Redmond is famous for being the home of Microsoft and Nintendo of America. It has a big technology industry. Many people who work in Seattle also live in Redmond. The city is across Lake Washington, connected by State Route 520.

Redmond is also known as the "Bicycle Capital of the Northwest." This is because it hosts an annual bike race and has the only velodrome (a special track for bicycle racing) in Washington state.

History of Redmond

Early Settlers and Name Changes

Native Americans lived in the Redmond area for about 10,000 years. This is known from old tools found at sites like Redmond Town Center archaeological site and Marymoor Prehistoric Indian Site. The first European settlers arrived in the 1870s. Luke McRedmond claimed land in 1870, and Warren Perrigo settled nearby in 1871.

The area had many salmon, so it was first called Salmonberg. In 1881, the first post office opened, and the name changed to Melrose. This new name came from the Perrigos' successful inn, Melrose House. But Luke McRedmond, who became the postmaster, asked for the name to be changed again. In 1883, it was officially named Redmond.

Growth and Challenges

Redmond's early jobs came from its rich forests and fish. Loggers and fishermen needed goods, which brought in merchants. The logging business grew a lot in 1889 when the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway built a station in town. Redmond became an official city on December 31, 1912, after its population reached 300.

In the 1920s, Redmond faced tough times. Prohibition closed saloons, which cut the city's tax money. Heavy logging also meant fewer trees, so lumber mills closed. The cleared land was good for farming, which became Redmond's main business during the Great Depression. When World War II started, jobs in shipyards and other war-related work came to Redmond.

Modern Expansion and Technology Boom

After World War II, Redmond grew quickly. The city's size increased more than 30 times between 1951 and 1967 by adding nearby areas. The Evergreen Point Floating Bridge opened in 1963, making it easier to travel to Seattle. This helped Redmond grow as a suburb. By 1978, Redmond was the fastest-growing city in Washington.

Many technology companies moved to Redmond. This led to more people and a need for more shops. By the late 1980s, downtown Redmond had many strip malls. This led to plans for a new, mixed-use downtown area.

The 1990s saw a big business boom. Nintendo of America and Microsoft set up their main offices in Redmond in 1984 and 1986. In 1997, the Redmond Town Center, a large shopping area, opened. With this fast growth, traffic became a problem. Roads like SR 520 were expanded. A light rail line connecting Redmond to Seattle was approved in 2008. The first part of this line opened in April 2024, and it reached Downtown Redmond on May 10, 2025.

Geography and Neighborhoods

Redmond is surrounded by other cities. Kirkland is to the west, Bellevue to the southwest, and Sammamish to the southeast. Areas of King County that are not part of any city are to the north and east.

The city covers about 16.94 square miles (43.87 km²). Most of this is land (16.28 sq mi or 42.16 km²), with some water (0.66 sq mi or 1.71 km²).

City Layout and Key Areas

Redmond's downtown is just north of Lake Sammamish. Residential areas are north and west of the lake. Overlake, another important area, is west of Lake Sammamish. The Sammamish River flows north from the lake, along the west side of downtown.

The city has several neighborhoods around its downtown. The Overlake neighborhood includes the Microsoft headquarters and other offices, plus homes. Education Hill, north of downtown, is mostly residential. It got its name from the five schools there, including Redmond High School. Before the 1950s, it was called Poverty Hill.

Redmond's Climate

Redmond has a mild climate, like much of the Pacific Northwest. It experiences all four seasons. Summers are usually warm and dry, with lots of sunshine from June to September. Winters are cool and wet, with November being the rainiest month.

Snow is not very common in Redmond. The coldest weather often brings high pressure, which pushes rain away. However, snow is more likely here than in cities closer to Puget Sound, like Seattle. August is usually the warmest month. The highest temperature ever recorded was 111°F (44°C) on June 28, 2021. January is usually the coolest month. The lowest temperature ever recorded was -7°F (-22°C) in January 1950. December usually has the most rain.

Redmond has a Mediterranean climate, meaning it has dry summers.

Climate data for Redmond, Washington
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	68 (20)	72 (22)	80 (27)	90 (32)	95 (35)	111 (44)	105 (41)	102 (39)	101 (38)	91 (33)	76 (24)	67 (19)	111 (44)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	43 (6)	46 (8)	54 (12)	59 (15)	66 (19)	70 (21)	78 (26)	80 (27)	72 (22)	60 (16)	52 (11)	43 (6)	60 (16)
Daily mean °F (°C)	37 (3)	40 (4)	46 (8)	50 (10)	57 (14)	61 (16)	66 (19)	68 (20)	62 (17)	53 (12)	46 (8)	37 (3)	52 (11)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	30 (−1)	33 (1)	38 (3)	42 (6)	47 (8)	52 (11)	55 (13)	56 (13)	52 (11)	46 (8)	39 (4)	31 (−1)	43 (6)
Record low °F (°C)	−7 (−22)	−5 (−21)	9 (−13)	26 (−3)	26 (−3)	35 (2)	40 (4)	41 (5)	32 (0)	26 (−3)	3 (−16)	−1 (−18)	−7 (−22)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	4.49 (114)	3.67 (93)	3.84 (98)	2.84 (72)	2.10 (53)	1.68 (43)	0.97 (25)	0.97 (25)	1.71 (43)	3.32 (84)	4.92 (125)	5.45 (138)	35.96 (913)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	2.3 (5.8)	2.6 (6.6)	1.1 (2.8)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	1.4 (3.6)	2.6 (6.6)	10.0 (25)

People of Redmond

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1900	116	—
1910	450	287.9%
1920	438	−2.7%
1930	460	5.0%
1940	530	15.2%
1950	573	8.1%
1960	1,426	148.9%
1970	11,020	672.8%
1980	23,318	111.6%
1990	35,800	53.5%
2000	45,256	26.4%
2010	54,144	19.6%
2020	73,256	35.3%
2023 (est.)	80,280	48.3%
U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census

Population and Diversity

In 2020, Redmond had 73,256 people living in 29,693 households. The city's population density was about 4,422 people per square mile (1,707 per km²). There were 31,738 housing units.

Redmond is a diverse city. In 2020, the racial makeup was:

44.90% White
2.21% African American
0.38% Native American
41.04% Asian
0.13% Pacific Islander
3.13% from other races
8.21% from two or more races

About 7.25% of the population was Hispanic or Latino (of any race). About 22.4% of residents were under 18, and 11.0% were 65 or older. The city's population was 47.8% female.

**Redmond, Washington – racial and ethnic composition**
*Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.*
Race / ethnicity (NH = non-Hispanic)	Pop. 2000	Pop. 2010	Pop. 2020	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	34,593	33,049	31,840	76.44%	61.04%	43.46%
Black or African American alone (NH)	659	876	1,565	1.46%	1.62%	2.14%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	176	140	179	0.39%	0.26%	0.24%
Asian alone (NH)	5,874	13,702	30,009	12.98%	25.31%	40.96%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	73	81	94	0.16%	0.15%	0.13%
Other race alone (NH)	145	297	521	0.32%	0.55%	0.71%
Mixed race or multiracial (NH)	1,198	1,785	3,738	2.65%	3.30%	5.10%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	2,538	4,214	5,310	5.61%	7.78%	7.25%
Total	45,256	54,144	73,256	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

Redmond's Economy

Microsoft headquarters in Redmond

Nintendo of America's headquarters

Redmond is home to many high-tech companies. The biggest employer is Microsoft, which moved its main office here in 1986. As of 2012, Microsoft had over 47,000 full-time employees in the Redmond area. They also have more than 8 million square feet (743,224 m²) of office space.

Other companies with headquarters in Redmond include Nintendo of America, Genie Industries (now part of Terex), and Physio-Control (now part of Stryker). Visible.net, WildTangent, Solstice (bought by Samsung), and Data I/O are also based here. In 2015, SpaceX opened a facility in Redmond to develop its Starlink satellites.

Most people who work in Redmond commute from outside the city. About 89% of employees for Redmond companies travel from other areas. Unlike some nearby cities, Redmond does not have a business income tax. However, businesses pay a fee per employee to help fund road improvements. In 2024, this fee was $141 per employee.

Top Employers in Redmond

Here are some of the largest employers in Redmond:

Employer	2021		2020		2019		2018
Employer	Rank	# of Employees	Rank	# of Employees	Rank	# of Employees	Rank	# of Employees
Microsoft Corporation	1	44,782	1	40,646	1	38,026	1	37,305
Meta Platforms, Inc. (Facebook)	2	1,434	3	1,317	10	575	–	–
Lake Washington School District	3	1,422	4	1,294	3	1,718	4	1,328
Eurest Dining Services @ Microsoft	4	1,157	5	1,269	4	1,071	3	1,372
Nintendo of America	5	1,097	6	877	6	873	5	1,004
CBRE, Inc.	6	814	8	725	–	–	10	559
City of Redmond	7	708	9	713	9	658	7	757
United Parcel Service	8	675	10	636	7	755	8	755
Terex, formerly Genie Industries	9	668	2	2,282	2	2,044	2	2,044
Honeywell International, Inc.	10	643	7	748	5	923	6	923

Redmond's Culture and Events

Welcome sign on Redmond Way

Redmond has many cultural events and activities.

Redmond Derby Days is a yearly festival held in July. It started in 1939 as a bike race around Lake Sammamish. Now, it's a multi-day event with bike races, a parade, music, food, a carnival, and a drone light show.
Performing Arts include the Eastside Symphony and the Second Story Repertory theater. The Robertson Performing Arts Center at Redmond High School also hosts artists.
Outdoor Sculptures are found throughout Redmond's streets and parks. Many are part of a changing art show.
Redmond Lights is an annual festival in December. It features a tree-lighting ceremony, a walk with lights and music along the Sammamish Trail, and activities at Redmond Town Center like a carousel and skating rink.
The Old Redmond Firehouse is a popular spot for local teens. It's known for hosting live music from local bands.
Poet Laureate: Since 2010, Redmond has had an official poet laureate, a poet chosen to represent the city.
Concerts at Marymoor is a summer concert series at Marymoor Park. Many famous artists have performed there. Cirque du Soleil also sets up its big tent shows at Marymoor Park when they visit the Seattle area.
Redmond Saturday Market is the oldest farmer's market on Seattle's east side. It runs from May to October near Redmond Town Center. The city has protected this site for its community and historical importance.

Historic Landmarks

Redmond has several buildings and places recognized as landmarks:

Landmark	Built	Listed	Address
Bill Brown Saloon	1913	unknown	7824 Leary Way NE
Brown's Garage	1920	unknown	16389 Redmond Way
Conrad & Anna Olsen Farmstead	1905	unknown	18834 NE 95th Street
Haida House Studio (workplace of Dudley Carter)	1988	unknown	7747 159th Avenue NE
Earl and Elise McWhirter Farm (Hutcheson Homestead)	c. 1936	unknown	19545 NE Redmond Road
Justice White House (Hotel Redmond)	1889	unknown	7529 Leary Way NE
Lodge Hall (Redmond Hardware, Gerk's, Edge & Spoke)	1903	unknown	7875 Leary Way NE
O.A. Wiley Home (The Stone House)	1916	2007	16244 Cleveland Street
Odd Fellows Hall (Redmond's Bar & Grill)	1903	unknown	7979 Leary Way NE
Perrigo Farm House	1909	unknown	17325 NE 85th Place
Redmond City Park (Albert Anderson Memorial Park)	1938	2008	7802 168th Avenue NE
Redmond Methodist Episcopal Church (Redmond United Methodist Church)	1908	unknown	16540 NE 80th Street
Redmond Pioneer Cemetery	1904	unknown	180th Avenue NE between NE 70th and NE 76th Streets
Redmond School (Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center)	1922	unknown	16600 NE 80th Street
Redmond State Bank	1911	unknown	7841 Leary Way NE
Redmond Trading Company	1908	unknown	7805 Leary Way NE

Parks and Recreation in Redmond

Climbing rock in Marymoor Park 47°39′51.49″N 122°6′41.26″W / 47.6643028°N 122.1114611°W

Redmond has 47 public parks, covering over 1,351 acres (547 ha). Many are neighborhood parks with picnic tables and sports fields.

Marymoor Park: A Major Hub

The largest park in Redmond is Marymoor Park, managed by King County. It's 560 acres (2.27 km²) and very popular. Marymoor Park offers:

A climbing rock
A field for flying model airplanes
A 48-acre (19 ha) off-leash dog park
An outdoor theater
Sports fields for baseball and soccer
A playground and tennis courts
A community garden
A cricket pitch
The Jerry Baker Memorial Velodrome, which hosts bike races.

Trails and Other Parks

Redmond has over 59 miles (95 km) of public trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. The Redmond Central Connector runs through downtown. The Sammamish River Trail connects to other trails like the Burke-Gilman Trail and the East Lake Sammamish Trail.

Sixty Acres Park is known for soccer in spring and fall. In winter, it's used for remote-controlled electric airplanes and gliders.

In 2004, the Redmond North Little League team won the Northwest region. They went on to play in the 2004 Little League World Series in Pennsylvania.

The Seattle Orcas of Major League Cricket plan to build a 6,000-seat cricket pitch at Redmond's Marymoor Park.

Redmond's Government

Redmond has a mayor–council system. The mayor and seven council members are elected by all voters for four-year terms. These terms are staggered, meaning they don't all end at the same time. In 2003, voters rejected a proposal to change the government to a council-manager system.

Education in Redmond

Most of Redmond is part of the Lake Washington School District. This district also covers most of Kirkland and parts of other nearby communities.

Public Schools

Redmond's public schools include:

Ten elementary schools
Eight middle schools
Two high schools: Redmond High School and Nikola Tesla STEM High School. Nikola Tesla STEM High School focuses on science, technology, engineering, and math.

The district also offers "choice" schools for different learning needs. A small part of southern Redmond is served by the Bellevue School District. The English Hill neighborhood in northern Redmond is part of the Northshore School District. The Redmond Ridge area to the east is in the Lake Washington School District.

Private Schools and Colleges

Several private schools in Redmond offer K–12 education, including Montessori programs. The Bear Creek School is a large Christian prep school. The secular Overlake School has over 550 students at its 50-acre (20 ha) campus.

DigiPen Institute of Technology, a university focused on video game development, moved to Redmond in 1998. The Lake Washington Institute of Technology, a community college, built its Redmond campus near Marymoor Park in 2005. Since 2018, the city of Redmond has leased part of this building for a community center.

Redmond Regional Library

Redmond is home to the Redmond Regional Library. It's the second-largest branch in the King County Library System. The 30,000 square foot (2,787 m²) building opened in 1999. It replaced an older, smaller library. Redmond joined the King County Library System in 1947.

Notable People from Redmond

John Archer, actor
Karan Brar, actor
Carrie Brownstein, guitarist and singer for Sleater-Kinney
Dudley C. Carter, artist and woodcarver
Jason Cascio, soccer player
Jeff Cirillo, former baseball player
Michael Conforto, baseball player
Daniel Dociu, concept artist and video game art director
James Doohan, actor, known as Scotty in Star Trek
Nick Downing, retired professional soccer player
Sandra Eisert, art director, photographer
Jeannine Hall Gailey, Redmond's poet laureate 2012–2013
Johnny Hekker, NFL punter
Earl Johnson, winning pitcher in the 1946 World Series
Lu Sheng-yen, founder of the True Buddha School
Shannon O'Donnell, former weather anchor
Nick Thune, actor, comedian
Steve Wiebe, Donkey Kong world record holder

Redmond, Washington facts for kids

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