1. History
   • Denny party lands at Alki Beach in 1851
   • King County created December 1852
   • Washington Territory created March 1853
   • 1860 King County census: 300+ citizens
   • Territorial University (UW) opens 1861
   • Mercer’s Maidens arrive 1864
   • Seattle incorporated 1869
   • Women can vote in Seattle in 1883
   • Washington made a state in 1889
2. Population
   • 2000 census: Seattle = 563,374; Puget Sound Region (King, Snohomish, Pierce, Kitsap) = 3.3 million
   • Ethnicity: 70% White, 8% African American, 1% Native American/Alaskan, 13% Asian, 5.3% Hispanic, .5% Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
3. Other
   • 113 miles from Canada, 173 miles to Portland
   • 20 sister city arrangements
   • Major port for Pacific Rim trade
   • 132 movies or TV shows
   • Famous people from Seattle: Jimi Hendrix, Ted Bundy, Bruce Lee, Bing Crosby, Kenny Loggins, Kenny G, Hilary Swank, Fred Couples, Adam West, Bill Gates
   • Famous businesses: UPS, Boeing, Microsoft, Costco, Weyerhaeuser, Starbucks, Amazon.com, Nordstrom
   • Catastrophies: 1700 (earthquake), 1862 (smallpox), 1889 (fire), 1949 (earthquake), 1965 (earthquake), 1980 (volcano)
   • State dance: square dance
   • Only state named after a president

Weather

• Mild winters, cool summers (aver. Temp = 75o)
• 36.2” rain (DC = 39”, NYC = 40.3”) – drizzle
• Below freezing less than 15 days a year
• Best weather: late July-mid September. Great Indian summers!
• How do you know you’re a near native? You stop buying cheap umbrellas and get a hooded jacket from REI

Economy

1. Employment
   • Unemployment: 7.4% - highest in nation but largely due to Boeing and tech industry
   • 1990: 1.4 mil; 2000: 1.8 mil; 2010 (est): 2.1 mil
   • 13.1% = manufacturing; 86.9% non-manufacturing
   • Top Employers: Boeing, Costco, Microsoft, Weyerhaeuser, Washington Mutual
2. Cost of Living
   • US=$100 – Seattle=$125 (SF=$170 NYC=$175)
   • Median family income = $72K (1995 = $52K)
   • Aver. cost of single family home = $220,000 (Higher= San Diego, Boston, San Fran; lower = Denver, DC, Chicago)
   • Average rental costs (King Co): Studio = $634 1 bedroom = $742 2 bedroom = $995
   • Utilities: Seattle is 40% less than nation
   • Taxes: property (King Co) = $11.51/$1000; Sales (King Co) = 8.8% (9.3% for entertainment)
   • No state income tax

Quality of Life

1. Schools
   • Seattle Public Schools = 46,697
   • 300 private & parochial schools
   • Higher: UW, SU, SPU, 3 community colleges, 2 art schools
2. Health Care
   • Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho - WWAMI - Alliance of UW School of Medicine and Healthcare Professionals
   • 26 general-acute hospitals
   • 4 special purpose hospitals
   • 4500+ beds
   • 3000 MD’s
3. Religion
   • All including Catholic, Protestant, Eastern Orthodox, Jewish, Buddhist (2 temples), Islam (2 mosques), LDS (1 temple)
4. Culture And Recreation
   • 14 museums (SAM, Wing Luke, Burke, Frye)
   • 28 historical sites (Discovery Park, Klondike)
   • 24 community centers (basically one for every neighborhood); Seafair
   • 25 public libraries (2004 new main library downtown)
   • 27 performing arts centers (Benaroya, Meany, 5th Ave, Paramount)
   • 50 urban and 20 rural parks (Seward, Lincoln, Golden Gardens – dog walks)
   • 12 beaches (Alki, Leschi, Shilshole)
   • 5 golf courses
   • 151 tennis courts (Woodland Park)
   • 10 swimming pools
   • 38 playing fields (soccer, baseball)
   • 42 athletic clubs (IMA)
   • 5 maintained trails (Burke Gilman)
   • Professional baseball (Mariners), football (Seahawks), basketball (Sonics), semi-pro hockey (Thunderbirds), UW Huskies
5. Crime
   • 2001: down 8.6%; 2000: down 5.4%; 1999: down 16.7%