Greenwood, Seattle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Greenwood
Seattle Neighborhood
Aerial view of Greenwood, 1969
Greenwood
Country	United States
State	Washington
County	King
City	Seattle
Zip Code	98103, 98117, 98133

Greenwood is a lively neighborhood in north central Seattle, Washington. It's famous for its many fun places like restaurants, coffee shops, and stores. The main streets are Greenwood Avenue North and N. 85th Street. These streets are where most of the action happens!

Every year, Greenwood hosts two big events. The "Greenwood Car Show" happens in June and shows off cool cars. The "Greenwood Seafair Parade" takes place in July. Both events bring thousands of visitors to the neighborhood.

Where is Greenwood?

Greenwood is located in Seattle. To the east, you'll find Licton Springs. To the north are Broadview and Bitter Lake. On the west side is Crown Hill. To the south, you'll find Phinney Ridge. Greenwood and Phinney Ridge often work together on community events.

Schools and Services

Greenwood has great schools and public services.

Local Schools

The neighborhood is part of the Seattle Public Schools system. While there isn't a high school right in Greenwood, several are close by. These include Nathan Hale, Roosevelt, Ballard, and Ingraham. Within Greenwood, you'll find Greenwood Elementary and St. John Catholic School.

Public Services

Greenwood has its own branch of the Seattle Public Library. It first opened in 1928. The current library building was finished in 2005 and updated in 2017. For outdoor fun, the City of Seattle maintains Sandel Park and Greenwood Park. The neighborhood also has its own post office.

Greenwood's Ground

The center of Greenwood sits on a special type of ground called peat. Peat is made from old, dead plants that have built up over time. This area was shaped like a bowl after the last ice age, and water filled it with these plants.

Ground Stability

When water is taken out of the ground, the peat can squish down. This causes buildings to settle, and it can't be undone. New buildings and roads can also send rainwater into city sewers. This can make the ground less stable. In 2008, the city started encouraging building methods that help keep the ground water stable. This helps reduce building settlement.

Sometimes, streets and sidewalks in Greenwood have been damaged because the ground settles unevenly. In 2012, the city rebuilt North 85th Street. They also repaved much of Greenwood Avenue North. Many sidewalks were fixed, but you can still see signs of older damage.

Greenwood's Past

Greenwood was first called Woodland. It changed its name to Greenwood in 1907. In the early 1900s, Greenwood Avenue was busy with streetcars. It also had a special train line that connected Seattle to Everett.

Neighborhood Growth

The part of Greenwood north of 85th Street joined Seattle in 1954. People who lived there hoped the city would build sidewalks. However, many streets north of 85th Street still don't have sidewalks today.

Major Events

Greenwood has experienced some big events in its history.

Fires in 2009

In 2009, several large fires happened in the heart of Greenwood. One fire in August badly hurt a person and caused a lot of damage. The biggest fire, in October, destroyed a building on N 85th Street. Four businesses were lost: the Green Bean Coffee house, Phở Tic Tac, Szechuan Bistro, and C.C. Teriyaki. A nearby historic building, home to the Taproot Theatre Company, was also damaged. More fires happened in November, causing damage to other businesses.

Explosion in 2016

On March 9, 2016, a natural gas leak caused a huge explosion. It destroyed three small buildings on Greenwood Avenue. Several firefighters were also hurt. The businesses lost included Neptune Coffee, Mr. Gyros restaurant, and a Quick Stop store. The damage was estimated to be around $3 million. Many other buildings nearby also had broken windows and other damage.

Notable People

• Michael McGinn, who was the Mayor of Seattle from 2010 to 2013.

Images for kids

• 

  Looking east on 85th Street in the Greenwood neighborhood from Palatine in 1957. The Grand cinema is now (2013) the Taproot Theatre.

• 

  Aftermath of the 2016 explosion, looking to the northwest on Greenwood Avenue North, at the corner of N 84th Street.