kids encyclopedia robot

Shoreline, Washington facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Shoreline, Washington
Shoreline City Hall
Shoreline City Hall
Location of Shoreline, Washington
Location of Shoreline, Washington
Country United States
State Washington
County King
City August 31, 1995
Government
 • Type Council–manager
Area
 • Total 12.44 sq mi (32.21 km2)
 • Land 11.63 sq mi (30.13 km2)
 • Water 0.80 sq mi (2.08 km2)
Elevation
476 ft (145 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 58,608
 • Estimate 
(2023)
61,353
 • Rank US: 683rd
WA: 22nd
 • Density 4,901.33/sq mi (1,892.46/km2)
Time zone UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP codes
98133, 98155, 98177
Area code(s) 206
FIPS code 53-63960
GNIS feature ID 1699810

Shoreline is a city located in King County, Washington, USA. It's found just north of Seattle, right on the border with Snohomish County. The city is about 9 miles (14.5 km) north of downtown Seattle.

In 2020, about 58,608 people lived in Shoreline. This made it the 22nd largest city in Washington state. Shoreline is known as a comfortable place to live.

History of Shoreline

Shoreline has a rich history, from its first inhabitants to how it became a city.

Early Native American Life

Long ago, the area we now call Shoreline was home to local Coast Salish peoples. These groups are now part of the Duwamish tribe. They lived off the land and water, following ancient trails.

Trails and Resources

One important trail went from Salmon Bay to Green Lake. It continued north through areas with Licton Springs and the start of Thornton Creek. This trail then led to Haller Lake.

People gathered lots of cranberries in bogs (wetlands) where Twin Ponds and Ronald Bog Parks are today. They also found salmonberries and skunk cabbage along Thornton Creek. People from Lake Union came here to collect cranberries.

Hunting and Gathering Areas

The trail went further north to Echo Lake. There was a large burned area from Echo Lake down to Bitter Lake. This was probably done on purpose to help grow plants like bracken fern and camas. It also made good hunting grounds.

At Echo Lake, the trail split. One path went west to Richmond Beach, and another continued north to Lake Ballinger. People had seasonal camps at Richmond Beach and Boeing Creek. These spots were good for finding kinnikinnick, a plant used for smoking.

How Shoreline Became a City

Modern Shoreline started to form in 1890. This was when the Richmond Beach neighborhood was planned out. People expected the Great Northern Railway to arrive the next year.

Growing Connections

Over the next 20 years, Shoreline became more connected to Seattle. An Interurban streetcar line (like a light rail) started running in 1906. Then, North Trunk Road (now State Route 99) was built in 1913. These connections helped the area grow.

The Name "Shoreline"

The name "Shoreline" was first used in 1944 for the local school district. Its boundaries stretched from "Shore to Shore" (from Puget Sound to Lake Washington) and "Line to Line" (from Seattle's old city limit at 85th Street to the Snohomish County line). Even though the city's borders don't reach Lake Washington today, the name stuck.

Becoming an Official City

From 1950 to 1957, Shoreline was one of the fastest-growing areas near Seattle. Its population grew by 64 percent! In 1995, Shoreline officially became a city. This happened on August 31, 1995. The city decided to use a council–manager system. This means a city council makes decisions, and a city manager handles the day-to-day operations.

City Services and Geography

Shoreline provides services to its residents and has many natural features.

Police Services

Shoreline gets its police services from the King County Sheriff's Office. Police officers assigned to Shoreline wear city uniforms and drive cars with the city's logo. In 2012, there were 52 full-time police employees working for Shoreline. They have special units for things like burglaries, traffic, and street crimes.

Where is Shoreline Located?

Shoreline is located at 47°45′23″N 122°20′23″W / 47.75639°N 122.33972°W / 47.75639; -122.33972.

The city covers about 11.70 square miles (30.30 square kilometers). Most of this is land, with a small amount of water. Shoreline also includes a special neighborhood called The Highlands. This community manages its own utilities separately. The Richmond Beach neighborhood is in the northwest part of the city.

Parks and Natural Areas

Shoreline has 25 parks, covering a total of 330 acres (130 ha). These parks offer great places for outdoor activities.

Boeing Creek and Shoreview Park is next to Shoreline Community College. It has Boeing Creek flowing through it, which eventually reaches Hidden Lake and Puget Sound. Echo Lake is also within the city limits and has its own park.

People of Shoreline

Shoreline is home to a diverse group of people.

Population Growth

Historical population
Census Pop.
1990 52,109
2000 53,025 1.8%
2010 53,007 0.0%
2020 58,608 10.6%
2023 (est.) 61,353 15.7%
U.S. Decennial Census
2020 Census

In 2010, there were 53,007 people living in Shoreline. There were 21,561 households and 13,168 families. The city had about 4,542 people per square mile (1,754 per square kilometer).

Diversity in Shoreline

The people in Shoreline come from many different backgrounds. In 2010, the racial makeup was:

  • 71.4% White
  • 5.0% African American
  • 0.8% Native American
  • 15.2% Asian
  • 0.3% Pacific Islander
  • 2.2% from other races
  • 5.1% from two or more races

About 6.6% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Households and Age

About 27.9% of households had children under 18 living with them. Many households (46.4%) were married couples living together. The average household had 2.39 people, and the average family had 2.96 people.

The average age in Shoreline was 42.1 years. About 19.1% of residents were under 18. And 15.2% were 65 years or older.

Neighborhoods and Landmarks

Shoreline is made up of several distinct neighborhoods and has important landmarks.

City Neighborhoods

Shoreline is divided into 14 neighborhoods. These areas are mostly laid out in a rectangular shape based on street maps.

The city has a council of neighborhoods. This group brings together community leaders from each area. They discuss and coordinate city programs that affect the neighborhoods.

Important City Landmarks

The City of Shoreline has officially named several places as landmarks. These are buildings or sites that are important to the city's history.

Landmark Built Listed Address
William E. Boeing House 1914 1994 The Highlands
Crawford Store (Godfrey Building) 1922 1985 2411 NW 195th Place

The city also recognizes a "community landmark":

Landmark Built Listed Address Photo
Ronald Grade School 1912 1995 749 N 175th Street
Shoreline, WA - Ronald School 01
Ronald Grade School

Economy and Points of Interest

Shoreline has various businesses and fun places to visit.

Local Economy

Some companies and organizations are based in Shoreline. One example is Crista Ministries.

Fun Places to Visit

Shoreline offers several interesting places to explore:

Sister City

Shoreline has a special connection with a city in another country.

Education in Shoreline

Shoreline has a strong focus on education, with various schools and colleges.

School Districts

The main school district serving the area is the Shoreline School District. It includes:

  • Shorecrest High School
  • Shorewood High School

Some schools, like Kellogg Middle School, have an exchange student program. Students can visit junior high students from Nichinan, Japan.

A third high school, Shoreline High School, closed in 1986. Its students went to Shorecrest and Shorewood. The old campus is now used as the school district's headquarters and has a public gym, theater, and stadium.

Private Schools

Shoreline also has several private schools:

  • King's Schools
  • Shoreline Christian School
  • The Evergreen School

Colleges

For higher education, students can attend Shoreline Community College.

Transportation in Shoreline

Getting around Shoreline is easy with its major roads and public transport options.

Major Highways

Two main north-south highways pass through Shoreline:

  • Interstate 5: This is a major freeway in Western Washington.
  • State Route 99 (Aurora Avenue): This road goes south to Seattle and north to Everett.

State Route 523 (145th Street) forms the southern border of the city. It connects Interstate 5, State Route 99, and State Route 522. The Interurban Trail runs along State Route 99. It follows the path of an old railway and connects Seattle with Everett. The part in Shoreline was finished in 2007.

Public Transportation

Shoreline has two Link light rail stations near Interstate 5. These are part of Sound Transit's 1 Line:

  • Shoreline South/148th station
  • Shoreline North/185th station

Both stations have parking garages with space for 1,000 cars. They will also be stops for new bus rapid transit lines. King County Metro provides local bus service in Shoreline. This includes the RapidRide E Line on Aurora Avenue.

Bike and Scooter Sharing

In August 2024, Shoreline started a pilot program for bike-sharing and scooter-sharing with Lime. This makes it easier for people to get around without a car.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Shoreline (Washington) para niños

kids search engine
Shoreline, Washington Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.