Wallingford, Seattle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wallingford
Neighborhood of Seattle
Wallingford highlighted in pink
Country	United States
State	Washington
City	Seattle
City Council	District 4
Neighborhood Council	Lake Union District
Police District	North Precinct, B3
Legislative District	43rd
Established	Annexed to Seattle on May 3, 1891
Named for	John Noble Wallingford Jr.
Area
• Total	1.07 sq mi (2.8 km2)
Population
• Total	12,210
• Density	11,410/sq mi (4,406/km2)
ZIP code	98103

Wallingford is a lively neighborhood in north central Seattle, Washington. It sits on a hill above the north shore of Lake Union, about four miles from downtown Seattle. This area grew quickly in the early 1900s. This happened after the University of Washington was built nearby.

Trolley tracks were put in Wallingford as early as 1907. This made it a classic "streetcar suburb." Many homes here are 1920s-era box houses and bungalows. Most shops and businesses are found along North 45th Street. Here you can see famous spots like the bright neon "WALLINGFORD" sign. You can also find the Wallingford Center and the first Dick's Drive-In restaurant.

Wallingford is in a great spot. It has many public parks and amazing views. You can see both the Olympic and Cascade mountains from here. For a long time, many families have called Wallingford home. While it's mostly homes, the southern part, near Lake Union, used to be for factories and businesses. Recently, new office buildings have been built. These are an extension of the growing business area in nearby Fremont. In 2014, Brooks Sports moved its main office to Wallingford.

Exploring Wallingford's Borders

Like all neighborhoods in Seattle, Wallingford does not have official boundaries. Its shape is mostly defined by a sloping hill. This hill runs north from Lake Union to 45th Street. The top of the hill generally follows Wallingford Avenue.

Most people agree that Wallingford's borders are:

• West: Aurora Avenue
• East: Interstate 5
• South: Lake Union
• North: 50th Street

However, the western and northern borders are sometimes debated. For example, the city of Seattle says the area south of 45th and west of Stone Way is part of Fremont. Some businesses in this southwestern part even use "Fremont" in their names.

The heart of Wallingford is often thought to be where 45th Street and Wallingford Avenue meet. On the north side of this crossing is a QFC grocery store. It has a big neon "WALLINGFORD" sign. This sign uses letters from an old "FOOD GIANT" sign. On the southeast corner is the Wallingford Center. This building was once an elementary school built in 1904. Now, it has two floors of shops and restaurants. There are also 24 apartments above.

A Look at Wallingford's Past

Wallingford is named after John Noble Wallingford Jr. (1833–1913). He was a very important landowner and real estate investor in the area. At one point, he owned most of what is now Wallingford. His land even stretched north to Green Lake. John Wallingford Jr. traveled a lot along the West Coast of the United States. He also lived in Alaska for a while.

What Makes Wallingford Special

Wallingford's main business area is along N 45th Street. It stretches from Stone Way N in the west to Sunnyside Avenue N in the east. This area has many small shops, banks, and a pharmacy. You can also find several taverns and bars. There are two Guild 45th movie theaters. The Wallingford Center, which used to be Interlake Elementary School, now has shops and apartments. Plus, there are many restaurants, including the first Dick's Drive-In, which opened in 1954.

Cool Places to Visit

Wallingford has many great public spaces for everyone to enjoy. These include Gas Works Park, Meridian Playground, and Wallingford Playfield.

• Gas Works Park: This park is on Lake Union. It connects to the Burke-Gilman Trail. The park offers amazing views of the lake and city. There are plans to add a new playground here soon.
• Meridian Playground: This playground is home to the Good Shepherd Center. This building was once a home for girls. Now, it's a community space run by Historic Seattle. Many groups use it, like Seattle Tilth and the Wallingford Senior Center. It also has a performance space called the Chapel.
• Wallingford Playfield: This playfield is next to the recently updated Hamilton International Middle School. It offers nice views and has a wading pool open in the summer.
• Lower Woodland Park: To the north, you'll find Lower Woodland Park. It has sports fields, a skate park, and tennis courts. You can also connect to the Woodland Park Zoo and Green Lake from here.

The University of Wallingford started in 1984. It provides religious training and community care. It is located in the Seattle First Church of the Nazarene.

Community Groups in Wallingford

Wallingford has several groups that help the community.

• The Wallingford Neighborhood Office helps plan local events.
• The Wallingford Community Council meets monthly. It helps connect the community with local government.
• Sustainable Wallingford is a group of residents. They work to promote eco-friendly living.
• Seattle Tilth manages public gardens and plant sales at the Good Shepherd Center.
• Solid Ground shares a building with the Wallingford Branch of the Seattle Public Library. It runs a food bank and helps families.
• The Wallingford Boys and Girls Club offers a safe place for kids and teens.
• The Wallingford Senior Center provides a safe social space for older adults.

Just south of N 45th Street is the former (Abraham) Lincoln High School. It was open from 1907 to 1981. Now, it is used to house public schools when their own buildings are being renovated.

Who Lives in Wallingford

While Wallingford doesn't have official borders, its population data comes from specific census areas. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, about 12,210 people lived in the neighborhood. This means there were about 11,411 people per square mile. This is about 47% more crowded than the average for Seattle.

Most residents, about 84.3%, are White. About 7.2% are Asian, and 2.2% are African American. About 4.6% of the population is Hispanic or Latino. The number of non-white residents, 15.7%, is about half of Seattle's overall average.

In 2013, about 40% of homes were single-family houses. The other 60% were apartments, condos, and townhomes. About 45.4% of homes were owned by the people living in them. The rest, 54.6%, were rented. Also, 45.9% of the buildings were built before 1939.

Wallingford is a fairly wealthy community. In 2013, the average household income was $76,909. This was higher than Seattle's average of $67,479. The average home price in Wallingford was $522,366. This was also higher than Seattle's average of $421,000. The unemployment rate in Wallingford was 4.2%, lower than Seattle's 5.9% in 2013.

Fun Events and Festivals

Wallingford hosts several exciting annual events.

• The Wallingford Kiddie Parade is part of the larger Seafair festival.
• The Wallingford Wurst Festival is run by St Benedict's Church.
• The Family Fourth fireworks show takes place at Gas Works Park.

Smaller events include Seattle Tilth's chicken coop tour. The Wallingford Neighborhood office also organizes garden and home tours.

Images for kids

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  Good Shepherd Center

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  Gas Works Park

• Paul Dorpat, Seattle Neighborhoods: Wallingford -- Thumbnail History, HistoryLink.org Essay 3461, July 24, 2001