105-641: Kent is a city in King County , Washington , United States. It is part of the Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue metropolitan area and had a population of 136,588 as of the 2020 census , making it the 4th most populous municipality in greater Seattle and the 6th most populous in Washington state. The city is connected to Seattle , Bellevue and Tacoma via State Route 167 and Interstate 5 , Sounder commuter rail , and commuter buses. Incorporated in 1890, Kent
210-566: A warm/cool-summer Mediterranean climate ( Köppen Csb ). Kent has designated the following landmarks: The city is governed by a mayor–council government , with a directly elected mayor and a seven-member city council . Each is elected at-large (that is, by the entire voting population, rather than by districts) to four-year terms. The current mayor is Dana Ralph. The city maintains its own municipal police department, unlike some neighboring municipalities who contract police service out to King County. Public primary and secondary education in
315-427: A female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.3% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.16. The median age in the city was 35.2 years. 23.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.8% were between
420-554: A larger margin for the Democrats than that seen in any previous election up to that point in time. Slightly more than 29% of Washington state's population reside in King County, making it a significant factor for the Democrats in a few recent close statewide elections. In the 2000 Senate election , King County's margin of victory pushed Maria Cantwell 's total over that of incumbent Republican Slade Gorton , defeating and unseating him in
525-713: A major source of income. Due to an aphid invasion which affected hops crops in Europe, hops from the Puget Sound area began to command high prices. Hops were shipped from Titusville either by the river or via rail. In 1889 the town was renamed for the County of Kent , the major hops-producing region in England. Ezra Meeker was asked by the Northern Pacific Railroad to name its station. Meeker suggested that it be known as Kent as it
630-680: A mixed used development. The accesso ShoWare Center hosts two minor-league sports teams: the Seattle Thunderbirds play ice hockey in the U.S. Division of the Western Hockey League ; and the Tacoma Stars plays indoor soccer in the Major Arena Soccer League . Kent has the following sister cities : King County, Washington King County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington . The population
735-503: A peninsular independence movement; King County lost what is now Kitsap County but preserved its entertainment industry. Coal was discovered in 1853 by M. Bigelow along the Black River , and in subsequent decades several companies formed to mine coal around Lake Washington and deliver it to Seattle. The Seattle and Walla Walla Railroad started servicing the Renton coal fields in 1877, and
840-775: A portion of Kent, also has several schools within the city limits. Residents of far east Kent are zoned in the Tahoma School district. A branch of Green River Community College opened in Kent Station in 2007. Other portions are in the Highline Public Schools and the Renton School District . The city is served by the Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority with 7 of the departments 13 stations located within municipal boundaries. In keeping with
945-530: A prominent activist and leader during the civil rights movement . The change was approved by the state government in 2005. It is one of three Washington counties that are included in the Seattle – Tacoma – Bellevue metropolitan statistical area along with Snohomish County to the north and Pierce County to the south. About two-thirds of King County's population lives in Seattle's suburbs , which largely developed in
1050-534: A sectional direction (Duvall Ave NE) generally follow a longitudinal direction. Many of the avenues in the city are named in honor of other cities in Washington . Renton has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate ( Köppen : Csb ) with warm and dry summers mixed with cloudy, wet and cool winters, with a precipitation regime typical of the Pacific Northwest . Being located in a partial rain shadow and shielded from
1155-418: A total of $ 123 million was spent on homelessness services by local governments in King County, including cities and the regional authority. The regional authority's five-year plan, released in 2023, estimates that $ 8 billion in capital costs would be required to build and staff 18,205 new units of temporary and transitional housing to address the homelessness crisis. The King County Executive heads
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#17328516558031260-608: Is also served by King County Metro transit, with the Kent Station providing service to many destinations, including downtown Seattle by multiple commuter buses, the Sounder commuter rail system, and local buses. Heavy rail service includes two major north–south lines through the Kent Valley, with freight traffic operations by the BNSF and Union Pacific railroads. The Link light rail system
1365-529: Is connected to West Seattle at Fauntleroy and also has service to Southworth in Kitsap County. The county government's Marine Division operates the King County Water Taxi , a passenger ferry service that connects Downtown Seattle to West Seattle and Vashon Island . The passenger-only Kitsap Fast Ferries system operated by Kitsap Transit connects a terminal near Colman Dock to communities on
1470-508: Is credited with the founding and establishment of the town in 1875. Smithers named Renton in honor of Captain William Renton, a local lumber and shipping merchant who invested heavily in the coal trade. Smithers discovered coal there and brought in Charles D. Shattuck as the coal mine operator. Renton was incorporated as a city on September 6, 1901, when coal mining and timber processing were
1575-522: Is home two federally-recognized tribes, the Muckleshoot tribe and the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe tribe, and other unrecognized groups. The Muckleshoot Indian Reservation is located southeast of Auburn and is home to a resident population of 3,606 as of the 2000 census. The Snoqualmie tribe's casino property was federally recognized as their reservation in 2006, however few tribe members live near
1680-409: Is scheduled to be extended to Federal Way in 2024, with intermediate stops at Kent Des Moines station near Highline College and Star Lake station at South 272nd Street. Kent's park system includes 55 parks, miniparks, playfields, skateparks, greenbelts, and other related facilities. These parks range in size from as little as 4,300 square feet (400 m) to over 310 acres (1.3 km). Kent has
1785-482: Is surrounded by several multi-family residential buildings and a small town square named Piazza Park, which hosts a weekly farmers' market . Centered on former Boeing Co. property near the south shore of Lake Washington is a 68-acre (280,000 m ) residential and commercial development named The Landing. To the north of the Landing, a hotel and office development on the lakefront called Southport has been developed at
1890-443: Is the second-oldest incorporated city in the county, after the county seat of Seattle. It is generally divided into three areas: West Hill (mixed residential and commercial along Interstate 5), Valley (primarily industrial and commercial with some medium-density residential; significant parkland along Green River ), and East Hill (primarily residential with retail). The Kent area was first permanently settled by European Americans in
1995-608: Is used in the flag. Martin Luther King Jr. had visited King County once, for three days in November 1961. According to the United States Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 2,307 square miles (5,980 km ), of which 2,116 square miles (5,480 km ) is land and 191 square miles (490 km ) (8.3%) is water. King County has nearly twice the land area of the state of Rhode Island . The highest point in
2100-738: Is vested in the King County Superior Court and the King County District Court . Seattle houses the King County Courthouse . The county government manages elections, records, licensing, parks, wastewater treatment, and public health, among other duties. It also handles the criminal legal and incarceration system for all cities and unincorporated areas within King County. It has a sheriff's department that also provides basic policing to unincorporated areas. The Department of Local Services, established in 2019, serves as
2205-555: The 2020 census , there were 106,785 people, 41,433 households, and 25,537 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,549.1 inhabitants per square mile (1,756.4/km ). There were 43,362 housing units at an average density of 1,847.2 inhabitants per square mile (713.2/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 41.86% White , 10.15% African American , 0.92% Native American , 26.14% Asian , 0.79% Pacific Islander , 8.49% from some other races and 11.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 15.46% of
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#17328516558032310-458: The 8th district includes areas east of Lake Sammamish and the immediate Green River Valley; and the 9th district comprises the southern areas of the county from Federal Way to Seattle, Mercer Island, and part of Bellevue. In the state legislature , the county has 17 districts that each elect two House members and one senator . The majority of state legislators from King County are Democrats; only four House members and two senators are from
2415-554: The B-29 Superfortress ; currently, it produces the 737 airliner. The Renton plant produced the Jetfoil and Pegasus class hydrofoils in the 1970s. As of 2001, 40% of all commercial aircraft in the air were assembled in Renton. Boeing remains the largest employer in Renton, which is home to over 10,000 employees and three of the aerospace giant's six major business divisions: Boeing Commercial Airplanes , Boeing Capital Corporation and
2520-745: The Green and the White Rivers was a constant problem. In 1906, flooding changed the course of the White River, which reduced the flood hazard by half. The Green River continued to present problems until the creation of the Howard A. Hanson Dam at Eagle Gorge in 1962. During and after the Great Depression , Kent was known as the "Lettuce Capital of the World". After WWII , Kent began to grow more rapidly. From 1953 to 1960
2625-468: The Green River , which flows north through Kent on its way to Puget Sound . The largest lake is Lake Meridian on the city's East Hill. Clark Lake and Lake Fenwick are both surrounded by city parks. Mount Rainier is a prominent geographical landmark to the southeast. There are several major freeways and highways in or near Kent, including Interstate 5 , State Route 167 , and State Route 516 . Kent
2730-639: The Issaquah School District serves a small portion of unincorporated Renton neighborhoods. The Tahoma School District serves a small portion of Renton along Maple Valley Highway . The Kent School District serves the majority of Fairwood , a census-designated place between Renton and Maple Valley . The Renton School District includes the four high schools: Hazen High School , Lindbergh High School , Renton High School , and Albert Talley Senior High School . The school district also has four middle schools and fifteen elementary schools. Parts of
2835-616: The Kitsap Peninsula . The center of population of the state of Washington in 2010 was located in eastern King County ( 47°19′51″N 121°37′12″W / 47.330750°N 121.619994°W / 47.330750; -121.619994 ( Washington center of population, 2010 ) ). King County's own center of population was located on Mercer Island ( 47°32′54″N 122°13′48″W / 47.548320°N 122.229983°W / 47.548320; -122.229983 ( King County center of population, 2010 ) ). As of
2940-627: The Muckleshoot tribal groups. In the first winter after the Denny Party landed at Alki Point , the settlement at the point consisted of a few dozen settlers and over a thousand Native Americans. The local tribes provided the settlers with construction labor, domestic service, and help with subsistence activities. On December 22, 1852, the Oregon Territory legislature formed King County out of territory from within Thurston County . The county
3045-697: The Newcastle fields in 1878. By 1880, King County produced 22% of the coal mined on the West Coast, most of that coal being found within the Renton Formation 's Muldoon coal seam. On February 24, 1986, the King County Council approved a motion to rename the county to honor civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. (no relation to William R. King), preserving the name "King County" while changing its namesake. The motion stated, among other reasons for
3150-617: The Pierce Transit of Pierce County also operate routes that serve portions of King County. Most transit modes in the county use the ORCA card , a smart fare card system introduced in 2009. The county is home to three major ferry terminals that are served by Washington State Ferries , a state-run passenger and automobile ferry system. Colman Dock in Downtown Seattle is served by routes from Bainbridge Island and Bremerton ; Vashon Island
3255-609: The United States Senate . In 2004, King County gave a lead to Democrat Christine Gregoire in her 2004 victory gubernatorial election , pushing her ahead of Republican Dino Rossi , who led by 261 votes after the initial count. Rossi resided in the county at the time of the election, in Sammamish . In the 2020 presidential election , Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump by earning 75% of King County votes. Governor Jay Inslee also defeated Republican challenger Loren Culp with 74% of
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3360-463: The city streetcar system . Metro was the seventh-largest transit bus agency in the United States by ridership in 2019, with 121.3 million annual passenger trips and 400,000 per weekday. Sound Transit manages Link light rail , Sounder commuter rail , and Sound Transit Express buses in King County that provide connections to adjacent counties. The Community Transit of Snohomish County and
3465-622: The point-in-time count system, estimates 14,149 people in the county have experienced homelessness; the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) adopted a different methodology based on the number of people seeking services and estimated that 53,532 people in the county had been homeless at some point in 2022. According to a survey collected by service providers for the county government, 68.5 percent of respondents said they last had stable housing in King County and 10.8 percent had lived elsewhere in
3570-500: The 1850s along the banks of what was then the White River . The first settler was Samuel Russell, who sailed the White and Duwamish rivers until he claimed a plot of land southeast of modern-day downtown Kent in the spring of 1853. Russell was followed by several other settlers who quickly staked claims around the area. The settlements were originally known as "White River" and later the town
3675-506: The 1860s. Its early economy was based on coal mining, clay production, and timber export. Today, Renton is best known as the final assembly point for the Boeing 737 family of commercial airplanes, but it is also home to a growing number of well-known manufacturing, technology, and healthcare organizations, including Boeing Commercial Airplanes Division , Paccar , Kaiser Permanente , Providence Health & Services , UW Medicine , and Wizards of
3780-607: The 1970s recession. In the early 1980s the Paccar Railcar Division; the last remnants of the original Pacific Car and Foundry Co closed down. In 1993, a new Kenworth assembly plant opened on the former site of Pacific Car and Foundry. As of 2022 the top employers in the city are: Renton Technical College , originally opened in 1942 as a war production school, offers associate degrees and certificates of completion in professional-technical fields. The Renton School District provides K–12 public schooling. Additionally,
3885-860: The 1990s to support offices for Boeing and the Federal Reserve Bank , which moved from its Seattle building. Port Quendall, a land parcel in north Renton, is home to the Virginia Mason Athletic Center (VMAC), housing the Seattle Seahawks Headquarters and training facility that opened in August 2008; before then, the Seahawks trained in Kirkland . In the mid-1990s, Renton undertook a major redevelopment effort to revitalize its downtown core, which had declined in commercial prominence since
3990-458: The Black River. As a result, the Black River largely disappeared, leaving only a few remnants. The culmination of these actions reduced the threat of annual flooding. The population sharply increased during World War II when Boeing built their Renton Factory to produce the B-29 Superfortress . Renton grew from a population of 4,488 in 1940 to 16,039 in 1950. The game company Wizards of
4095-705: The Cedar River. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 25.27 square miles (65.45 km ), of which 23.54 square miles (60.97 km ) is land and 1.73 square miles (4.48 km ) is water, most of which is the Cedar River . Potential Annexation Areas (PAAs) include the communities of Fairwood southeast of Renton, the East Renton Plateau on the eastern edge of Renton, and West Hill northwest of Renton. These communities are large unincorporated urban areas that are encouraged by
4200-649: The City of Kent. The event featured public tours of the labs and facilities that were used to build the Lunar Roving Vehicles used in the Apollo program . Kent is home to a large steel industry dating back to the early 20th century. Steel and metal manufacturers include: According to the city's 2021 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, the largest employers in the city are: As of the 2020 census , there were 136,588 people, 47,058 households, and 31,887 families residing in
4305-502: The Coast also is headquartered in Renton. Providence Health System has centralized its administrative offices in Renton, along with Group Health Cooperative . Owing to its location at the confluence of three major freeways ( I-5 , I-405 , and SR 167 ), Renton's economic development team has lured a number of specialty retailers that draw consumers from around the region, including IKEA . Some retail establishments were unwanted though, and
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4410-465: The Coast . Long a cultural center for the Duwamish, European settlers arrived in the area of present-day Renton in the 1870s. First among them were Henry Tobin and his wife Diana. The town of Renton was accessed via the Seattle and Walla Walla Railroad , the first railroad to be built to Seattle , and was in the vicinity of several coal mines that attracted entrepreneurs like Erasmus M. Smithers , who
4515-560: The Kent Historical Museum. The museum is operated by the Greater Kent Historical Society. Kent is located in southern King County and is part of Seattle's metropolitan area. The city is divided into three geographic sections: West Hill, the Kent Valley, and East Hill. Downtown Kent is located on the east side of the valley, about 16 miles from downtown Seattle and downtown Bellevue. Adjoining cities are Renton to
4620-572: The King County Annexation Initiative to incorporate as cities or annex into neighboring cities. As of 2012 these three PAAs are not part of the City of Renton, and not included in its demographics or statistics. Renton is one of the cities in the Puget Sound region with an independent street grid system. Roads names beginning with sectional divisions (N 32nd Street) generally follow a latitudinal direction, while roads names ending in
4725-718: The King County Annexation Initiative, which seeks to annex large urban unincorporated areas into city limits or incorporate new cities out of those areas, the Panther Lake area (known officially as the Kent Northeast Potential Annexation Area) was proposed for annexation to the city of Kent. The annexation was voted on by residents of the potential annexation area on November 3, 2009; the area was officially annexed July 1, 2010. The city grew in area by approximately 5 square miles (13 km) and 24,000 residents. The economy of Kent consists of commuters traveling to
4830-462: The King County Library system. The city government has encouraged redevelopment of industrial areas around Downtown Renton and near Southcenter since the 1980s. The first IKEA in the Pacific Northwest opened in Renton in 1994 at a former Boeing building; the original building was replaced by a new store on the same site in 2017. The former Longacres horse-racing track was redeveloped in
4935-521: The King County vote in the concurrent gubernatorial election . These were the largest margins by any candidate in a presidential race and a gubernatorial race since the county's creation. In 2004, voters passed a referendum reducing the size of the County Council from 13 members to 9. This resulted in all council seats ending up on the 2005 ballot. Some residents of eastern King County have long desired to secede and form their own county. This movement
5040-507: The North Pacific fishing fleet and the largest homeport for fishermen in the U.S. West Coast; four container ship terminals; two cruise ship terminals; the largest grain export terminal in the U.S. Pacific Northwest; three public marinas ; 22 public parks; and nearly 5,000 acres of industrial lands in the Ballard - Interbay and Lower Duwamish industrial centers . The King County Council
5145-733: The Republican Party. The people of King County voted on September 5, 1911, to create a Port District. King County's Port of Seattle was established as the first Port District in Washington State. The Port of Seattle is King County's only Port District. It is governed by five Port Commissioners, who are elected countywide and serve four-year terms. The Port of Seattle owns and operates many properties on behalf of King County's citizens, including Sea-Tac International Airport ; many seaport facilities around Elliott Bay , including its original property, publicly owned Fishermen's Terminal , home to
5250-681: The Shared Services Group. The local newspaper in the 1970s, the Record-Chronicle, proclaimed the city the jet capital of the world. Paccar has traditionally been a large employer in the city as well with its Kenworth Truck plant located in Renton's industrial area on the south end of Lake Washington . In 1907 the Seattle Car Mfg Company also known as the Car Company moved to a large manufacturing plant in Renton after demand for
5355-422: The Territorial Army. Another settler was Henry L. Yesler , who was the first sawmill operator in Seattle. By 1870 the population was 277 and all of the quality bottom-land had been claimed. Throughout the 1860s and 70's, grain and forage crops such as wheat, barley, oats, hay, and timothy accounted for much of the annual return of farmers in the valley. During the late 1870s the town discovered hops production as
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#17328516558035460-620: The age of 18, 6.4% were under 5 years of age, and 10.8% were 65 and older. As of the 2010 census , there were 92,411 people, 34,044 households, and 21,816 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,228.3 inhabitants per square mile (1,246.5/km). There were 36,424 housing units at an average density of 1,272.2 per square mile (491.2/km). The racial makeup of the city was 55.5% White (49.7% Non-Hispanic White ), 11.3% African American, 1.0% Native American, 15.2% Asian, 1.9% Pacific Islander, 8.5% from other races, and 6.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.6% of
5565-415: The ages of 18 and 24; 33.5% were from 25 to 44; 24.4% were from 45 to 64; and 10.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.5% male and 50.5% female. Boeing Commercial Airplanes , Boeing Capital , Providence Health & Services , and Wizards of the Coast have their headquarters in Renton. The Boeing Renton Factory has operated since World War II, when it manufactured
5670-402: The average family size was 3.15. In the city the population was spread out, with 27.7% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 35.0% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 7.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males. The median income for a household in the city
5775-409: The change, that " William Rufus DeVane King was a slaveowner " who "earned income and maintained his lifestyle by oppressing and exploiting other human beings," while Martin Luther King's "contributions are well-documented and celebrated by millions throughout this nation and the world, and embody the attributes for which the citizens of King County can be proud, and claim as their own." Because only
5880-480: The city are also served by the Issaquah School District , Kent School District , and the Tahoma School District , all of which predominantly serve neighboring cities. Renton has a mayor–council government that oversees municipal services and contracts with other entities for utilities. The mayor and seven councilmembers are elected to four-year terms in staggered, at-large elections. Councilmembers are divided into working committees that recommend legislation to
5985-411: The city of Tukwila and the unincorporated community of West Hill . The geographical characteristics of Renton's eastern border are varied and include (from north to south) the south flank of Cougar Mountain descending southward merging with the community of May Valley. The terrain then elevates south of May Valley to the communities of the East Renton Plateau before descending to the north bank of
6090-428: The city of Seattle. According to data from the KCRHA, since late 2022 over 90 percent of shelter beds have been occupied on a consistent basis. Additional shelters, parking lots, and encampment sites are operated by charity organizations and churches in the area; during severe weather events such as heat waves and cold snaps, local governments open additional shelter spaces, but these often reach capacity. In 2021,
6195-406: The city successfully defended zoning restrictions on pornographic theaters before the U.S. Supreme Court in Renton v. Playtime Theatres, Inc. The Renton Public Library was built directly over the Cedar River and opened in 1966. It stretches 80 feet (24 m) across the river, next to Liberty Park, and was the main branch of the city's independent library system until its 2010 annexation into
6300-409: The city was 54.64% White , 10.63% African American , 0.66% Native American , 21.22% Asian , 0.75% Pacific Islander , 6.24% from some other races and 5.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 13.14% of the population. There were 36,009 households, of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.2% were married couples living together, 11.9% had
6405-433: The city's size grew twelve-fold. In 1965 Boeing began building in Kent, followed a few years later by other aerospace and high-tech companies. In 1992, the Greater Kent Historical Society was formed to promote the discovery, preservation and dissemination of knowledge about the history of the greater Kent area. In 1996, the City of Kent purchased the historic Bereiter house, the home of one of Kent's early mayors, for use as
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#17328516558036510-544: The city. Due to its central location within the metropolitan area, Kent is home to a large and growing warehouse district. To honor the 100th anniversary of Oberto Sausage Company's presence in the city, the city designated a section of South 238th Street as Oberto Drive in May 2018. Boeing Kent Space Center was opened with a public dedication ceremony on October 24, 1964. Keynote speakers at the event were William "Bill" Allen , Chairman and CEO of The Boeing Company; future Washington Governor Dan Evans ; and Alex Thorton, Mayor of
6615-410: The city. The population density was 2,836.7 people per square mile (1,095.4/km). There were 32,488 housing units at an average density of 1,158.9 per square mile (447.5/km). The racial makeup of the city was 70.81% White, 8.23% African American, 0.98% Native American, 9.42% Asian, 0.76% Pacific Islander, 4.7% from other races, and 5.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.13% of
6720-443: The coastal summers, Renton has more of a climate influenced by the interior than many other areas nearby. As of the 2023 American Community Survey , there are 40,968 estimated households in Renton with an average of 2.53 persons per household. The city has a median household income of $ 100,237. Approximately 7.9% of the city's population lives at or below the poverty line . Renton has an estimated 71.7% employment rate, with 38.4% of
6825-442: The company's railroad equipment exceeded the capacity of its Seattle plant. The Car Company was the only manufacturer of train cars on the west coast . The Renton plant expanded to foundry capabilities in 1911, and Seattle Car and Foundry Co merged with the Twohy Brothers of Portland in 1917 and became the Pacific Car and Foundry Company or Paccar. During the great depression, the Renton Paccar plant developed power winches for use in
6930-559: The county is Mount Daniel at 7,959 feet (2,426 meters) above sea level. King County borders Snohomish County to the north, Kitsap County to the west, Kittitas County to the east, and Pierce County to the south. It also shares a small border with Chelan County to the northeast. King County includes Vashon Island and Maury Island in Puget Sound . The county has 760 lakes and 3,000 miles (4,800 km) of streams and rivers. King County has been identified as vulnerable to higher risks of flooding caused by climate change due to
7035-476: The county was 56.1% White (54.2% Non-Hispanic White ), 6.7% African American (6.5% Non-Hispanic Black), 19.9% Asian (19.8% Non-Hispanic Asian), 0.9% Pacific Islander (0.8% Non-Hispanic Pacific Islander), 0.5% Native American , 5.2% from other races, and 10.4% from two or more races . Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 10.7% of the population. As of the 2010 census , there were 1,931,249 people, 789,232 households, and 461,510 families residing in
7140-473: The county's executive branch; the position has been held by Dow Constantine since 2009. The King County Prosecuting Attorney ( Leesa Manion since 2023), Elections Director, and the King County Assessor are elected executive positions. The King County Sheriff is appointed by the county executive and approved by the county council. It was previously an elected position from 1996 until 2020 and has been held by Patti Cole-Tindall since 2022. Judicial power
7245-452: The county's logo from an imperial crown to an image of Martin Luther King Jr. On March 12, 2007, the new logo was unveiled. The new logo design was developed by the Gable Design Group and the specific image was selected by a committee consisting of King County Executive Ron Sims , Council Chair Larry Gossett, Prosecutor Norm Maleng , Sheriff Sue Rahr, District Court Judge Corrina Harn, and Superior Court Judge Michael Trickey. The same logo
7350-460: The county. The population density was 912.9 inhabitants per square mile (352.5/km ). There were 851,261 housing units at an average density of 402.4 per square mile (155.4/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 68.7% White (64.8% Non-Hispanic White ), 6.2% African American , 14.6% Asian , 0.8% Pacific Islander , 0.8% Native American , 3.9% from other races, and 5.0% from two or more races . Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 8.9% of
7455-420: The county. The population density was 4,047.1 inhabitants per square mile (1,562.6/km). There were 49,157 housing units. The racial makeup of the county was 39.7% White , 12.8% African American , 1.0% Native American , 23.6% Asian , 2.6% Pacific Islander , 9.7% from some other races and 10.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.4% of the population. 24.6% of residents were under
7560-475: The exception of Seattle, Hunts Point , and Yarrow Point . The city of Seattle is served by the Seattle Public Library system, which has 27 branches compared to King County's 49 locations. Renton, Washington Renton is a city in King County , Washington , United States, and an inner-ring suburb of Seattle . Situated 11 miles (18 km) southeast of downtown Seattle , Renton straddles
7665-452: The fourth quarter of 2021, the median home value in King County was $ 817,547, an increase of 19.6% from the prior year. In 2021 King County experienced its first population decline in 50 years. As of the 2020 census , there were 2,269,675 people, 917,764 households, and 537,466 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,073.0 inhabitants per square mile (414.3/km ) There were 969,234 housing units. The racial makeup of
7770-539: The late 20th century and early 21st century as bedroom communities before becoming job centers for the technology industry . When Europeans arrived in the region that would become King County, it was inhabited by several Coast Salish groups. Villages around the site that would become Seattle were primarily populated by the Duwamish people . The Snoqualmie Indian Tribe occupied the area that would become eastern King County. The Green River and White River were home for
7875-560: The local government for populated unincorporated areas. King County is part of four congressional districts that each elect a member of the United States House of Representatives ; the boundaries are redrawn every 10 years based on the results of the decennial census. The 1st district comprises the Eastside cities north of Bellevue ; the 7th district includes northern Seattle, West Seattle, Burien, Normandy Park, and Vashon Island;
7980-483: The logging industry. When World War II arrived the Renton manufacturing switched its production towards the war effort, and by the war's end in 1945 had built 1,500 Sherman Tanks . In the second half of the 20th century there was not enough repeat business for Paccar-built train cars as rail equipment in 1965 came to only 1/3 of the company's sales. Thus the Paccar Renton plant began manufacturing structural steel until
8085-608: The main urban centers of the Seattle metropolitan area (particularly downtown Seattle ), extensive manufacturing and warehousing within the city, and retail/personal services catering to residents. The manufacturing and distribution industry in Kent and the surrounding area ranks 4th among markets in the United States. Corporate headquarters in Kent include Oberto Sausage Company , Seattle Bicycle Supply , Omax Corporation and aerospace manufacturer Blue Origin . Amazon , Boeing , Whirlpool and General Electric operate sizable facilities in
8190-550: The most important economic industries in the area. The town was prone to flooding from the Cedar River and Black River . In 1916 the completion of the Lake Washington Ship Canal lowered the surface of Lake Washington by several feet which consequently eliminated drainage of Lake Washington through the Black River (in favor of the Ship Canal). The Cedar River was then diverted to drain into Lake Washington instead of into
8295-411: The north, Covington to the east, Auburn to the south, Federal Way to the southwest, Des Moines to the west, SeaTac to the northwest, and Tukwila to the north. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 34.41 square miles (89.12 km), of which 33.83 square miles (87.62 km) is land and 0.58 square miles (1.50 km) is water. Major waterways include
8400-548: The number of waterways in the area. The county's oceanic ecosystems are predicted to face harmful chemical changes, while the mountainous ecosystems could experience a decrease in ice and snow. Since the mid-2000s, the county government has adopted policies to mitigate the effects of climate change and reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the region. The King County Metro serves the county with local routes, paratransit , vanpools , and rideshare in select areas. It also operates an electric trolleybus network in Seattle as well as
8505-590: The opening of the Southcenter Mall in Tukwila in 1968. The many car dealerships that had previously occupied the center of downtown Renton were encouraged through economic incentives to relocate to a newly created auto sales zone close to the I-405/SR-167 interchange. In place of the old dealerships downtown, a new transit center and parking garage were built in partnership with King County Metro . The transit center
8610-405: The population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 86.2% holding a high school diploma. The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (59.2%), Spanish (12.8%), Indo-European (7.0%), Asian and Pacific Islander (16.4%), and Other (4.6%). The median age in the city was 37.8 years. As of
8715-498: The population was claimed as members by religious congregations, although members of historically African-American denominations were underrepresented due to incomplete information. In 2014, King County had 944 religious organizations, the 8th most out of all US counties. King County has the third largest population of homeless or unsheltered people in the United States according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The agency's January 2023 report, based on
8820-407: The population. There were 32,998 households, out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and
8925-440: The population. There were 34,044 households, of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.9% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
9030-441: The population. 20.6% of residents were under the age of 18, 6.5% were under 5 years of age, and 12.4% were 65 and older. As of the 2010 census , there were 90,927 people, 36,009 households, and 21,849 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,932.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,518.5/km ). There were 38,930 housing units at an average density of 1,683.8 inhabitants per square mile (650.1/km ). The racial makeup of
9135-445: The population. In terms of ancestry, 17.1% were German , 11.6% were English , 11.1% were Irish , 5.5% were Norwegian , and 2.9% were American . Of the 789,232 households, 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 41.5% were non-families, and 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size
9240-709: The reservation. In 2010 statistics, the largest religious group in King County was the Archdiocese of Seattle , with 278,340 Catholics worshipping at 71 parishes, followed by 95,218 non-denominational adherents with 159 congregations, 56,985 LDS Mormons with 110 congregations, 25,937 AoG Pentecostals with 63 congregations, 25,789 ELCA Lutherans with 68 congregations, 24,909 PC-USA Presbyterians with 54 congregations, 18,185 Mahayana Buddhists with 39 congregations, 18,161 UMC Methodists with 50 congregations, 14,971 TEC Episcopalians with 35 congregations, and 12,531 ABCUSA Baptists with 42 congregations. Altogether, 37.6% of
9345-556: The site of the former Shuffleton power plant, which was demolished in 2001. A 347-room hotel operated under the Hyatt Regency brand opened in June 2017. In 2017, Bosa Development announced plans to build five residential towers between 16 and 23 stories at Quendall Terminals, a Superfund site in Renton on the shore of Lake Washington. The proposal was never formally approved by the city government, which had permitted six-story buildings on
9450-418: The site, and was dropped in 2024. Renton is located on the southeast shore of Lake Washington at the mouth of the Cedar River . The city is bordered to the north by Newcastle . Along the east side of Renton is the urban growth boundary established by King County , as such there is no incorporated city directly east of Renton. The southern border is shared with Kent , while the western border consists of
9555-444: The southeast shore of Lake Washington , at the mouth of the Cedar River . As of the 2020 census , the population of Renton was 106,785, up from 90,927 at the 2010 census . The city is currently the 6th most populous municipality in greater Seattle and the 8th most populous city in Washington . After a long history as an important salmon fishing area for Native Americans, Renton was first settled by people of European descent in
9660-483: The state can charter counties, the change was not made official until April 19, 2005, when Governor Christine Gregoire signed into law Senate Bill 5332, which provided that "King county is renamed in honor of the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr." effective July 24, 2005. The County Council voted on February 27, 2006, to adopt the proposal sponsored by Councilmember Larry Gossett to change
9765-472: The state. Approximately 57 percent of the homeless population counted by HUD in King County was classified as unsheltered, either living in vehicles, encampments in public spaces, or other places. The number of unsheltered individuals increased significantly in the late 2010s, leading to clearing of encampments and other structures by local governments. The county has 5,115 emergency shelter beds and tiny house villages, of which 67 percent are in
9870-465: The transit station of the same name. The 2012 Skate America figure skating competition was held in Kent from October 19 to 21, 2012, at ShoWare Center . In July 2015, Kent hosted the inaugural Junior Roller Derby World Cup. Riverbend Golf Complex, featuring an 18-hole course which is one of the busiest in Washington state, is located in Kent. An adjacent par 3 course was actively used by locals for years before being shut down in 2017 to make room for
9975-521: The vast majority of Kent and a number of neighboring cities and unincorporated areas is governed by the Kent School District . The district includes four high schools, seven middle schools, twenty-eight elementary schools and two academies. The Kent School District also has an individualized graduation and degree program named iGrad that is aimed at dropouts aged 16–21 who are willing to get back to school. Federal Way Public Schools , which includes
10080-610: The whole council in meetings. Renton has two sister cities: Renton is served by King County Metro and Sound Transit Express buses. Metro operates the RapidRide F Line through the city and plans to expand bus rapid transit service in the 2020s; Sound Transit is scheduled to open its own bus rapid transit service, Stride along the Interstate 405 corridor through Renton in 2026. The city government owns and operates Renton Municipal Airport (KRNT), officially Clayton Scott Field,
10185-463: Was "Hop Capitol of the West". Hops production in the White River valley came to an end soon after its own invasion of aphids in 1891. Kent was officially incorporated on May 28, 1890, with a population of 793, the second city incorporated in King County (after Seattle). After the turn of the 20th century the area turned to dairy farming and was home to a Carnation condensed milk plant. Flooding from both
10290-521: Was $ 50,053, and the median income for a family was $ 61,016. Males had a median income of $ 43,136 versus $ 36,995 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 21,390. About 8.7% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.7% of those under the age of 18 and 9.3% of those 65 and older. In 2003, Kent was named Sports Illustrated ' s Sportstown of the year for Washington. In January 2006, an entertainment center, known as Kent Station, opened in downtown Kent adjacent to
10395-408: Was 2,269,675 in the 2020 census , making it the most populous county in Washington , and the 12th-most populous in the United States. The county seat is Seattle , also the state's most populous city . Originally named after US representative, senator, and then vice president-elect William R. King in 1852, the county government amended its designation in 1986 to honor Martin Luther King Jr. ,
10500-472: Was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.05. The median age was 37.1 years. The median income for a household in the county was $ 68,065 and the median income for a family was $ 87,010. Males had a median income of $ 62,373 versus $ 45,761 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 38,211. About 6.4% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line , including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over. King County
10605-435: Was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.31. The median age in the city was 33 years. 26.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 30.6% were from 25 to 44; 24.3% were from 45 to 64; and 8.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.9% male and 50.1% female. As of the 2000 census , there were 79,524 people, 31,113 households, and 19,601 families residing in
10710-414: Was called "Titusville" after an early settler by the name of James Henry Titus. (There is still a "Titusville Station" sign on Gowe Street near First Avenue). In 1861 a post office was established under the name White River and was located at the farm of David and Irena Neely who settled in modern-day Kent in 1854. In 1855 their farm was attacked by Native Americans when David Neely served as a lieutenant in
10815-489: Was established in 1969 and consists of nine members elected by districts to four-year terms. King County and Seattle are strongly liberal; the area is a bastion for the Democratic Party . No Republican presidential candidate has carried the county votes since Ronald Reagan 's landslide reelection victory in 1984 . In the 2008 election , Barack Obama defeated John McCain in the county by 42 percentage points,
10920-548: Was most vocal in the mid-1990s (see Cedar County, Washington ). It has recently been revived as Cascade County. According to a map published by the Seattle Times , four different geographic borders were considered. Additional plans (see Skykomish County, Washington ) also exist or have existed. School districts in the county include: Most of King County is served by the King County Library System , with
11025-662: Was named after Alabamian William R. King , who had just been elected Vice President of the United States under President Franklin Pierce . Seattle was made the county seat on January 11, 1853. The area became part of the Washington Territory when it was created later that year. King County originally extended to the Olympic Peninsula . According to historian Bill Speidel , when peninsular prohibitionists threatened to shut down Seattle's saloons, Doc Maynard engineered
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