King County,
Washington covers more than 2,300 square
miles and holds a population of over 1,700,000.
This makes it the largest county in
Washington State and the twelfth largest in
the nation. The dynamic city of
Seattle serves as the King County seat, and
seventy-four smaller cities and towns comprise
the area. Utilizing its western border of
Puget Sound and the excellent highway
infrastructure, King County emerges as the
Pacific Northwest's premier shipping and
manufacturing hub.Settled in 1852 around
Puget Sound’s first steam-powered sawmill, King
County expanded quickly. Lumber and shipping
were its first industries until World War II,
when the region became a vital producer of
aircrafts and warships. Today, shipbuilding and
wood products remain important trades, while
King County’s economy also includes fishing,
manufacturing, agriculture and tourism.
International tourists visit King County year
round, partaking of the wonderful natural beauty
the region contains.
Lake Sammamish,
Lake Union and
Lake Washington offer fine fishing and
boating opportunities with pristine campgrounds.
Many miles of hiking and biking
trails wind through King County. Six rivers
run through the region, lending themselves to
white water rafting and kayaking.
In the central and western portion of King
County, the mighty
Cascade Mountains loom. The
Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest is an
outdoorsmen’s delight. The glacier-formed
volcanic peaks tempt rugged mountain climbers,
while sportsmen seek the diverse multitude of
game, birds and fish species. The trail to
Mount Si, lying only forty-five minutes from
Seattle, is one of
Washington's most popular day-hikes.
Seattle stands out as the cultural and
educational hub for King County, and one of the
most vital cities in Washington. With a
population of over half a million, it holds
almost one third of the county residents.
Situated directly across Lake Washington is the
city of
Bellevue, with a 2000 Census population of
112,000. These two cities combine with their
southern neighbor in Pierce County, Tacoma, to
form the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue Metro Area. The
Metro Area boasts a prosperous and solid
economy. Federal Way, with over 83,000
residents, Kent and Renton, with more than
50,000 residents, are the three next largest
cities within the Metro Area. Two cities just
under 50,000 residents are Redmond and Kirkland,
found on the prestigious eastern side of
Seattle, and known for their lovely wooded parks
and lakefront property.
King County’s newest town of Sammamish
incorporated in 1999. Its development is a sign
of the sure and steady growth of the Seattle
Metropolitan Area. King County still offers
small town living. Mountain towns with exotic
names such as Skykomish, Enumclaw and Snoqualmie
await the rural-minded.
King County, Washington offers diverse
options for its residents. Choices of urban or
rural living, waterfront or mountain homes are
available. Spread throughout the county are over
twenty fine institutes of higher learning. This
strong economic environment provides a wide
range of job opportunities.
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