It’s been a few months since our last post in the “Great American Cities” series, but today we’re bringing it back by heading to the home of grunge music and Starbucks – Seattle.

Name – Seattle is one of the only major cities in the US to be named after a Native American chief. He belonged to the Duwamish tribe and he was a great military strategist, public speaker, and diplomat. His name was pronounced “see-ahlsh” in his native language, but it was anglicized as it was difficult for English speakers to pronounce.

Location – The city is located in the Pacific Northwest region of the US in the state of Washington. It’s situated on an isthmus between Puget Sound and Lake Washington, about 100 miles south of the Canada-US border.

Nicknames – Seattle is called the “Emerald City” because the city and the surrounding area are filled with greenery. You can even find full forests within the city limits! Other nicknames include the “Jet City” as the Boeing aircraft company is located here, and “Rain City” for its frequent cloudy and rainy weather. Some Seattleites think the city needs a new nickname, though. Read about ten possible new nicknames and see which you like.

Year Founded – What is now known as Seattle has been inhabited by Native Americans for thousands of years. By the time European settlers arrived, there were people living in at least seventeen villages in the area. The founding of Seattle is usually dated to 1851. The exact date is in dispute, as two different parties arrived in the area around the same time.

Population – The 2015 estimate has Seattle’s population just under 685,000. Historically, the population of Seattle has been predominantly white. Things are changing, however. In 1960, whites accounted for 91% of the population. As of the 2010 census, non-Hispanic whites made up just 66%. The city also has a large Asian population at around 14%. The African American population is around 8% and Hispanics 6.5%.

Transportation – For such a large city, Seattle is fairly easy to get around. The public transportation here is among the best in the country. The city has a light rail, street cars, monorail, and plenty of buses. It’s also a great city for cyclists and pedestrians – just be prepared for the hills and the rain! For traveling to and from the city, there’s Sea-Tac Airport, an Amtrak train station, and plenty of long distance bus lines.

Famous Places – The most famous landmark in Seattle is without a doubt the Space Needle. Built for the 1962 World’s Fair, it looks like a spaceship on stilts. You can get a great view of the city from the top, at least on a clear day.

Pike Place Market has been in business since 1907 selling a wide variety of items. It’s most famous for its “flying fish” – seafood vendors toss fish to each other to entertain visitors.

Thanks to its location, Seattle is all about getting out on the water or in nature. You can really take in the sights of the city by heading out on a sailing tour.

While it’s not exactly in Seattle, Mt. Rainier is definitely one of the most famous places in the area. It’s a national park, and it’s also one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world.

Culture – Seattle is home to a wide variety of museums. You can visit the Art Museum or the Asian Art Museum, the Pacific Science Center, and the Experience Music Project, among others.

At the EMP, you can learn all about the Seattle Sound. Many famous musicians were from Seattle, such as Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana. Grunge music was born here, and you can learn all about it at EMP.

You don’t have to go into a museum to see works of art in Seattle. The city is home to plenty of public art, including the interesting Fremont Troll and a somewhat odd statue of Vladimir Lenin. You can also catch a performance of some sort just about any night in Seattle, whether it’s opera, jazz, or rock & roll.

Sports – Seattle has teams in three men’s professional sports:

• NFL – Seattle Seahawks
• MLB – Seattle Marines
• MLS – Seattle Sounders

The Seahawks have had a lot of success in recent years. They made it to the Super Bowl in 2005, ’13, and ’14, winning the championship in ’13 by defeating the Denver Broncos. The city used to have an NBA team – the Seattle SuperSonics – but they moved to Oklahoma City after the 2007-08 season and became the Thunder. Seattle is also home to two professional women’s teams – the Seattle Storm (WNBA) and Seattle Reign (National Women’s Soccer League).

 

Have you ever been to Seattle? What did you think of the city? What did you do while you were there? Leave a comment and let us know!