Burien, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Burien, Washington
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Location of Burien in King County
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Washington | |
| County | King | |
| Incorporated | February 28, 1993 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Council–manager | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 11.19 sq mi (28.98 km2) | |
| • Land | 10.04 sq mi (26.00 km2) | |
| • Water | 1.15 sq mi (2.98 km2) | |
| Elevation | 377 ft (115 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 52,066 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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50,730 | |
| • Rank | US: 791st WA: 25th |
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| • Density | 5,053.07/sq mi (1,951.01/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific (PST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) | |
| ZIP Codes |
98062, 98146, 98148, 98166, 98168
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| Area code(s) | 206 | |
| FIPS code | 53-08850 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 1534570 | |
Burien (/ˈbjʊəriən/ bure-EE-ən) is a city in King County, Washington. It is located just south of Seattle on Puget Sound. In 2020, Burien had a population of 52,066 people. This was a big increase since it became a city in 1993. Burien is now the 25th largest city in Washington.
Contents
Burien's History
Early Settlers in Burien
European settlers first came to the Burien area in 1864. George Ouellet, from French Canada, bought land here. He had arrived in the Washington Territory in 1858.
A few years later, George Ouellet married Elizabeth Cushner. She was 14 and born in the Washington Territory. They started a family together.
A fun local story says that an early settler named Mike Kelly gave the area its first name. He came out of the trees and said, "This is truly a sunny dale." Some older residents still call the area Sunnydale today.
How Burien Got Its Name
In 1884, Gottlieb Burian and his wife Emma arrived in Sunnydale. They were German immigrants who owned taverns in Seattle. At that time, Sunnydale had no good roads or shops. You could only reach it by trails.
Gottlieb Burian built a cabin by Lake Burien. He is said to have helped form the community into a town. The town was named after him, though the spelling changed over time. A real estate office was built, bringing many new people to Burien.
In the early 1900s, people from Seattle visited Three Tree Point. They came by ferry to swim and enjoy the sun.
The Toonerville Trolley
In 1915, the Lake Burien Railway was finished. It ran from Burien to White Center and then to Seattle. A small passenger train ran on these tracks. People lovingly called it the Toonerville Trolley.
However, the tracks often became slippery. In summer, squished caterpillars caused problems. In winter, ice made the tracks unsafe. So, the Toonerville Trolley was soon removed.
Becoming a City
People in the Burien area tried to become an official city many times. These attempts failed for a while. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, citizens felt they needed their own local government. They wanted to have a say in important issues.
One big concern was the airport's plan to add a new runway. This was at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, which is nearby. People also felt there were too many apartments being built. They wanted a local voice to address these concerns.
Because of these reasons, the city of Burien officially became incorporated on February 28, 1993. Voters approved this change.
Growing Bigger: Annexation
In 2004, Burien looked into adding North Highline to its city limits. This area includes White Center and Boulevard Park. If this happened, Burien would double in size.
Many citizens were against this idea. They held protests and signed petitions. But others thought it was a good idea. They felt parts of North Highline should have been part of Burien from the start.
In 2008, Burien decided to annex the southern part of North Highline. This area had about 14,000 residents. The city of Seattle disagreed with this plan at first. But after talks, Burien's plan was approved in 2009.
On April 1, 2010, southern North Highline officially became part of Burien. This added about 14,292 new residents. It made Burien the 25th largest city in Washington State.
Burien tried to annex the northern part of North Highline in 2012. However, the residents in that area voted against it.
Downtown Burien Today
In 2017, the Town Square development was finished in downtown Burien. It has shops, apartments, and a senior living center. There is also a King County Library branch there.
Burien City Hall is located on the top floor of the library building. Town Square Park is in the middle of the square. It has a spray park for kids and a special garden that collects rainwater.
Burien's Geography
Burien is located in western King County. It is next to Seattle and the communities of White Center and Boulevard Park. To the east are Tukwila and SeaTac. To the south is Normandy Park. To the west is Puget Sound.
The city covers about 13.23 square miles (34.26 square kilometers). Most of this is land, but 5.81 square miles (15.05 square kilometers) is water.
Burien has about 5.5 miles (8.9 km) of shoreline along Puget Sound. Lake Burien is also located within the city. This lake is owned by the state. It is surrounded by private homes, so there is no public access to it.
"Olde Burien" is a special area around SW 152nd Street. It has unique shops and restaurants. These places show the interesting mix of people and interests in the town.
Burien's People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1980 | 23,189 | — | |
| 1990 | 25,089 | 8.2% | |
| 2000 | 31,881 | 27.1% | |
| 2010 | 33,313 | 4.5% | |
| 2020 | 52,066 | 56.3% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 50,730 | 52.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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In 2022, there were about 19,903 homes in Burien. On average, there were 2.56 people living in each home. The average income for a household in the city was $84,583.
About 11.4% of the people in Burien live below the poverty line. This means they have a very low income. About 67.9% of the people in Burien have jobs. Most adults (83.8%) have a high school diploma. About 29.9% have a college degree or higher.
The most common backgrounds reported were English, Spanish, Asian, and Pacific Islander. The average age of people in Burien was 39.5 years old.
Population in 2020
In 2020, Burien had 52,066 people and 19,364 households.
Population in 2010
In 2010, there were 33,313 people living in Burien. There were 13,253 households. The city had a mix of different races and backgrounds. About 20.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age in the city was 38.5 years. About 22.4% of residents were under 18 years old.
Education in Burien
Burien is part of the Highline School District. High schools in Burien include Highline High School, Big Picture, CHOICE Academy, and the Puget Sound Skills Center. There are also many middle schools. St. Francis is a well-known private school. John F. Kennedy Catholic High School is also in Burien.
Local Media and Libraries
The city has a local newspaper called the Highline Times. It started in 1945.
The King County Library System runs the Burien Library. This large library opened in 2009. There is also a smaller community library called the Boulevard Park Library. It has been around since 1937.
Transportation in Burien
King County Metro provides public transportation in Burien. Buses connect the city to places like Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, Bellevue, Downtown Seattle, and West Seattle. You can also take buses to Kent, Auburn, Renton, Normandy Park, Des Moines, and Tukwila.
The Burien Transit Center was built between 2008 and 2009. It is a hub for these bus services.
The city is located where State Route 509 and State Route 518 meet. This is just northwest of the airport. Other main roads like Ambaum Boulevard connect downtown Burien to areas north of the city.
Famous People from Burien
- Jerry Cantrell, musician
- Sean Kinney, musician
- Kristina McMorris, author
- Ann Rule, true-crime author
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See also
In Spanish: Burien (Washington) para niños
