History of Seattle

In the Pacific Northwest, the first settlers in the area of Seattle were the Snohomish, Suquamish and other Native Americans. Seattle was named after Native American headman Chief Sealth. In the autumn of 1851, the Denny Party came ashore on what is now Alki Beach in West Seattle. These first white settlers had to survive one cold, bitter winter, before moving east across Elliott Bay to find cover in the sheltered area which is now downtown Seattle and Pioneer Square.

This new community quickly made timber the basis of their economy. The fertile Pacific Northwest provided a wealth of large evergreen trees that settlers felled and sold for lumber. With its newly created prosperity, the community developed an interest in higher education. In 1861, the University of Washington was founded and was relocated to its present site in 1895. Until today, it remains the state of Washingtons largest educational institution.

Boom times

Seattles population boomed when the railway reached nearby Tacoma in 1883. Just 6 years later, the Great Fire of June 1889 destroyed nearly everything Seattleites had built. By the end of that year, the city had built 130 new brick houses on top of the burnt out crust of the old city, like a phoenix rising from the ashes. Today, the ruins of the original buildings can be seen on the Underground Tour. The 1890s saw a phase of resurrection, and the Yukon and Alaskan gold rushes were instrumental in helping the city develop economically. Being the gateway to a practically unpopulated Alaska, Seattle was a key supplier of food and provisions for prospectors who sought to brave the wilderness in search of gold. Those who got lucky spent generously on their way back through Seattle.

The 20th century

In 1907 the Pike Place Public Farmers Market opened its doors. It is still a major tourist attraction today. In 1910 the citys population had reached nearly 230,000, and steamboats ferried people and goods across the bay. In 1919 electric trolleys were introduced, making transportation between expansive urban areas easier. Highways followed, one piece at a time. When Bill Boeing test flew his companys first aircraft in 1916, the rapidly growing economy took a new turn. The aerospace industry has been the mainstay of the regions economy since WWII. Commercial air travel was changed with the development of Boeings 707 commercial jetliner.

In the 1960s, Seattle hosted the 1962 World Fair and the Space Needle and Monorail came to the city. Seattle became an attractive destination for tourists and the population continued to increase. Downtown saw continued construction of Interstate 5 and the ferry, Kalakala, was regarded as the ultimate in modern water transport.

Recent iconic companies in Seattle

In the 1980s and 90s, a fledgling company by the name of Microsoft set up their headquarters in Seattle. This period also saw the arrival of a retailer of gourmet coffee called Starbucks, and Safeco Field, a state-of-the-art baseball stadium with a retractable roof. Many leading biotech companies also came to settle in the area. Today, many internationally competitive companies including Microsoft, Starbucks, Immunex, Nintendo and Nordstrom have made this cosmopolitan city, nestled between the Cascade Mountains and Puget Sound, their home.