Redmond, Washington facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Redmond
City
Aerial view of Downtown Redmond
Seal
Nickname(s):  Bicycle Capital of the Northwest
Location of Redmond within King County, Washington.
Country	United States
State	Washington
County	King
Founded	1871
Incorporated	December 31, 1912
Government
• Type	Mayor–council
Area
• City	17.24 sq mi (44.64 km2)
• Land	16.57 sq mi (42.91 km2)
• Water	0.67 sq mi (1.73 km2)
Elevation	43 ft (13 m)
Population  (2020)
• City	73,256
• Estimate  (2023)	80,280
• Rank	US: 451st WA: 16th
• Density	4,630/sq mi (1,788/km2)
• Urban	3,544,011 (US: 13rd)
• Metro	4,044,837 (US: 15th)
Demonym(s)	Redmonder
Time zone	UTC–8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC–7 (PDT)
ZIP Codes	98033, 98052, 98053, 98073, 98074
Area code(s)	425
FIPS code	53-57535
GNIS feature ID	1533331

Redmond is a city in King County, Washington, USA. It's about 15 miles east of Seattle. In 2020, about 73,256 people lived there.

Redmond is famous for being home to big tech companies like Microsoft and Nintendo of America. Many people who work in Seattle also live in Redmond. The city is across Lake Washington from Seattle.

Redmond is also known as the "Bicycle Capital of the Northwest." It has an annual bike race and the state's only velodrome (a special track for bicycle racing).

History of Redmond

Native Americans lived in the Redmond area for about 10,000 years. This is known from old tools found at places like the Redmond Town Center archaeological site.

The first European settlers arrived in the 1870s. Luke McRedmond claimed land in 1870. Warren Perrigo settled nearby the next year. The area had many salmon, so it was first called Salmonberg.

In 1881, the first post office opened. The town's name changed to Melrose, after the Perrigos' inn. But McRedmond, who became postmaster, changed the name to Redmond in 1883.

Growth and Early Industries

Redmond had many forests and fish. This created jobs for loggers and fishermen. More businesses came to serve them. In 1889, a railway station opened in the town center. This helped the logging industry grow.

Redmond officially became a city on December 31, 1912. It needed at least 300 people to become a city.

Challenges and Changes

In the 1920s, Redmond faced tough times. Prohibition closed saloons, which meant less tax money for the city. Heavy logging also caused lumber mills to close.

The cleared land was good for farming. So, farming became Redmond's main business. This helped people get food during the Great Depression. When World War II started, jobs in shipyards and other war-related work came to Redmond.

Modern Expansion

After the war, Redmond grew a lot. The city's size increased more than 30 times between 1951 and 1967. In 1963, the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge opened across Lake Washington. This made Redmond a popular suburb of Seattle.

By 1978, Redmond was the fastest-growing city in Washington. Many technology companies moved there. This led to more people and more shops. In the late 1980s, downtown Redmond started to be redeveloped with new buildings.

The 1990s saw a big business boom. Nintendo of America moved its headquarters to Redmond in 1984. Microsoft followed in 1986. In 1997, the Redmond Town Center shopping mall opened.

Today, Redmond has a lot of traffic because of its fast growth. New projects, like expanding State Route 520 and building a light rail line, are helping with this. The light rail will connect Redmond to Seattle starting in 2024 and 2025.

Geography and Climate

Redmond is surrounded by other cities. Kirkland is to the west, Bellevue to the southwest, and Sammamish to the southeast. North and east of Redmond are parts of King County that are not cities.

The city's downtown is north of Lake Sammamish. Residential areas are north and west of the lake. The Sammamish River flows north from the lake, along the west side of downtown.

Redmond covers about 16.94 square miles (43.87 square kilometers). Most of this is land, with a small part being water.

Redmond's Neighborhoods

Redmond has several neighborhoods around its downtown.

• The Overlake area is southwest of downtown. It includes the Microsoft headquarters and other offices, plus homes.
• Education Hill is north of downtown. It has five schools, including Redmond High School. It used to be called Poverty Hill.

Redmond's Weather

Redmond has a mild climate, like most 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. November is often the rainiest month.
• Snow is not very common.
• The warmest month is usually August. The hottest temperature ever recorded was 111°F (44°C) in June 2021.
• The coolest month is usually January. The coldest temperature ever recorded was -7°F (-22°C) in January 1950.
• December usually gets the most rain.

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

Redmond's Population

Population in 2020

In 2020, Redmond had 73,256 people. There were 29,693 households and 18,617 families. The city had about 4,422 people per square mile.

The population was made up of different groups:

• 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 people were Hispanic or Latino.

• 22.4% of residents were under 18 years old.
• 6.9% were under 5 years old.
• 11.0% were 65 years or older.
• 47.8% of the population was female.

Population in 2010

In 2010, Redmond had 54,144 people. There were 22,550 households. The population density was about 3,325 people per square mile.

The racial makeup was:

• 65.19% White
• 1.71% African American
• 0.37% Native American
• 25.36% Asian
• 0.15% Pacific Islander
• 3.22% from other races
• 4.00% from two or more races

About 7.78% of the people were Hispanic or Latino.

• 32.4% of households had children under 18.
• 51.4% were married couples.
• The average household size was 2.39 people.
• The average family size was 2.98 people.

The average age in the city was 34.1 years.

• 22.7% of residents were under 18.
• 38.7% were between 25 and 44.
• 9.5% were 65 or older.
• 50.9% of the population was male, and 49.1% was female.

Redmond's Economy

Microsoft

Nintendo

Many high-tech companies are based in Redmond. The biggest employer is Microsoft. It moved its main offices to Redmond in 1986. As of 2012, Microsoft had over 47,000 full-time employees in the Redmond area.

Other companies with headquarters in Redmond include:

• Nintendo of America
• Genie Industries (now part of Terex)
• Physio-Control (now part of Stryker)
• Visible.net
• WildTangent
• Solstice (bought by Samsung)
• Data I/O

In 2015, SpaceX and Hyperloop Genesis opened facilities in Redmond. They work on internet satellites and new transport systems.

Redmond does not have a business income tax. But businesses pay a fee per employee to help pay for road improvements. In 2016, this fee was $107 per employee.

Top Employers in Redmond

Here are the top employers in Redmond in 2021:

Redmond's Culture and Events

Welcome sign on Redmond Way

Redmond has many fun events and cultural activities.

Redmond Derby Days

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:

• A bicycle race
• A parade
• Live music
• Food
• A carnival with rides
• Fireworks on Saturday night

Arts and Entertainment

Redmond has:

• The Eastside Symphony
• The Second Story Repertory theater company
• Artists performing at the Robertson Performing Arts Center at Redmond High School.

The city also has many outdoor sculptures. Some of these are part of a changing art show.

Redmond Lights

Redmond Lights is a yearly festival in December. It includes:

• A special guest
• A tree-lighting ceremony by the mayor
• A walk with lights and music along the Sammamish Trail
• Activities at Redmond Town Center, like a carousel and ice skating.

The Old Redmond Firehouse

The Old Redmond Firehouse is a popular spot for teens. It's a center for the local independent music scene. Local bands often perform there.

Concerts at Marymoor Park

The Concerts at Marymoor are summer concerts held at Marymoor Park. Many famous artists have played there. Cirque du Soleil also sets up its big tent in Marymoor Park when it visits the Seattle area. Other events like the Warped Tour have also been held there.

Redmond Saturday Market

The Redmond Saturday Market is the oldest farmer's market on Seattle's east side. It's held every Saturday from May to October. The city wants to keep this market site special for the community.

City Landmarks

Redmond has several historic landmarks:

• Bill Brown Saloon (1913)
• Brown's Garage (1920)
• Conrad & Anna Olsen Farmstead (1905)
• Haida House Studio (1988)
• Earl and Elise McWhirter Farm (around 1936)
• Justice White House (Hotel Redmond) (1889)
• Lodge Hall (1903)
• O.A. Wiley Home (The Stone House) (1916)
• Odd Fellows Hall (1903)
• Perrigo Farm House (1909)
• Redmond City Park (1938)
• Redmond Methodist Episcopal Church (1908)
• Redmond Pioneer Cemetery (1904)
• Redmond School (Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center) (1922)
• Redmond State Bank (1911)
• Redmond Trading Company (1908)

Parks and Recreation

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

Redmond has 47 public parks, covering over 1,351 acres. Many are neighborhood parks with picnic areas and sports fields.

The largest park is Marymoor Park, owned by King County. It's 560 acres and very popular. It has:

• A climbing rock
• A field for model airplanes
• A 48-acre off-leash dog park
• An outdoor theater
• Sports fields for baseball and soccer
• A playground
• Tennis courts
• A community garden
• A cricket pitch
• A velodrome (bike track)

The city has over 59 miles of public trails. These are great for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. The Redmond Central Connector goes through downtown. The Sammamish River Trail connects to other trails like the Burke-Gilman Trail.

Sixty Acres Park is known for soccer in spring and fall. In winter, people fly RC electric airplanes and gliders there.

In 2004, the Redmond North Little League team went to the 2004 Little League World Series.

The Seattle Orcas, a Major League Cricket team, plan to play at Marymoor Park. A 6,000-seat cricket pitch is planned there.

Education in Redmond

Most of Redmond is part of the Lake Washington School District. This district also serves parts of Kirkland and other nearby areas.

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 (a special school focused on science, technology, engineering, and math).

Some southern neighborhoods are served by the Bellevue School District. The English Hill area in northern Redmond is in the Northshore School District.

Private Schools

Redmond has several private schools for K-12 students.

• The Bear Creek School is a Christian school with almost 750 students.
• The Overlake School has over 550 students on its 50-acre campus.

Colleges and Libraries

DigiPen Institute of Technology is a university focused on video game development. It moved to Redmond in 1998.

Lake Washington Institute of Technology, a community college, built its Redmond campus in 2005. Part of its building is now used as a community center by the city.

Redmond is home to the Redmond Regional Library. It's the second-largest branch in the King County Library System. The current 30,000-square-foot building opened in 1999.

Notable People from Redmond

• John Archer, actor
• Karan Brar, actor (from Diary of a Wimpy Kid movies and Jessie)
• Carrie Brownstein, guitarist and singer for Sleater-Kinney
• Dudley C. Carter, artist and woodcarver
• Jeff Cirillo, former baseball player
• Michael Conforto, baseball player for the San Francisco Giants
• Daniel Dociu, concept artist for video games
• James Doohan, actor (Scotty from Star Trek)
• Nick Downing, retired professional soccer player
• Sandra Eisert, art director, photographer
• Jeannine Hall Gailey, poet and writer
• Johnny Hekker, punter for the NFL's Los Angeles Rams
• Henry Hill, former mobster (lived in Redmond in the late 1980s)
• Earl Johnson, baseball pitcher
• Lu Sheng-yen, founder of the True Buddha School
• Shannon O'Donnell, former TV weather anchor
• Nick Thune, actor, comedian
• Steve Wiebe, two-time Donkey Kong world record holder

See also

In Spanish: Redmond (Washington) para niños