Central District, Seattle facts for kids
The Central Area (often called the Central District or The CD) is a neighborhood in Seattle, Washington. It's mostly a place where people live, located east of downtown and First Hill. To its west are Madrona, Leschi, and Mt. Baker. To the south is Capitol Hill, and to the north is Rainier Valley. For a long time, the Central District has been known for its many different cultures and people. It was once the main center for Seattle's Black community and a busy place for African-American businesses.
Quick facts for kids
Central District, Seattle
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Seattle Neighborhood
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Firehouse Mini Park and the Cherry Hill Community Center: the former Firehouse No. 23, headquarters of the Central Area Motivation Program. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places.
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| Nicknames:
Central Area, CD
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Central District Highlighted in Pink
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | King |
| City | Seattle |
| Zip Code |
98122
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| Area Code | 206 |
Contents
History of the Central District
The Central District has a rich history with many changes over the years. Different groups of people have lived here, making it a very diverse place.
Early Development and Black Community
In 1882, a businessman named William Grose bought land in the area. He was already well-known in Seattle. Grose helped make the Central District a home for African-American families. He sold parts of his land to other Black families. He also had a small farm there, growing food for his hotel. The area was very wooded back then and slowly grew.
In 1889, the Madison Street Cable Car started running. This made it easier for more Black families to move into the area. Some people say that after more Black people moved in, some white families moved out.
Redlining and Community Boundaries
Around 1927, some white homeowners tried to use a practice called "redlining." This was a way to make it harder for certain people to buy or rent homes in specific areas. However, the Central District was already home to African-American, Jewish, and Asian families. This was because of how William Grose had sold his land. So, this effort mostly kept these groups from buying land elsewhere.
Jewish Community in the Central District
In the early 1900s, the Central District also became a strong Jewish neighborhood. Jewish residents built Temple De Hirsch on Union Street in 1907. Today, Temple De Hirsch Sinai is a successor to that original temple. Other former Jewish places of worship in the area include the old Sephardic Bikur Holim synagogue and Herzl Congregation synagogue.
Japanese-American Community and World War II
Later, the Central District became home to many Japanese-Americans. You can still see their history in the blocks between 14th and 18th Avenues. Places like Faith Bible Church, the Buddhist Church, and Wisteria Park show this strong Japanese presence.
During World War II, a sad event happened. A special order from the president, Executive Order 9066, forced Japanese-American citizens to leave their homes. They were sent to special camps called internment camps. This meant all Japanese residents were taken from their homes in the Central District.
Changing Population Today
In recent years, the Central District's population is changing again. Families with lower incomes are moving to areas further south. At the same time, more people with higher incomes are moving into the Central District. This is happening because homes in nearby neighborhoods like Capitol Hill are becoming very expensive. Also, it's easier to get to work from the Central District.
Because of these changes, the homes in the Central District are very mixed. Some houses are old and need repairs, while others have been recently fixed up. Many older houses are being replaced by new multi-unit buildings like townhouses and condominiums. The neighborhood is a good place to live because it's easy to get to major highways and Downtown Seattle. There's also plenty of street parking.
Even with these changes, many local people still think of the Central District as a mostly African-American area. This is because the neighborhood has a deep Black history. It is home to the Northwest African American Museum. The Liberty Bank Building is also here, which was Seattle's first bank owned by Black people. You can also find Medgar Evers Pool and the Second Headquarters of the Seattle Black Panther Party.
In 2022, the William Grose Center for Cultural Innovation and Enterprise opened. This center is in the old Fire Station 6. This building was once home to Seattle's first Black firefighters. It was empty for a long time until a group called Africatown Community Land Trust leased it for 99 years.
In the early 1960s, the Central District was a very important place for the civil rights movement in Seattle. In 1963, people protested against unfair treatment based on race. They also held a sit-in in downtown Seattle. At the same time, the Black Panther Party used the neighborhood as a base for their activities.
As of 2010, the Central District had about 29,868 people. About 59.6% were White, 21.4% were Black or African-American, and 9.1% were Asian. Other groups made up the rest of the population. About 7.3% of the people were Hispanic or Latino.
Notable Residents
Many interesting people have lived in the Central District:
- William Grose
- Ernestine Anderson
- Linda Emery
- Jimi Hendrix
- Quincy Jones
- Kyle Townsend
- Bruce Lee
- Rose McGowan
- Brandon Roy
- Isaiah Stanback
- Sir Mix-a-Lot
- Kip Tokuda
- NoClue
- DeCharlene Williams
- Omari Salisbury
Getting Around: Transportation
The Central District has several main roads. Martin Luther King Jr. Way ("MLK") is on its east side. 12th Avenue and Rainier Avenue are on its west side. 23rd Avenue is a main street that runs north and south through the neighborhood. Other important streets include E. Union, E. Cherry, E. Jefferson, E. Yesler Way, and S. Jackson.
Public Transit Options
King County Metro runs many bus routes in the Central District. These buses connect the neighborhood to Downtown Seattle, Capitol Hill, Mount Baker, and the University District.
The RapidRide G Line is a special bus route that started in September 2024. It has fewer stops and gets you where you're going faster. This route serves the northern part of the neighborhood on Madison Street. Route 48, which runs along 23rd Avenue, is a main bus route for the area. It is planned to become an electric trolleybus route by 2026. This means it will run on electricity from overhead wires. It might even become a RapidRide route in the future.
The 2 Line is a Link light rail train line. It is planned to extend into Seattle in late 2025. There will be a station called Judkins Park in the southern part of the Central District. This station is located in the middle of Interstate 90.
Parks and Green Spaces
The Central District has at least 18 public parks and community green spaces. Some well-known parks include:
- T.T. Minor Playground
- Firehouse Mini Park
- Garfield Playfield
- Pratt Park
- Dr. Blanche Lavizzo Park
- Judkins Park and Playfield
- Judkins Skatepark
- Jimi Hendrix Park
- William Grose Park
- Sam Smith Park
The Central District also has four "P-Patch" Community Gardens. These are places where people can grow their own plants and vegetables. They are:
- Immaculate P-Patch (at E Columbia Street and 18th Avenue)
- Squire Park (at 14th Avenue and E Fir Street)
- Climbing Water (at 800 Hiawatha Pl S)
- Judkins (at 24th Avenue S and S Norman Street)
Important Places and Buildings
The Central District is home to many important landmarks and institutions.
Landmarks and Institutions
- Northwest African American Museum
- Bullitt Center
- Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center
- The Nova Project
- Washington Hall
Schools
- Garfield High School
Restaurants, Bars & Shops
- Ezell's Chicken
- DeCharlene's Beauty Salon
- Quick Pack Food Mart
