Northgate, Seattle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Northgate, Seattle
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Seattle Neighborhood
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The skyline of central Northgate from North Seattle College
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Northgate highlighted in Pink
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | King |
| City | Seattle |
| Zip Code |
98125
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| Area Code | 206 |
Northgate is a lively neighborhood located in northern Seattle, Washington. It gets its name from the famous Northgate Mall, which was the very first covered shopping mall in the United States.
Major roads like Roosevelt Way NE and Aurora Avenue N (SR 99) run through Northgate. Other important roads include NE Northgate Way and 130th Street. The big highway, Interstate 5, also passes through this area. Besides the mall, Northgate is known for North Seattle College (NSC) and the Seattle Kraken Iceplex center.
Contents
History of Northgate
Ancient Times
People have lived in the Northgate area for a very long time. They arrived after the last Ice Age, about 8,000 BCE. Native American groups, like the Duwamish tribe, used to live here. They called themselves the Dkhw’Duw’Absh (People of the Inside) and Xacuabš (People of the Large Lake).
These groups used the Liq'tid Springs area as a special place for healing. They also gathered cranberries from a large marsh and bog called Slo’q `qed. This area is now where the Northgate Mall and Interstate 5 are located. The Native Americans also kept open grassy areas by burning them every few years. This helped create good habitats for animals.
Modern Growth
Northgate has seen a lot of new homes and businesses built recently. Many big projects are still being planned. The city has even allowed buildings to be taller, up to 85 feet, to help more people live there.
In 2009, the Northgate Mall got a big makeover. It added many new stores for shoppers. A new park, library, and community center also opened in 2006. These new places are right across from the Northgate Mall. They are part of Seattle's plan to help Northgate grow even more.
Even though there are many shops, there aren't many hotels in Northgate. The Hotel Nexus is one of the main hotels. It used to be a Ramada Inn.
More new buildings are expected near the Northgate light rail station. This station opened in October 2021. It is the end of the Northgate Link Extension line. Northgate is also home to the Seattle Kraken ice hockey team's headquarters and practice facility. The Kraken started playing in October 2021.
Northgate Neighborhoods
Northgate is made up of several smaller neighborhoods. From north to south, these include:
- Haller Lake
- Pinehurst
- Licton Springs (also called North College Park)
- Maple Leaf
Cool Places to See
The Idriss Mosque in Pinehurst has a very special design for Seattle. It has an octagon-shaped dome and a tall, symbolic tower called a minaret. Both are covered in shiny copper and have crescent moons on top. The mosque's walls are made of red bricks with lighter bricks in stripes. It also has tall glass-block windows with unique concrete arches.
This mosque, built in 1981, was the first mosque in Seattle. It was also the first mosque west of the Mississippi River to be built in a Middle Eastern style.
Northgate Mall
The Northgate Mall opened in 1950. It is known as the first "regional shopping center" or mall. While a few other shopping centers existed before it, Northgate Mall was a pioneer in its design. When it first opened, it was actually outside of Seattle's city limits. Today, it is part of the city. The mall is located in the Maple Leaf neighborhood within Northgate.
Around the Northgate Mall, you can find many other shopping areas. This includes the "Northgate North" shopping center. There, you'll find stores like Best Buy and a two-story Target.
