Issaquah, Washington
Encyclopedia
Issaquah is a city in King County
, Washington, United States
. The population was 30,434 at the 2010 census.
Based on per capita income
, Issaquah ranks 25th of 522 areas in the State of Washington to be ranked.
According to the Washington State Office of Financial Management, Issaquah ranked 6th of 279 eligible incorporated communities in population growth between 2000 and 2005. Forbes.com ranked Issaquah the 2nd fastest-growing suburb in the state, and the 89th in the nation.
name, meaning either "the sound of birds," "snake," or "little stream." "Squak Valley," an older name for the area, also derives from this same Native-American name.
Another version of the name is said to have come from the pioneers, who, being impressed with the multitude of wetland birds, called the area Squawk Valley. When the next wave of settlers came and asked for the name of area the Natives told them, "[It] is Squawk."
The city was officially incorporated on April 29, 1892. Initially a small mining town, this town has changed noticeably both in its appearance and economic focus. Issaquah was originally developed to service the mining industry on nearby Squak and Cougar mountain, and began as the town of Gilman, Washington. As the mining deposits neared depletion in the late 1890s, other companies started to realize Issaquah's potential to support a lucrative lumber business. These companies exported timber from Issaquah and other small, local towns to Seattle and larger, rapidly growing communities throughout western Washington. These early boom industries, however, faded into a period of relative quiet by the time of the Great Depression
. The town remained fairly placid through the succeeding decades, with The Boeing Company providing the majority of employment in the area. Microsoft
and other technological industries moved into Redmond, Washington
and other cities in the area, and later established operations in Issaquah itself. Both Boeing and Microsoft have significantly affected Issaquah's history, cultural development, and diverse population through their active community participation and attraction of outside residents. In June 1996, Costco
moved its global headquarters to Issaquah from nearby Kirkland, Washington
.
Other Issaquah employers include Siemens Medical Solutions'
Ultrasound Group, GoldSim Technology Group
, Overtime Technologies, Boehm's Candies, and Darigold.
. Neighboring cities include Bellevue
, and Redmond
, both a short 8 miles (12.9 km) away, and downtown Seattle
17 miles (27.4 km) to the West.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 8.4 square miles (21.9 km²), of which, 8.4 square miles (21.8 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.35%) is water.
Issaquah is surrounded on three sides by the Issaquah Alps
: Cougar Mountain
on the west, Squak Mountain
to the south, and Tiger Mountain
to the east. To the north of Issaquah is Lake Sammamish
. Cougar Mountain contains many large residential communities, while Squak and Tiger Mountains have much smaller populations.
Geologists have noted the chemical and geological content of these three mountains to be much different than that of the Cascade Range
, simply because they are not volcanic in origin, while the entire Cascade Range is postulated to have formed from volcanic action. They believe that these three mountains are the remains of a much older mountain range long since destroyed by earthquakes, volcanic action, and shifting plates.
, there were 11,212 people, 4,840 households, and 2,908 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,330.9 people per square mile (514.1/km²). There were 5,195 housing units at an average density of 616.7 per square mile (238.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.95% White, 0.88% African American, 0.63% Native American, 6.04% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 1.46% from other races
, and 2.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race made up 4.95% of the population.
There were 4,840 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.3% were married couples
living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.9% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 36.5% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $57,892, and the median income for a family was $77,274 (these figures had risen to $75,280 and $87,001 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $55,049 versus $36,670 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $34,222. About 3.4% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.5% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
, which runs from Seattle to Boston
, and Washington State Route 900, which connects the city to neighboring Renton
. There is a chronic traffic congestion
problem on Front Street, which traverses the historic downtown. Proposals had been made to create a bypass, but opponents argued that this will only result in more sprawl in the area beyond downtown and thus in more traffic and pollution. In fact, the Issaquah City Council voted in 2008 to cancel the 15-year-running SE Bypass project. In addition, King County has no funding in its seven year capital plan to improve the Issaquah Hobart road, the southern terminus of the proposed bypass.
and King County Metro, but in general it is not easy to get around by public transportation in the area. Since August 1995, the city, in partnership with King County Metro, provides a free bus that runs through all the major shopping areas of the town giving some relief to residents and those who wish to shop or eat at the many retailers and restaurants.
service on the remaining section of railroad track in downtown Issaquah. As of August 2010, the Issaquah Historical Society owns three trolleys, though none of them are in operation. One is a narrow gauge
trolley which is not compatible with the remaining rails left in town. A federal transportation grant has provided funds for track evaluation and repairs. The organization is seeking bids to restore one of its trolleys. Once this work is complete, the trolley will be operational between Issaquah's Chamber of Commerce and the Issaquah Depot.
Some proponents of the Trolley Project hope to see trolley service extended to a northern re-extension of removed track to the southern tip of Lake Sammamish. Such service would both add to the charm of the historical downtown area and make it easier for visitors and residents to get around and avoid the area's notorious traffic congestion. A onetime goal had been to extend trolley service all the way to downtown Redmond by reinstalling the track along the eastern shore of Lake Sammamish that the county removed several years ago. The opening of the East Lake Sammamish Trail in March 2006 along that proposed line ended the possibility of Issaquah-Redmond service.
and feature hiking trails and outdoor activity throughout the three mountains surrounding Issaquah: Tiger Mountain, Cougar Mountain, and Squak Mountain. There are also many cultural and historical activities to be found in the town of Issaquah itself.
invitational, bike rides, and a golf tournament. A "Field of Fun," providing free entertainment for children of all ages, is available thanks to the many festival sponsors. Visitors are encouraged to visit the newly restored Salmon Hatchery to view the returning salmon in close detail. The 2005 register revealed over 400,000 people attended the event.
is located on the north slope of Cougar Mountain
, just to the west of Issaquah. This 8 acres (32,374.9 m²) zoo offers a glimpse at many endangered species
from around the world, including many endangered birds from around the world and small lemurs from Madagascar. The highlight of the zoo for many observers is the cougar, named Nashi. Nashi is provided enrichment on a near-daily basis, which consists of a stimulant to keep him active mentally and physically. The zoo currently specializes in eight "worlds" of animals: cougars, lemurs, cranes, reindeer, macaws, wallabies, ratites, camelids.
On June 16, 2007, another world was added to the list, when the zoo welcomed its newest members, two male tiger cubs. Named Taj and Almos, they are the only Bengal
tigers in Washington state. The Zoo is open for general admission Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (excluding the month of December). Each December the Zoo also offers a special Reindeer
Festival, during which people may come view, and feed Santa's
Reindeer, and visit the "big guy" in person.
within the city limits of Issaquah. The hatchery is owned and operated by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. It annually raises about 4 million Chinook (King) and Coho (Silver) salmon which then migrate from the Issaquah Creek to Puget sound and on to the North Pacific. Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery (FISH) is a non-profit organization that trains volunteer guides who lead free educational tours of the hatchery and advocates retaining and improving the historic hatchery. Local elementary schools often raise small numbers of salmon eggs that are spawned in the hatchery and release them into the creeks as part of their science curriculum on the salmon life cycle. The Issaquah Salmon Hatchery is located in the cultural and geographical heart of Issaquah and is the Department of Fish and Wildlife's most visited hatchery, with an estimated 350,000 visitors a year. http://issaquahhistory.org/sites/salmonhatchery.htm
In saving the buildings, the intent was to honor the character and ambiance of the old community rather than to create a museum. Still, the buildings that house the shops and restaurants of Gilman Village represent a significant portion of Issaquah's history.
Designers of Gilman Village have included the Baylis Architects, Richard Haag Associates and landscape architect Stephen G. Ray. Their combined efforts have won official recognition by the King County Board of Realtors in 1976 and the Issaquah Design Commission in 1977 for quality of design and landscaping. In 1985, The Bellevue Chamber of Commerce presented the Eastside Quality of Life Award to Gilman Village for "the pleasures it gives through its rich discoveries of space and forms."
and hang gliders from the heights of Tiger Mountain
. Many people fly year-round (weather
permitting) and have flown epic cross-country flights exceeding 75 miles (120.7 km). http://www.cloudbase.org/http://www.nwparagliding.com/http://www.cascadeparaglidingclub.org/ Also, there used to be a parachuting center and airplane landing strip in Issaquah on the site where the Costco, cinema, and other businesses are today. A helicopter in the Boeing Air Museum used to be where the T-Mobile store is now located.
411. Including schools outside of Issaquah, the Issaquah School District is home to 23 different schools.
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King County, Washington
King County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. The population in the 2010 census was 1,931,249. King is the most populous county in Washington, and the 14th most populous in the United States....
, Washington, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 30,434 at the 2010 census.
Based on per capita income
Washington locations by per capita income
Washington is the twelfth richest state in the United States of America, with a per capita income of $22,973 and a personal per capita income of $33,332 .-Washington counties ranked by per capita income:...
, Issaquah ranks 25th of 522 areas in the State of Washington to be ranked.
According to the Washington State Office of Financial Management, Issaquah ranked 6th of 279 eligible incorporated communities in population growth between 2000 and 2005. Forbes.com ranked Issaquah the 2nd fastest-growing suburb in the state, and the 89th in the nation.
History
"Issaquah" is an anglicized word for a local Native AmericanNative Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
name, meaning either "the sound of birds," "snake," or "little stream." "Squak Valley," an older name for the area, also derives from this same Native-American name.
Another version of the name is said to have come from the pioneers, who, being impressed with the multitude of wetland birds, called the area Squawk Valley. When the next wave of settlers came and asked for the name of area the Natives told them, "[It] is Squawk."
The city was officially incorporated on April 29, 1892. Initially a small mining town, this town has changed noticeably both in its appearance and economic focus. Issaquah was originally developed to service the mining industry on nearby Squak and Cougar mountain, and began as the town of Gilman, Washington. As the mining deposits neared depletion in the late 1890s, other companies started to realize Issaquah's potential to support a lucrative lumber business. These companies exported timber from Issaquah and other small, local towns to Seattle and larger, rapidly growing communities throughout western Washington. These early boom industries, however, faded into a period of relative quiet by the time of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. The town remained fairly placid through the succeeding decades, with The Boeing Company providing the majority of employment in the area. Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
and other technological industries moved into Redmond, Washington
Redmond, Washington
Redmond is a city in King County, Washington, United States, located east of Seattle. The population was 54,144 at the 2010 census,up from 45,256 in 2000....
and other cities in the area, and later established operations in Issaquah itself. Both Boeing and Microsoft have significantly affected Issaquah's history, cultural development, and diverse population through their active community participation and attraction of outside residents. In June 1996, Costco
Costco
Costco Wholesale Corporation is the largest membership warehouse club chain in the United States. it is the third largest retailer in the United States, where it originated, and the ninth largest in the world...
moved its global headquarters to Issaquah from nearby Kirkland, Washington
Kirkland, Washington
Kirkland is a city in King County, Washington, United States. It is a suburb of Seattle on the Eastside . The population was 48,787 at the 2010 census makes it the 9th largest city in King County and the 20th largest city in the state...
.
Other Issaquah employers include Siemens Medical Solutions'
Siemens Medical Solutions
Siemens Healthcare is a supplier to the healthcare industry, and is headquartered in Erlangen, Germany. Prior to being acquired by Siemens in 2000, the company was known as Shared Medical Systems Corporation and traded on the New York Stock Exhange as "SMS"...
Ultrasound Group, GoldSim Technology Group
GoldSim
GoldSim is dynamic, probabilistic simulation software developed by GoldSim Technology Group.This general-purpose simulator is a hybrid of several simulation approaches, combining an extension of system dynamics with some aspects of discrete event simulation, and embedding the dynamic simulation...
, Overtime Technologies, Boehm's Candies, and Darigold.
Geography
Issaquah is located at 47°32′8"N 122°2′36"W (47.535573, -122.043298), at the south end of Lake SammamishLake Sammamish
Lake Sammamish is a freshwater lake east of Seattle in King County, Washington, United States. The lake is long and wide, with a maximum depth of and a surface area of . It lies east of Lake Washington and west of the Sammamish Plateau, and stretches from Issaquah in the south to Redmond in...
. Neighboring cities include Bellevue
Bellevue, Washington
Bellevue is a city in the Eastside region of King County, Washington, United States, across Lake Washington from Seattle. Long known as a suburb or satellite city of Seattle, it is now categorized as an edge city or a boomburb. The population was 122,363 at the 2010 census.Downtown Bellevue is...
, and Redmond
Redmond, Washington
Redmond is a city in King County, Washington, United States, located east of Seattle. The population was 54,144 at the 2010 census,up from 45,256 in 2000....
, both a short 8 miles (12.9 km) away, and downtown Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
17 miles (27.4 km) to the West.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 8.4 square miles (21.9 km²), of which, 8.4 square miles (21.8 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.35%) is water.
Issaquah is surrounded on three sides by the Issaquah Alps
Issaquah Alps
The Issaquah Alps are the highlands near Issaquah, Washington, a suburb of Seattle, including Cougar Mountain, Squak Mountain, Tiger Mountain, Taylor Mountain, Rattlesnake Ridge, Rattlesnake Mountain, and Grand Ridge...
: Cougar Mountain
Cougar Mountain
Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park is a regional park in King County, Washington, near the towns of Bellevue and Issaquah. The park was established in June 1983 to protect the central core of Cougar Mountain...
on the west, Squak Mountain
Squak Mountain
Squak Mountain is the second most westerly mountain of the Issaquah Alps mountain chain in Washington state. It is situated between Cougar Mountain to the west and Tiger Mountain to the east. Interstate 90 parallels the base of the north side of the mountain. Much of the Squak Mountain watershed...
to the south, and Tiger Mountain
Tiger Mountain
Tiger Mountain is a mountain in the U.S. state of Washington.-The mountain:The mountain has six peaks in the center of the Issaquah Alps forming a triangle between Interstate 90 on the north, the Issaquah-Hobart Road on the southwest, and State Route 18 on the southeast...
to the east. To the north of Issaquah is Lake Sammamish
Lake Sammamish
Lake Sammamish is a freshwater lake east of Seattle in King County, Washington, United States. The lake is long and wide, with a maximum depth of and a surface area of . It lies east of Lake Washington and west of the Sammamish Plateau, and stretches from Issaquah in the south to Redmond in...
. Cougar Mountain contains many large residential communities, while Squak and Tiger Mountains have much smaller populations.
Geologists have noted the chemical and geological content of these three mountains to be much different than that of the Cascade Range
Cascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
, simply because they are not volcanic in origin, while the entire Cascade Range is postulated to have formed from volcanic action. They believe that these three mountains are the remains of a much older mountain range long since destroyed by earthquakes, volcanic action, and shifting plates.
Weather
Surrounding Cities
Demographics
As of the 2000 censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, there were 11,212 people, 4,840 households, and 2,908 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,330.9 people per square mile (514.1/km²). There were 5,195 housing units at an average density of 616.7 per square mile (238.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.95% White, 0.88% African American, 0.63% Native American, 6.04% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 1.46% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race made up 4.95% of the population.
There were 4,840 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.3% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.9% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 36.5% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $57,892, and the median income for a family was $77,274 (these figures had risen to $75,280 and $87,001 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $55,049 versus $36,670 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $34,222. About 3.4% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.5% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
Highways and roads
Issaquah is bisected by Interstate 90Interstate 90 in Washington
Interstate 90 , a transcontinental Interstate Highway from Seattle, Washington, to Boston, Massachusetts, crosses the state of Washington before crossing the Idaho state line between Spokane and Post Falls...
, which runs from Seattle to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, and Washington State Route 900, which connects the city to neighboring Renton
Renton, Washington
Renton is an Eastside edge city in King County, Washington, United States. Situated 11 miles southeast of Seattle, Washington, Renton straddles the southeast shore of Lake Washington. Founded in the 1860s, Renton became a supply town for the Newcastle coal fields...
. There is a chronic traffic congestion
Traffic congestion
Traffic congestion is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. The most common example is the physical use of roads by vehicles. When traffic demand is great enough that the interaction...
problem on Front Street, which traverses the historic downtown. Proposals had been made to create a bypass, but opponents argued that this will only result in more sprawl in the area beyond downtown and thus in more traffic and pollution. In fact, the Issaquah City Council voted in 2008 to cancel the 15-year-running SE Bypass project. In addition, King County has no funding in its seven year capital plan to improve the Issaquah Hobart road, the southern terminus of the proposed bypass.
Bus
There is limited bus service by Sound TransitSound Transit
Sound Transit has been the popular name of Washington state's Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority since September 19, 1999. It was formed in 1996 by the Snohomish, King, and Pierce County Councils...
and King County Metro, but in general it is not easy to get around by public transportation in the area. Since August 1995, the city, in partnership with King County Metro, provides a free bus that runs through all the major shopping areas of the town giving some relief to residents and those who wish to shop or eat at the many retailers and restaurants.
Rail
The Issaquah Valley Trolley is a project of the Issaquah Historical Society with the aim of starting a regular trolleyTram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
service on the remaining section of railroad track in downtown Issaquah. As of August 2010, the Issaquah Historical Society owns three trolleys, though none of them are in operation. One is a narrow gauge
Narrow gauge
A narrow gauge railway is a railway that has a track gauge narrower than the of standard gauge railways. Most existing narrow gauge railways have gauges of between and .- Overview :...
trolley which is not compatible with the remaining rails left in town. A federal transportation grant has provided funds for track evaluation and repairs. The organization is seeking bids to restore one of its trolleys. Once this work is complete, the trolley will be operational between Issaquah's Chamber of Commerce and the Issaquah Depot.
Some proponents of the Trolley Project hope to see trolley service extended to a northern re-extension of removed track to the southern tip of Lake Sammamish. Such service would both add to the charm of the historical downtown area and make it easier for visitors and residents to get around and avoid the area's notorious traffic congestion. A onetime goal had been to extend trolley service all the way to downtown Redmond by reinstalling the track along the eastern shore of Lake Sammamish that the county removed several years ago. The opening of the East Lake Sammamish Trail in March 2006 along that proposed line ended the possibility of Issaquah-Redmond service.
Local Attractions
The neighboring highlands are called the Issaquah AlpsIssaquah Alps
The Issaquah Alps are the highlands near Issaquah, Washington, a suburb of Seattle, including Cougar Mountain, Squak Mountain, Tiger Mountain, Taylor Mountain, Rattlesnake Ridge, Rattlesnake Mountain, and Grand Ridge...
and feature hiking trails and outdoor activity throughout the three mountains surrounding Issaquah: Tiger Mountain, Cougar Mountain, and Squak Mountain. There are also many cultural and historical activities to be found in the town of Issaquah itself.
Salmon Days Festival
Salmon Days is a two-day International Award-winning festival held in Issaquah on the first full weekend of October each year. It is initiated by a parade, celebrating the return of the salmon to their birth-waters, and praises Issaquah's history, culture, and ethnic diversity. This free festival encompasses several arts and crafts conventions, attracting many Northwest artists; these artisans feature wood, glass, jewelry, paintings, pottery and metal artworks for sale in booths spread all across the downtown area. There are four stages of entertainment. Sporting events include 5 km/10 km runs (and a 3 km run for kids), a fencingFencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
invitational, bike rides, and a golf tournament. A "Field of Fun," providing free entertainment for children of all ages, is available thanks to the many festival sponsors. Visitors are encouraged to visit the newly restored Salmon Hatchery to view the returning salmon in close detail. The 2005 register revealed over 400,000 people attended the event.
Cougar Mountain Zoo
The Cougar Mountain ZooCougar Mountain Zoo
Cougar Mountain Zoo is a zoological garden located on the north slope of Cougar Mountain, just to the west of Issaquah, Washington. It was founded in 1972 by Peter and Marcie Rittler and covers . The zoo is open for general admission Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m...
is located on the north slope of Cougar Mountain
Cougar Mountain
Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park is a regional park in King County, Washington, near the towns of Bellevue and Issaquah. The park was established in June 1983 to protect the central core of Cougar Mountain...
, just to the west of Issaquah. This 8 acres (32,374.9 m²) zoo offers a glimpse at many endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
from around the world, including many endangered birds from around the world and small lemurs from Madagascar. The highlight of the zoo for many observers is the cougar, named Nashi. Nashi is provided enrichment on a near-daily basis, which consists of a stimulant to keep him active mentally and physically. The zoo currently specializes in eight "worlds" of animals: cougars, lemurs, cranes, reindeer, macaws, wallabies, ratites, camelids.
On June 16, 2007, another world was added to the list, when the zoo welcomed its newest members, two male tiger cubs. Named Taj and Almos, they are the only Bengal
Bengal Tiger
The Bengal tiger is a tiger subspecies native to the Indian subcontinent that in 2010 has been classified as endangered by IUCN...
tigers in Washington state. The Zoo is open for general admission Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (excluding the month of December). Each December the Zoo also offers a special Reindeer
Reindeer
The reindeer , also known as the caribou in North America, is a deer from the Arctic and Subarctic, including both resident and migratory populations. While overall widespread and numerous, some of its subspecies are rare and one has already gone extinct.Reindeer vary considerably in color and size...
Festival, during which people may come view, and feed Santa's
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
Reindeer, and visit the "big guy" in person.
Issaquah Salmon Hatchery
The Issaquah Salmon Hatchery was built in 1936 under the federal Works Project Administration. It is located on the Issaquah CreekIssaquah Creek
Issaquah Creek is a small stream flowing through the city of Issaquah and nearby communities, in the U.S. state of Washington. Its headwaters are on the slopes Cougar, Squak, Tiger, and Taylor mountains in the Issaquah Alps. Tributaries of Issaquah Creek include Holder Creek, Carey Creek,...
within the city limits of Issaquah. The hatchery is owned and operated by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. It annually raises about 4 million Chinook (King) and Coho (Silver) salmon which then migrate from the Issaquah Creek to Puget sound and on to the North Pacific. Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery (FISH) is a non-profit organization that trains volunteer guides who lead free educational tours of the hatchery and advocates retaining and improving the historic hatchery. Local elementary schools often raise small numbers of salmon eggs that are spawned in the hatchery and release them into the creeks as part of their science curriculum on the salmon life cycle. The Issaquah Salmon Hatchery is located in the cultural and geographical heart of Issaquah and is the Department of Fish and Wildlife's most visited hatchery, with an estimated 350,000 visitors a year. http://issaquahhistory.org/sites/salmonhatchery.htm
Gilman Village
Gilman Village was created in 1972, when Marvin and Ruth Mohl started saving old, unwanted farming and mining buildings, as well as pioneer homes, from around Issaquah. They moved, renovated and combined them into an attractive retail area in a park-like setting. Their goal was to create a haven for independent shops and restaurants. Now, the 40-plus shops and restaurants that make up Gilman Village constitute one of Puget Sound's best known and most distinctive shopping destinations.In saving the buildings, the intent was to honor the character and ambiance of the old community rather than to create a museum. Still, the buildings that house the shops and restaurants of Gilman Village represent a significant portion of Issaquah's history.
Designers of Gilman Village have included the Baylis Architects, Richard Haag Associates and landscape architect Stephen G. Ray. Their combined efforts have won official recognition by the King County Board of Realtors in 1976 and the Issaquah Design Commission in 1977 for quality of design and landscaping. In 1985, The Bellevue Chamber of Commerce presented the Eastside Quality of Life Award to Gilman Village for "the pleasures it gives through its rich discoveries of space and forms."
Flight
Issaquah is home to a premiere site where people fly paraglidersParagliding
Paragliding is the recreational and competitive adventure sport of flying paragliders: lightweight, free-flying, foot-launched glider aircraft with no rigid primary structure...
and hang gliders from the heights of Tiger Mountain
Tiger Mountain
Tiger Mountain is a mountain in the U.S. state of Washington.-The mountain:The mountain has six peaks in the center of the Issaquah Alps forming a triangle between Interstate 90 on the north, the Issaquah-Hobart Road on the southwest, and State Route 18 on the southeast...
. Many people fly year-round (weather
Weather
Weather is the state of the atmosphere, to the degree that it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy. Most weather phenomena occur in the troposphere, just below the stratosphere. Weather refers, generally, to day-to-day temperature and precipitation activity, whereas climate...
permitting) and have flown epic cross-country flights exceeding 75 miles (120.7 km). http://www.cloudbase.org/http://www.nwparagliding.com/http://www.cascadeparaglidingclub.org/ Also, there used to be a parachuting center and airplane landing strip in Issaquah on the site where the Costco, cinema, and other businesses are today. A helicopter in the Boeing Air Museum used to be where the T-Mobile store is now located.
Triple XXX
Issaquah is now home to one of the remaining two Triple XXX restaurants that still exist. Triple XXX serves root beer, burgers, chicken, and seafood.Notable natives/residents
- Ray AllenRay AllenWalter Ray Allen is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. He has played professionally for the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, and the Boston Celtics; and collegiately for the University of...
, basketball player - Brian BassetBrian BassetBrian Basset is an American comic strip artist, with two daily strips, Adam At Home and Red and Rover. Previously, he worked as an editorial cartoonist for the Seattle Times....
, comic strip artist - Isaac BrockIsaac Brock (musician)Isaac Brock is the lead singer, guitarist, banjoist, and songwriter for the American indie rock band Modest Mouse, as well as his side project band, Ugly Casanova...
, lead singer, guitarist, banjoist and songwriter for Modest MouseModest MouseModest Mouse is an American indie rock band formed in 1993 in Issaquah, Washington, by singer/lyricist/guitarist Isaac Brock, drummer Jeremiah Green, and bassist Eric Judy. They are based in Portland, Oregon. Since their 1996 debut album, This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think... - Jay BuhnerJay BuhnerJay Campbell Buhner , nicknamed "Bone", is a former Major League Baseball right fielder. He was among the most recognizable players of his day, noted for his shaved head, thick goatee, and patch of pine tar on the right hip of his uniform...
, former Seattle MarinersSeattle MarinersThe Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
baseball player from Kentucky. Nicknamed "Bone" - Deb CalettiDeb CalettiDeb Caletti is an American writer born in San Rafael, California. She was a National Book Award finalist, as well as the recipient of other numerous awards including PEN USA finalist award, the Washington State Book Award, and SLJ Best Book award....
, author - Colin CurtisColin CurtisColin Benedict Curtis is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the New York Yankees.-Minor leagues:...
, Issaquah High School alumnus, Major League baseball player for the New York Yankees. - Cynthia GearyCynthia GearyCynthia Geary is an American actress best known for her role as Shelly Tambo in the television series Northern Exposure. In her Emmy-nominated role, she played a former Miss Northwest Passage beauty queen living with a decades-older lover, Holling Vincoeur...
, American actress from Mississippi - Ken Griffey, Jr.Ken Griffey, Jr.George Kenneth "Ken" Griffey, Jr. , nicknamed "Junior" and "The Kid", is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and during his final years, designated hitter...
, former Seattle MarinersSeattle MarinersThe Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
player, also known as "The Kid" by longtime Mariners announcer Dave NiehausDave NiehausDavid Arnold Niehaus was an American sportscaster. He was the lead play-by-play announcer for the American League's Seattle Mariners from their inaugural season in until his death after the 2010 season. In 2008, the National Baseball Hall of Fame awarded Niehaus with the Ford C. Frick Award, the... - Margaret LarsonMargaret LarsonMargaret Larson is a 25-year veteran of broadcast journalism. Her most notable position was with NBC News. She worked as a foreign correspondent from 1990 to 1992, and Today Show News Anchor from 1992 to 1993, later returning as a correspondent for Dateline NBC...
, news correspondent for the news network NBC and vice-president of the non-profit organizationNon-profit organizationNonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
Mercy CorpsMercy CorpsMercy Corps is a global aid agency engaged in transitional environments that have experienced some sort of shock: natural disaster, economic collapse, or conflict. People working for it move as quickly as possible from bringing in food and supplies to enabling people to rebuild their economy with...
. - Tim LincecumTim LincecumTimothy Leroy Lincecum is an American professional baseball starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. He was nicknamed "The Freak" and "Big Time Timmy Jim" and "The Franchise." He throws right-handed and bats left-handed....
, San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco GiantsThe San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
player - Phil LucasPhil LucasPhil Lucas was an American filmmaker of mostly Native American themes. He acted, wrote, produced, directed or edited more than 100 films/documentaries or television programs starting as early as 1979 when he wrote/co-produced and co-directed Images of Indians for PBS - a five-part series exploring...
, documentary filmmaker - Patrick MonahanPatrick MonahanPatrick Monahan is the lead singer and songwriter for the Grammy award winning band Train. He also has recorded a solo album, and has collaborated with multiple artists.-Life and career:...
(of TrainTrain (band)Train is an American pop rock band from San Francisco, California, formed in 1994. The band currently comprises a core trio of Patrick Monahan , Jimmy Stafford and Scott Underwood ....
) - Jeff NelsonJeff Nelson (baseball player)Jeffrey Allan Nelson is an American former baseball relief pitcher who played 15 years in Major League Baseball. He batted and threw right-handed. Nelson retired on January 12, 2007, the same day he signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees...
, baseball player - Chris PirilloChris PirilloChristopher Joseph Pirillo is the founder and maintainer of Lockergnome, which is a network of blogs, web forums, mailing lists, and online communities. He spent two years hosting the TechTV television program Call for Help, where he also hosted the first annual Call-for-Help-a-Thon...
, Founder and Maintainer of Lockergnome and host of Gnomedex. - J. J. Putz, baseball player
- Nate QueryNate QueryNate Query plays electric bass, upright bass, and cello in the rock band The Decemberists. He is also credited on Michael Zapruder's record. Former bands include Calobo and Everyday Dirt. His most recent project is the acoustic band Black Prairie with a number of other Portland...
, bass guitar/string bass for The Decemberists - Rick RizzsRick RizzsRick Rizzs is an American sportscaster and is the lead radio voice for Major League Baseball's Seattle Mariners.-Early life and career:Rizzs is a 1975 graduate of Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. From 1975 to 1980, he handled baseball play-by-play duties at the double-A level for...
, Seattle MarinersSeattle MarinersThe Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
sportscaster - Dino RossiDino RossiDino Rossi is an American commercial real estate executive, former Washington State Senator, two-time Republican candidate for Governor of Washington, and former Republican candidate for United States Senate. His first run for the Governor's mansion in the 2004 election became the closest...
, former Republican candidate for Governor - Detlef SchrempfDetlef SchrempfDetlef Schrempf is a retired German NBA basketball player.-High school and college career:...
, basketball player - Paul SorrentoPaul SorrentoPaul Anthony Sorrento is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball. From 1989 through 1999, Sorrento played for the Minnesota Twins , Cleveland Indians , Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Devil Rays . He batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
, former Seattle MarinersSeattle MarinersThe Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
player - Mel StottlemyreMel StottlemyreMelvin Leon Stottlemyre, Sr. is a former Major League Baseball pitcher and pitching coach. He played 11 years in the Major Leagues, all of them with the New York Yankees...
, Seattle MarinersSeattle MarinersThe Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
pitching coach from Missouri - Ichiro SuzukiIchiro Suzuki, usually known simply as is a Major League Baseball right fielder for the Seattle Mariners. Ichiro has established a number of batting records, including the sport's single-season record for hits with 262...
, Japanese baseball player currently playing for the Seattle MarinersSeattle MarinersThe Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July... - Dave ValleDave ValleDavid Valle is an American former professional baseball player and current television and radio sports commentator. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball for the Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, and Texas Rangers from to ....
, baseball player, fill-in sportscaster for the Seattle MarinersSeattle MarinersThe Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July... - Omar VizquelOmar VizquelOmar Enrique Vizquel González , nicknamed "Little O", is a Venezuelan Major League Baseball shortstop and third baseman. Vizquel has played for the Seattle Mariners , the Cleveland Indians , the San Francisco Giants , the Texas Rangers and the Chicago White Sox...
, Venezuelan baseball player - Brian YorkeyBrian YorkeyBrian Yorkey is an American playwright, lyricist, and theatre director. He shared the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 2009 Tony Award for Best Original Score with composer Tom Kitt, and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical for Next to Normal.A native of Issaquah,...
, Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, lyricist, and theatre director.
Issaquah School District
Issaquah public schools are under the jurisdiction of the Issaquah School DistrictIssaquah School District
Issaquah School District No. 411 is a public school district in King County, Washington, USA, serving the city of Issaquah as well as portions of Sammamish, Renton, Bellevue, and Newcastle....
411. Including schools outside of Issaquah, the Issaquah School District is home to 23 different schools.
Sister cities
SunndalSunndal
is a municipality in the Nordmøre region located in the northeast part of Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The administrative center of the municipality is the village of Sunndalsøra. Other villages include Jordalsgrenda, Øksendalsøra, Grøa, Hoelsand, Ålvund, and Gjøra.With an area of it is the...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
(source) Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen or Chaouen is a city in northwest Morocco. It is the chief town of the province of the same name, and is noted for its buildings in shades of blue....
, Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
(source)