Medina | |
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.jpg) Medina, pictured front just after theEvergreen Point Floating Bridge, with theBellevue skyline behind | |
 Logo | |
 Location of Medina, Washington | |
 City limits of Medina | |
| Coordinates:47°37′36″N122°13′58″W / 47.62667°N 122.23278°W /47.62667; -122.23278 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | King |
| Platted | 1914 |
| Incorporated | August 19, 1955 |
| Named after | Medina, Saudi Arabia |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–manager |
| • Mayor | Jessica Rossman[1] |
| • City manager | Stephen Burns |
| Area | |
• Total | 4.83 sq mi (12.51 km2) |
| • Land | 1.44 sq mi (3.72 km2) |
| • Water | 3.39 sq mi (8.79 km2) |
| Elevation | 30 ft (9.1 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 2,915 |
| • Density | 2,290.7/sq mi (884.44/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code | 98039 |
| Area code | 425 |
| FIPS code | 53-44725 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2411071[3] |
| Website | www |
Medina (/məˈdaɪnə/ ⓘ) is a city in theEastside region ofKing County, Washington in greaterSeattle, United States.[5] The mostly residential city is on a peninsula inLake Washington, on the opposite shore from Seattle, bordered byClyde Hill andHunts Point to the east and water on all other sides. The city's population was 2,915 at the2020 census.Bill Gates andJeff Bezos, along with a number of billionaires and executives for tech companies, have homes in Medina.[6][7]
The eastern shore ofLake Washington betweenMeydenbauer Bay and Evergreen Point was a sparsely populated area that was cleared for its timber in the 1870s. Seattle businessman Thomas Dabney established a claim on the south side of modern-day Medina in 1886, becoming the area's first permanent white settler. Dabney built aferry dock in 1890, naming it Dabney's Landing, while the surrounding area was turned into berry farms and fruit orchards. Other settlers arrived at Dabney's Landing, which was briefly named Flordeline by its founder until objections were raised by a group of women who proposed the Arabic name "Medina" in 1891. After a series of debates and sign-switching incidents, Medina won and was adopted as the name of the town.[8][5][9]
Medina was platted in 1914 and officially incorporated on August 19, 1955.[10] The town's first mansions were built in the 1920s by wealthy Seattle businessmen, encouraged by the arrival of direct ferry service, and led to the nickname of Washington's "Gold Coast". The area's farmers, mostly of Japanese descent, were evicted during the1940s internment and their farms were turned over for redevelopment.[5]
In 2009, Medina, with the "wide support of residents", installed cameras at intersections along roads entering the city.[11] The cameras are used to capture thelicense plate number of every car, and a security system automatically notifies local police if the captured number is recorded in a database.[12][13] Travelers are notified of the presence of the system with signs that read "You Are Entering a 24 Hour Video Surveillance Area"; according to Medina's police chief, all captured information is stored for 60 days even if nothing negative is found in the database, allowing police tomine data if a crime occurs later.[12] One of the city's council members said the system was motivated by the belief that the need forcrime prevention "outweighs concern over privacy".[12] The system was inspired by that used in adjacentHunts Point, a town of about 500 residents which has not had a break-in for more than three years after installing their system.[12]
Designated as a Tree City USA by theArbor Day Foundation since 2006,[14] Medina has always been a leader in urban tree codes. Since 1972, the City of Medina has codified the value that trees bring to a community, and the Tree Code ordinances have consistently been modified throughout the years. Major revisions in 2000, 2003 and 2006 have improved the code such that it is one of the most extensive in the region. The current code (2006 edition) protects large trees and requires significant mitigation if they are removed.[15]
In 2011, the City Council directed the Planning Commission to update the existing tree code. Dividing the task into two phases, the Planning Commission brought Phase I, which were largely administrative changes, to Council in 2014, where it was passed into law. Phase II changes have been underway since then, with much work and input from the community, an ad hoc tree committee, the Planning Commission and City Council. It is anticipated that the new code will be adopted in mid-2015.[16]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.79 square miles (12.41 km2), of which, 1.44 square miles (3.73 km2) is land and 3.35 square miles (8.68 km2) is water.[17]
Medina is connected to Seattle, on the western shore of Lake Washington, byState Route 520 on theEvergreen Point Floating Bridge, the longestfloating bridge in the world.[18]
This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F. According to theKöppen Climate Classification system, Medina has awarm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.[19]
The City of Medina is a non-chartercode city with acouncil–manager government.[20] The city council is composed of seven members elected innon-partisan,at-large elections to four-year terms. The council elects a ceremonialmayor and deputy mayor from its members, serving a two-year term, and appoint acity manager to execute its legislative policies and oversee the government.[21] The current city manager is Jeff Swanson.[22] Despite its wealthy residents, the city government had a budget shortfall of 8 percent forecast for 2020. Aproperty tax increase was approved by a narrow margin in the November 2019 elections.[23][24]
Medina has traditionally been aRepublican stronghold at the local and national levels. However, like neighboring communities, it has become more competitive between the two major parties in recent elections.[25]
Medina is part of the48th Legislative District, and its current legislators in theWashington State Legislature are:
The 48th district also includes the moreDemocratic leaning area of adjacentBellevue.
Medina is part of the1st Congressional District. Its current Representative isSuzan DelBene.
As part of Washington, Medina is represented by SenatorsPatty Murray andMaria Cantwell.
In the2008 US Presidential Election,Barack Obama received more votes than the Republican nominee,John McCain, and carried all 4 precincts.[26] In the2012 US Presidential Election, the Republican nominee,Mitt Romney, received 1025 votes, whileBarack Obama, the Democratic incumbent received 934 votes.Mitt Romney carried 3 out of the 4 precincts in Medina. In the2016 US Presidential Election, of the 1,856 who cast votes, 57.49% voted forHillary Clinton and 33.19% forDonald Trump.[27][failed verification]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 2,285 | — | |
| 1970 | 3,455 | 51.2% | |
| 1980 | 3,220 | −6.8% | |
| 1990 | 2,981 | −7.4% | |
| 2000 | 3,011 | 1.0% | |
| 2010 | 2,969 | −1.4% | |
| 2020 | 2,915 | −1.8% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 2,886 | [28] | −1.0% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[29] 2015 Estimate[30] | |||
As of the2010 census,[31] there were 2,969 people, 1,061 households, and 865 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 2,061.8 inhabitants per square mile (796.1/km2). There were 1,162 housing units at an average density of 806.9 per square mile (311.5/km2). Theracial makeup of the city was 83.5% White, 0.3% African American, 0.2% Native American, 11.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.5% from other races, and 3.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.6% of the population.
There were 1,061 households, of which 40.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.1% weremarried couples living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 18.5% were non-families. 16.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.13.
The median age in the city was 45.5 years. 29% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 15.1% were from 25 to 44; 32.8% were from 45 to 64; and 18.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.4% male and 50.6% female.
As of the2000 census, there were 3,011 people, 1,111 households, and 905 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 2,102.3 people per square mile (813.0/km2). There were 1,165 housing units at an average density of 813.4 per square mile (314.6/km2). Theracial makeup of the city was 92.63%White, 4.88%Asian, 0.27%Native American, 0.17%African American, 0.07%Pacific Islander, 0.33% fromother races, and 1.66% from two or more races.Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.39% of the population.
There were 1,111 households, out of which 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.6% weremarried couples living together, 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.5% were non-families. 14.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.00.
The age distribution was 30.1% under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 29.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $133,756, and the median income for a family was $149,637. Males had a median income of $100,000 versus $50,893 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $81,742. About 0.2% of families and 0.8% of the population were below thepoverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 1.0% of those age 65 or over.
Public education is provided by theBellevue School District,[43] with schools within Medina and in nearby Bellevue.
Residents are zoned to Medina Elementary School (K to 5),[44] Chinook Middle School,[45] andBellevue High School.[46]
There are two private schools in Medina:
Places adjacent to Medina, Washington | |
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| International | |
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| National | |
