Kirkland | |
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 The downtown waterfront area of Kirkland, on the shores ofLake Washington | |
 Logo | |
 Show Kirkland Show King County Show Washington Show the United StatesInteractive location map of Kirkland | |
| Coordinates:47°42′00″N122°13′30″W / 47.70000°N 122.22500°W /47.70000; -122.22500 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | King |
| Founded | 1888 |
| Incorporated | 1905 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–manager |
| • Body | City council |
| Area | |
• Total | 22.66 sq mi (58.69 km2) |
| • Land | 17.81 sq mi (46.12 km2) |
| • Water | 4.86 sq mi (12.58 km2) |
| Elevation | 43 ft (13 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 92,175 |
• Estimate (2024)[4] | 95,499 |
| • Rank | US: 370th WA: 13th |
| • Density | 5,176/sq mi (1,998.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (Pacific) |
| ZIP codes | 98033, 98034, 98083 |
| Area code | 425 |
| FIPS code | 53-35940 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2411552[2] |
| Website | www |
Kirkland is a city inKing County, Washington, United States. A suburb east ofSeattle, its population was 92,175 in the 2020 U.S. census[4] which made it the sixth largest city in King County and the twelfth largest city in the state of Washington.
The city's downtown waterfront has restaurants, art galleries, a performing arts center, public parks, beaches, and acollection of public art that includes bronze sculptures.
Kirkland was the original home of theSeattle Seahawks; theNFL team's headquarters and training facility were located at theLake Washington Shipyard (now Carillon Point) alongLake Washington for their first ten seasons(1976–85), then at nearbyNorthwest University through2007.[5] Warehouse chainCostco previously had its headquarters in Kirkland. While Costco is now headquartered inIssaquah, the city is the namesake of its "Kirkland Signature" store brand. American video game companyValve was also founded in Kirkland.
The land around Lake Washington to the east of Seattle was first settled by bands of the indigenousDuwamish people, including theXačua’bš ("lake people") andTahb-tah-byook. Several Duwamish village sites lie within the modern-day boundaries of Kirkland, includingstaɬaɬ ("a fathom measure") in the modern-day downtown andTəb’tubiu ("loamy place") at Juanita Bay.[6] The indigenous settlements were close to natural resources, including salmon, venison, andwapato plants harvested for their bulbs.[6] Disease such as smallpox eliminated a majority of the local indigenous population with the development around Lake Washington, including lowering the water level for the Ship Canal in 1916 left the remaining population to decline further.[7]
English settlers arrived in the late 1860s, when the McGregor and Popham families built homesteads in what is now the Houghton neighborhood. Four miles (6 km) to the north people also settled near what is now called Juanita Bay, a favored campsite of the Duwamish because of the abundance of wapato there. The Curtis family arrived in the area in the 1870s, followed by the French family in 1872. TheForbes family homesteaded what is now Juanita Beach Park in 1876,[8] and settled on Rose Hill in 1877. Gradually, additional people settled in the area, and by the end of the 1880s a small number of logging, farming and boatbuilding communities were established.[9]
In 1886,Peter Kirk, a British-born enterprising businessman seeking to expand the family's Moss Bay steel production company, moved to Washington after hearing thatiron deposits had been discovered in theCascade Range. Other necessary components such aslimestone, needed in steelsmelting, were readily available in the area. Further yet, a small number ofcoal mines (a required fuel source forsteel mills) had recently been established nearby inNewcastle and train lines were already under construction. Plans were also underway to build theLake Washington Ship Canal.
Kirk realized that if a town were built near the water it would be a virtual freshwater port to the sea, as well as help support any prospective mill. At the time, however, Kirk was not aU.S. citizen and could not purchase any land.Leigh S. J. Hunt, then owner of theSeattle Post-Intelligencer, offered to partner with Kirk and buy the necessary real estate.
Under their new venture, the Kirkland Land and Development Company, Kirk and Hunt purchased thousands of acres of land in what is now Kirkland's downtown in July 1888. Kirk and his associates started the construction of a new steel mill soon after, named theMoss Bay Iron and Steel Company of America. After founding the city of Kirkland in 1888, officially one of the earliest on the Eastside at the time, Kirk's vision of a "Pittsburgh of the West" was beginning to take form. Construction soon commenced on several substantial brick homes and business blocks that would house and serve the steel mill employees.
However, theSeattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway, which had recently been purchased byTacoma-based Northern Pacific, had now refused to construct a rail line to the lake. This would, after all, have a negative impact on Tacoma, which was furiously competing with Seattle as the dominantPuget Sound seaport. The ensuing financial issues and numerous obstacles took a toll on Kirk, who was running out of investors. Hunt was also in debt from the purchase of land.
Nevertheless, the plans continued and the steel mill was eventually completed in late 1892 on Rose Hill (a full 2 miles (3 km) from the lake's shore). Financial issues arose and due to thePanic of 1893 the mill subsequently closed without ever producing any steel. In spite of everything, Kirk was determined not to give up on his namesake town, and Kirkland was finally incorporated in 1905 with a population of approximately 532. A final attempt at a steel mill in Kirkland was planned by James A. Moore in 1906. His Northwestern Iron & Steel Company paid $250,000 in cash for a 1,500-acre (6.1 km2) site, but the mill never materialized. This came at the heels of the Pacific Steel Company, incorporated earlier in 1906 by J.F. Duthie, William Calvert and L.S. Cragin. This company soon amounted to nothing.
In 1900, the Curtis family made a living operating a ferry-construction business on Lake Washington. Along withCaptain John Anderson, the Curtises were among the first to run ferries in the area.Leschi, first operated on December 27, 1913, was the original wooden ferry to transport automobiles and people between the Eastside andMadison Park until her retirement in 1950. The ferry operations ran nearly continuously for 18 hours each day. The construction of the firstLake Washington floating bridge in 1940, however, made ferry service unprofitable and eventually led to its cancellation.[11] Subsequent years saw wool milling and warship building become the major industries.
By 1917, after the completion of the Lake Washington Ship Canal, the construction of ocean-going vessels had become a major business. By 1940, the thrivingLake Washington Shipyard had constructed more than 25 warships duringWorld War II for the U.S. Navy, on what is now Carillon Point.
Since the incorporation of Kirkland in 1905, the city has grown to approximately 12 times its original geographic boundaries, nearly doubling in size during the 1940s and 1960s.[12]
Kirkland consolidated with the neighboring town ofHoughton on July 31, 1968, to form one city of 13,500. It annexed the neighborhood of Totem Lake in 1974, and the neighborhoods of South Juanita, North Rose Hill, and South Rose Hill in 1988, which were the largest annexations undertaken in Washington in nearly two decades. This added a further 16,119 people to Kirkland's population and was responsible for 76 percent of Kirkland's population increase between 1980 and 1990.
On November 3, 2009, responding to a county initiative to encourage cities to annex or incorporate many of the unincorporated areas within the county,[13] as well as a state sales tax incentive intended to ease the process,[14] three previously unincorporated districts north of the city—Finn Hill,North Juanita, andKingsgate—voted on whether to annex to Kirkland. The measure failed by seven votes to reach the 60% margin, which was required because the measure included accepting a share of the city's voter-approved debt.[15] However, since the affirmative vote was over 50%, the city council could and did vote to accept the annexation, without the assumption of debt.[16]
The annexation added 33,000 residents (combined total population of around 80,000)[17] and nearly 7 square miles (18 km2)[18] to Kirkland on June 1, 2011. For a 10-year period from 2011 to 2021, the city was eligible and filed annually for a special Annexation State Sales Tax Credit (ASTC) from the State of Washington to bridge the millions of dollars deficit in providing municipal services in the annexation area. The ASTC expired in 2021.[19]
The city's downtown lies along Lake Washington's Moss Bay and includes a business district, restaurants, art galleries, and parks. Downtown and the surrounding Moss Bay neighborhood has thousands ofcondominiums and apartments, largely built since the 1990s.[20] Kirkland is among the most compact suburban cities in the state of Washington, with a higherpopulation density than most Eastside cities.[21]
Kirkland is accessible viaInterstate 405, which connects it with other Eastside cities, including Bellevue,Renton, and Bothell. Seattle, which is across Lake Washington to the west of Kirkland, as well as Redmond to the east, are both accessible throughState Route 520.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 17.83 square miles (46.18 km2), of which 17.818 square miles (46.15 km2) are land and 0.012 square miles (0.03 km2) are water.[22] The elevation varies from 14 to 500 feet (150 m)above sea level.
Kirkland's average temperature is 52 °F (11.1 °C), and the average annual precipitation 36.27 inches (921 mm). The highest temperature was recorded as 109 °F (42.8 °C) on June 28, 2021. The lowest temperature was recorded as −5 °F (−20.6 °C) in January 1950.
| Climate data for Kirkland, Washington | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 66 (19) | 70 (21) | 79 (26) | 90 (32) | 94 (34) | 109 (43) | 103 (39) | 101 (38) | 100 (38) | 89 (32) | 74 (23) | 64 (18) | 109 (43) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 43 (6) | 47 (8) | 54 (12) | 59 (15) | 64 (18) | 70 (21) | 77 (25) | 78 (26) | 71 (22) | 61 (16) | 52 (11) | 45 (7) | 60 (16) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 38 (3) | 41 (5) | 47 (8) | 50 (10) | 55 (13) | 61 (16) | 66 (19) | 67 (19) | 62 (17) | 53 (12) | 46 (8) | 38 (3) | 52 (11) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 33 (1) | 36 (2) | 39 (4) | 42 (6) | 47 (8) | 53 (12) | 56 (13) | 57 (14) | 52 (11) | 46 (8) | 40 (4) | 34 (1) | 45 (7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −5 (−21) | −3 (−19) | 11 (−12) | 28 (−2) | 29 (−2) | 37 (3) | 41 (5) | 43 (6) | 34 (1) | 27 (−3) | 5 (−15) | 0 (−18) | −5 (−21) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 4.81 (122) | 3.43 (87) | 3.51 (89) | 2.77 (70) | 2.16 (55) | 1.63 (41) | 0.79 (20) | 0.97 (25) | 1.52 (39) | 3.41 (87) | 5.84 (148) | 5.43 (138) | 36.27 (921) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 2.0 (5.1) | 2.2 (5.6) | 0.8 (2.0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1.0 (2.5) | 2.1 (5.3) | 8.1 (21) |
| Source:[23][24] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 264 | — | |
| 1910 | 532 | 101.5% | |
| 1920 | 1,354 | 154.5% | |
| 1930 | 1,714 | 26.6% | |
| 1940 | 2,084 | 21.6% | |
| 1950 | 4,713 | 126.2% | |
| 1960 | 6,025 | 27.8% | |
| 1970 | 14,970 | 148.5% | |
| 1980 | 18,785 | 25.5% | |
| 1990 | 40,052 | 113.2% | |
| 2000 | 45,054 | 12.5% | |
| 2010 | 48,787 | 8.3% | |
| 2020 | 92,175 | 88.9% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 91,194 | [25] | −1.1% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[26] | |||
As of July 2023[update], the median household in the city was $143,533 and per capita income was $88,015.[4]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for 2020, there were 92,175 people residing in the city.[4]
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[27] | Pop 2010[28] | Pop 2020[29] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 37,438 | 37,024 | 58,847 | 83.10% | 75.89% | 63.84% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 688 | 805 | 1,842 | 1.53% | 1.65% | 2.00% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 211 | 148 | 252 | 0.47% | 0.30% | 0.27% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 3,497 | 5,465 | 16,387 | 7.76% | 11.20% | 17.78% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 83 | 123 | 164 | 0.18% | 0.25% | 0.18% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 107 | 241 | 926 | 0.24% | 0.49% | 1.00% |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 1,178 | 1,896 | 6,473 | 2.61% | 3.89% | 7.02% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,852 | 3,085 | 7,284 | 4.11% | 6.32% | 7.90% |
| Total | 45,054 | 48,787 | 92,175 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2010 census, there were 48,787 people, 22,445 households, and 12,014 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 4,521.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,745.8/km2). There were 24,345 dwelling units at an average density of 2,256.3 per square mile (871.2/km2). Theracial makeup of the city was 79.3% White, 1.8% African American, 0.4% Native American, 11.3% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 2.5% from other races, and 4.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.3% of the population.
There were 22,445 households, of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.3% weremarried couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 46.5% were non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.83.
The median age in the city was 37.5 years. 18.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 35.1% were from 25 to 44; 27% were from 45 to 64; and 10.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.7% male and 51.3% female.
As of the2000 census, there were 45,054 people, 20,736 households, and 11,031 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 4,220.3 people per square mile (1,628.8/km2). There were 21,831 dwelling units at an average density of 2,045.0 per square mile (789.2/km2). Theracial makeup of the city was 85.28% White, 1.59% African American, 0.53% Native American, 7.80% Asian, 0.20% Pacific Islander, 1.69% from other races, and 2.92% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos, who may be of any race, were 4.11% of the population.
There were 20,736 households, out of which 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% weremarried couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.8% were non-families. 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 18.5% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 38.1% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $60,332, and the median income for a family was $73,395. Males had a median income of $50,691 versus $39,737 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $38,903. About 3.9% of families and 5.3% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.
Kirkland had a gallery district downtown until recent years when all but three galleries closed or moved away. TheKirkland Performance Center hosts a number of performing arts events. The Kirkland Arts Center, located in the historicPeter Kirk Building on Market Street, provides classes, workshops and community-oriented gallery space.
Kirkland hosted the annualKirkland Concours d'Elegance at Carillon Point from 2003 until 2011, showing vintage and classic automobiles (and wooden boats) from across the country. The Porsche Club of America now hosts an annual Porsche car show at the Carillon Point location every September.
The Kirkland Teen Union Building (KTUB) in downtown Peter Kirk Park is supported by the city and a number of nonprofit organizations. It has two music stages, a recording studio, darkroom and year-round activities and programs for youth.[30]
The localLake Washington High School lacrosse team defeated intercity rivalJuanita High School in the state championship 8–7 in 2015 to secure a state title.
The Lake Washington High school Baseball team won the first ever State Championship (3A) in school history during 2016, defeating Lakeside School 2–0.[31]
Kirkland FC is an amateur soccer club in theWestern Washington Premier League, which began play in 2018. They are referred to as the Goats.
Kirkland was the original home of theSeattle Seahawks; theNFL team's headquarters and training facility were located at theLake Washington Shipyard (now Carillon Point) alongLake Washington for their first ten seasons(1976–85), then at nearbyNorthwest University through2007.[5]
Kirkland has two Little Leagues: Kirkland American Little League and Kirkland National Little League. Kirkland National won the 1982Little League World Series championship; they defeated a team from Taiwan 6–0 on August 28, 1982.[32] The 1982 victory was subject of theESPN30 for 30 documentaryLittle Big Men. It also was the home to Little League's 1992 Big League Softball World Series Champions representing the Eastside District Nine Leagues.
The Kirkland Baseball Commission provides recreational baseball for players ages 13–18. It is affiliated with the nationalPony Baseball organization.
Since 1999, Kirkland has been the home of theLittle League Junior Softball World Series, which is held each August at Everest Park.[33]
Kirkland's waterfront parks on Lake Washington are a popular destination during the summer months. Kirkland has neighborhood parks as well, contains a corner ofSaint Edward State Park, and abuts the equestrianBridle Trails State Park. The waterfront parks are linked by a gravel trail, which is open until dusk.Juanita Beach Park is another major park in Kirkland, and is a tourist attraction. TheCross Kirkland Corridor is a rail-trail that roughly bisects the city.
Kirkland has acouncil–manager form of government, with acity manager hired by thecity council. The seven councilmembers are electedat-large for staggered four-year terms innon-partisan elections. The city council selects a mayor from among its members, who serves as council chair but has no veto power. As of 2024[update], the mayor is Kelli Curtis,[34] and the city manager is former King County ExecutiveKurt Triplett.[35]
The majority of Kirkland is part of theLake Washington School District, which also serves other communities.[36] The school district operates two high schools,Juanita andLake Washington, within Kirkland city limits as well as five middle schools and thirteen elementary schools.
A portion is in theBellevue School District and another portion is in theNorthshore School District.[36]
The city is also home to several private schools, includingPuget Sound Adventist Academy andEastside Preparatory School, as well as several public magnet schools including the Environmental and Adventure School,International Community School,B.E.S.T. High School, and Northstar Middle School.
Kirkland is home toLake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech) andNorthwest University, a small Christian college. Additionally, Kirkland is bordered on the northwest by the campus ofBastyr University (which is technically in Kenmore).
As of 2023[update], the city's unemployment rate was 3.5% and the top local employers were:[37]
| Rank | Employer | Employees in 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evergreen Healthcare | 3,924 |
| 2 | Google, Inc. | 3,265 |
| 3 | Lake Washington School District | 1,196 |
| 4 | Fred Meyer Stores, Inc. | 867 |
| 5 | City of Kirkland | 710 |
| 6 | Kenworth Truck Co. | 600 |
| 7 | Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems | 526 |
| 8 | Salesforce, Inc. | 508 |
| 9 | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | 380 |
| 10 | ServiceNow, Inc. | 371 |
Kirkland is served by several news sources, including:
In 2006, Kirkland was the first city in Washington to adopt aComplete Streets ordinance.[41][42][43] Kirkland passed an Active Transportation Plan in 2009 specifically targeting improvements to pedestrian, bicycle, and equestrian facilities.[44]
Kirkland is served byKing County Metro andSound Transit Express buses that converge in Downtown Kirkland, the Totem Lake neighborhood, andSouth Kirkland. The city also has severalpark and ride facilities along Interstate 405. Buses connect Kirkland to Bellevue, Seattle, Redmond, Bothell, Kenmore, and Woodinville.[45]
As part ofSound Transit 3, Kirkland is slated to receive a shortLink light rail line from Issaquah and Downtown Bellevue that will terminate at South Kirkland Park and Ride. Originally scheduled to open in 2041,[46] due to projected revenue declines resulting from theCOVID-19 pandemic, the Sound Transit Board issued a Sound Transit 3 "realignment" plan on August 5, 2021, which delays the Issaquah to South Kirkland light rail line to 2044.[47] The Sound Transit 3 program also includes abus rapid transit line on Interstate 405, with stops atNE 85th Street and the existing Totem Lake Freeway Station.[48] The NE 85th Street station is projected to cost $235–300 million, making it one of the most expensive bus projects under consideration by Sound Transit, due to the need to completely rebuild the cloverleaf interchange.[49][50] The city's existing transit center is about a mile away and about 200 feet (61 m) lower in elevation. For a time the firstaerial tramway in the Seattle area was discussed to connect the two.[51] The station was originally planned to open in 2024 after three years of construction,[50] but Sound Transit is delaying opening to 2026 due to revenue declines as a result of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[52]
Kirkland is served byEvergreenHealth, a public healthcare system that operates a 318-bed hospital complex near Totem Lake. It was founded in 1967 and opened the first phase of Evergreen General Hospital in 1972.[53]
In March 2020, the city had the first reported fatalities in the United States during theCOVID-19 pandemic, primarily related to theLife Care Centers of Americanursing home in Kirkland.[54][55]
Kirkland has onesister city:
Emmerich am Rhein,Germany (1995)[68][69]
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