kids still walk to school and know their neighbors. Bellevue’s schools are rated among the best in the nation. News Week’s Top 100 High Schools showcased Bellevue High, Newport High, Interlake High and The International School in the top 20 High Schools in the nation. And if your kid likes football, Bellevue High School has won the state championship seven of the last nine years.
Named one of the top five leading shopping centers in America, Bellevue Square and the new Braven has it all, with an abundance of top rated restaurants, movie theatres, shops and entertainment, it is at the center of this growing downtown area.
If you enjoy professional sports, the Sounders, Mariners and Seahawks are moments away across the floating bridge, all playing in new state-of-the-art stadiums. And if you need your college fix, The University Of Washington brings you the best of the Northwest and Pac 12 athletics as it sits along Portage Bay with views of the Olympic and Cascades, snow capped peaks.
Visit the City of Bellevue’s official website website for more information.
Please click here to view Bellevue’s area information.
Neighborhoods in Bellevue:
City of Medina
Town of Yarrow Point
City of Clyde Hill
Town of Hunts Point
City of Newcastle
Bridle Trails
- Cherry Crest
- Crossroads
- Downtown
- Eastgate
- Enatai
- Factoria
- Forest Ridge
- Kelsey Creek
- Lake Hills
- Lakemont
- Meydenbauer
- Newport Hills
- Newport Shores
- Overlake
- Robinswood
- Somerset
- Sunset
- Surrey Downs
- Vasa
- Vuecrest
- Wilburton
- Woodridge
Kirkland
Natural Kirkland
With its necklace of public parks, Kirkland’s amenities are not lost on residents or visitors. Kirkland is regionally known for its outstanding parks system. On sunny summer afternoons, Lake Washington Boulevard is filled with walkers, joggers, bicyclists, roller bladers’, – and a few motorists – traversing the short mile from Marina Park to Carillon Point. Some are out for exercise, others for the lakeside sunsets and others still for kayak and canoe tours or volleyball on the sand courts. And the natural beauty of Kirkland extends well beyond its lakefront.
Bridle Trails State Park is the largest park in Kirkland, with more than 20 miles of scenic equestrian trails winding through a forest. Yarrow Bay Wetlands and Juanita Bay Park are just two examples of the city’s successful effort to preserve the delicate balance of nature while allowing residents to enjoy its beauty. In all, Kirkland has preserved more of its waterfront in accessible parkland than any other city in the state.
Kirkland Business
Kirkland’s strong local economy is characterized by a healthy mix of small business, Kirkland Waterfrontcorporate headquarters, light industrial and manufacturing, and a growing base of high-tech and home-based businesses. Located in the midst of the booming Eastside economic market, many of Kirkland’s businesses indicated expansion plans in the near future. A competitive business climate, with no local Business and Occupation (B&O) tax, and high quality of life make Kirkland a desirable location for both local and world-class enterprises.
Each of Kirkland’s economic neighborhoods is distinct. Totem Lake drives Kirkland’s economy with a concentration of high-tech, healthcare, manufacturing and distribution industries. It’s also home to Totem Lake Mall. Downtown and Carillion Point house an expanding financial and professional services sector attracted to Kirkland’s high quality environment and easy access. Neighborhood business districts in Juanita, Houghton and Bridle Trails serve local needs and provide support services to Kirkland regional businesses.
City of Kirkland
City of Mercer Island
Brief History
Just over five miles long and two miles wide, Mercer Island lies in Lake Washington east of the City of Seattle and west of the City of Bellevue. About 22,000 people make it their home. Settlement of the island by non-Native Americans began in the late 1870′s. The island was named after Thomas one of the three pioneering Mercer brothers from Illinois, all of whom had great influence in the Seattle area. Although none of the brothers lived on Mercer Island, they would often hunt and explore throughout the island’s secluded forests. The early settlers traveled by rowboats to the neighboring community of Seattle to pick up necessities. An occasional boat would drop off items that were too large to transport by rowboat.
Because of the inconveniences of island living, settlement lagged until C.C. Calkins platted the town of East Seattle, having purchased 22,000 acres. That’s nearly three percent of the island’s total acreage. In 1891 he built a luxurious resort on the western side of the island. This spurred the building of a ferry dock and small streamers began to make regular trips. This availability of transportation attracted more residents. Ferry travel continued until July 2, 1940 when the floating bridge from Mercer Island to Seattle was opened.
Today eight lanes of Interstate 90 connect Mercer Island with Seattle and Bellevue. It includes two side-by-side floating bridges that link Seattle and Mercer Island, a boon for commuters and shoppers.
Mercer Island is primarily a single-family residential community. A commercial business district and multi-family dwellings are concentrated at the northern end. However, the northern end on the other side of Interstate 90 is also a single-family residential community as well as being the site of Luther Burbank Park, which is city-owned.
To learn more about Mercer Island demographics, click here.
Greater Seattle Area
Population
The Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) estimates that the regional population topped 3.5 million in 2007. Growth is predicted to continue and by 2040, PSRC anticipates a regional population of around 5 million.
Newcomers bring greater diversity to the area. In King County, for example, Census Bureau estimates released in August 2007 show that the Hispanic population increased nearly 38 percent while the Asian population went up more than 25 percent.
Education
Residents are highly educated; in fact, Seattle consistently ranks at the top in national polls for college degrees per capita. PSRC calculates that more than 35 percent of the region’s population has at least a bachelor’s degree, and one-third of those also have graduate or professional degree.
Geography
From snow-capped mountain peaks to the glistening waters of the Puget Sound, the Seattle area is renowned for its natural beauty.
Location
The city of Seattle is located in the center of the western Washington. The city is built on seven hills between the Puget Sound and freshwater lakes to its east. Seattle’s altitude ranges from zero to 500 feet above sea level.
For more information vist
http://www.seattlechamber.com/AboutSeattle.aspx
