Renton, Washington | |
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 Aerial view of Renton  Renton City Hall | |
 Wordmark | |
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| Coordinates:47°28′43″N122°11′30″W / 47.47861°N 122.19167°W /47.47861; -122.19167 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | King |
| Founded | August 18, 1885 |
| Incorporated | September 6, 1901 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–council |
| • Mayor | Armondo Pavone[1] |
| • City Council | James Alberson, Jr. Ryan McIrvin Valerie O'Halloran Ruth Pérez Ed Prince Carmen Rivera Kim-Khánh Văn |
| Area | |
• City | 25.27 sq mi (65.45 km2) |
| • Land | 23.54 sq mi (60.97 km2) |
| • Water | 1.73 sq mi (4.47 km2) |
| Elevation | 85 ft (26 m) |
| Population | |
• City | 106,785 |
• Estimate (2024)[6] | 105,543 |
| • Rank | US:311th WA:9th |
| • Density | 4,439.3/sq mi (1,714.01/km2) |
| • Urban | 3,544,011 (US:13th) |
| • Metro | 4,044,837 (US:15th) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 98055, 98056, 98057, 98058, 98059 |
| Area code | 425 |
| FIPS code | 53-57745 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2410926[4] |
| Website | rentonwa.gov |
Renton is a city inKing County, Washington, United States, and an inner-ring suburb ofSeattle. Situated 11 miles (18 km) southeast ofdowntown Seattle, Renton straddles the southeast shore ofLake Washington, at the mouth of theCedar River. As of the2020 census, the population of Renton was 106,785,[5] up from 90,927 at the2010 census. The city is currently the 6th most populous municipality ingreater Seattle and the8th most populous city inWashington.
After a long history as an important salmon fishing area for Native Americans, Renton was first settled by people of European descent in the 1860s. Its early economy was based on coal mining, clay production, and timber export. Today, Renton is best known as the final assembly point for theBoeing 737 family of commercial airplanes, but it is also home to a growing number of well-known manufacturing, technology, and healthcare organizations, includingBoeing Commercial Airplanes Division,Paccar,Kaiser Permanente,Providence Health & Services,UW Medicine, andWizards of the Coast.
Long a cultural center for theDuwamish,European settlers arrived in the area of present-day Renton as early as 1853. First among them were Henry Tobin and his wife Diana. The town of Renton was accessed via theSeattle and Walla Walla Railroad, the first railroad to be built toSeattle, and was in the vicinity of severalcoal mines that attracted entrepreneurs likeErasmus M. Smithers, who is credited with the founding and establishment of the town in 1875.[7] Smithers named Renton in honor of Captain William Renton, a local lumber and shipping merchant who invested heavily in the coal trade.[8] Smithers discovered coal there and brought in Charles D. Shattuck as the coal mine operator.
Renton was incorporated as a city on September 6, 1901,[7] when coal mining and timber processing were the most important economic industries in the area. The town was prone to flooding from theCedar River andBlack River. In 1916 the completion of the Lake Washington Ship Canal lowered the surface of Lake Washington by several feet which consequently eliminated drainage of Lake Washington through the Black River (in favor of the Ship Canal). The Cedar River was then diverted to drain into Lake Washington instead of into the Black River. As a result, the Black River largely disappeared, leaving only a few remnants.[9] The culmination of these actions reduced the threat of annual flooding.[10]
The population sharply increased duringWorld War II whenBoeing built theirRenton Factory to produce theB-29 Superfortress.[11] Renton grew from a population of 4,488 in 1940 to 16,039 in 1950.
The game companyWizards of the Coast also is headquartered in Renton. Providence Health System has centralized its administrative offices in Renton, along withGroup Health Cooperative.
Owing to its location at the confluence of three majorfreeways (I-5,I-405, andSR 167), Renton's economic development team has lured a number of specialty retailers that draw consumers from around the region, includingIKEA.[12] Some retail establishments were unwanted though, and the city successfully defended zoning restrictions on pornographic theaters before the U.S. Supreme Court inRenton v. Playtime Theatres, Inc.[13]
TheRenton Public Library was built directly over the Cedar River and opened in 1966. It stretches 80 feet (24 m) across the river, next to Liberty Park, and was the main branch of the city's independent library system until its 2010 annexation into the King County Library system.
The city government has encouraged redevelopment of industrial areas around Downtown Renton and near Southcenter since the 1980s. The firstIKEA in thePacific Northwest opened in Renton in 1994 at a former Boeing building;[14] the original building was replaced by a new store on the same site in 2017.[15] The formerLongacres horse-racing track was redeveloped in the 1990s to support offices for Boeing and theFederal Reserve Bank, which moved from its Seattle building.[16] Port Quendall, a land parcel in north Renton, is home to the Virginia Mason Athletic Center (VMAC), housing theSeattle Seahawks Headquarters and training facility that opened in August 2008; before then, the Seahawks trained inKirkland.[17]
In the mid-1990s, Renton undertook a major redevelopment effort to revitalize its downtown core, which had declined in commercial prominence since the opening of theSouthcenter Mall inTukwila in 1968. The many car dealerships that had previously occupied the center of downtown Renton were encouraged through economic incentives to relocate to a newly created auto sales zone close to the I-405/SR-167 interchange.[18] In place of the old dealerships downtown, a new transit center and parking garage were built in partnership withKing County Metro.[19] The transit center is surrounded by several multi-family residential buildings and a smalltown square named Piazza Park, which hosts a weeklyfarmers' market.[20]
Centered on former Boeing Co. property near the south shore of Lake Washington is a 68-acre (280,000 m2) residential and commercial development named The Landing.[21] To the north of the Landing, a hotel and office development on the lakefront called Southport has been developed at the site of the former Shuffleton power plant, which was demolished in 2001. A 347-room hotel operated under theHyatt Regency brand opened in June 2017.[22]
In 2017,Bosa Development announced plans to build five residential towers between 16 and 23 stories at Quendall Terminals, aSuperfund site in Renton on the shore of Lake Washington. The proposal was never formally approved by the city government, which had permitted six-story buildings on the site, and was dropped in 2024.[23]
Renton is located on the southeast shore ofLake Washington at the mouth of theCedar River.[24] The city is bordered to the north byNewcastle. Along the east side of Renton is the urban growth boundary established byKing County,[25] as such there is no incorporated city directly east of Renton. The southern border is shared withKent, while the western border consists of the city ofTukwila and the unincorporated community ofWest Hill.[26]
The geographical characteristics of Renton's eastern border are varied and include (from north to south) the south flank ofCougar Mountain descending southward merging with the community of May Valley. The terrain then elevates south of May Valley to the communities of theEast Renton Plateau before descending to the north bank of the Cedar River.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 25.27 square miles (65.45 km2), of which 23.54 square miles (60.97 km2) is land and 1.73 square miles (4.48 km2) is water,[3] most of which is theCedar River.
Potential Annexation Areas (PAAs) include the communities ofFairwood southeast of Renton, theEast Renton Plateau on the eastern edge of Renton, andWest Hill northwest of Renton. These communities are large unincorporated urban areas that are encouraged by the King County Annexation Initiative[27] to incorporate as cities or annex into neighboring cities. As of 2012 these three PAAs are not part of the City of Renton, and not included in its demographics or statistics.
Renton is one of the cities in the Puget Sound region with an independent street grid system. Roads names beginning with sectional divisions (N 32nd Street) generally follow a latitudinal direction, while roads names ending in a sectional direction (Duvall Ave NE) generally follow a longitudinal direction. Many of the avenues in the city are named in honor of other cities inWashington.
Renton has a warm-summerMediterranean climate (Köppen:Csb) with warm and dry summers mixed with cloudy, wet and cool winters, with a precipitation regime typical of thePacific Northwest. Being located in a partialrain shadow and shielded from the coastal summers, Renton has more of a climate influenced by the interior than many other areas nearby.[citation needed]
| Climate data for Renton, Washington | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 64 (18) | 71 (22) | 81 (27) | 86 (30) | 92 (33) | 108 (42) | 104 (40) | 99 (37) | 96 (36) | 86 (30) | 74 (23) | 69 (21) | 108 (42) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 43 (6) | 47 (8) | 54 (12) | 61 (16) | 67 (19) | 72 (22) | 79 (26) | 80 (27) | 73 (23) | 62 (17) | 52 (11) | 45 (7) | 61 (16) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 32 (0) | 35 (2) | 39 (4) | 42 (6) | 47 (8) | 53 (12) | 56 (13) | 57 (14) | 51 (11) | 44 (7) | 39 (4) | 34 (1) | 44 (7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −10 (−23) | −5 (−21) | 10 (−12) | 25 (−4) | 27 (−3) | 33 (1) | 38 (3) | 34 (1) | 28 (−2) | 24 (−4) | −1 (−18) | 3 (−16) | −10 (−23) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 5.3 (130) | 4.5 (110) | 4.1 (100) | 2.9 (74) | 2.1 (53) | 1.7 (43) | 0.9 (23) | 1.2 (30) | 1.8 (46) | 3.4 (86) | 6.1 (150) | 5.8 (150) | 37.1 (940) |
| Source: Weather.com[29] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 200 | — | |
| 1890 | 406 | 103.0% | |
| 1900 | 412 | 1.5% | |
| 1910 | 2,740 | 565.0% | |
| 1920 | 3,301 | 20.5% | |
| 1930 | 4,062 | 23.1% | |
| 1940 | 4,488 | 10.5% | |
| 1950 | 16,039 | 257.4% | |
| 1960 | 18,453 | 15.1% | |
| 1970 | 25,878 | 40.2% | |
| 1980 | 31,031 | 19.9% | |
| 1990 | 41,688 | 34.3% | |
| 2000 | 50,052 | 20.1% | |
| 2010 | 90,927 | 81.7% | |
| 2020 | 106,785 | 17.4% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 105,543 | [6] | −1.2% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[30] 2020 Census[5] | |||
As of the 2023American Community Survey, there are 40,968 estimated households in Renton with an average of 2.53 persons per household. The city has a median household income of $100,237. Approximately 7.9% of the city's population lives at or below thepoverty line. Renton has an estimated 71.7% employment rate, with 38.4% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 86.2% holding a high school diploma.[31]
The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (59.2%), Spanish (12.8%), Indo-European (7.0%), Asian and Pacific Islander (16.4%), and Other (4.6%).
The median age in the city was 37.8 years.
| Race / ethnicity(NH = non-Hispanic) | Pop. 2000[32] | Pop. 2010[33] | Pop. 2020[34] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 32,759 | 44,937 | 42,449 | 65.45% | 49.42% | 39.75% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 4,142 | 9,435 | 10,585 | 8.28% | 10.38% | 9.91% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 335 | 423 | 463 | 0.67% | 0.47% | 0.43% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 6,658 | 19,148 | 27,721 | 13.30% | 21.06% | 25.96% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 238 | 635 | 818 | 0.48% | 0.70% | 0.77% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 153 | 169 | 637 | 0.31% | 0.19% | 0.60% |
| Mixed race or multiracial (NH) | 1,949 | 4,233 | 7,602 | 3.89% | 4.66% | 7.12% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3,818 | 11,947 | 16,510 | 7.63% | 13.14% | 15.46% |
| Total | 50,052 | 90,927 | 106,785 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2020 census, there were 106,785 people, 41,433 households, and 25,537 families residing in the city.[35] Thepopulation density was 4,549.1 inhabitants per square mile (1,756.4/km2). There were 43,362 housing units at an average density of 1,847.2 inhabitants per square mile (713.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 41.86%White, 10.15%African American, 0.92%Native American, 26.14%Asian, 0.79%Pacific Islander, 8.49% from some other races and 11.64% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 15.46% of the population.[36] 20.6% of residents were under the age of 18, 6.5% were under 5 years of age, and 12.4% were 65 and older.
As of the2010 census, there were 90,927 people, 36,009 households, and 21,849 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,932.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,518.5/km2). There were 38,930 housing units at an average density of 1,683.8 inhabitants per square mile (650.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 54.64%White, 10.63%African American, 0.66%Native American, 21.22%Asian, 0.75%Pacific Islander, 6.24% from some other races and 5.85% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 13.14% of the population.
There were 36,009 households, of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.2% weremarried couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.3% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.16.
The median age in the city was 35.2 years. 23.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 33.5% were from 25 to 44; 24.4% were from 45 to 64; and 10.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.5% male and 50.5% female.
Boeing Commercial Airplanes,[37]Boeing Capital,[38]Providence Health & Services,[39] andWizards of the Coast have their headquarters in Renton.[40]
TheBoeing Renton Factory has operated since World War II, when it manufactured theB-29 Superfortress; currently, it produces the737 airliner. The Renton plant produced the Jetfoil and Pegasus class hydrofoils in the 1970s. As of 2001, 40% of all commercial aircraft in the air were assembled in Renton. Boeing remains the largest employer in Renton, which is home to over 10,000 employees and three of the aerospace giant's six major business divisions:Boeing Commercial Airplanes,Boeing Capital Corporation and the Shared Services Group. The local newspaper in the 1970s, theRecord-Chronicle, proclaimed the city the jet capital of the world.
Paccar has traditionally been a large employer in the city as well with its Kenworth Truck plant located in Renton's industrial area on the south end ofLake Washington. In 1907 the Seattle Car Manufacturing Co. moved to a large manufacturing plant in Renton after a fire destroyed the original plant in Seattle. The Car Company was the only manufacturer of train cars on theWest Coast.
The Renton plant expanded its foundry capabilities in 1911, and Seattle Car and Foundry Co merged with the Twohy Brothers of Portland in 1917 and became the Pacific Car and Foundry Company or Paccar. During the Great Depression, the Renton Paccar plant developed power winches for use in the logging industry. WhenWorld War II arrived, the Renton manufacturing switched its production towards the war effort, and by the war's end in 1945 had built 1,500Sherman Tanks. In the second half of the 20th century there was not enough repeat business for Paccar-built train cars as rail equipment in 1965 came to only 1/3 of the company's sales. Thus the Paccar Renton plant began manufacturing structural steel until the 1970s recession. In the early 1980s the Paccar Railcar Division, the last remnants of the original Pacific Car and Foundry Co., closed down. In 1993, a newKenworth assembly plant opened on the former site of Pacific Car and Foundry.[41]
As of the city's 2023Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR),[42] Renton had 34,882 employed individuals; Renton's top employers were:
| Rank | Employer | Employees in 2023 | Employees in 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boeing Company |  12,919 | 15,201 |
| 2 | Valley Medical Center |  4,304 | 2,173 |
| 3 | Renton School District No. 403 | 2,659 | 1,507 |
| 4 | Kaiser Permanente | 2,550 | - |
| 5 | Providence Washington Regional Services | 2,050 | 1,851 |
| 6 | Paccar | 1,827 | 1,254 |
| 7 | Healthpoint | 1,237 | - |
| 8 | Wizards of the Coast | 1,033 | 425 |
| 9 | Blue Origin | 826 | - |
| 10 | Seattle Seahawks | 674 | - |
Renton Technical College, originally opened in 1942 as a war production school, offersassociate degrees andcertificates of completion in professional-technical fields.[citation needed] Renton also has a branch of thePima Medical Institute, a for-profit medical vocational college, that opened in September 2004.[43]
The Renton School District provides K–12 public schooling.[44] Additionally, theIssaquah School District[45] serves a small portion of unincorporated Renton neighborhoods. TheTahoma School District serves a small portion of Renton alongMaple Valley Highway. TheKent School District[46] serves the majority ofFairwood, acensus-designated place between Renton andMaple Valley.
The Renton School District includes the four high schools:Hazen High School,Lindbergh High School,Renton High School, andAlbert Talley Senior High School. The school district also has four middle schools and fifteen elementary schools.
Parts of the city are also served by theIssaquah School District,Kent School District, and theTahoma School District, all of which predominantly serve neighboring cities.[47]
Renton has amayor–council government that oversees municipal services and contracts with other entities for utilities. The mayor and seven councilmembers are elected to four-year terms in staggered,at-large elections.[48][49] Councilmembers are divided into working committees that recommend legislation to the whole council in meetings.[50] Renton also has a housing authority to provide low cost housing to poorer residents.[51]
Renton has two sister cities:[52]
Nishiwaki, Hyogo, Japan (since 1969)
Cuautla, Jalisco, Mexico (since 2001)Renton is served byKing County Metro andSound Transit Express buses. Metro operates theRapidRide F Line through the city and plans to expandbus rapid transit service in the 2020s;[53]Sound Transit is scheduled to open its own bus rapid transit service,Stride along the Interstate 405 corridor through Renton in 2026.[54]
The city government owns and operatesRenton Municipal Airport (KRNT), officially Clayton Scott Field, a public airport at the foot of Lake Washington. It is used by the Boeing Renton Factory as well as for charter services and flight training.[55]
TheBNSF Railway operates a freight railroad through Renton that includes a briefstreet-running portion on Houser Way in downtown.[56][57] The railroad carriesBoeing 737 fuselages bound for the Boeing assembly plant north of downtown.[58] A second line with street-running portions, along Burnett Avenue to serve thePaccar plant, was removed in 1972 to eliminate 18 grade crossings.[59][60] BNSF also owned theWoodinville Subdivision, a branch line on the east side of Lake Washington, which was used by theSpirit of Washington dinner train. The excursion service ran from Renton to Woodinville from 1992 to 2007.[61] The Woodinville Subdivision was converted to amulti-use trail, known asEastrail, by the King County government in 2018.[62]
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