Renton, Washington
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| Renton, Washington | |||
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 King County and Washington |
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| Coordinates: | |||
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Washington | ||
| County | King | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Denis Law | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 22.3 sq mi (44.8 km²) | ||
| - Land | 22.0 sq mi (44.1 km²) | ||
| - Water | 0.3 sq mi (0.7 km²) | ||
| Elevation | 46 ft (14 m) | ||
| Population (2008) | |||
| - Total | 76,000 | ||
| - Density | 1,331.5/sq mi (514.1/km²) | ||
| City Proper | |||
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) | ||
| ZIP codes | 98055-98059 | ||
| Area code(s) | 425 | ||
| FIPS code | 53-57745[1] | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 1512599[2] | ||
| Website: http://www.rentonwa.gov | |||
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Renton is a city in King County, Washington, USA, 13 miles (21 km) southeast of Seattle. The population was 50,052 at the 2000 census. The Washington State Office of Financial Management estimates the 2007 Renton population at 60,290. Effective March 1, 2008, the Benson Hill communities added approximately 18,000 residents for a total population approaching 80,000 [3]. Renton's Growth Management Act Planning Area, including the city proper and the Potential Annexation Areas, PAAs, of Fairwood, Skyway, West Hill, and East Renton Highlands had a population of over 110,000 in 2000.
Based on per capita income, Renton ranks 100th of 522 areas ranked in the state of Washington[citation needed].
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[edit] History
The village of Renton was founded as a farming site by Erasmus M. Smithers who discovered coal there and brought in Charles D. Shattuck as coal mine operator.
Renton was incorporated as a city in 1901 (September 6) when coal mining and timber processing were the most important economic activities in the area. The town's population boomed during World War II when Boeing built their Renton Factory to produce the B-29 Superfortress. The factory has continued to operate since then, and still produces 737 aircraft. It also 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 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. Game company Wizards of the Coast also is headquartered in Renton. Providence Health System has centralized certain of its operations in Renton and according to Mayor Koelker's 2007 State of the City address, expects to eventually have 1,000 workers at Southgate Office Park. Online social-networking website Classmates.com is also located in the aforementioned Southgate Office Park.
The city was involved in a 1986 Supreme Court case. In its decision on City of Renton v. Playtime Theatres, Inc., the Court upheld Renton's statute that no adult theater be located within 1,000 feet of a school, park, church, or residential zone; the Court rejected the theater owners' argument that the statute violated the First Amendment.
Another State Supreme Court Case involving Renton was Scoccolo Construction v City of Renton. The contractor alleged that the City was responsible for delays in the project caused by third party utilities. The contractor prevailed making this an important precedent setting case for Washington State. [4]
Recently, owing to its location at the confluence of three major freeways (I-5, I-405, and SR 167), Renton has become home to a number of destination retailers that draw customers from around the state, including Fry's Electronics and IKEA. Renton was also the starting point for the Spirit of Washington Dinner Train, which stopped service in the summer of 2007. Currently under construction and adjacent to Fry's Electronics is The Landing, a 68 acre retail, housing, restaurant and cinema development.[5] Target was the first store to open at The Landing in October 2007, with additional businesses opening throughout 2008. Also currently under construction is a new headquarters for the Seattle Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco[citation needed],and the new corporate headquarters and training facility for the Seattle Seahawks, which has been named the Virginia Mason Athletic Center[citation needed].
[edit] New developments
Throughout the past 5 years[when?], Renton has worked hard[citation needed] to shed its image as a blue collar city that is stuck in the past. Today, many new housing and retail developments are currently under construction or are in the planning stages. The city has attracted big names throughout the years such as Boeing, IKEA, Kenworth, the Federal Reserve Bank, FAA, Seattle Seahawks Headquarters and the proposed King County Events Center which would have been the new home of the Seattle Sonics NBA franchise and the Seattle Storm WNBA Franchise. The downtown core has seen the biggest impact of revitalization throughout the past few years, as a new transit center was constructed as well as many high-end condominiums and a farmers market. The biggest development in city history is currently under construction along the south shores of Lake Washington near Boeing. Known as "The Landing", this 68-acre urban development will bring many new restaurants and retailers to the city[citation needed]. The City has an annexation plan that would expand the city to over 130,000 in population. A resolution to annex one such area, a nearby plateau area referred to as Fairwood, was defeated in a special election.[6] The resolution to annex Benson Hill passed in a recent election adding approximately 18,000 residents to the city effective March 1, 2008.[7]
[edit] Geography
Renton is located at (47.486622, -122.195163)[8], on the southern shore of Lake Washington.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 17.3 square miles (44.8 km²), of which, 17.0 square miles (44.1 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.7 km²) of it (1.62%) is water, most of which is the Cedar River. Potential Annexation Areas, PAAs, are not part of this city and should not be included in calculations.
Renton is one of a few cities in the Puget Sound Region with its own street grid system. The city also has its own library system and housing authority. This helps the city to avoid higher regional taxes. As a result, Renton property owners enjoy the smallest average tax increases in King County[9].
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 50,052 people, 21,708 households, and 12,243 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,939.7 people per square mile (1,134.8/km²). There were 22,676 housing units at an average density of 1,331.8/sq mi (514.1/km²). The ethnic makeup of the city was 68.14% White, 8.47% African American, 0.72% Native American, 13.37% Asian, 0.50% Pacific Islander, 4.24% from other ethnicities, and 4.57% from two or more ethnicities. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.63% of the population.
There were 21,708 households out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.9% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.6% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.8% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 36.9% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 98.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,820, and the median income for a family was $55,747. Males had a median income of $40,765 versus $31,543 for females. The per capita income for the city was $24,346. About 7.0% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.5% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Education
Renton is served by the Renton School District and Issaquah School District on the grade-school level.
[edit] Sister cities
Renton is a sister city of Nishiwaki, Japan and Cuautla, Jalisco, Mexico[citation needed].
Transportation
Renton is served by King County METRO and Sound Transit Express buses.
[edit] Notable residents
- Jimi Hendrix, famous musician, buried in the city's Greenwood cemetery since 1970.
- Ann Rule, the true crime novelist currently resides in Renton.
- Sean Kinney, drummer of Alice In Chains grew up in Renton.
- Bonnie Guitar, singer in the 50's and 60's, gave singing lessons as Bonnie Tutmarc, in the early 50's.
[edit] Little-known Facts
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- A house that Jimi Hendrix lived in is parked across the street from Greenwood Cemetery, where the Jimi Hendrix Memorial[10] is located.
[edit] References
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ http://rentonwa.gov/uploadedFiles/Government/AJLS/MayorsViewPoint/Mayor's%20Welcome%20to%20Benson%20Hill.PDF
- ^ UCAW Legislation
- ^ Lakeshore Landing [1]
- ^ King County Election Results
- ^ www.rentonreporter.com
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Average property tax is up $184 in Seattle
- ^ [http://www.jimihendrixmemorial.com
[edit] External links
- Renton city government webpage
- Renton School District webpage
- Renton Technical College webpage
- Renton Community Foundation webpage
- Renton Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau webpage
- Rotary Club of Renton webpage
- Renton River Days - Community Family Festival
- new Highlands Community Association webpage
- previous Highlands Community Association/Declaration of Blight webpage
- Renton Reporter, a weekly newspaper delivered free to city residents
- Fairwood incorporation information page
- Renton, Washington is at coordinates Coordinates:
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