West Seattle facts for kids
West Seattle is a group of neighborhoods in Seattle, Washington, USA. It includes two main areas, Delridge and Southwest, and covers all of Seattle that is west of the Duwamish River. West Seattle used to be its own town in 1902. Five years later, it became part of Seattle.
This area is famous for its beautiful saltwater beaches along Elliott Bay and Puget Sound. Popular spots include Alki Beach Park and Lincoln Park. From West Seattle, you can see amazing views of the Olympic Mountains to the west and the Cascade Range to the east. A big part of Seattle's green spaces and urban forest (city trees) is found here, especially in the West Duwamish Greenbelt.
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Exploring West Seattle's Neighborhoods
West Seattle has many unique neighborhoods, each with its own special features. Let's explore some of them!
High Point: Seattle's Highest Spot
High Point is a neighborhood in the Delridge area. It gets its name because it's the highest point in the city of Seattle! This spot is where 35th Avenue SW and SW Myrtle Street meet, about 520 feet (158 meters) above sea level.
Two large water towers stand tall on the hill. Our Lady of Guadalupe School and Parish is also located here. High Point is known for being one of Seattle's most diverse neighborhoods. Many people from Southeast Asia and East Africa live here.
High Point's Modern Makeover
High Point was first built during World War II to provide homes for people. For many years, it had mostly low-income housing. But in 2003, the Seattle Housing Authority started a big project. They wanted to turn High Point into a community with homes for people of all income levels.
They removed the old houses and built new roads, pipes, and about 1,600 new homes. They also added community buildings.
This new development used many sustainable development ideas. This means they built things in a way that is good for the environment. The homes are very energy efficient. The area also uses special permeable paving. This type of pavement lets water soak through it, which helps manage stormwater. Some houses were even built to help people with asthma breathe easier.
High Point's redevelopment has won many important awards. These include the 2007 ULI Global Award of Excellence.
Alki: Seattle's Birthplace and Beach Fun
Alki Point is a very important historical place. It's believed to be where the first settlers, called the Denny Party, landed before moving to what is now Downtown Seattle. Every year since 1950, people re-create this landing as part of the Seafair celebration. Seafair is a week-long event that celebrates Seattle's connection to the water.
Alki is also home to Alki Beach, which is the most popular beach in Seattle. It has a long sandy strip with driftwood, seashells, and fire pits. When the tide is low, you can explore cool marine life in the tidepools. Alki also has a flat path perfect for biking and running. From here, you can see the Seattle skyline, Puget Sound, and the Olympic mountains.
The Junction: West Seattle's Downtown
The Junction is the main shopping and business area in West Seattle. It's located where California Avenue S.W. and S.W. Alaska Street meet. People sometimes call it "West Seattle Junction" or "Alaska Junction."
West Seattle has two other important intersections too. The Admiral Junction is in the northern part, and the Morgan Street Junction is in the southern part.
Every July, The Junction hosts the West Seattle Summer Fest. This is a multi-day street festival with live music, shopping, art, and other fun events. The festival started in 1982.
Getting Around West Seattle
The high West Seattle Bridge and the low Spokane Street Bridge connect northern West Seattle to Downtown Seattle and SODO. The high bridge was closed for repairs from 2020 to 2022.
Buses from King County Metro serve West Seattle, including the RapidRide C Line. There's also a Washington State Ferries dock in Fauntleroy. From there, you can take a ferry to Vashon Island and Southworth. A special passenger-only King County Water Taxi also runs between Duwamish Head and downtown Seattle.
Sound Transit, the public transportation agency, plans to build a light rail line from Downtown Seattle to West Seattle. This line is expected to be finished by 2032. It will have three stations in West Seattle: Delridge, Avalon, and Alaska Junction.
West Seattle's Rich History
West Seattle is Seattle's oldest neighborhood and is considered the birthplace of Seattle itself. Many places have information about its history. The Southwest Seattle Historical Society runs the Log House Museum at Alki Point, where you can learn more.
Famous People from West Seattle
Many well-known people have lived in West Seattle. These include Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder, actress Dyan Cannon, nature photographer Art Wolfe, writer Amanda Knox, and singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile. Former Seattle mayor Greg Nickels also lived here.
Local News and Media
The community used to have a weekly newspaper called the West Seattle Herald. In 2021, it merged and became Westside Seattle. There's also a popular local blog called the West Seattle Blog, which started in 2005 and is run independently.
Schools in West Seattle
West Seattle has many schools for all ages. These include South Seattle College, West Seattle High School, and Chief Sealth International High School. There are also many middle schools and elementary schools like Madison Middle School, Alki Elementary School, and Arbor Heights Elementary School.
Parks and Fun Things to Do
West Seattle has lots of parks along the water. Some of these are Lincoln Park and Jack Block Park. In the middle of West Seattle, you'll find the West Seattle Golf Course and Camp Long Outdoor Learning Center. At Camp Long, you can even camp overnight in rustic cabins!
Seattle Parks and Recreation also manages community centers (Alki, Delridge, and Hiawatha), swimming pools (Coleman Pool, SouthWest Pool), and the SouthWest Teen Life Center. There's also a historic bath house at Alki Beach and Dakota Place Park.
List of West Seattle Neighborhoods
- Admiral (also called North Admiral)
- Alki
- Arbor Heights
- Belvedere
- Delridge
- Fauntleroy
- Fairmount Park
- Gatewood
- Genesee
- Harbor Ave
- Highland Park
- Lincoln Park
- Luna Park
- Morgan Junction
- Pigeon Point
- Puget Ridge
- Riverview
- Roxbury
- Schmitz Park
- Seaview
- Sunrise Heights
- Sunset
- Westwood
- West Seattle Junction
