West Seattle comprises two of Seattle, Washington's thirteen districts, Delridge and Southwest and encompasses all of Seattle west of the Duwamish River. It was incorporated as an independent town in 1902 and was annexed by Seattle in 1907. Among the area's attractions are its saltwater beach parks along Elliott Bay and Puget Sound, including Alki Beach and Lincoln Park. The area is also prized for its magnificent views of the Olympic Mountains to the west and the Cascade Range to the east.
Contents |
The highest point in Seattle is in the Gatewood neighborhood, adjacent to the aptly named High Point neighborhood of West Seattle; the intersection of 35th Avenue S.W. and S.W. Myrtle Street it is 520 feet above sea level. The hill is dominated by two huge water towers, and is also the location of Our Lady of Guadalupe School and Parish, on the peak of the highest hill in West Seattle. It is also known for the High Point Projects which were torn down in 2005 to make way for new mixed income housing
Alki Point is traditionally credited as the point where the Denny Party founded Seattle prior to moving across Elliott Bay to what is now Downtown. A similar landing at Alki has been reenacted annually since 1950 as part of the colorful, week-long Seafair celebration of Seattle's marine and boating interests. Seafair coincides with West Seattle festivities including Hi-Yu and the West Seattle Summer Fest street festival held each July. Along with its historical significance Alki is the home of the most popular beach in the Seattle area. Fittingly named Alki Beach, it offers a significant strip of sandy beach full of driftwood, seashells, and fire pits. Low tides offer West Seattlites an extraordinary opportunity to explore marine life in tidepools like no other beach in Seattle. Additionally, Alki hosts a nice and flat bike/running trail on which people see amazing views of the Seattle skyline, Puget Sound, and Olympic mountains.
The heart of West Seattle is the intersection of California Avenue S.W. and S.W. Alaska Street, called "The Junction" or "Alaska Junction," the center of a lively business district.
West Seattle also has two other major intersections of note: the Admiral Junction in the northern part of the peninsula where California Avenue S.W. and S.W. Admiral Way meet, and the Morgan Street Junction at the southern end where Fauntleroy Way S.W., S.W. Morgan Street, and California Avenue S.W. intersect.
The Westwood Village shopping center, between S.W. Trenton and S.W. Barton Streets in the south end of West Seattle, has undergone several makeovers and now provides a mall-like shopping experience, including a box store and a large bookstore from a national chain. West Seattle also includes smaller areas in the south end, including Fauntleroy, Arbor Heights, Arroyo Heights, and Seola Beach.
There is a Washington State Ferries dock in the Fauntleroy neighborhood, with service to Vashon Island and to Southworth on the Kitsap Peninsula. A passenger-only ferry by the King County Water Taxi also runs between Duwamish Head and downtown Seattle.
Numerous sites exist with historical information on West Seattle, which is Seattle's oldest neighborhood, and birthplace of Seattle proper. The Southwest Seattle Historical Society has its own Log House Museum at Alki Point (www.loghousemuseum.info). Among West Seattle's most famous residents are Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder, actress Dyan Cannon, nature photographer Art Wolfe, Amanda Knox and, formerly, Frances Farmer. Vedder uses the pseudonym Wes C. Addle on some of his work.
The community is served by the West Seattle Herald[1] which publishes weekly in print and offers updates throughout the day on its website, and by the West Seattle Blog, which offers continuously updated news and information. Sustainable West Seattle[2] provides a website of community news and events related to urban sustainability.
West Seattle is home to South Seattle Community College, West Seattle High School, Chief Sealth International High School, Seattle Lutheran High School, Gatewood Elementary School, Madison Middle School, Denny International Middle School, Roxhill Elementary School, Alki Elementary School, Lafayette Elementary School, Highland Park Elementary School, Sanislo Elementary School, Pathfinder K-8, Holy Family School Seattle, Holy Rosary West Seattle, Schmitz Park Elementary School, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and Arbor Heights Elementary.
There are many neighborhoods within West Seattle.