Seattle Facts

If you don't live in Seattle, or have never visited here, chances are the first thing you think of when you heard the word Seattle is........rain. Most people seem to think that it rains here every day. If you're among that number, you might be surprised to find out that it rains more in 43 other cities than it does in Seattle; including Miami, New Orleans and Chicago. While it is true that the city only has an average of 57 totally cloud free days during the year, it does NOT mean that it rains every one of those 308 other days.

So, here are some other facts about Seattle that you may want to know before considering visiting and/or relocating to the area:

• There are approximately one-half million people within the city limits of Seattle, and a little over 3 million people in the metropolitan area, which makes it the largest city in Washington State
• The average elevation is 10 feet above sea level
• The average annual rainfall is about 38"
• The average high temperature is about 60 degrees Fahrenheit
• The average low temperature is about 46 degrees Fahrenheit
• Major industries are aerospace, computers/software, electronics, fishing, marine, shipbuilding and tourism
• Traffic congestion is BAD, and getting worse
• Parking is limited in quite a few areas, and expensive during peak hours
• But, on the plus side, the area has a good public transportation system that includes buses, commuter rail, and the upcoming area-wide light rail system
• Overall, the city is relatively safe compared to other cities of the same size and demographics
• The city was founded by the Denny party in 1852 and ultimately named after local Native American chieftain Sealth
• Amazon.com, Starbucks, Microsoft, Costco and Boeing all had their beginnings in the Seattle area (though Boeing has since moved their corporate headquarters to the Chicagoland area, they do still have a significant presence here)
• In June of 1899, the downtown area was significantly devasted by a fire and subsequently rebuilt
• Seattle was the jumping off point for gold prospectors during the Yukon/Alaska gold rush of the late 19th century

  You will find links to a number of Seattle (and other) information and events on our calendar.