Meridian, Seattle facts for kids
Meridian, also known as Tangletown, is a cool part of Seattle's Wallingford neighborhood. It's located north of N 50th Street, very close to Green Lake. You might notice its unique street names, like Kensington, Kenwood, Keystone, and Kirkwood Places N.
The area around N 55th Street and Meridian Avenue is where you'll find lots of shops and businesses. This spot is often called Tangletown or Meridian. Some people even think it feels more connected to Green Lake than to Wallingford.
Contents
What's in a Name?
Why is it Called Tangletown?
The name Tangletown probably comes from how the streets are laid out here. In this part of Seattle, the streets don't always follow a straight grid pattern. Some roads curve to follow the edge of Green Lake, while others stick to the city's usual grid. This mix can make the streets look a bit "tangled"!
Another idea is that the name Tangletown came from a time when a streetcar interchange, where different streetcar lines met, used to be in the same spot where businesses and homes are today.
The Story Behind Meridian
The name Meridian sometimes refers to a larger area than just the shopping district of Tangletown. This name came from the "Meridian Line," which was a streetcar route.
The name became popular thanks to two brothers, Stan and Milton Stapp. They ran a local newspaper called the North Central Outlook. They started using "Meridian" to help people tell this area apart from the nearby neighborhoods of Green Lake and Wallingford.
Exploring the Neighborhood
The Keystone Building: A Historic Spot
One of the most important buildings in the neighborhood is The Keystone Building. It was built way back in 1910 by D.J. Orner & Son. Over the years, many different businesses have called it home.
- In 1938, it had Barclay's Grocery, Kenwood Market, and Sires Brother's Paint Company.
- From 1956, it was home to Lamont's Food Center for many years.
- In the 1980s, it changed into the Honey Bear Bakery, and the other side became M&R Grocer.
Today, the west side of the building is where you'll find the TangleTown Public House, which used to be the Honeybear bakery. The east side is now the main office for Mighty-O Donuts.
Where is Meridian Located?
Meridian has clear boundaries that help define it:
- To the south, it's bordered by N 50th Street. Beyond this street is the rest of Wallingford.
- To the west, you'll find Green Lake Way N. Past this road are Woodland Park and Phinney Ridge.
- To the north, it's N 60th Street. Beyond that is the main Green Lake neighborhood.
- To the east, it's bordered by Interstate 5. On the other side of the highway is the University District.
The main roads that run through Meridian are Meridian Avenue N, Kirkwood Place N, and Latona Avenue NE (which go north and south). NE 56th Street is a main road that goes east and west.
