Seattle

Seattle is the most populous city in Washington state.

It serves as the county seat for King County. The city is located in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Seattle sits on an isthmus, which is a narrow strip of land. This land is located between Lake Washington and Puget Sound. Puget Sound is an inlet of the Pacific Ocean. The city is the northernmost major city in the United States.

The area has a deep history of human habitation. Native Americans have lived in the Seattle area for at least 4,000 years. The Duwamish people lived in at least 17 villages around Elliott Bay.

In 1851, the Denny Party arrived from Illinois. They traveled via Portland, Oregon, on a schooner named Exact. They first landed at Alki Point during a rainstorm. Later, the settlers moved to the eastern shore of Elliott Bay. They named the settlement "Seattle" to honor Chief Seattle. He was a leader of the Duwamish and Suquamish tribes.

Seattle's economy has moved through many different stages. The first major industry was logging. A road known as Yesler Way earned the nickname "Skid Road." This name came from timber skidding down hills to a sawmill.

In the late 19th century, the city became a shipbuilding center. The Klondike Gold Rush made Seattle a major gateway to Alaska.

On July 14, 1897, the S.S. Portland arrived with a ton of gold. This event helped Seattle become a supply point for miners. The city provided clothing and salmon to those traveling to the Yukon.

The 20th century brought new industrial shifts. Shipbuilding became a massive industry during World War I. After World War II, the Boeing company helped the city grow. Boeing established Seattle as a center for manufacturing aircraft.

Starting in the 1980s, the region became a technology center. Microsoft established its headquarters in the Seattle area. The rise of biotechnology and internet companies caused an economic revival. This growth increased the population by almost 50,000 people between 1990 and 2000.

Seattle is also a vital hub for global trade. The Port of Seattle is a major gateway to the Asia-Pacific region. It is the fourth-largest port in North America for container handling.

Many people travel through the region via the Seattle–Tacoma International Airport. Alaska Airlines is based at this nearby airport.

The city's population is quite large and growing. In 2024, the city had 780,995 residents. The larger metropolitan area has over 4.15 million people.

Music is a defining part of Seattle's culture. Between 1918 and 1951, jazz was very popular on Jackson Street. Nearly 24 jazz nightclubs existed in that area.

This scene helped launch the careers of artists like Ray Charles. In the late 20th century, Seattle became famous for rock music. The city was the origin of the grunge subgenre. Famous bands from this era include Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Artists like Jimi Hendrix and the Foo Fighters also come from this city.

The city is a diverse and modern place. It has many residents with Asian, African, and European ancestry.

As of 2015, it had the fifth-highest percentage of LGBT residents among major U.S. cities. Seattle has also used economic cycles to rebuild its infrastructure. It was once called the "Queen City." In 1982, this name was officially changed to the "Emerald City." Today, the city continues to grow as a center for tech and culture.