Tukwila, Washington
Encyclopedia
King County, Washington
King County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. The population in the 2010 census was 1,931,249. King is the most populous county in Washington, and the 14th most populous in the United States....
, Washington, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The northern edge of Tukwila borders the city of Seattle. The population was 19,107 at the 2010 census.
History
The earliest people in Tukwila were the Duwamish who made their homes along the BlackBlack River (Duwamish River)
The Black River, also known as the Duwamish River, was a river in King County in the U.S. state of Washington. It drained Lake Washington until 1916 when the opening of the Lake Washington Ship Canal lowered the lake, causing the Black River to dry up...
and Duwamish River
Duwamish River
The Duwamish River is the name of the lower of Washington state's Green River. Its industrialized estuary is known as the Duwamish Waterway.- History :...
s. The name "Tukwila" comes from the Chinook Jargon
Chinook Jargon
Chinook Jargon originated as a pidgin trade language of the Pacific Northwest, and spread during the 19th century from the lower Columbia River, first to other areas in modern Oregon and Washington, then British Columbia and as far as Alaska, sometimes taking on characteristics of a creole language...
word for "nut" or "hazelnut
Hazelnut
A hazelnut is the nut of the hazel and is also known as a cob nut or filbert nut according to species. A cob is roughly spherical to oval, about 15–25 mm long and 10–15 mm in diameter, with an outer fibrous husk surrounding a smooth shell. A filbert is more elongated, being about twice...
", referring to the lush forests of hazelnut trees which grew in the area. The Duwamish lived in cedar longhouses, hunted and fished, picked wild berries and used the river for trade with neighboring peoples.
In 1853, the area was settled by Joseph Foster
Joseph Foster
Joseph Foster is a Democratic member of the New Hampshire Senate, representing the 13th District since 2002. Previously he was a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from 1994 through 1998.-External links:* official NH Senate website...
, a Canadian pioneer who had traveled to the northwest from Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. Foster would become known as the "Father of Tukwila" and serve King County, Washington Territory
Washington Territory
The Territory of Washington was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 8, 1853, until November 11, 1889, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Washington....
in the legislature
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
for 22 years. Today, Foster's legendary home on the banks of the Duwamish River is preserved as Fort Dent
Fort Dent
-History:Fort Dent, in Tukwila, Washington, was a blockhouse built on the orders of Territorial Governor, Isaac Stevens, in approximately 1860. It was located southeast of the confluence of the Black and Green Rivers, which join to form the Duwamish River. It was named for Frederick Dent, the...
Park, as it also served as a military base during 1850s Indian Wars. Foster's name is also memorialized in the Foster neighborhood of Tukwila where Foster High School is located.
In the early years of Foster, Washington, the small village would grow into an agricultural center and a vital trading point in the upper-Duwamish River Valley. Population began to grow as well, and expanded industry would soon follow. Although with the largely farm-oriented commerce in Tukwila, other businesses found fertile land in which to grow from.
Early electric rail trains traveled along Interurban Avenue in Tukwila, connecting to 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...
and a line to Tacoma. The Interurban Railroad operated a commuter line from 1902 to 1928, making it possible to travel from Seattle to Tacoma in less than an hour. The first macadam
Macadam
Macadam is a type of road construction pioneered by the Scotsman John Loudon McAdam in around 1820. The method simplified what had been considered state-of-the-art at that point...
paved road in Washington State was in Tukwila and bears the name of this new method of street paving. One of the earliest paved military roads is located in the city.
Tukwila was incorporated as a city in 1908.
Geography
Tukwila is located at 47.478243°N 122.275432°W (47.478243, -122.275432).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 9.1 square miles (23.5 km2), of which, 8.9 square miles (23.1 km2) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km2) of it (1.65%) is water.
Neighborhoods
- Cascade View (Upper West Side) Suburban, Lower Income
- McMicken (Lower West Side) Suburban, Middle Income
- Riverton (Central West Side) Urban, Lower Income
- Foster (Central/Mid-West) Suburban, Middle Income
- Ryan Hill (Upper End) Industrial, Middle Icome
- AllentownAllentown, WashingtonAllentown is a neighborhood of Tukwila, Washington on the Duwamish River. It is situated between the Rainier View neighborhood of Seattle, Washington and the Boulevard Park neighborhood of unincorporated King County....
(Upper End) Industrial, Middle Income - Duwamish (Upper East Side) Industrial, Lower Income
- Thorndyke (Central/Lower East Side), Suburban, Middle Income
- Southcenter (Central) Urban, Upper-Middle Income
Surrounding cities
Demographics
Tukwila is one of King County's most diverse cities. As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 17,181 people, 7,186 households, and 3,952 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,927.0 people per square mile (743.7/km2). There were 7,725 housing units at an average density of 866.4 per square mile (334.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 58.63% White, 12.79% African American, 1.30% Native American, 10.88% Asian, 1.82% Pacific Islander, 8.06% 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 6.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.56% of the population. On a New Yorks Times article it is stated that the Tukwila School District consists one of the most diverse range of students in Washington.
There were 7,186 households out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.4% 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, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.0% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 37.3% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 109.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.9 males.
Poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
has long been associated with Tukwila. Homelessness
Homelessness
Homelessness describes the condition of people without a regular dwelling. People who are homeless are unable or unwilling to acquire and maintain regular, safe, and adequate housing, or lack "fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence." The legal definition of "homeless" varies from country...
has been (and continues to be) an issue in the last decades, with city leaders struggling to find good solutions for the vicious cycle that poverty and homelessness create. In recent years however, the city and local churches have taken a different approach to dealing with the matters of poverty. In 2003 and 2004, Riverton Park United Methodist Church located in northeast Cascade View, Tukwila and The Church by the Side of the Road located in south Cascade View hosted controversial homeless camp Tent City
Tent City
A tent city is a temporary housing facility made using tents. Informal tent cities may be set up without authorization by homeless people or protesters. As well, state governments or military organizations set up tent cities to house refugees, evacuees, or soldiers...
. And since 2003, city government has increased poverty-ending oriented legislation to further resolve issues.
The city is not without its share of wealth in commerce and income, either. Tukwila is home to a median income for a household of $40,718, and the median income for a family of $42,442. Males had a median income of $35,525 versus $28,913 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 $22,354. About 8.8% of families and 12.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over. Southcenter Mall, shopping centers, trendy stores and nearby car dealerships glamorize a once farm-based economy.
Industry
Tukwila's location at the confluence of rivers, freeways and railroads has determined its destiny as a center of commerce. Westfield SouthcenterWestfield Southcenter
Westfield Southcenter, formerly known as Southcenter Mall, is a shopping mall located in Tukwila, Washington, USA. It is currently anchored by JC Penney, Macy's, Nordstrom, and Sears and owned by the Westfield Group. A Rainforest Cafe is also at the mall...
(formerly Southcenter Mall), Puget Sound's largest shopping complex, is located in Tukwila, as well as a number of 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...
corporation facilities. Tukwila is also the location of several Internet and Corporate datacenters, including 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...
, Internap
Internap
Founded in May 1996 in Seattle, Internap Network Services Corporation is a publicly traded company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia that enables route-optimized delivery of content over the Internet. Internap’s business units include Internet Protocol , data center and Content Delivery Network ...
, the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
, Savvis
SAVVIS
Savvis – A CenturyLink Company is a subsidiary of CenturyLink, a company headquartered in Monroe, Louisiana. Savvis provides information technology solutions for enterprises and government agencies...
, AboveNet
AboveNet
AboveNet, Inc. , provides high bandwidth connectivity primarily for large corporate enterprises and communications carriers. AboveNet operates private metro area and long haul optical networks, and offers services including high bandwidth metro access to WDM, Metro Ethernet, VPN and IP networks,...
, digital.forest, HopOne, and Fortress Colocation, these are mostly located in Sabey Corporation's Intergate. Seattle campus near Boeing Field
Boeing Field
Boeing Field, officially King County International Airport , is a two-runway airport owned and run by King County, Washington, USA. In promotional literature, the airport is frequently referred to as KCIA, but this is not the airport identifier. The airport has some passenger service, but is mostly...
. It is only 5 minutes from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
The Seattle–Tacoma International Airport , also known as Sea–Tac Airport or Sea–Tac , is an American airport located in SeaTac, Washington, at the intersections of State Routes 99 and 509 and 518, about west of Interstate 5...
. Approximately 45,000 people work in Tukwila every day, while only about 17,000 live there.
Tukwila was the birthplace of Nintendo of America. The company's first US warehouse was leased to Nintendo by landlord Mario Segale whose name became the namesake of the world famous video game plumber
Mario
is a fictional character in his video game series, created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Serving as Nintendo's mascot and the main protagonist of the series, Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his creation...
.
Top Employers
According to the City'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... |
7,846 |
| 2 | Group Health Cooperative Group Health Cooperative Group Health Cooperative, more commonly known as Group Health, is a Seattle, Washington based nonprofit healthcare organization. Established in 1947, it today provides coverage and care for about 700,000 people in Washington and Idaho and is one of the largest private employers in Washington... |
1,984 |
| 3 | King County Metro | 825 |
| 4 | Macy's Macy's Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States... |
586 |
| 5 | Carlisle Interconnect Technologies | 570 |
| 6 | 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... |
546 |
| 7 | Nordstrom Nordstrom Nordstrom, Inc. is an upscale department store chain in the United States, founded by John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin. Initially a shoe retailer, the company today also sells clothing, accessories, handbags, jewelry, cosmetics, fragrances, and in some locations, home furnishings... |
537 |
| 8 | United Parcel Service United Parcel Service United Parcel Service, Inc. , typically referred to by the acronym UPS, is a package delivery company. Headquartered in Sandy Springs, Georgia, United States, UPS delivers more than 15 million packages a day to 6.1 million customers in more than 220 countries and territories around the... |
525 |
| 9 | Boeing Employees Credit Union BECU BECU is a credit union originally established to serve employees of The Boeing Company. BECU was founded as Fellowship Credit Union in 1935 by 18 Boeing employees, and was named Boeing Employees' Credit Union for much of its history... |
425 |
| 10 | City of Tukwila | 407 |
Culture
The Museum of FlightMuseum of Flight
The Museum of Flight is a private non-profit air and space museum at King County International Airport , south of downtown Seattle, Washington. It was established in 1965 and is fully accredited by the American Association of Museums...
is an air and space museum located in the extreme northern part of Tukwila, adjacent to Boeing Field
Boeing Field
Boeing Field, officially King County International Airport , is a two-runway airport owned and run by King County, Washington, USA. In promotional literature, the airport is frequently referred to as KCIA, but this is not the airport identifier. The airport has some passenger service, but is mostly...
. Tukwila is also home to the Rainier Symphony, which conducts several performances each year at the Foster Performing Arts Center in Tukwila.