Mercer Island, Washington

Mercer Island, Washington
City
Aerial view of Mercer Island from the north.
Nickname(s): MI
Location of Mercer Island in King County, Washington
Coordinates: 47°34′39″N 122°12′43.2″W / 47.57750°N 122.212000°W / 47.57750; -122.212000Coordinates: 47°34′39″N 122°12′43.2″W / 47.57750°N 122.212000°W / 47.57750; -122.212000
Country	United States
State	Washington
County	King
Area[1]
• Total	13.11 sq mi (33.95 km2)
• Land	6.32 sq mi (16.37 km2)
• Water	6.79 sq mi (17.59 km2)
Elevation[2]	338 ft (103 m)
Population (2010)[3]
• Total	22,699
• Estimate (2015)[4]	25,042
• Density	3,591.6/sq mi (1,386.7/km2)
Time zone	Pacific (PST) (UTC-8)
• Summer (DST)	PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP code	98040
Area code(s)	206
FIPS code	53-45005
GNIS feature ID	1512455[5]
Website	www.mercergov.org

Map of Mercer Island

Mercer Island is a city in King County, Washington, United States located on an island of the same name in the southern portion of Lake Washington. Mercer Island is in the Seattle Metropolitan Area,^[6] with Seattle located to its west and Bellevue located to its east.

Mercer Island is connected to the mainland on either side via bridges carrying Interstate 90. The Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge and the parallel Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge are floating bridges that span Lake Washington and carry, respectively, eastbound and westbound lanes of Interstate 90 and connect Mercer Island to the northern portion of Seattle's South End (more specifically, I-90 has Leschi to the north and Mount Baker to the south). I-90 traverses the northern portion of Mercer Island and is then carried from the island to Bellevue over the East Channel of Lake Washington by the East Channel Bridge. Mercer Island is located closer to Bellevue than it is to Seattle, and is therefore often considered to be part of the King County's Eastside.

The population was 22,699 at the 2010 census.^[7] The population was 22,720 at 2013 Estimate from Office of Financial Management. This makes Mercer Island the most populated island in a lake within the United States.^[8] The ZIP code 98040 is unique to Mercer Island.^[9] Mercer Island has the fifth highest per-capita income in the state of Washington and is one of the 100 richest ZIP codes in the USA according to the IRS figures for Adjusted Gross Income.^[10]

History

Mercer Island, named for the Mercer family of Seattle, was first settled between 1870 and 1880. The Mercer brothers often rowed between the island and Seattle to pick berries, hunt, and fish. Those brothers, Thomas Mercer and Asa Shinn Mercer, were members of the Mercer family of Virginia. The first large settlement, East Seattle, was toward the northwest side of the island—near the McGilvra neighborhood. During 1889, a C C Calkins built a large and gilded resort, the Calkins Hotel. The hotel was reached via steamboat between Madison Park, Leschi Park, and the Eastside. Guests included President Benjamin Harrison, of 1901, amongst other well-to-do dignitaries from Seattle to the Eastcoast of the USA. Burnt by a mysterious fire, the hotel was razed during 1908.

The Calkins Landing continued service and presumedly aided location of a more permanent population. A denser urban community with business district developed toward the central northern island between the McGilvra neighborhood and Luther Burbank Park. This community now composes the majority of the island's crest through the Middle Island neighborhood.

In 1928, the East Channel Bridge was built to connect the island with Bellevue, Washington. In 1930, George W Lightfoot requested a bridge between Mercer Island and Seattle. The Lacey V Murrow Memorial Bridge, currently the second longest floating bridge on Earth, was built and opened in 1940. In 1989, a second bridge, the Homer M Hadley Memorial Bridge, was built parallel to the Lacey V Murrow Memorial Bridge. The East Channel Bridge, Lacey V Murrow Memorial Bridge, and Homer M Hadley Memorial Bridge, carry Interstate 90 from Seattle, through Mercer Island, and into Bellevue. (Another floating bridge, the Governor Albert D. Rosellini Bridge—Evergreen Point, was built across Lake Washington in 1963, north of Mercer Island. It connects Seattle and Medina.)

The City of Mercer Island was incorporated from East Seattle on July 5, 1960 and composed of all the island less the 70 acre (280,000 m²) business district. Just over one month later, August 9, the Town of Mercer Island was incorporated from that business district. The two aforementioned municipalities merged as the City of Mercer Island May 19, 1970.

Geography

Aerial view of the Interstate 90 floating bridge connecting Seattle and the northern part of Mercer Island.

Mercer Island City Hall is located at 47°34′39″N 122°12′43.2″W / 47.57750°N 122.212000°W / 47.57750; -122.212000 (47.5775, -122.212).^[11] The peak elevation is about 338 feet near the center of the island.^[2]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.11 square miles (33.95 km²), of which, 6.32 square miles (16.37 km²) is land and 6.79 square miles (17.59 km²) is water.^[1]

Mercer Island is the largest populated island in a lake in the US.^[12]

Climate

This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Mercer Island has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.^[13]

Education

The Mercer Island School District comprises seven common schools on the island: four primary schools (Lakeridge Elementary, Island Park Elementary, West Mercer Elementary and Northwood Elementary); one Middle school (Islander Middle School); one High school (Mercer Island High School); one alternative secondary school (Crest Learning Center).^[14]

Mercer Island is also home to the St. Monica School(K-8), the French American School of Puget Sound (P-8), and the Northwest Yeshiva High School (9-12).

Demographics

According to a 2012 estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $127,360, and the median income for a family was $154,050. The per capita income for the city was $74,056.

Washington State's Office of Financial Management also publishes per-county, per-city population statistics of its own. Its 2013 estimate was 22,720.^[17]

An estimated 25% of city households are Jewish; the Island also has two synagogues and a Jewish Community Center.^[18]

2010 census

As of the census^[3] of 2010, there were 22,699 people, 9,109 households, and 6,532 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,591.6 inhabitants per square mile (1,386.7/km²). There were 9,930 housing units at an average density of 1,571.2 per square mile (606.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 77.9% White, 1.3% African American, 0.2% Native American, 15.9% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from other races, and 3.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.8% of the population.

There were 9,109 households of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.3% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 28.3% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.97.

The median age in the city was 46 years. 24.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19% were from 25 to 44; 32% were from 45 to 64; and 19.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.7% male and 51.3% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 22,036 people, 8,437 households, and 6,277 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,452.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,333.6/km²). There were 8,806 housing units at an average density of 1,379.5 per square mile (532.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.09% White, 1.14% African American, 0.16% Native American, 11.87% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.52% from other races, and 2.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.86% of the population.

There were 8,437 households out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.6% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.6% were non-families. 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 21.2% from 25 to 44, 29.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $91,904, and the median income for a family was $110,830. Males had a median income of $82,855 versus $46,734 for females. The per capita income for the city was $53,799. About 1.9% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or over.

Government

At the national level, Mercer Island is located in Washington's 9th congressional district, which is represented by Democrat Adam Smith.

Parks

Luther Burbank Park covers 77 acres (310,000 m²) of land and has 0.75 miles (1.21 km) of waterfront. The park has a public boat dock and fishing pier, a swimming beach, an amphitheater, tennis courts, barbecues and picnic facilities, and an off-leash dog area.^[19] The city assumed maintenance of the park on January 1, 2003 from King County, which had purchased the park land in 1969.^[20]

The Aubrey Davis Park is atop the I-90 tunnel entrances. This park has softball fields, tennis courts, basketball courts, picnic shelters, and the Freeway Sculpture Park. Due to its location atop the I-90 tunnel, the park is also locally referred to as "The Lid." ^{[21] [22]}

Pioneer Park covers 113 acres (0.46 km²) and has equestrian, bicycle, and hiking trails.^[23] Deane's Children's Park, also known as "Dragon Park", is a small park with playground equipment.^[24]

Clarke Beach is located at the south end of Mercer Island and is home to the annual polar bear swim on New Year's Day.

Mercer Island also has many smaller parks maintained by the city, some of which have waterfront access.

Sister cities

Mercer Island's sister city, as designated by Sister Cities International, is Thonon-les-Bains, France.^[25][26]

Annual events

• Mercer Island is focal to annual performances by the Blue Angels during Seattle's summer Seafair celebration.
• Summer Celebration is a celebration once a year on the weekend after the 4th of July. The celebration ends with fireworks.^[27]
• The Mercer Island Farmers Market operates most Sundays between June and October. A special version of the market called the Harvest Market occurs on a Sunday in November. There is no farmer's market on the Summer Celebration weekend nor on the Seafair weekend. The market contains local produce including fruit, vegetables and some crafts. ^[28]

Gallery

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mercer Island, Washington.

• 
  Luther Burbank Park
• 
  Keewaydin Clubhouse
• 
  Luther Burbank Park docks
• 
  Luther Burbank School

Notable people

• Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft^[29]
• Howard Lincoln, former chairman of Nintendo of America, current CEO and chairman of the Seattle Mariners^[30]　
• Bill Russell, Boston Celtics NBA player, 1956–1969, and Hall of Famer^[30]
• Frank Shrontz, former CEO and chairman of Boeing^[30]
• Quin Snyder, head coach of the Utah Jazz.
• Joel McHale, comedian.^[31]
• Jordan Morris, Forward for the Seattle Sounders.
• Rashard Lewis, former NBA player.^[32]
• Ann Dunham, mother of the 44th President of the United States , Barack Obama ^[33]
• Mary Wayte, former two-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming. ^[34]

References

External links

• Mercer Island Reporter Local newspaper