Kirkland, Washington
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{{Template:US City infobox
|city = Kirkland |state = Washington |motto = |nickname = The Little City That Could |flag = |seal = Seal_of_Kirkland,_Washington.png |map = WAMap-doton-Kirkland.png |map size = 200 |map cap = Location of Kirkland within King County, Washington |founded = 1888 |incorporated = 1905 |county = King |mayor = Mary-Alyce Burleigh |area = 28.5 km² (11.0 mi²) |area water = 0.9 km² (0.3 mi²) |area percentage = 3.00% |census yr = 2000 |city pop = 45,054 |metro pop = 3,043,878 |density = 1,628.8 |time zone = Pacific |utc = 8 |north_coord = 47°41'9 |west_coord = 122°11'30 |web = www.ci.kirkland.wa.us
|}} Kirkland is a city located in King County, Washington. It is a suburb of Seattle located on the Eastside (of Lake Washington). As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 45,054.
Notable features of the town include its downtown, located on the lakefront and populated mostly by restaurants and art galleries; numerous public parks, including a number of beaches; and a large collection of public art, primarily bronze sculptures.
Kirkland is the home of the Seattle Seahawks training facility. Warehouse chain Costco used to have its headquarters there, hence the "Kirkland Signature" store brand.
Based on per capita income, one of the more reliable measures of affluence, Kirkland ranks 13th of 522 areas in the state of Washington to be ranked.
Contents |
History
In 1886, Peter Kirk, an enterprising businessman seeking to expand the family’s Moss Bay steel production company, moved to Washington state after hearing that iron deposits had been discovered in the Cascade mountain range. Other necessary components such as limestone, needed in steel smelting, were readily available to the area. Further yet, a small number of coalmines (a required fuel source for steel mills) had recently been established nearby in Newcastle and train lines were already under construction. Plans were also underway to build a canal between Lake Washington and Puget Sound.
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 a U.S. citizen and could not purchase any land. Fortunately, Leigh S.J. Hunt, then owner of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, offered to partner with Kirk and buy the necessary real estate. Kirk and his associates soon started construction on a new steel mill, named Moss Bay Iron and Steel Works, on land east of Seattle, near Lake Washington. Thus founding the city of Kirkland in the process, Kirk envisioned a "Pittsburgh of the West."
The steel mill was completed in late 1892; however, before it would ever produce any steel financial issues arose and, due to the Panic of 1893, the mill subsequently closed without ever producing any steel. Nevertheless, the town was incorporated in 1905 with a population of 400. Subsequent years saw wool-milling and ship-building become the major industries.
Kirkland consolidated with the neighboring town of Houghton in 1968. It annexed the neighborhood of Totem Lake in 1974, and the neighborhoods of South Juanita, North Rose Hill, and South Rose Hill in 1988.
Today the city is socially and economically integrated into the greater Seattle area. Similar to most of its Eastside neighbors, it is relatively affluent but dependent in large part on nearby technology firms such as Redmond-based Microsoft.
The Kirkland Life
Kirkland is a small, quiet town, with many retired people and apartment complexes. There are quite a few old, quaint houses though many are being torn down. Currently the major areas are: Houghton, Juanita, Norkirk, Rose Hill, the downtown area and many others.
Kirkland also boasts a rather active nightlife in comparison to the rest of the Eastside. It has a variety of bars and clubs, most of which are located in downtown Kirkland's main strip, Lake Washington Boulevard. During the summer, local residents of neighboring cities flock to Kirkland to visit Marina Bay Park, which is adjacent to Lake Washington.
The Kirkland Courier, founded in 1978, is the city's primary newspaper, with a circulation of 23,000 monthly copies. In 1991, the Pacific Publishing Company acquired The Kirkland Courier, which is a directly-mailed product within Kirkland's incorporated communities.
Geography
Image:Kirkland waterfront.jpg Kirkland is located at 47°41'9" North, 122°11'30" West (47.685821, -122.191729)Template:GR. It is bordered to the west by Lake Washington, to the east by Redmond, to the south by Bellevue, and to the north by Kenmore and Bothell.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 28.5 km² (11.0 mi²). 27.7 km² (10.7 mi²) of it is land and 0.9 km² (0.3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 3.00% water.
Education
Kirkland is home to Lake Washington Technical College and Northwest University, formerly Northwest College of the Assemblies of God.
Kirkland is in the Lake Washington School District. Secondary schools located in the city include:
- Juanita High School
- Lake Washington High School
- International Community School (7-12)
- BEST High School
- Kirkland Junior High School
- Finn Hill Jr. High School
- Kamiakin Jr. High School
- Northstar Jr. High School
- Rose Hill Jr. High School
Government and Politics
Kirkland has a non-partisan council-manager form of government, with seven council members elected at large for staggered four-year terms. The city council selects a mayor from among its members, who serves as council chair but has no veto power. As of 2006, the mayor is Jim Lauinger and the city manager is David Ramsay.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 45,054 people, 20,736 households, and 11,031 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,628.8/km² (4,220.3/mi²). There were 21,831 housing units at an average density of 789.2/km² (2,045.0/mi²). The racial 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. 4.11% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 20,736 households out of which 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% were married 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. The per capita income for the city was $38,903. 5.3% of the population and 3.9% of families were below the poverty line. 6.3% of those under the age of 18 and 5.0% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
References
- "Kirkland: The Little City That Could" December 22, 2005.
External links
- City of Kirkland Government
- Kirkland Visitor and Tourism Website
- Kirkland Chamber of Commerce
- Kirkland Downtown Association
- Kirkland Economic Development Website
- Kirkland Centennial Website
- KirklandWeather
- Kirkland Choral Society
