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King
County, Washington
covers more than 2,300 square miles and holds a population of
over 1,700,000. This makes it the largest county in Washington
State and the twelfth largest in the nation. The dynamic
city of Seattle
serves as the King County seat, and seventy-four smaller
cities and towns comprise the area. Utilizing its western
border of Puget
Sound and the excellent highway infrastructure, King
County emerges as the Pacific
Northwest's premier shipping and manufacturing hub.
Settled in 1852 around Puget Sound’s first steam-powered
sawmill, King County expanded quickly. Lumber and shipping
were its first industries until World War II, when the region
became a vital producer of aircrafts and warships. Today,
shipbuilding and wood products remain important trades, while
King County’s economy also includes fishing, manufacturing,
agriculture and tourism.
International tourists visit King County year round,
partaking of the wonderful natural beauty the region contains.
Lake
Sammamish, Lake
Union and Lake
Washington offer fine fishing and boating opportunities
with pristine campgrounds. Many miles of hiking and biking trails
wind through King County. Six rivers run through the region,
lending themselves to white water rafting and kayaking.
In the central and western portion of King County, the
mighty Cascade
Mountains loom. The Mount
Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest is an outdoorsmen’s
delight. The glacier-formed volcanic peaks tempt rugged
mountain climbers, while sportsmen seek the diverse multitude
of game, birds and fish species. The trail to Mount
Si, lying only forty-five minutes from Seattle, is one of Washington's
most popular day-hikes.
Seattle
stands out as the cultural and educational hub for King
County, and one of the most vital cities in Washington. With a
population of over half a million, it holds almost one third
of the county residents. Situated directly across Lake
Washington is the city of Bellevue,
with a 2000 Census population of 112,000. These two cities
combine with their southern neighbor in Pierce County, Tacoma,
to form the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue Metro Area. The Metro Area
boasts a prosperous and solid economy. Federal Way, with over
83,000 residents, Kent and Renton, with more than 50,000
residents, are the three next largest cities within the Metro
Area. Two cities just under 50,000 residents are Redmond and
Kirkland, found on the prestigious eastern side of Seattle,
and known for their lovely wooded parks and lakefront
property.
King County’s newest town of Sammamish incorporated in
1999. Its development is a sign of the sure and steady growth
of the Seattle Metropolitan Area. King County still offers
small town living. Mountain towns with exotic names such as
Skykomish, Enumclaw and Snoqualmie await the rural-minded.
King County, Washington offers diverse options for its
residents. Choices of urban or rural living, waterfront or
mountain homes are available. Spread throughout the county are
over twenty fine institutes of higher learning. This strong
economic environment provides a wide range of job
opportunities.
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