Seattle, Washington

Demographics:

• The population of Seattle is estimated at 598,541
• There are 277,747 households within the city limits
• The average income per household is $57,849
• People who live in Seattle use the area code 206 (Find a phone number in Seattle here)

Many famous people have lived in Seattle, including:
Brendan Fraser, Kyle MacLachlan, Bruce Lee, Rainn Wilson, Ryan Stiles, Joel McHale, Bill Nye, Kurt Cobain, Courtney Love, Eddie Veder, Jimmy Hendrix, Kenny Loggins, Nancy and Ann Wilson, Quincy Jones, Sir Mix-a-Lot, Peter Buck, David Grohl, Dave Matthews, Ray Charles, Bill Gates

Historical Notes:
The first Starbucks coffee house was founded in Seattle.

In the 1890's Seattle's economy was boosted by the arrival of miners who had struck it rich during Canada's Klondike Gold Rush.

Seattle almost doubled in size between 1905 and 1910 after the city annexed several nearby towns.

During the 1900's, the Boeing Company was a major employer in Seattle. By 2001 the company relocated its corporate headquarters to Chicago.

In 1979 Microsoft, Inc. relocated to Seattle. The company's massive success led to a financial boom and many technological-based businesses opening up in the area.

Seattle was founded by a small family of pioneers in 1851. Their group, which was commonly referred to as the Denny Party, traveled to the Washington area in a covered wagon all the way from Illinois. By the time of their arrival in Alki Point, the family had been joined by a several other travelers, some of whom were said to claim ownership of prime building locations. A land dispute within the group caused several members of the Denny family to move on, so two separate settlements were established around the same time.

Logging was the first major industry in the Seattle area. Trees filled the skyline as far as the eye could see, and the convenient nearby waterways made a perfect distribution route for the lumber. A man named Henry Yesler founded a steam-based sawmill in 1852, and that helped encourage a large population growth. The influx of people led to the creation of many new businesses and a steep rise in employment for lumber workers.

By 1865 Seattle was officially incorporated as a town, but it didn't stick. Residents were so unruly that the charter was revoked just two years later. In 1869 things had settled and Seattle once again became a town. That same year a fire destroyed a large number of buildings, most of which were built out of wood. The city rallied and rebuilt quickly, using better materials to avoid future disasters.

During the 1990's Seattle became the well-known home of a type of music known as grunge. This musical revolution, led by bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden, brought international attention to the sound and look of the musical scene in Seattle. Many of the bands who came to prominence during that era are still producing popular music. Today Seattle is widely recognized as being a home for technological industries, musicians and a large number of artists.