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Houghton, Washington facts for kids

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Houghton is a lovely neighborhood in the city of Kirkland, Washington. It sits right next to Lake Washington, offering beautiful views. Most homes here are large, single-family houses. Houghton is known as one of the wealthier areas on the Eastside of Seattle.

The village was named after Willard Houghton, who worked with lumber in the area. Houghton officially became a town in 1948. By 1950, about 1,065 people lived there. In 1968, Houghton joined Kirkland. It was special because it became the first community in Washington to have a neighborhood council, which helps local people have a say in their area.

The Seattle Seahawks football team used to have their main offices in Houghton, close to Northwest University. They moved to Renton in 2008. Important roads that go through Houghton include 108th Avenue NE, Lakeview Drive, and Lake Street. You can also find fun places like Houghton Beach Park, Marsh Park (both by the lake), and Watershed Park.

Houghton's Shipbuilding Past

Launching of the ferry "Issaquah," 1914 (MOHAI 6470)
Launch of the Anderson Steamboat Company ferry Issaquah, Houghton, 1914.

Many years ago, Houghton was a busy place for building ships. Several large shipbuilding companies were located here. One famous company was Lake Washington Shipyards, which even built ships for the U.S. Navy. Another was the Anderson Steamboat Company.

Houghton is located directly across the lake from where the Sand Point Naval Air Station used to be. This naval base closed in the 1970s. At one time, there was also a dock in Houghton where people could catch the Lake Washington ferries. These ferries helped people travel across the lake.

Stewart Heights was a neighborhood just east of the old Burlington Northern train tracks. Many workers who built ships in Houghton lived in this area. Today, the land where the shipyards once stood is now a modern business park called Carillon Point.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Houghton (Washington) para niños

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