Federal Way, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Federal Way, Washington
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The Commons at Federal Way shopping center, pictured in 2016
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| Motto(s):
"It's all within reach",
"Centered on opportunity" |
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Location of Federal Way in King County
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Washington | |
| County | King | |
| Incorporated | February 28, 1990 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Mayor–council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 23.72 sq mi (61.43 km2) | |
| • Land | 22.32 sq mi (57.79 km2) | |
| • Water | 1.40 sq mi (3.64 km2) | |
| Elevation | 417 ft (127 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 101,030 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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97,701 | |
| • Rank | US: 344th WA: 10th |
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| • Density | 4,374.49/sq mi (1,689.00/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific (PST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) | |
| ZIP Codes |
98001, 98003, 98023, 98063, 98093
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| Area code(s) | 253 | |
| FIPS code | 53-23515 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2410494 | |
Federal Way is a city in King County, Washington, United States. It is part of the larger Seattle metropolitan area. Federal Way is one of the newest cities in King County. In 2020, about 101,030 people lived there. This makes Federal Way the 10th largest city in Washington state. It is also the 5th largest city in King County.
Contents
History of Federal Way
Federal Way started as a place where people cut down trees for wood. In 1929, the area got its name, "Federal Way," from a school district. The name came from U.S. Route 99. This was a major highway that connected Seattle and Tacoma.
Five schools joined together in 1929 to form Federal Way Public Schools. They planned to build Federal Way High School, which opened in 1930. The local business group started using the name "Federal Way" in the early 1950s.
People tried to make Federal Way an official city several times. They voted on it in 1971, 1981, and 1985, but the idea was turned down. Finally, on February 28, 1990, voters approved making Federal Way a city. The official ceremony happened at a bowling alley!
How Federal Way Grew
After becoming a city, Federal Way looked at nearby areas to add to its size. These areas were called Potential Annexation Areas (PAAs). In 2004, the city added the Northlake, East Redondo, and Parkway neighborhoods. This added over 2,700 people and almost 1 square mile (2.6 square kilometers) to the city.
In 2007, the city wanted to add a large area called East Federal Way. This would have added 20,000 people. It would have made Federal Way the sixth largest city in Washington. However, the people living in that area voted against joining Federal Way. They preferred to stay under King County government.
Geography of Federal Way
Federal Way is located in the southwest part of King County. The city covers about 23.72 square miles (61.43 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with about 1.40 square miles (3.64 square kilometers) being water.
The city has several lakes. These include Steel Lake and Lake Killarney.
Parks and Green Spaces
Federal Way has many great parks for outdoor activities.
- Steel Lake Park is a large park with a lake. It has picnic areas, a playground, and a boat launch.
- Celebration Park has sports fields and wooded trails. It is also a popular spot for Independence Day fireworks.
- Dash Point State Park is the only park in the city right on the water. It has hiking trails and a campground.
- West Hylebos Wetlands Park offers hiking trails through wetlands. You can also see the Barker Cabin, built in 1883. This is the city's oldest known building.
- Dumas Bay Centre Park has a beach, picnic area, and walking trail.
- Lakota Park offers fields for baseball, softball, and football. It also has a running track.
- Saghalie Park has a basketball court, running track, and playground. It also has fields for soccer and football.
- The BPA Trail is a 3-mile (4.8 km) paved path. It follows the Bonneville Power Administration electricity lines.
Federal Way's Climate
Federal Way has warm, dry summers. The average monthly temperatures do not go above 71.6 °F (22 °C). This type of weather is called a warm-summer Mediterranean climate.
Economy and Fun Places
Federal Way was once home to Weyerhaeuser. This was a very large company that owned a lot of timberland. Weyerhaeuser allowed the public to visit some of its land. This included two beautiful gardens: the Rhododendron Species Foundation and Botanical Garden and the Pacific Bonsai Museum. Weyerhaeuser moved its headquarters in 2014. Federal Way is also where the US headquarters of World Vision International is located.
Other fun places in Federal Way include the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center. This center has an Olympic-size swimming pool. It has hosted big events like the 1990 Goodwill Games.
Wild Waves Theme & Water Park is the biggest amusement park in the area. It opened in 1977. It is the only permanent amusement park near Seattle.
The The Commons at Federal Way is the city's main indoor shopping mall. It is located near the city's main highway exit.
Major Employers in Federal Way
Here are some of the biggest employers in Federal Way:
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
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| 1 | Federal Way Public Schools | 2,349 |
| 2 | World Vision International | 1,712 |
| 3 | CHI Franciscan Health - St. Francis Hospital | 996 |
| 4 | United States Postal Service | 600 |
| 5 | Washington Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists | 500 |
| 6 | Walmart Supercenter #3794 | 376 |
| 7 | Community Integrated Services | 364 |
| 8 | Costco | 352 |
| 9 | City of Federal Way | 339 |
| 10 | Virginia Mason Federal Way Medical Center | 325 |
| 11 | Fred Meyer | 303 |
| 12 | Korean Women's Association | 267 |
| 13 | Walmart Discount Store #2571 | 228 |
| 14 | MAKSU Inc. | 220 |
| 15 | The Home Depot | 196 |
Downtown Development
Federal Way has worked on plans to improve its downtown area. The city bought land where an old movie theater used to be. They hoped to build new towers with shops, offices, and homes. These plans faced challenges, but the city kept trying to develop the area.
In 2014, the land was turned into Town Square Park. This park opened in early 2014. North of the park, a new Performing Arts & Event Center (PAEC) was built. It opened in August 2017.
Also in 2014, a 60-foot (18 m) flagpole was put up. It holds a large 15 by 25 foot (4.6 by 7.6 m) flag. The street nearby was named "Veterans Way" to honor veterans.
People of Federal Way
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1990 | 67,554 | — | |
| 2000 | 83,259 | 23.2% | |
| 2010 | 89,306 | 7.3% | |
| 2020 | 101,030 | 13.1% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 97,701 | 9.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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In 2023, Federal Way had about 37,759 households. On average, 2.71 people lived in each home. The average household income was $81,997. About 14.0% of the people in the city lived below the poverty line.
Many different backgrounds make up the people of Federal Way. Some of the most common ancestries reported include German, Subsaharan African, English, and Irish. The average age in the city was 38.6 years.
2020 Census Information
| Race / ethnicity (NH = non-Hispanic) | Pop. 1990 | Pop. 2000 | Pop. 2010 | Pop. 2020 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White alone (NH) | 57,339 | 55,050 | 46,102 | 38,897 | 84.88% | 66.12% | 51.62% | 38.50% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 2,643 | 6,439 | 8,406 | 14,177 | 3.91% | 7.73% | 9.41% | 14.03% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 551 | 639 | 625 | 582 | 0.82% | 0.77% | 0.70% | 0.58% |
| Asian alone (NH) | – | 10,156 | 12,521 | 15,469 | – | 12.20% | 14.02% | 15.31% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | – | 840 | 2,331 | 4,031 | – | 1.01% | 2.61% | 3.99% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 79 | 168 | 207 | 570 | 0.11% | 0.20% | 0.23% | 0.56% |
| Mixed race or multiracial (NH) | – | 3,701 | 4,638 | 7,038 | – | 4.45% | 5.19% | 6.97% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2,210 | 6,266 | 14,476 | 20,266 | 3.27% | 7.53% | 16.21% | 20.06% |
| Total | 67,554 | 83,259 | 89,306 | 101,030 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
According to the 2020 census, Federal Way had 101,030 people. There were 36,140 households and 24,280 families. About 23.0% of residents were under 18 years old. Also, 14.2% were 65 or older.
City Government
Federal Way has a mayor–council type of government. This means there is a mayor and a city council. The city council has seven members. They are elected for four-year terms. The mayor is elected separately. Jim Ferrell has been the mayor since 2013. He was re-elected in 2017 and 2021.
Local News
Federal Way has its own newspaper called the Federal Way Mirror. The city also gets news from larger media in Seattle and Tacoma.
Transportation
Getting Around Federal Way
Federal Way is served by Interstate 5 (I-5). This major highway has exits at 348th Street, 320th Street, and 272nd Street. State Route 99 (SR 99) also runs through the city.
The Federal Way Transit Center is a hub for public transportation. It opened in 2006. Buses from King County Metro, Pierce Transit, and Sound Transit Express use this center. The bus station moved to a new spot in March 2025. This was to prepare for a new Link light rail station. The light rail extension began construction in 2020. It is expected to open in 2026. This will connect Federal Way to other cities like SeaTac by light rail.
Famous People from Federal Way
Many notable people have lived in Federal Way. These include:
- Tony Barnette, a professional baseball player
- Mario Batali, a chef and TV personality
- J. R. Celski, an Olympic speed skater
- Sylvia Day, a novelist
- Benson Henderson, a mixed martial artist
- Floyd Little, a professional American football player
- Apolo Ohno, an Olympic speed skater
- Mike Pellicciotti, the Washington State Treasurer
- Kelyn Rowe, a professional soccer player
- Iam Tongi, a singer
Sister Cities
Federal Way has special connections with cities in other countries. These are called sister cities:
Donghae, South Korea
Hachinohe, Japan
Rivne, Ukraine
See also
In Spanish: Federal Way (Washington) para niños
