Renton, Washington
Encyclopedia
Renton is an Eastside
edge city in King County
, Washington, United States
. Situated 11 miles (21 km) 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. The city is now a center of manufacturing and technology companies, such as Boeing
, Paccar
, and several dot-com companies
. The City of Renton's population was 90,927 as of April 1, 2010 United States Census. Renton currently contains the 9th largest population in the state, and 4th largest in King County
.
Based on per capita income
, Renton ranks 100th of 522 areas ranked in the state of Washington.
who discovered coal there and brought in Charles D. Shattuck as coal mine operator.
Renton was incorporated as a city in 1901 (September 6) when coal mining and timber processing were the most important economic industries in the area. The town was prone to flooding from the Cedar and Black Rivers. In 1916 the completion of the Lake Washington Ship Canal lowered the surface of Lake Washington several feet which consequently eliminated drainage of Lake Washington through the Black River. The Cedar River was then diverted to drain into Lake Washington instead of the Black River. The culmination of these actions reduced the threat of annual flooding.
The population sharply increased during World War II
when Boeing
built their Renton Factory
to produce the B-29 Superfortress
. The factory has continued to operate since then, and still produces 737
aircraft. It also produced the Jetfoil and Pegasus class hydrofoils in the 1970s. As of 2001, 40% of all commercial aircraft in the air were assembled in Renton. Boeing remains the largest employer in Renton, which is home to over 10,000 employees and three of the aerospace giant's six major business divisions: Boeing Commercial Airplanes
, Boeing Capital Corporation
and the Shared Services Group. The local newspaper in the 1970s, the Renton Chronicle, proclaimed the city the jet capital of the world.
Paccar
has traditionally been a large employer in the city as well with its Kenworth Truck plant located in Renton's industrial area on the south end of Lake Washington
. Game company Wizards of the Coast
also is headquartered in Renton. Providence Health System has centralized certain of its operations in Renton and according to Mayor Koelker's 2007 State of the City address, expects to eventually have 1,000 workers at Southgate Office Park. Online social-networking
website Classmates.com
is also located in the aforementioned Southgate Office Park.
Recently, owing to its location at the confluence of three major freeways (I-5, I-405
, and SR 167), Renton's economic development has lured a number of big-box retailers that draw consumers from around the region, including Fry's Electronics
and IKEA
.
, and Kenworth
, a pattern of future development was established with the attraction of the first IKEA
in the Pacific Northwest
to Renton in 1994. February 2007 saw the lease signing of another new resident, a branch of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with an address in Renton. A new branch of the Federal Reserve Bank
now calls Renton home, beginning operations in the spring of 2008 on the site of the former Longacres
horse-racing track.
To date, myriad development of major retail, residential, and revitalization projects are amidst planning, in construction, or have been successfully executed. Among which include Port Quendall, a land parcel in north Renton, that has become the new home to the Virginia Mason Athletic Center
(VMAC), housing the Seattle Seahawks
Headquarters and training facility that opened in August 2008. Formerly headquartered in Kirkland, Washington
; the Seattle Seahawks
state of the art Renton facility, which, at an expansive 200000 square feet (18,580.6 m²) is the second largest facility in the NFL.
The downtown core has experienced the dramatic impact of revitalization over the last decade. Since the mid-1990s, Renton has combated the threat of urban decay beginning by investing in downtown neighborhoods with a series of public and private projects targeted to develop a stronger aesthetic in combination with providing community developments that encourage thriving and desirable locations to live and work. Projects have included a new transit center in partnership with King County METRO transit. Adjacent to the transit center and in the surrounding blocks several mixed-use residential and retail buildings have been constructed including:
These developments are in conjunction with several new community event centers called the Piazza and the Pavilion Building. In addition there is a local Farmers' Market, and the development has attracted restaurants and further development.
Currently nearing completion of construction on 68 acres (275,186.5 m²) in the South Lake Washington neighborhood is a major development titled The Landing. Modeled to be an "Urban Village," The Landing offers over a half-million square-feet of retail, restaurant, and entertainment space. The Landing will furthermore contain 880 residential homes. Several of the initial tenants of The Landing arrived in October 2007, with additional businesses now operating..
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 17.3 square miles (44.8 km2), of which, 17.0 square miles (44.1 km2) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.7 km2) of it (1.62%) is water, most of which is the Cedar River
. Potential Annexation Areas (PAAs) include the communities of Fairwood
southeast of Renton, the East Renton Plateau
on the eastern edge of Renton, and West Hill
west of Renton. These communities are large unincorporated urban areas that are encouraged by the King County Annexation Initiative to incorporate as cities or annex into neighboring cities; thus they are not part of the City of Renton, and shall not be referenced in demographic or statistical inclusion.
Renton is among a handful of cities in the Puget Sound Region with an independent street grid system. Roads names beginning with sectional divisions (N 32nd ST) generally follow a latitudinal direction, while roads names ending in a sectional direction (Duvall Ave NE) generally follow a longitudinal direction. Many of the avenues in the city are named in honor of other cities in Washington. The city also has its own housing authority. This helps the city to avoid higher regional taxes. As a result, Renton property owners enjoy the smallest average tax increases in King County.
Renton is bordered to the north by the cities of Bellevue, Washington
; and Newcastle, Washington
. Along the east side of Renton is the border of the Urban Growth Boundary established by King County
, as such there is no incorporated city directly east of Renton. The geographical characteristics of Renton's eastern border are varied and include (from north to south) the south flank of Cougar Mountain
descending southward merging with the community of May Valley. The terrain then elevates south of May Valley to the communities of the East Renton Plateau before descending to the north bank of the Cedar River. Renton is bordered to the south by the city of Kent, Washington
. The western border consists of the city of Tukwila, Washington
, and the unincorporated King County community West Hills
, and finally Lake Washington
to the northwest.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 50,052 people, 21,708 households, and 12,243 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,939.7 people per square mile (1,134.8/km2). There were 22,676 housing units at an average density of 1,331.8 per square mile (514.1/km2). The ethnic makeup of the city was 68.14% White
, 8.47% African American
, 0.72% Native American
, 13.37% Asian
, 0.50% Pacific Islander
, 4.24% from other ethnicities, and 4.57% from two or more ethnicities. Hispanic
or Latino
of any race were 7.63% of the population.
There were 21,708 households out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.9% were married couples
living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.6% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.8% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 36.9% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 98.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,820, and the median income for a family was $55,747. Males had a median income of $40,765 versus $31,543 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $24,346. About 7.0% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.5% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.
, Providence Health & Services, and Wizards of the Coast
have their headquarters in Renton.
, opened in 1942 originally as a war production school, offers associate degree
s and certificates of completion
in professional-technical fields.
Students in public schooling from Kindergarten to twelfth grade primarily attend schools within the Renton School District. Additionally, the Issaquah School District
as well as the Kent School District
serve small portions of unincorporated Renton neighborhoods.
The Renton School District includes the following high schools (graded 9-12):
Middle Schools (grades 6-8):
Elementary Schools (K-5)
The southern region of the Issaquah School District
includes the following schools in unincorporated Renton neighborhoods:
The northeastern region of the Kent School District
includes the following schools in unincorporated Renton neighborhoods:
, Japan
; Nantes
, France
; and Cuautla, Jalisco
, Mexico
.
(KRNT), located just north of downtown Renton, houses several facilities that offer charter services and flight training.
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...
edge city in King County
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...
. Situated 11 miles (21 km) southeast of Seattle, Washington
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...
, Renton straddles the southeast shore 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...
. Founded in the 1860s, Renton became a supply town for the 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...
coal fields. The city is now a center of manufacturing and technology companies, such as Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
, Paccar
PACCAR
PACCAR Inc is the third largest manufacturer of heavy-duty trucks in the world , and has substantial manufacture in light and medium vehicles through its various subsidiaries.-History:...
, and several dot-com companies
Dot-com company
A dot-com company, or simply a dot-com , is a company that does most of its business on the Internet, usually through a website that uses the popular top-level domain, ".com" .While the term can refer to present-day companies, it is also used specifically to refer to companies with...
. The City of Renton's population was 90,927 as of April 1, 2010 United States Census. Renton currently contains the 9th largest population in the state, and 4th largest in King County
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....
.
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:...
, Renton ranks 100th of 522 areas ranked in the state of Washington.
History
The town of Renton was founded as a farming site by Erasmus M. SmithersErasmus M. Smithers
Erasmus M. Smithers was one of the European pioneers of the Pacific coast and the founder of the city of Renton, King County, Washington. His wife and her first husband had settled on the land where the town is now located in 1853, fifteen miles from what is now Seattle...
who discovered coal there and brought in Charles D. Shattuck as coal mine operator.
Renton was incorporated as a city in 1901 (September 6) when coal mining and timber processing were the most important economic industries in the area. The town was prone to flooding from the Cedar and Black Rivers. In 1916 the completion of the Lake Washington Ship Canal lowered the surface of Lake Washington several feet which consequently eliminated drainage of Lake Washington through the Black River. The Cedar River was then diverted to drain into Lake Washington instead of the Black River. The culmination of these actions reduced the threat of annual flooding.
The population sharply increased 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...
when Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
built their Renton Factory
Boeing Renton Factory
The Boeing Company's Renton, Washington Factory is a facility where Next-Generation Boeing 737 airliners are built. Current production includes the 737-600, 737-700, 737-800, and 737-900 models.The factory lies adjacent to Renton Municipal Airport....
to produce the B-29 Superfortress
B-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
. The factory has continued to operate since then, and still produces 737
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
aircraft. It also produced the Jetfoil and Pegasus class hydrofoils in the 1970s. As of 2001, 40% of all commercial aircraft in the air were assembled in Renton. Boeing remains the largest employer in Renton, which is home to over 10,000 employees and three of the aerospace giant's six major business divisions: Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Boeing Commercial Airplanes designs, assembles, markets and sells large commercial jet aircraft and provides product-related maintenance and training to customers worldwide...
, Boeing Capital Corporation
Boeing Capital
Boeing Capital is a subsidiary of The Boeing Company, providing asset-based leasing and lending services. Boeing Capital is made up of two divisions, Aircraft Financial Services and Space & Defense Financial Services.-History:...
and the Shared Services Group. The local newspaper in the 1970s, the Renton Chronicle, proclaimed the city the jet capital of the world.
Paccar
PACCAR
PACCAR Inc is the third largest manufacturer of heavy-duty trucks in the world , and has substantial manufacture in light and medium vehicles through its various subsidiaries.-History:...
has traditionally been a large employer in the city as well with its Kenworth Truck plant located in Renton's industrial area on the south end 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...
. Game company Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
also is headquartered in Renton. Providence Health System has centralized certain of its operations in Renton and according to Mayor Koelker's 2007 State of the City address, expects to eventually have 1,000 workers at Southgate Office Park. Online social-networking
Social network service
A social networking service is an online service, platform, or site that focuses on building and reflecting of social networks or social relations among people, who, for example, share interests and/or activities. A social network service consists of a representation of each user , his/her social...
website Classmates.com
Classmates.com
Classmates.com is a social network service created in 1995 by Randy Conrads who founded Classmates Online, Inc.The social media website was originally designed to assist members in finding friends and acquaintances from kindergarten, primary school, high school, college, work and the United States...
is also located in the aforementioned Southgate Office Park.
Recently, owing to its location at the confluence of three major freeways (I-5, I-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...
, and SR 167), Renton's economic development has lured a number of big-box retailers that draw consumers from around the region, including Fry's Electronics
Fry's Electronics
Fry's Electronics is a big-box store and retailer of software, consumer electronics, computer hardware, with in store computer repair and custom computer building services and household appliances with a chain of superstores headquartered in Silicon Valley...
and IKEA
IKEA
IKEA is a privately held, international home products company that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture such as beds and desks, appliances and home accessories. The company is the world's largest furniture retailer...
.
New developments
Formerly synonymous with the large industrial companies such as BoeingBoeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
, and Kenworth
Kenworth
Kenworth is an American manufacturer of medium and heavy-duty Class 8 trucks based in Kirkland, Washington, United States, a suburb of Seattle. It is a subsidiary of PACCAR, and is also a former manufacturer of transit buses and school buses.-History:...
, a pattern of future development was established with the attraction of the first IKEA
IKEA
IKEA is a privately held, international home products company that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture such as beds and desks, appliances and home accessories. The company is the world's largest furniture retailer...
in the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
to Renton in 1994. February 2007 saw the lease signing of another new resident, a branch of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with an address in Renton. A new branch of the Federal Reserve Bank
Federal Reserve Bank
The twelve Federal Reserve Banks form a major part of the Federal Reserve System, the central banking system of the United States. The twelve federal reserve banks together divide the nation into twelve Federal Reserve Districts, the twelve banking districts created by the Federal Reserve Act of...
now calls Renton home, beginning operations in the spring of 2008 on the site of the former Longacres
Longacres
Longacres was a racetrack in Renton, Washington from 1933-92. It was the home of thoroughbred racing in western Washington and was the longest continually operated track on the West Coast. Longacres was the first racetrack on the coast based on parimutuel betting. The land was sold to the Boeing...
horse-racing track.
To date, myriad development of major retail, residential, and revitalization projects are amidst planning, in construction, or have been successfully executed. Among which include Port Quendall, a land parcel in north Renton, that has become the new home to the 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...
(VMAC), housing 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...
Headquarters and training facility that opened in August 2008. Formerly headquartered in 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...
; 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...
state of the art Renton facility, which, at an expansive 200000 square feet (18,580.6 m²) is the second largest facility in the NFL.
The downtown core has experienced the dramatic impact of revitalization over the last decade. Since the mid-1990s, Renton has combated the threat of urban decay beginning by investing in downtown neighborhoods with a series of public and private projects targeted to develop a stronger aesthetic in combination with providing community developments that encourage thriving and desirable locations to live and work. Projects have included a new transit center in partnership with King County METRO transit. Adjacent to the transit center and in the surrounding blocks several mixed-use residential and retail buildings have been constructed including:
- Revo 225
- Burnett Station
- Metropolitan Place
- 95 Burnett
These developments are in conjunction with several new community event centers called the Piazza and the Pavilion Building. In addition there is a local Farmers' Market, and the development has attracted restaurants and further development.
Currently nearing completion of construction on 68 acres (275,186.5 m²) in the South Lake Washington neighborhood is a major development titled The Landing. Modeled to be an "Urban Village," The Landing offers over a half-million square-feet of retail, restaurant, and entertainment space. The Landing will furthermore contain 880 residential homes. Several of the initial tenants of The Landing arrived in October 2007, with additional businesses now operating..
Geography
Renton is located at 47.486622°N 122.195163°W (47.486622, -122.195163), on the southeast shore of 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...
.
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 17.3 square miles (44.8 km2), of which, 17.0 square miles (44.1 km2) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.7 km2) of it (1.62%) is water, most of which is the Cedar River
Cedar River (Washington)
The Cedar River is a river in the U.S. state of Washington. About long, it originates in the Cascade Range and flows generally west and northwest, emptying into the southern end of Lake Washington...
. Potential Annexation Areas (PAAs) include the communities of Fairwood
Cascade-Fairwood, Washington
Cascade-Fairwood is a census-designated place in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 34,580 at the 2000 census. Based on per capita income Cascade-Fairwood ranks 77th of 522 areas in the state of Washington to be ranked....
southeast of Renton, the East Renton Plateau
East Renton Highlands, Washington
East Renton Highlands is a census-designated place in King County, Washington, United States, located between Issaquah and Renton. The population was 11,140 at the 2010 census....
on the eastern edge of Renton, and West Hill
Bryn Mawr-Skyway, Washington
Bryn Mawr-Skyway is a census-designated place in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 15,645 at the 2010 census.Bryn Mawr-Skyway is the only census-designated place in the Seattle metro area to report a majority-minority population in the 2000 Census...
west of Renton. These communities are large unincorporated urban areas that are encouraged by the King County Annexation Initiative to incorporate as cities or annex into neighboring cities; thus they are not part of the City of Renton, and shall not be referenced in demographic or statistical inclusion.
Renton is among a handful of cities in the Puget Sound Region with an independent street grid system. Roads names beginning with sectional divisions (N 32nd ST) generally follow a latitudinal direction, while roads names ending in a sectional direction (Duvall Ave NE) generally follow a longitudinal direction. Many of the avenues in the city are named in honor of other cities in Washington. The city also has its own housing authority. This helps the city to avoid higher regional taxes. As a result, Renton property owners enjoy the smallest average tax increases in King County.
Renton is bordered to the north by the cities of Bellevue, Washington
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 Newcastle, Washington
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...
. Along the east side of Renton is the border of the Urban Growth Boundary established by King County
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....
, as such there is no incorporated city directly east of Renton. The geographical characteristics of Renton's eastern border are varied and include (from north to south) the south flank 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...
descending southward merging with the community of May Valley. The terrain then elevates south of May Valley to the communities of the East Renton Plateau before descending to the north bank of the Cedar River. Renton is bordered to the south by the city of Kent, Washington
Kent, Washington
Kent is a city located in King County, Washington, United States, and is the third largest city in King County and the sixth largest in the state. An outlying suburb of Seattle, Kent is also the corporate home for companies such as REI and Oberto Sausage...
. The western border consists of the city of Tukwila, Washington
Tukwila, Washington
Tukwila is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The northern edge of Tukwila borders the city of Seattle. The population was 19,107 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, and the unincorporated King County community West Hills
Bryn Mawr-Skyway, Washington
Bryn Mawr-Skyway is a census-designated place in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 15,645 at the 2010 census.Bryn Mawr-Skyway is the only census-designated place in the Seattle metro area to report a majority-minority population in the 2000 Census...
, and finally 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...
to the northwest.
Renton's Records and Averages
Surrounding cities
Demographics
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 50,052 people, 21,708 households, and 12,243 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 2,939.7 people per square mile (1,134.8/km2). There were 22,676 housing units at an average density of 1,331.8 per square mile (514.1/km2). The ethnic makeup of the city was 68.14% White
Caucasian race
The term Caucasian race has been used to denote the general physical type of some or all of the populations of Europe, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, Western Asia , Central Asia and South Asia...
, 8.47% African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 0.72% Native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
, 13.37% Asian
Asian people
Asian people or Asiatic people is a term with multiple meanings that refers to people who descend from a portion of Asia's population.- Central Asia :...
, 0.50% Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander , is a geographic term to describe the indigenous inhabitants of any of the three major sub-regions of Oceania: Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia.According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, these three regions, together with their islands consist of:Polynesia:...
, 4.24% from other ethnicities, and 4.57% from two or more ethnicities. Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
or Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
of any race were 7.63% of the population.
There were 21,708 households out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.9% 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, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.6% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.8% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 36.9% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 98.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,820, and the median income for a family was $55,747. Males had a median income of $40,765 versus $31,543 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 $24,346. About 7.0% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.5% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Boeing CapitalBoeing Capital
Boeing Capital is a subsidiary of The Boeing Company, providing asset-based leasing and lending services. Boeing Capital is made up of two divisions, Aircraft Financial Services and Space & Defense Financial Services.-History:...
, Providence Health & Services, and Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
have their headquarters in Renton.
Top employers
According to Renton's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boeing Boeing The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001... |
13,169 |
| 2 | Valley Medical Center | 1,877 |
| 3 | Renton School District | 1,448 |
| 4 | Federal Aviation Administration Federal Aviation Administration The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S... |
1,400 |
| 5 | Renton Technical College Renton Technical College Renton Technical College , also known as Renton Tech, is a public two-year institution located in the Renton Highlands of Renton, Washington within the Seattle metropolitan area... |
858 |
| 6 | City of Renton | 819 |
| 7 | Providence Health & Services | 815 |
| 8 | Paccar PACCAR PACCAR Inc is the third largest manufacturer of heavy-duty trucks in the world , and has substantial manufacture in light and medium vehicles through its various subsidiaries.-History:... |
714 |
| 9 | ER Solutions | 521 |
| 10 | Wal-Mart Wal-Mart Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000... |
322 |
Education
Renton Technical CollegeRenton Technical College
Renton Technical College , also known as Renton Tech, is a public two-year institution located in the Renton Highlands of Renton, Washington within the Seattle metropolitan area...
, opened in 1942 originally as a war production school, offers associate degree
Associate's degree
An associate degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, and bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years...
s and certificates of completion
Academic certificate
An academic certificate is a document that certifies that a person has received specific education or has passed a test or series of tests.In many countries, certificate is a qualification attained in secondary education. For instance, students in the Republic of Ireland sit the Junior Certificate...
in professional-technical fields.
Students in public schooling from Kindergarten to twelfth grade primarily attend schools within the Renton School District. Additionally, the Issaquah School District
Issaquah 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....
as well as the Kent School District
Kent School District
The Kent School District #415 includes the cities of Kent, Covington, Maple Valley, parts of the cities of Renton and Black Diamond, and neighboring unincorporated areas in King County, Washington. Covering 73 square miles , the Kent School District has 40 schools...
serve small portions of unincorporated Renton neighborhoods.
The Renton School District includes the following high schools (graded 9-12):
- Hazen High SchoolHazen High SchoolOliver M. Hazen High School is a secondary school located in the Renton Highlands of Renton, Washington, in the greater Seattle area.- History :...
- Lindbergh High SchoolLindbergh Senior High School (Renton, Washington)Lindbergh High School is a high school located in the southeastern section of Renton, Washington, a suburb of Seattle, in the Renton School District. Named after Charles A. Lindbergh, the famous aviator who was first to fly solo across the Atlantic in 1927, the school was founded in 1972....
- Renton High SchoolRenton High SchoolRenton High School is a public secondary school in downtown Renton, Washington, USA, about 10 miles southeast of downtown Seattle. Founded in 1911, it is the oldest high school in the Renton School District.-History:...
Middle Schools (grades 6-8):
- Dimmitt Middle School
- McKnight Middle School
- Nelsen Middle SchoolNelsen Middle SchoolNelsen Middle School, is located in Renton, Washington, USA, a suburb of Seattle, and is in Renton School District 403. It is a middle school that educates around 1,130 students in grades 6-8....
Elementary Schools (K-5)
- Benson Hill Elementary School
- Bryn Mawr Elementary School
- Campbell Hill Elementary School
- Cascade Elementary School
- Hazelwood Elementary School
- Highlands Elementary School
- Kennydale Elementary School
- Lakeridge Elementary School
- Maplewood Heights Elementary School
- Renton Park Elementary School
- Sierra Heights Elementary School
- Talbot Hill Elementary School
- Tiffany Park Elementary School
The southern region of the Issaquah School District
Issaquah 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....
includes the following schools in unincorporated Renton neighborhoods:
- Liberty High SchoolLiberty Senior High SchoolLiberty High School, also known as Liberty Senior High School or LHS, is a secondary school located in the East Renton Highlands in King County, Washington. Founded in 1977, Liberty anchors the southern region of the Issaquah School District which includes the areas of Mirrormont, Issaquah, Four...
- Maywood Middle School
- Apollo Elementary School
- Briarwood Elementary School
The northeastern region of the Kent School District
Kent School District
The Kent School District #415 includes the cities of Kent, Covington, Maple Valley, parts of the cities of Renton and Black Diamond, and neighboring unincorporated areas in King County, Washington. Covering 73 square miles , the Kent School District has 40 schools...
includes the following schools in unincorporated Renton neighborhoods:
- Meeker Middle School
- Northwood Middle School
- Carriage Crest Elementary School
- Fairwood Elementary School
- Glenridge Elementary School
- Ridgewood Elementary School
Sister cities
Renton has sister cities of NishiwakiNishiwaki, Hyogo
is a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.The city calls itself "The Navel of Japan ." Located at the crossing of the 135° East meridian and the 35° North parallel, the city's Nihon no Heso Park marks the center of the nation...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
; Nantes
Nantes
Nantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the 6th largest in France, while its metropolitan area ranks 8th with over 800,000 inhabitants....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
; and Cuautla, Jalisco
Cuautla, Jalisco
Cuautla, Jalisco is a small town located in the hills of western Mexico. It is situated at an elevation of 5,639 ft. between Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta. It has fewer than 3,000 permanent residents....
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
Transportation
Renton is served by King County Metro and Sound Transit Express buses. Clayton Scott FieldRenton Municipal Airport
Renton Municipal Airport is located in Renton, Washington, USA. It has a single paved runway, 16/34, which is roughly 5,400' long...
(KRNT), located just north of downtown Renton, houses several facilities that offer charter services and flight training.
Notable residents
- Jimi HendrixJimi HendrixJames Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
, legendary rock guitarist/singer, buried in the city's Greenwood cemetery since 1970. - Ann RuleAnn RuleAnn Rule is an American true crime writer.-Personal life:Ann Rule was born on October 22, 1935 in Lowell, Michigan to Chester R. "Stack" Stackhouse and Sophie Hansen. Her mother was a school teacher, specializing in developmentally disabled children and her father was a basketball, football and...
, the true crimeTrue crimeTrue crime is a non-fiction literary and film genre in which the author examines an actual crime and details the actions of real people.The crimes most commonly include murder, but true crime works have also touched on other legal cases. Depending on the writer, true crime can adhere strictly to...
novelist currently resides in Renton. - Sean KinneySean KinneySean Howard Kinney is an American musician best known for being the drummer of the influential grunge band Alice in Chains....
, drummer of Alice In ChainsAlice in ChainsAlice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. The initial lineup was rounded out by drummer Sean Kinney, and bassist Mike Starr...
grew up in Renton. - Deon GrantDeon GrantDeon D'Marquis Grant is an American football safety for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the second round of the 2000 NFL Draft...
, former Seattle SeahawksSeattle SeahawksThe 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...
free safety. - Bonnie GuitarBonnie GuitarBonnie Guitar is an American Country-Pop Singer. She is best remembered for her 1957 Country-Pop crossover hit "Dark Moon"...
, singer in the 1950s and 1960s, gave singing lessons as Bonnie Tutmarc, in the early 1950s. - Ernie JanetErnie JanetErnie Janet is a former guard in the National Football League.-Career:Janet was drafted in the second round of the 1971 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. He later played three seasons with the Chicago Bears before splitting the 1975 NFL season with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay...
, former Chicago BearsChicago BearsThe Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia EaglesThe Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and Green Bay PackersGreen Bay PackersThe Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
guard. - 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....
, famous Major League Baseball pitcher for the 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....
grew up in Renton, and attended Liberty HSLiberty Senior High SchoolLiberty High School, also known as Liberty Senior High School or LHS, is a secondary school located in the East Renton Highlands in King County, Washington. Founded in 1977, Liberty anchors the southern region of the Issaquah School District which includes the areas of Mirrormont, Issaquah, Four...
. - Brandon RoyBrandon RoyBrandon Dawayne Roy is an American professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association. He was selected sixth in the 2006 NBA Draft, having completed four years playing for the Washington Huskies. In 2009, he served as the team's co-captain, along...
, NBA basketball player for the Portland Trail BlazersPortland Trail BlazersThe Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
, resides in Renton. - Jamal CrawfordJamal CrawfordJamal Crawford is an American professional basketball player who most recently played with the NBA's Atlanta Hawks. He is a 6'5" and 200 lb shooting guard–point guard...
, NBA player for the Atlanta HawksAtlanta HawksThe Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
, has a home in Renton and resides there during the off-season. - David RiskeDavid RiskeDavid Richard Riske is a Major League Baseball Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher.-Career:Riske was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 56th round of the June amateur draft...
, MLB player for the Baltimore OriolesBaltimore OriolesThe Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
. - Ryan Malgarini, actor who play Jay MohrJay MohrJay Mohr is an American actor and stand up comedian. He is known for his role as Professor Rick Payne in the TV series Ghost Whisperer, the title role in the CBS sitcom Gary Unmarried, which ran from 2008 to 2010, and the back-stabbing sports agent Bob Sugar in Jerry Maguire.-Early life:Mohr was...
's character's son, Tom on Gary UnmarriedGary UnmarriedGary Unmarried was an American sitcom created by Ed Yeager, which ran on CBS from September 24, 2008 to March 17, 2010. The series focuses on a recently divorced couple sharing custody of their kids while starting new relationships...
. - Jacob YoungJacob YoungJacob Wayne Young is an American actor and singer. He is perhaps best known for his role as JR Chandler on the ABC daytime soap opera All My Children...
, actor who plays JR Chandler on the ABC soap All My ChildrenAll My ChildrenAll My Children is an American television soap opera that aired on ABC from January 5, 1970 to September 23, 2011. Created by Agnes Nixon, All My Children is set in Pine Valley, Pennsylvania, a fictitious suburb of Philadelphia. The show features Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, one of daytime's most...
. - David Wayne, singer of Metal ChurchMetal ChurchMetal Church was an American heavy metal band. They originally formed in Seattle, Washington as Shrapnel in 1980. Their first album was released in 1984, and the band's most recent work, This Present Wasteland, was released in 2008....
, born in Renton. - Kelly Bachand, contestant of the History Channel's Top ShotTop ShotTop Shot is an American reality television show that debuted on the History Channel on June 6, 2010. The show features 16 contestants, split into two teams of eight, competing in various types of shooting challenges. One by one, the contestants are eliminated until only one remains...
Season 1. - Clint EastwoodClint EastwoodClinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide...
, famous actor and director, was a lifeguard at Renton's KennydaleKennydale, WashingtonKennydale is a neighborhood in Renton, Washington, in the United States. As of 2008, it had an estimated population of 4,840. It lies along the southeastern shore of Lake Washington and straddles Interstate 405 which runs north-south between Renton and Bellevue, and borders the Newport Shores...
Beach in 1949, 1950, and 1953. - Kristin Hubbard, Cpt, U.S. Air Force ThunderbirdsU.S. Air Force ThunderbirdsThe Thunderbirds are the air demonstration squadron of the U.S. Air Force , based at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, Nevada. The squadron tours the United States and much of the world, performing aerobatic formation and solo flying in specially marked USAF jet aircraft...
pilot (#8 jet, Advance pilot/narrator), grew up in Renton. - Michelle FontMichelle FontMichelle Font is a beauty queen who won Miss Washington USA and competed in the Miss USA pageant on April 11, 2008 at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, Nevada. She did not make the top 15....
, Miss Washington USAMiss Washington USAThe Miss Washington USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Washington in the Miss USA pageant.Washington has been moderately successful in terms of number of semi-finalists and placements, and has had one Miss USA...
2008.
External links
- Renton city government webpage
- Renton School District webpage
- Renton Technical College webpage
- Renton Community Foundation webpage
- Renton Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau webpage
- Rotary Club of Renton webpage
- Renton River Days - Community Family Festival
- new Highlands Community Association webpage
- previous Highlands Community Association/Declaration of Blight webpage
- Highlands Community Council - A Renton Highlands Community Service Organization
- Renton Reporter, a weekly newspaper delivered free to city residents
- Fairwood incorporation information page (2006)
- Fairwood incorporation information page (2009)