Kirkland, Washington
Encyclopedia
Kirkland is a city in King County
, Washington, United States. It is a suburb of Seattle
on the Eastside
(of Lake Washington
). 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. Effective June 1, 2011, Kirkland added approximately 33,000 residents by annexation, making it the 6th largest city in King County and the 12th largest in the state.
Features of the city include the unique downtown waterfront (the only Eastside downtown frontage along Lake Washington's shoreline), with restaurants, art galleries, a 400 seat performing arts center, public parks, including beaches, and a collection of public art, primarily bronze sculptures.
Kirkland is the former home of the Seattle Seahawks
; the NFL team's headquarters and training facility were located in Kirkland for its first 32 seasons. The Seahawks moved to the new 19 acres (76,890.3 m²) Virginia Mason Athletic Center
in Renton
on August 18, 2008. Warehouse chain Costco
previously had its headquarters in Kirkland (now in Issaquah
); the city is the namesake of its "Kirkland Signature" store brand. Google
has a development office in Kirkland; see List of companies based in Kirkland, Washington.
Kirkland had its moment in the limelight when the 1982 Kirkland National Little League team won the Little League World Series
. That event is the subject of the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary Little Big Men. It also was the home to Little League's 1992 Big League Softball World Series Champions representing the Eastside District Nine Leagues.
Since 1999 Kirkland has been the home of the Little League Junior Softball World Series
held each August at Kirkland's Everest Park.
", thrived there. The Curtis family arrived in the area in the 1870s, followed by the French family in 1872. The Forbes family homesteaded what is now Juanita Beach Park in 1876, and settled on Rose Hill in 1877. Gradually, additional people settled in the area, and by the end of the 1880s, a small number of logging, farming and boat-building communities were established.
In 1886, Peter Kirk
, a British-born enterprising businessman seeking to expand the family’s Moss Bay steel production company, moved to Washington 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 in the area. Further yet, a small number of coalmines (a required fuel source for steel mill
s) had recently been established nearby in Newcastle
and train lines were already under construction. Plans were also underway to build the Lake Washington Ship Canal
.
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. Leigh S.J. Hunt, then owner of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
, offered to partner with Kirk and buy the necessary real estate.
Under their new venture, the Kirkland Land and Development Company, Kirk and Hunt purchased thousands of acres of land in what is now Kirkland’s downtown in July 1888. Kirk and his associates started the construction of a new steel mill soon after, named Moss Bay Iron and Steel Works. Thus founding the city of Kirkland in 1888, officially one of the earliest on the Eastside at the time, Kirk’s vision of a "Pittsburgh
of the West" was beginning to take form. Construction soon commenced on several substantial brick homes and businesses blocks that would house and serve the steel mill employees.
However, the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway
, which had recently been purchased by Tacoma
-based Northern Pacific, had now refused to construct a rail line to the lake. This would, after all, have a negative impact on Tacoma, which was furiously competing with Seattle as the dominant Puget Sound seaport. The ensuing financial issues and numerous obstacles were also taking a toll on Kirk, who was running out of investors. Hunt was also in debt from the purchase of land.
Nevertheless, the plans continued and the steel mill was eventually completed in late 1892 on Rose Hill (a full two miles (3 km) from the lake's shore). 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. In spite of everything, Kirk was determined not to give up on his namesake town, and Kirkland was finally incorporated in 1905 with a population of approximately 532. A final attempt at a steel mill in Kirkland was planned by James A. Moore in 1906. His company, the Northwestern Iron & Steel Company paid $250,000 in cash for a 1500 acres (6.1 km²) site but the mill never materialized. This came at the heels of the Pacific Steel Company, incorporated earlier in 1906 by J.F. Duthie, William Calvert and L.S. Cragin. This company soon amounted to nothing.
In 1900 the Curtis family made a living operating a ferry-construction business on Lake Washington. Along with Captain John Anderson, the Curtises were among the first to run ferries in the area. Leschi, first operated on December 27, 1913, was the original wooden ferry to transport automobiles and people between the Eastside and Madison Park until her retirement in 1950. The ferry operations ran nearly continuously for 18 hours each day. The construction of the first Lake Washington floating bridge
in 1940, however, made ferry service unprofitable and eventually led to its cancellation. Subsequent years saw wool milling and warship building become the major industries.
The first woolen mill in the state of Washington was built in Kirkland in 1892. The mill was the primary supplier of wool products for the Alaska Gold Rush prospectors and for the U.S. military during World War I
. By 1917, after the completion of the Lake Washington Ship Canal, the construction of ocean-going vessels had become a major business. By 1940, the thriving Lake Washington Shipyard
had constructed more than 25 warships during World War II
for the U.S. Navy, on what is now Carillon Point.
Since the incorporation of Kirkland in 1905, the city has grown to approximately 12 times its original geographic boundaries, nearly doubling in size during the 1940s and 1960s.
Kirkland consolidated with the neighboring town of Houghton
on July 31, 1968 to form one city of 13,500. It annexed the neighborhood of Totem Lake in 1974, and the neighborhoods of South Juanita, North Rose Hill, and South Rose Hill in 1988, which were the largest annexations undertaken in Washington in nearly two decades. This added a further 16,119 people to Kirkland's population and was responsible for 76 percent of Kirkland's population increase between 1980 and 1990.
On November 3, 2009, responding to a county initiative to encourage cities to annex or incorporate many of the unincorporated areas within the county, as well as a state sales tax incentive intended to ease the process, three previously unincorporated districts north of the City—Finn Hill
, Juanita
, and Kingsgate
—voted on whether to annex to Kirkland. The measure failed by seven votes to reach the 60% margin, which was required because the measure included accepting a share of the city's voter-approved debt. However, since the affirmative vote was over 50%, the city council could and did vote to accept the annexation, without the assumption of debt.
The annexation added 33,000 residents (combined total population of around 80,000) and nearly 7 square miles (18.1 km²) to Kirkland on June 1, 2011.
-based Microsoft
.
The Kirkland Baseball Commission provides recreational baseball for players ages 13–18. It is affiliated with the national Pony Baseball
organization.
, and abuts the equestrian Bridle Trails State Park
. The waterfront parks are linked by a paved trail which is open till dusk. Juanita Bay Park is another major park in Kirkland, and is a tourist attraction.
Kirkland passed an Active Transportation Plan in 2009 specifically targeting improvements to pedestrian, bicycle, and equestrian facilities.
hosts a number of performing arts events.
The Kirkland Arts Center, located in the historic Peter Kirk Building
on Market Street, provides classes, workshops and community-oriented gallery space.
Kirkland has numerous bars, nightclubs and dance clubs.
Kirkland hosts the annual Kirkland Concours d'Elegance
at Carillon Point which attracts some of the best vintage and classic automobiles from across the country.
, to the east by Redmond
, to the south by Bellevue
, and to the north by Kingsgate
Woodinville
and Bothell
.
Kirkland is accessible via Interstate 405
, which connects it with other Eastside cities, including Bellevue, Renton, and Bothell. Seattle, which is west of Kirkland, as well as Redmond to the east, are both accessible through State Highway 520
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 11.0 square miles (28.5 km²), of which, 10.7 square miles (27.7 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.9 km²) of it (3.00%) is water. The elevation varies from 14 to 500 feet (152.4 m) above sea level.
Kirkland's average temperature is 46.8 °F, and the average annual precipitation 38.6 inches (980.4 mm).
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:
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. , the mayor is Joan McBride and the city manager is former King County Executive Kurt Triplett
.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 45,054 people, 20,736 households, and 11,031 families residing in the city. The population density
was 4,220.3 people per square mile (1,628.8/km²). There were 21,831 housing units at an average density of 2,045.0 per square mile (789.2/km²). 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. Hispanics or Latinos, who may be of any race, were 4.11% of the population.
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. Based on per capita income, Kirkland ranks 14 out of 522
areas in the state of Washington to be ranked. About 3.9% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.
, Emmerich, Germany
.
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. It is a suburb of 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...
on the Eastside
Eastside (King County, Washington)
File:Seattle-lakewashington-lakesammamish.PNG|250px|right|The Eastside is to the right of Seattle.# rough city boundariespoly 137 256 148 256 158 194 172 179 172 237 212 266 133 266Renton...
(of Lake Washington
Lake Washington
Lake Washington is a large freshwater lake adjacent to the city of Seattle. It is the largest lake in King County and the second largest in the state of Washington, after Lake Chelan. It is bordered by the cities of Seattle on the west, Bellevue and Kirkland on the east, Renton on the south and...
). 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. Effective June 1, 2011, Kirkland added approximately 33,000 residents by annexation, making it the 6th largest city in King County and the 12th largest in the state.
Features of the city include the unique downtown waterfront (the only Eastside downtown frontage along Lake Washington's shoreline), with restaurants, art galleries, a 400 seat performing arts center, public parks, including beaches, and a collection of public art, primarily bronze sculptures.
Kirkland is the former home of the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
; the NFL team's headquarters and training facility were located in Kirkland for its first 32 seasons. The Seahawks moved to the new 19 acres (76,890.3 m²) Virginia Mason Athletic Center
Virginia Mason Athletic Center
The Virginia Mason Athletic Center is a privately funded sporting facility situated on of industrial property along the shores of Lake Washington in Renton, Washington. It is the headquarters and practice facility for the NFL's Seattle Seahawks. The team holds mini-camps and training camp here...
in 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...
on August 18, 2008. Warehouse chain 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...
previously had its headquarters in Kirkland (now in Issaquah
Issaquah, Washington
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....
); the city is the namesake of its "Kirkland Signature" store brand. Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
has a development office in Kirkland; see List of companies based in Kirkland, Washington.
Kirkland had its moment in the limelight when the 1982 Kirkland National Little League team won the Little League World Series
Little League World Series
The Little League Baseball World Series is a baseball tournament for children aged 11 to 13 years old. It was originally called the National Little League Tournament and was later renamed for the World Series in Major League Baseball. It was first held in 1947 and is held every August in South...
. That event is the subject of the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary Little Big Men. It also was the home to Little League's 1992 Big League Softball World Series Champions representing the Eastside District Nine Leagues.
Since 1999 Kirkland has been the home of the Little League Junior Softball World Series
Junior League World Series (softball)
The Junior League Softball World Series is a softball tournament for girls aged between 13 and 14. The tournament is administered by Little League Baseball, Inc...
held each August at Kirkland's Everest Park.
History
The land around Lake Washington to the east of Seattle was first settled by Native Americans. English settlers arrived in the late 1860s, when the McGregor and Popham families built homesteads in what is now the Houghton neighborhood. Four miles to the north people also settled near what is now called Juanita Bay, a favored campsite of the Natives because a wild potato, "wapatosSagittaria
Sagittaria is a genus of about 30 species of aquatic plants whose members go by a variety of common names, including arrowhead, duck potato, iz-ze-kn, katniss, kuwai , swan potato, tule potato, and wapato...
", thrived there. The Curtis family arrived in the area in the 1870s, followed by the French family in 1872. The Forbes family homesteaded what is now Juanita Beach Park in 1876, and settled on Rose Hill in 1877. Gradually, additional people settled in the area, and by the end of the 1880s, a small number of logging, farming and boat-building communities were established.
In 1886, Peter Kirk
Peter Kirk (businessman)
Peter Kirk was a British-born American businessman who founded the City of Kirkland in King County, Washington, United States. The town is named in his honour....
, a British-born enterprising businessman seeking to expand the family’s Moss Bay steel production company, moved to Washington after hearing that iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
deposits had been discovered in the Cascade mountain
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...
range. Other necessary components such as limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
, needed in steel smelting
Smelting
Smelting is a form of extractive metallurgy; its main use is to produce a metal from its ore. This includes iron extraction from iron ore, and copper extraction and other base metals from their ores...
, were readily available in the area. Further yet, a small number of coalmines (a required fuel source for steel mill
Steel mill
A steel mill or steelworks is an industrial plant for the manufacture of steel.Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon. It is produced in a two-stage process. First, iron ore is reduced or smelted with coke and limestone in a blast furnace, producing molten iron which is either cast into pig iron or...
s) had recently been established nearby in Newcastle
Newcastle, Washington
Newcastle is an Eastside city in King County, Washington, United States. Its population was 10,380 at the 2010 census.Although Newcastle was not incorporated until 1994, it has been an important settlement and town since the late 19th century and played a major role in the development of Seattle...
and train lines were already under construction. Plans were also underway to build the Lake Washington Ship Canal
Lake Washington Ship Canal
The Lake Washington Ship Canal, which runs through the City of Seattle, Washington, connects the fresh water body of Lake Washington with the salt water inland sea of Puget Sound. The Ship Canal includes a series of locks, modeled after the Panama Canal, to accommodate the different water levels...
.
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. Leigh S.J. Hunt, then owner of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer is an online newspaper and former print newspaper covering Seattle, Washington, United States, and the surrounding metropolitan area...
, offered to partner with Kirk and buy the necessary real estate.
Under their new venture, the Kirkland Land and Development Company, Kirk and Hunt purchased thousands of acres of land in what is now Kirkland’s downtown in July 1888. Kirk and his associates started the construction of a new steel mill soon after, named Moss Bay Iron and Steel Works. Thus founding the city of Kirkland in 1888, officially one of the earliest on the Eastside at the time, Kirk’s vision of a "Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
of the West" was beginning to take form. Construction soon commenced on several substantial brick homes and businesses blocks that would house and serve the steel mill employees.
However, the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway
Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway
The Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway was a railroad founded in Seattle, Washington, on April 28, 1885, with three tiers of purposes: Build and run the initial line to the town of Ballard, bring immediate results and returns to investors; exploit resources east in the valleys, foothills,...
, which had recently been purchased by Tacoma
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
-based Northern Pacific, had now refused to construct a rail line to the lake. This would, after all, have a negative impact on Tacoma, which was furiously competing with Seattle as the dominant Puget Sound seaport. The ensuing financial issues and numerous obstacles were also taking a toll on Kirk, who was running out of investors. Hunt was also in debt from the purchase of land.
Nevertheless, the plans continued and the steel mill was eventually completed in late 1892 on Rose Hill (a full two miles (3 km) from the lake's shore). Before it would ever produce any steel, financial issues arose and due to the Panic of 1893
Panic of 1893
The Panic of 1893 was a serious economic depression in the United States that began in 1893. Similar to the Panic of 1873, this panic was marked by the collapse of railroad overbuilding and shaky railroad financing which set off a series of bank failures...
the mill subsequently closed without ever producing any steel. In spite of everything, Kirk was determined not to give up on his namesake town, and Kirkland was finally incorporated in 1905 with a population of approximately 532. A final attempt at a steel mill in Kirkland was planned by James A. Moore in 1906. His company, the Northwestern Iron & Steel Company paid $250,000 in cash for a 1500 acres (6.1 km²) site but the mill never materialized. This came at the heels of the Pacific Steel Company, incorporated earlier in 1906 by J.F. Duthie, William Calvert and L.S. Cragin. This company soon amounted to nothing.
In 1900 the Curtis family made a living operating a ferry-construction business on Lake Washington. Along with Captain John Anderson, the Curtises were among the first to run ferries in the area. Leschi, first operated on December 27, 1913, was the original wooden ferry to transport automobiles and people between the Eastside and Madison Park until her retirement in 1950. The ferry operations ran nearly continuously for 18 hours each day. The construction of the first Lake Washington floating bridge
Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge
The Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge is a floating bridge that carries the eastbound lanes of Interstate 90 across Lake Washington from Seattle to Mercer Island, Washington. It is the second longest floating bridge on Earth at , whereas the longest is the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge just a few...
in 1940, however, made ferry service unprofitable and eventually led to its cancellation. Subsequent years saw wool milling and warship building become the major industries.
The first woolen mill in the state of Washington was built in Kirkland in 1892. The mill was the primary supplier of wool products for the Alaska Gold Rush prospectors and for the U.S. military during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. By 1917, after the completion of the Lake Washington Ship Canal, the construction of ocean-going vessels had become a major business. By 1940, the thriving Lake Washington Shipyard
Lake Washington Shipyard
Lake Washington Shipyards was a shipyard in Houghton, Washington on the shore of Lake Washington. Today the shipyards are the site of the lakeside Carillon Point business park...
had constructed more than 25 warships during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
for the U.S. Navy, on what is now Carillon Point.
Annexations
| Kirkland Annexations | ||
| Annexation Date | Sq Mi Annexed | Cumulative Sq Mi |
|---|---|---|
| 1905 – 1910 | 0.88 | 0.88 |
| 1910 – 1920 | 0.00 | 0.88 |
| 1920 – 1930 | 0.01 | 0.89 |
| 1930 – 1940 | 0.00 | 0.89 |
| 1940 – 1950 | 1.00 | 1.89 |
| 1950 – 1960 | 0.11 | 2.00 |
| 1960 – 1970 | 3.39 | 5.39 |
| 1970 – 1980 | 0.84 | 6.23 |
| 1980 – 1990 | 4.19 | 10.42 |
| 1990 – 2004 | 0.00 | 10.42 |
| June, 2011 | 7* | 17* |
| * Estimated | ||
Since the incorporation of Kirkland in 1905, the city has grown to approximately 12 times its original geographic boundaries, nearly doubling in size during the 1940s and 1960s.
Kirkland consolidated with the neighboring town of Houghton
Houghton, Washington
Houghton is one of the lakeside neighborhoods of the city of Kirkland, Washington. Consisting mostly of upscale, single-family homes, Houghton overlooks Lake Washington and is one of the wealthier districts of the Eastside suburbs of Seattle. The village was named for Willard Houghton, a local...
on July 31, 1968 to form one city of 13,500. It annexed the neighborhood of Totem Lake in 1974, and the neighborhoods of South Juanita, North Rose Hill, and South Rose Hill in 1988, which were the largest annexations undertaken in Washington in nearly two decades. This added a further 16,119 people to Kirkland's population and was responsible for 76 percent of Kirkland's population increase between 1980 and 1990.
On November 3, 2009, responding to a county initiative to encourage cities to annex or incorporate many of the unincorporated areas within the county, as well as a state sales tax incentive intended to ease the process, three previously unincorporated districts north of the City—Finn Hill
Inglewood-Finn Hill, Washington
Inglewood-Finn Hill is a census-designated place in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 22,707 at the 2010 census. The community was largely annexed into neighboring Kirkland in 2011....
, Juanita
Juanita, Washington
Juanita, Washington is an unincorporated area of King County located between the cities of Kirkland, Bothell, and Kenmore along the northeast edge of Lake Washington. In December 2009, its annexation to Kirkland was approved by voters.-History:...
, and Kingsgate
Kingsgate, Washington
Kingsgate is a census-designated place in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 13,065 at the 2010 census.Based on per capita income, one of the more reliable measures of affluence, Kingsgate ranks 70th of 522 areas in the state of Washington to be ranked.Neighboring city...
—voted on whether to annex to Kirkland. The measure failed by seven votes to reach the 60% margin, which was required because the measure included accepting a share of the city's voter-approved debt. However, since the affirmative vote was over 50%, the city council could and did vote to accept the annexation, without the assumption of debt.
The annexation added 33,000 residents (combined total population of around 80,000) and nearly 7 square miles (18.1 km²) to Kirkland on June 1, 2011.
Kirkland culture
Like most of its Eastside neighbors, it is relatively affluent but dependent in large part on nearby technology firms such as RedmondRedmond, 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....
-based 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...
.
Sports
Kirkland has two Little Leagues: Kirkland American Little League and Kirkland National Little League. Kirkland National won the 1982 Little League World Series championship. They defeated a team from Taiwan 6-0 on August 28, 1982.The Kirkland Baseball Commission provides recreational baseball for players ages 13–18. It is affiliated with the national Pony Baseball
PONY Baseball and Softball
PONY Baseball and Softball is a non-profit organization with headquarters in Washington, Pennsylvania. Started in 1951, it is dedicated to helping young people grow into healthier and happier adults, primarily through the organization of baseball and softball leagues...
organization.
Media
Kirkland is served by several active news sources, including:- The Seattle TimesThe Seattle TimesThe Seattle Times is a newspaper serving Seattle, Washington, US. It is the largest daily newspaper in the state of Washington. It has been, since the demise in 2009 of the printed version of the rival Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle's only major daily print newspaper.-History:The Seattle Times...
, the largest daily newspaper in the Seattle-Metro area, is designated the City of Kirkland's official newspaper of recordNewspaper of recordNewspaper of record is a term that may refer either to any publicly available newspaper that has been authorized by a government to publish public or legal notices , or any major newspaper that has a large circulation and whose editorial and news-gathering functions are considered professional and...
. - Kirkland Views, an online daily news source for the greater Kirkland area, was founded in 2008. Published by Kirkland residents, Kirkland Views was recently selected by The Seattle TimesThe Seattle TimesThe Seattle Times is a newspaper serving Seattle, Washington, US. It is the largest daily newspaper in the state of Washington. It has been, since the demise in 2009 of the printed version of the rival Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle's only major daily print newspaper.-History:The Seattle Times...
as a member of its local news partnership program. - The Kirkland Reporter, formerly known as the Kirkland Courier, is a weekly publication founded in 1978. In 2007, the paper was acquired by Sound Publishing, an American subsidiary of Canadian publisher Black Press Limited.
- The City Update Newsletter is the City's official newsletter dedicated to information about city programs, legislative updates and neighborhood highlights.
Parks
During the summer, local residents of neighboring cities flock to Kirkland to visit Kirkland's many waterfront parks on Lake Washington. Kirkland has neighborhood parks as well, contains a corner of Saint Edward State ParkSaint Edward State Park
Saint Edward State Park is a -park in Kenmore, Washington and Kirkland, Washington. It is part of the Washington State Park System. Before becoming a Catholic seminary and later a state park, the area was logged in the 19th century and again in the 1920s. A series of trails runs through the park...
, and abuts the equestrian Bridle Trails State Park
Bridle Trails State Park
Bridle Trails State Park is a 482 acre park in the Washington State Park System. It borders the Eastside cities of Kirkland, Bellevue and Redmond, Washington. It has a popular trail system used for horseback riding. There is also an outdoor arena for equestrian shows.- External links :* *...
. The waterfront parks are linked by a paved trail which is open till dusk. Juanita Bay Park is another major park in Kirkland, and is a tourist attraction.
Non-motorized transportation
In 2006, Kirkland was the first city in Washington to adopt a Complete Streets ordinance, whereby pedestrian and bicycle facilities are addressed as a part of all road construction and improvement planning projects.Kirkland passed an Active Transportation Plan in 2009 specifically targeting improvements to pedestrian, bicycle, and equestrian facilities.
Arts and entertainment
Kirkland had a thriving gallery district downtown until recent years when all but three galleries closed or moved away. The Kirkland Performance CenterKirkland Performance Center
The Kirkland Performance Center is a 402-seat theater in downtown Kirkland, Washington. It opened in June, 1998.-External links:*...
hosts a number of performing arts events.
The Kirkland Arts Center, located in the historic Peter Kirk Building
Peter Kirk Building
The Peter Kirk Building, first known as the Kirkland Investment Company Building, is a historic building in Kirkland, Washington located at the corner of Market Street and Seventh Avenue, Kirkland's historic commercial core. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places...
on Market Street, provides classes, workshops and community-oriented gallery space.
Kirkland has numerous bars, nightclubs and dance clubs.
Kirkland hosts the annual Kirkland Concours d'Elegance
Kirkland Concours d'Elegance
The Kirkland Concours d'Elegance is an automotive charitable event held each year at Carillon Point in Kirkland, Washington.One of the major sponsors of the Concours is America's Car Museum which is currently under construction in nearby Tacoma, WA....
at Carillon Point which attracts some of the best vintage and classic automobiles from across the country.
Teen Union Building
The Kirkland Teen Union Building in downtown Peter Kirk Park is supported by the city and a number of nonprofit organizations. It has two music stages, a recording studio, darkroom and year-round activities and programs for youth.Geography and climate
Kirkland is located at 47°41′9"N 122°11′30"W (47.685821, -122.191729). It is bordered to the west by Lake WashingtonLake Washington
Lake Washington is a large freshwater lake adjacent to the city of Seattle. It is the largest lake in King County and the second largest in the state of Washington, after Lake Chelan. It is bordered by the cities of Seattle on the west, Bellevue and Kirkland on the east, Renton on the south and...
, to the east by 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....
, to the south by 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 to the north by Kingsgate
Kingsgate, Washington
Kingsgate is a census-designated place in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 13,065 at the 2010 census.Based on per capita income, one of the more reliable measures of affluence, Kingsgate ranks 70th of 522 areas in the state of Washington to be ranked.Neighboring city...
Woodinville
Woodinville, Washington
Woodinville is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 10,938 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Seattle metropolitan area. There is also a much larger population with Woodinville mailing addresses in adjacent unincorporated areas of King and Snohomish counties...
and Bothell
Bothell, Washington
Bothell is a city located in King and Snohomish Counties in the state of Washington. It is part of the Seattle metropolitan area. The population was 33,505 as of the 2010 census...
.
Kirkland is accessible via Interstate 405
Interstate 405 (Washington)
Interstate 405 in Washington is a stretch of freeway that bypasses Seattle east of Lake Washington. The northern terminus is in Lynnwood and the southern terminus is in Tukwila...
, which connects it with other Eastside cities, including Bellevue, Renton, and Bothell. Seattle, which is west of Kirkland, as well as Redmond to the east, are both accessible through State Highway 520
State Route 520 (Washington)
State Route 520 is a state highway and freeway in the U.S. state of Washington. It extends from Seattle in the west to Redmond in the east.-Route description:...
.
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 11.0 square miles (28.5 km²), of which, 10.7 square miles (27.7 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.9 km²) of it (3.00%) is water. The elevation varies from 14 to 500 feet (152.4 m) above sea level.
Kirkland's average temperature is 46.8 °F, and the average annual precipitation 38.6 inches (980.4 mm).
Surrounding cities
Education
Kirkland is home to Lake Washington Technical CollegeLake Washington Technical College
Lake Washington Institute of Technology , formerly Lake Washington Technical College, located in Kirkland, Washington near the Totem Lake neighborhood, is a workforce college offering professional and technical training for today’s ever-changing job market...
and Northwest University, formerly Northwest College of the Assemblies of God
Assemblies of God
The Assemblies of God , officially the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, is a group of over 140 autonomous but loosely-associated national groupings of churches which together form the world's largest Pentecostal denomination...
.
Kirkland is in the Lake Washington School District
Lake Washington School District
The Lake Washington School District #414 is a public school district in King County, Washington. it is the fifth-largest school district in Washington. It serves the region to the east of Lake Washington, one of the wealthiest in the Puget Sound area...
. Secondary schools located in the city include:
- Juanita High SchoolJuanita High SchoolJuanita High School is a high school in Kirkland, Washington, administered by Lake Washington School District. It was opened on September 4, 1971, as a result of a campaign driven by an education theory known as the "Juanita Concept", developed by John Strauss, who became the school's first...
- Lake Washington High SchoolLake Washington High SchoolLake Washington High School is one of four high schools in the Lake Washington School District, with an enrollment of approximately 1076 students. It is in the Rose Hill neighborhood of Kirkland, Washington....
- International Community SchoolInternational Community School (USA)International Community School is a small 7-12th grade public school in the Lake Washington School District, with an average of 65 students per grade. It is part of a series of schools founded by Dr. Bruce Saari. Unlike other "International" schools, "International" in the school's name simply...
(7-12) - B.E.S.T. High School
- Puget Sound Adventist AcademyPuget Sound Adventist AcademyPuget Sound Adventist Academy is a Seventh-day Adventist high school with grades ranging from 9 through 12.-See also:*Seventh-day Adventist Church*List of Seventh-day Adventist secondary and elementary schools-External links:*...
- Kirkland Junior High School
- Finn Hill Junior HighFinn Hill Junior HighFinn Hill Junior High is a junior high in the city of Kirkland, Washington. Approximately 430 students in the seventh, eighth, and ninth grades attend the school. The school is one of many in the...
- Kamiakin Jr. High School
- Northstar Jr. High School
- Rose Hill Jr. High School
- Eastside Preparatory SchoolEastside Preparatory SchoolEastside Preparatory School is a private high school and middle school in Kirkland, Washington, USA.-History:Eastside Prep was founded in May 2002 by a group of parents and educators. These parents hoped to create a school that was academically rigorous and engaging...
Government and politics
Kirkland has a non-partisan council-managerCouncil-manager government
The council–manager government form is one of two predominant forms of municipal government in the United States; the other common form of local government is the mayor-council government form, which characteristically occurs in large cities...
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. , the mayor is Joan McBride and the city manager is former King County Executive Kurt Triplett
Kurt Triplett
Kurt Triplett was the 7th King County Executive in Washington, United States. The Metropolitan King County Council appointed Triplett who had previously been Chief of Staff to Ron Sims, prior to Sim's resignation as King County Executive in order to serve as Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban...
.
Demographics
| Kirkland Growth Trends | |||
| Year | Population | Population Increase | Land Area Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 532 | ||
| 1920 | 1,354 | 155% | 0% |
| 1930 | 1,714 | 27% | 2% |
| 1940 | 2,048 | 19% | 0% |
| 1950 | 4,713 | 130% | 112% |
| 1960 | 6,025 | 28% | 6% |
| 1970 | 15,070 | 150% | 170% |
| 1980 | 18,785 | 25% | 16% |
| 1990 | 40,052 | 113% | 67% |
| 2000 | 45,054 | 12% | 170% |
| 2010 | 48,787 | 8.3% | |
As of the census
Census
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...
of 2000, there were 45,054 people, 20,736 households, and 11,031 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 4,220.3 people per square mile (1,628.8/km²). There were 21,831 housing units at an average density of 2,045.0 per square mile (789.2/km²). 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
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 2.92% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos, who may be of any race, were 4.11% of the population.
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
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, 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
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 $38,903. Based on per capita income, Kirkland ranks 14 out of 522
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:...
areas in the state of Washington to be ranked. About 3.9% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.
Sister city
Kirkland has one sister cityTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
, Emmerich, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
City landmarks
The city of Kirkland has designated two buildings as city landmarks.| Landmark | Built | Listed | Address | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Church of Christ, Scientist | 1922 | 2000 | NW corner of Market St. & Lake Ave. W, Kirkland | |
| Peter Kirk Building Peter Kirk Building The Peter Kirk Building, first known as the Kirkland Investment Company Building, is a historic building in Kirkland, Washington located at the corner of Market Street and Seventh Avenue, Kirkland's historic commercial core. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places... |
1890-92 | 2003 | 620 Market Street |