Issaquah, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Issaquah
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Aerial view of Issaquah from the northwest
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Location of Issaquah, Washington
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 Issaquah, Washington
Location in Washington (state)
Issaquah, Washington
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | King |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 13.18 sq mi (34.14 km2) |
| • Land | 12.13 sq mi (31.42 km2) |
| • Water | 1.05 sq mi (2.72 km2) |
| Elevation | 108 ft (33 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 40,051 |
| • Estimate
(2022)
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39,344 |
| • Density | 3,038.8/sq mi (1,173.14/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP codes |
98027, 98029, 98075
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| Area code(s) | 425 |
| Sales Tax | 10.10% |
| GNIS feature ID | 1512327 |
Issaquah is a city in King County, Washington, United States. It's located in a valley, with the Sammamish Plateau to the north and the "Issaquah Alps" to the south. Issaquah is famous for being the home of Costco Wholesale Corporation's main office. It's also part of the larger Seattle metropolitan area. In 2020, about 40,051 people lived here.
Contents
Discover Issaquah's Past
The name "Issaquah" comes from a Native American word, /sqʷáxʷ/. It means things like "the sound of birds," "snake," or "little stream." The area was once called "Squak Valley," which also came from this same Native American name.
In September 1885, there was a sad event in the area. Some Chinese workers who came to pick hops were attacked. Three of them died.
The town was briefly called Gilman, named after Daniel Hunt Gilman, who brought railways to the area. But soon after, it went back to being called Issaquah.
The city officially became a city on April 29, 1892. It started as a small mining town, digging for coal in the nearby mountains. When the coal ran out, the town became a center for the lumber business. Companies would send timber from Issaquah to Seattle and other growing towns. After the Great Depression, the town became quieter.
Later in the 20th century, companies like Boeing provided many jobs. Then, Microsoft and other tech companies moved into nearby cities like Redmond and later to Issaquah itself. In 1996, Costco moved its main office to Issaquah from Kirkland.
Issaquah's Location and Landscape
Issaquah is about 15 miles (24 km) southeast of Seattle, near the south end of Lake Sammamish. Its neighbors are Bellevue to the west and Sammamish to the north. The city is part of the beautiful Mountains to Sound Greenway.
The city covers about 11.40 square miles (29.53 sq km). Most of this is land, with a small amount of water.
Issaquah is surrounded by three mountains, often called the Issaquah Alps: Cougar Mountain to the west, Squak Mountain to the south, and Tiger Mountain to the southeast. To the north is Lake Sammamish. Parts of these mountains have homes, but most of them are protected as parks, like Squak Mountain State Park and Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park. These mountains are different from the Cascade Range because they weren't formed by volcanoes. Scientists believe they are much older mountains that have worn down over time.
Issaquah's Climate
Issaquah has a climate with cool, very wet winters and warm, somewhat humid summers. Even though there isn't a completely dry season, winters get much more rain than summers.
| Climate data for Issaquah, Washington | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 67 (19) |
75 (24) |
79 (26) |
90 (32) |
97 (36) |
108 (42) |
100 (38) |
102 (39) |
98 (37) |
95 (35) |
75 (24) |
67 (19) |
108 (42) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 47 (8) |
50 (10) |
54 (12) |
58 (14) |
64 (18) |
69 (21) |
75 (24) |
76 (24) |
70 (21) |
60 (16) |
51 (11) |
45 (7) |
60 (16) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 36 (2) |
35 (2) |
37 (3) |
40 (4) |
46 (8) |
51 (11) |
54 (12) |
53 (12) |
48 (9) |
43 (6) |
38 (3) |
34 (1) |
43 (6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −1 (−18) |
−3 (−19) |
8 (−13) |
24 (−4) |
26 (−3) |
31 (−1) |
36 (2) |
35 (2) |
30 (−1) |
23 (−5) |
2 (−17) |
3 (−16) |
−3 (−19) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 8.85 (225) |
5.61 (142) |
6.26 (159) |
4.81 (122) |
4.01 (102) |
2.94 (75) |
1.37 (35) |
1.29 (33) |
2.85 (72) |
5.69 (145) |
10.12 (257) |
8.45 (215) |
62.19 (1,580) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 2.9 (7.4) |
3.1 (7.9) |
1.2 (3.0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
1.6 (4.1) |
2.8 (7.1) |
11.6 (29) |
| Source: Weather.com | |||||||||||||
Issaquah's Economy
The main office for the large store Costco has been in Issaquah since 1996. Other big employers in Issaquah include Microsoft, Siemens Medical Solutions (which makes ultrasound equipment), Boehm's Candies, and Darigold. The clothing company SanMar also has its main office here.
Issaquah's Population and Growth
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 700 | — | |
| 1910 | 628 | −10.3% | |
| 1920 | 791 | 26.0% | |
| 1930 | 763 | −3.5% | |
| 1940 | 812 | 6.4% | |
| 1950 | 955 | 17.6% | |
| 1960 | 1,870 | 95.8% | |
| 1970 | 4,313 | 130.6% | |
| 1980 | 5,536 | 28.4% | |
| 1990 | 7,786 | 40.6% | |
| 2000 | 11,212 | 44.0% | |
| 2010 | 30,434 | 171.4% | |
| 2020 | 40,051 | 31.6% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 39,344 | 29.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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In 2021, the average income for families in Issaquah was about $115,814. The city has grown a lot! Between 2000 and 2005, Issaquah was the 6th fastest-growing community in Washington state. Forbes.com even said it was the 2nd fastest-growing suburb in the state and 89th in the whole country.
What the 2010 Census Showed
In 2010, there were 30,434 people living in Issaquah. About 74.7% of the people were White, and 17.5% were Asian. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 5.8% of the population.
The average age in the city was 36.8 years old. About 23.7% of residents were under 18. The population has continued to grow, reaching 40,051 people by the 2020 census.
Getting Around Issaquah
Highways and Roads
Interstate 90 cuts through Issaquah. This highway goes all the way from Seattle to Boston. Washington State Route 900 also connects Issaquah to nearby Renton. Sometimes, traffic can be heavy on Front Street in downtown Issaquah.
Public Transportation
Buses run by King County Metro serve Issaquah. There are also regional Sound Transit buses that go to Seattle and Bellevue. You can find two main park-and-ride lots in the city, where people can park their cars and take the bus.
Since 1995, there was a free bus route (route 200) that helped people get around Issaquah's business and community areas. This helped reduce traffic.
Looking to the future, Sound Transit plans to build a Link light rail line to Issaquah from Bellevue. This train service is expected to start around 2041.
Fun Things to Do in Issaquah
Exploring the Issaquah Alps
The Issaquah Alps are mountains and hills around Issaquah. They have many hiking trails and offer great outdoor activities. The main peaks are Tiger Mountain, Cougar Mountain, and Squak Mountain. If you like adventure, paragliders and hang gliders sometimes launch from Poo Poo Point on Tiger Mountain! Shuttle buses called Trailhead Direct can take you to popular hiking spots.
Riding the Issaquah Valley Trolley
The Issaquah Valley Trolley is a historic trolley ride run by the Issaquah Historical Society. It used to take people on a short trip from the old Issaquah Depot to Gilman Village. The trolley started offering public rides in 2012 and ran seasonally on weekends until November 2020.
Enjoying Shows at Village Theatre
The Village Theatre has been putting on live plays in downtown Issaquah since 1979. It started in an old movie theater and then built its main stage in 1993. The Village Theatre is a professional theater and also has another theater in Everett.
Visiting the Salmon Hatchery and Festival
The Issaquah Salmon Hatchery is a special place on Issaquah Creek. It was built in 1936 and helps raise Chinook and Coho salmon. It's the most visited hatchery in Washington, with about 350,000 visitors each year!
Every October, Issaquah holds the Issaquah Salmon Days festival. This two-day event celebrates the salmon returning to the area. It includes a parade, arts and crafts, live music, and sports. In 2005, over 400,000 people attended the festival!
Discovering Animals at Cougar Mountain Zoo
The Cougar Mountain Zoo is located west of Issaquah on the side of Cougar Mountain. It opened in 1972 and is home to many endangered birds and animals. You can see cougars, lemurs, reindeer, wallabies, and even Bengal tiger cubs there!
Shopping at Gilman Village
Gilman Village is a unique shopping center that opened in 1972. It's made up of old houses and buildings that were moved and fixed up to become independent shops and restaurants. There are 27 buildings with all sorts of specialty stores.
Visiting High Alpine Chapel
The High Alpine Chapel opened in 1981 at the Boehm's candy shop near downtown Issaquah. It looks like a 12th-century Swiss church and can hold 57 people. It also has a special memorial for mountaineers who have passed away.
Education in Issaquah
Public schools in Issaquah and the surrounding areas serve about 21,358 students. The Issaquah School District runs 28 schools. This district also includes parts of Sammamish and Renton.
Healthcare Services
Swedish Medical Center opened a large hospital and healthcare center in the Issaquah Highlands in November 2011. It has 175 beds for patients and a 24-hour emergency room. The campus also has offices for doctors and special care facilities.
Famous People from Issaquah
- Stella Alexander, the first female mayor
- Ray Allen, former basketball player
- Isaac Brock, musician from Modest Mouse
- Jay Buhner, former baseball player
- Bryan Clay, Olympic athlete (decathlon)
- Ken Griffey Jr., former baseball player
- Byron Howard, animated film director
- Patrick Monahan, lead singer of the band Train
- J. J. Putz, baseball player
- Kyle Seager, baseball player
- Ichiro Suzuki, former baseball player
Sister Cities
Issaquah has two sister cities:
Sunndal, Norway
Chefchaouen, Morocco (since 2007)
See also
In Spanish: Issaquah para niños
