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* [http://virtual-fairwood.com/ Fairwood incorporation information page (2006)]
* [http://virtual-fairwood.com/ Fairwood incorporation information page (2006)]
* [http://votefairwood.com Fairwood incorporation information page (2009)]
* [http://votefairwood.com Fairwood incorporation information page (2009)]
* [http://http://www.rentonlibrary.com/ Renton Library Preservation Initiative page(2011)]

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Revision as of 08:25, 29 March 2012

Renton, Washington
City
Flag of Renton, Washington
Flag
Official seal of Renton, Washington
Seal
Location of Renton in King County and Washington
Location of Renton in
King County and Washington
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
CountyKing
Government
 • MayorDenis Law
Area
 • Total22.3 sq mi (44.8 km2)
 • Land22.0 sq mi (44.1 km2)
 • Water0.3 sq mi (0.7 km2)
Elevation
46–410 ft (14–125 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total90,927
 • Density4,630/sq mi (1,786/km2)
 City Proper
Time zoneUTC-8 (PST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP codes
98055, 98056, 98057, 98058, 98059
Area code425
FIPS code53-57745Template:GR
GNIS feature ID1512599Template:GR
Websitewww.rentonwa.gov

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.[1]

History

The town of Renton was founded as a farming site by Erasmus M. Smithers 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.[citation needed]

New developments

Formerly synonymous with the large industrial companies such as Boeing, 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.[1] 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.[1]

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 200,000 square feet (19,000 m2) is the second largest facility in the NFL.[1]

The downtown core has experienced the dramatic impact of revitalization over the last decade.[1] 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.[1] 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 (280,000 m2) in the South Lake Washington neighborhood is a major development titled The Landing.[1] Modeled to be an "Urban Village," The Landing offers over a half-million square-feet of retail, restaurant, and entertainment space.[1] 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°29′12″N 122°11′43″W / 47.486622°N 122.195163°W / 47.486622; -122.195163 (47.486622, -122.195163),Template:GR on the southeast shore of Lake Washington.

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[1] 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.[2]

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,[1] 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.

Renton's Records and Averages

Climate data for Renton, Washington
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 64
(18) 		71
(22) 		81
(27) 		86
(30) 		92
(33) 		100
(38) 		104
(40) 		99
(37) 		96
(36) 		86
(30) 		74
(23) 		69
(21) 		104
(40)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 47
(8) 		51
(11) 		55
(13) 		61
(16) 		67
(19) 		72
(22) 		77
(25) 		78
(26) 		72
(22) 		62
(17) 		52
(11) 		46
(8) 		62
(17)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 35
(2) 		36
(2) 		39
(4) 		42
(6) 		47
(8) 		52
(11) 		55
(13) 		55
(13) 		51
(11) 		44
(7) 		39
(4) 		35
(2) 		44
(7)
Record low °F (°C) −10
(−23) 		−5
(−21) 		10
(−12) 		25
(−4) 		27
(−3) 		33
(1) 		38
(3) 		34
(1) 		28
(−2) 		24
(−4) 		−1
(−18) 		3
(−16) 		−10
(−23)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 5.3
(130) 		4.5
(110) 		4.1
(100) 		2.9
(74) 		2.1
(53) 		1.7
(43) 		0.9
(23) 		1.2
(30) 		1.8
(46) 		3.4
(86) 		6.1
(150) 		5.8
(150) 		37.1
(940)
Source: Weather.com[3]

Surrounding cities

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880200—
1890406103.0%
19004121.5%
19102,740565.0%
19203,30120.5%
19304,06223.1%
19404,48810.5%
195016,039257.4%
196018,45315.1%
197026,68644.6%
198030,61214.7%
199041,68836.2%
200050,05220.1%
201090,92781.7%
source:[4][5]
Renton Public Library straddles the Cedar River

As of the censusTemplate:GR 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.

Economy

Boeing Capital[6], Providence Health & Services[7], and Wizards of the Coast have their headquarters in Renton.[8]

Top employers

According to Renton's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[9] the top employers in the city are:

# Employer # of Employees
1 Boeing 13,169
2 Valley Medical Center 1,877
3 Renton School District 1,448
4 Federal Aviation Administration 1,400
5 Renton Technical College 858
6 City of Renton 819
7 Providence Health & Services 815
8 Paccar 714
9 ER Solutions 521
10 Wal-Mart 322

Education

Renton Technical College, opened in 1942 originally as a war production school, offers associate degrees 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.[1] Additionally, the Issaquah School District[1] as well as the Kent School District[1] 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)

  • 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 includes the following schools in unincorporated Renton neighborhoods:

The northeastern region of the Kent School District 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 Nishiwaki, Japan; Nantes, France; and Cuautla, Jalisco, Mexico.[1]

Transportation

Renton is served by King County Metro and Sound Transit Express buses. Clayton Scott Field (KRNT), located just north of downtown Renton, houses several facilities that offer charter services and flight training.

Notable residents

See also

References

Notes
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n [1], additional text. Cite error: The named reference "test" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Average property tax is up $184 in Seattle". {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help) [dead link]
  3. ^ "Monthly Averages for Renton, WA". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2010-05-19.
  4. ^ Moffatt, Riley. Population History of Western U.S. Cities & Towns, 1850-1990. Lanham: Scarecrow, 1996, 331.
  5. ^ "Subcounty population estimates: Washington 2000-2010" (CSV). United States Census Bureau, Population Division. 2010-07-13. Retrieved 2009-05-10. [dead link]
  6. ^ "About Us - Overview." Boeing Capital. Retrieved on March 14, 2011.
  7. ^ "Corporate Offices." Providence Health & Services. Retrieved on March 14, 2011.
  8. ^ "Contact Us." Wizards of the Coast. Retrieved on May 2, 2010.
  9. ^ City of Renton CAFR
  10. ^ JIMI HENDRIX MEMORIAL :: jimihendrixmemorial.com
  11. ^ "Part V - The stories this bike could tell". The Oregonian. July 27, 2008.
  12. ^ "Part VI - What do you get an NBA star for his birthday?". The Oregonian. July 27, 2008.
  13. ^ Clint Eastwood swam here: The Sammamish Review sammamishreview.com
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