Kent, Washington facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kent, Washington
City
Kent Station, Kent Regional Library (top right) and Kent Sounder Station in 2009
Logo
Location of Kent in King County, Washington
Country	United States
State	Washington
County	King
Incorporated	May 28, 1890
Government
• Type	Mayor–council
Area
• Total	34.41 sq mi (89.12 km2)
• Land	33.83 sq mi (87.63 km2)
• Water	0.58 sq mi (1.51 km2)
Elevation	43 ft (13 m)
Highest elevation	500 ft (152 m)
Lowest elevation	0 ft (0 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	136,588
• Estimate  (2023)	133,378
• Rank	US: 216th WA: 6th
• Density	3,970/sq mi (1,534/km2)
Time zone	UTC–8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC–7 (PDT)
ZIP Codes	98030, 98031, 98032, 98035, 98042, 98064, 98089
Area code(s)	253
FIPS code	53-35415
GNIS feature ID	1530952

Kent is a city in King County, Washington, United States. It's part of the larger Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue area. In 2020, about 136,588 people lived there. This makes Kent the 6th largest city in Washington state. You can easily get to nearby cities like Seattle and Tacoma from Kent by car, train, or bus.

Kent was officially made a city in 1890. It's the second oldest city in King County, right after Seattle. The city has three main parts: West Hill, which has homes and businesses; the Valley, mostly for factories and shops, with parks along the Green River; and East Hill, which is mostly residential with stores.

History of Kent, Washington

Early Settlers and Town Names

The first European American settlers arrived in the Kent area in the 1850s. They built their homes along the White River. Samuel Russell was one of the first, claiming land in 1853. More settlers followed, and the area was first called "White River." Later, it was named "Titusville" after James Henry Titus, an early settler. You can still see a "Titusville Station" sign in downtown Kent today.

In 1861, a post office opened at the farm of David and Irena Neely. They had settled in Kent in 1854. In 1855, their farm was attacked by Native Americans. By 1870, about 277 people lived in the area.

Hops and the City's Name

In the 1860s and 1870s, farmers grew crops like wheat and oats. But in the late 1870s, they found a new way to make money: hops. Hops are used to make beer. An insect problem in Europe made hops from the Puget Sound area very valuable. Farmers shipped hops by river or train from Titusville.

In 1889, the town was renamed "Kent." This name came from the County of Kent in England, which was famous for growing hops. Ezra Meeker, a local pioneer, suggested the name. He called Kent the "Hop Capital of the West." However, a hop aphid invasion in 1891 ended hop farming in the area.

Kent officially became a city on May 28, 1890. It had a population of 793 people.

Growth and Industry Changes

After 1900, the area became known for dairy farming. A Carnation condensed milk factory was built here. Flooding from the Green and White Rivers was a big problem. In 1906, the White River changed its path, which helped reduce some flooding. The Green River continued to flood until the Howard A. Hanson Dam was built in 1962.

During the Great Depression, Kent was called the "Lettuce Capital of the World." After WWII, Kent grew much faster. From 1953 to 1960, the city's size grew twelve times! In 1965, Boeing started building facilities in Kent. Other aerospace and technology companies soon followed.

Today, the Greater Kent Historical Society works to preserve the city's history. The Kent Historical Museum is located in the historic Bereiter house, which belonged to one of Kent's early mayors.

Geography and Surroundings

Aerial view of Kent, looking west to east. All three main sections of the city are visible (West Hill, Valley and East Hill) with downtown near the center of the image.

Kent is in southern King County, Washington. It is part of the Seattle metropolitan area. The city has three main parts: West Hill, the Kent Valley, and East Hill. Downtown Kent is in the valley, about 16 miles from downtown Seattle.

Kent is surrounded by several other cities. Renton is to the north, Covington to the east, and Auburn to the south. To the west, you'll find Federal Way, Des Moines, and SeaTac. Tukwila is to the north.

The city covers about 34.41 square miles. Most of this is land, with about 0.58 square miles of water.

Waterways and Natural Landmarks

The Green River flows north through Kent. It eventually reaches Puget Sound. The largest lake in Kent is Lake Meridian, located on East Hill. Clark Lake and Lake Fenwick are also in Kent, surrounded by city parks. Mount Rainier is a large, beautiful mountain visible to the southeast.

Getting Around Kent: Transportation

Kent has several major roads, including Interstate 5 and State Route 167. Public transportation is also available through King County Metro. The Kent Station offers bus services and the Sounder commuter rail system, which connects to downtown Seattle. Freight trains also use two major lines through the Kent Valley. Soon, the Link light rail system will extend nearby, with stops planned for 2026.

Parks and Recreation in Kent

Kent has a great park system with 55 different parks. These include small parks, playfields, skateparks, and green spaces. They range in size from very small to over 310 acres.

Kent's Climate

Kent has a mild climate, often called a warm/cool-summer Mediterranean climate. This means it has warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters.

Important City Landmarks

Kent has several important landmarks that are recognized for their history or special design:

Kent's Economy and Businesses

Kent's economy is a mix of different things. Many people who live in Kent travel to work in bigger cities like Seattle. But Kent also has many factories, warehouses, and local businesses that serve its residents. The area around Kent is a major center for manufacturing and distribution in the United States.

Some companies have their main offices in Kent, such as Oberto Sausage Company and Blue Origin, which builds rockets. Big companies like Amazon, Boeing, and Whirlpool also have large facilities here. Kent is a good place for warehouses because of its central location. In 2018, a street was even named Oberto Drive to celebrate Oberto Sausage Company's 100 years in the city!

Boeing in Kent

Aerial view of the Kent Space Center

The Boeing Kent Space Center opened in 1964. Important leaders like William "Bill" Allen, the head of Boeing, spoke at the opening. Visitors could tour the labs where the Lunar Roving Vehicles were built. These vehicles were used by astronauts on the Moon during the Apollo program.

Steel Industry in Kent

Kent has a long history with the steel industry, going back to the early 1900s. Several steel and metal companies have operated here:

• Salmon Bay Steel Company: This company operated in Kent for 50 years. It was later bought by Birmingham Steel.
• Puget Sound Steel: Since 1961, this company has made reinforcing steel for big projects like bridges and skyscrapers.
• Pacific Metal Company: This company started in Seattle in 1947. It moved to Kent in 2010. They sell different types of metals like stainless steel, copper, and aluminum.
• TMX Aerospace: This company provides materials like steel, brass, and copper to Boeing for airplanes and space systems.

Top Employers in Kent

Here are some of the largest employers in Kent, based on a 2021 report:

Other Notable Companies from Kent

Many other interesting companies have been based in Kent:

• Diamondback Bicycles - a well-known bicycle brand.
• Door to Door Storage - a company that started portable storage containers.
• Fenwick - famous for making fishing rods.
• Novara - REI's brand of bicycles and cycling clothes.
• Oberto Sausage Company - makes popular beef jerky and snack sausages.
• Omax Corporation - a leading maker of water jet cutting machines.
• Pacific Coast Condensed Milk Company - made Carnation evaporated milk.
• Powerlight Technologies - develops ways to send power using lasers.
• Puget Systems - builds custom computers.
• Raleigh Bicycle Company USA - the U.S. office for a very old bicycle maker.
• Redline bicycles - makes BMX, freestyle, and other types of bicycles.
• REI - a popular store for outdoor gear and clothing.
• Tazo Tea Company - known for its unique teas.
• ThyssenKrupp Aerospace - works with carbon fiber for Boeing aircraft.
• Torker - a brand of bicycles and unicycles.

People and Population

Kent's population has grown a lot over the years. Here's how it has changed:

Population Makeup in 2020

In 2020, Kent had 136,588 people living in 47,058 households. The city is very diverse. Here's a look at the different groups:

About 24.6% of residents were under 18 years old. About 6.4% were under 5 years old. And 10.8% were 65 or older.

Fun and Entertainment in Kent

In 2003, Sports Illustrated magazine named Kent the "Sportstown of the year" for Washington state. In 2006, a fun new center called Kent Station opened downtown. It's right next to the train station.

Kent has hosted big sports events. The 2012 Skate America figure skating competition was held at the ShoWare Center. In 2015, Kent also hosted the first Junior Roller Derby World Cup.

ShoWare Center, home of the Seattle Thunderbirds

The Riverbend Golf Complex in Kent has an 18-hole golf course. It's one of the busiest in Washington state.

Events to Enjoy

• Kent Cornucopia Days: A big festival held every July.
• Kent Farmers Market: A place to buy fresh local produce.
• Kent Saturday Market: Another market for local goods.

Sports and Shows

The accesso ShoWare Center is a popular spot for sports and shows. It's home to two minor-league sports teams:

• The Seattle Thunderbirds play ice hockey there. They are part of the Western Hockey League.
• The Tacoma Stars play indoor soccer there. They are part of the Major Arena Soccer League.

Famous People from Kent

Many interesting people have lived in or are from Kent:

Sister Cities

Kent has special connections with cities in other countries. These are called "sister cities":

• Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
• Tamba, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan
• Sunnfjord, Norway

See also

In Spanish: Kent (Washington) para niños