Major events in Seattle’s history include the Great Seattle Fire of 1889, which destroyed the central business district (but took no lives);^[27] the anti-Chinese riots of 1885–1886;^[28] the Klondike gold rush, which made Seattle a major transportation center; the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition of 1909, which is largely responsible for the layout of the University of Washington campus;^[29] the Seattle General Strike of 1919, the first general strike in the country;^[30] the 1962 Century 21 Exposition, a World’s Fair;^[31] the 1990 Goodwill Games;^[32] the APEC leaders conference in 1993, and the WTO Ministerial Conference of 1999, marked by street protests and a series of riots.^[33]

What is now Seattle has been inhabited since the end of the last ice age. Archaeological excavations at West Point in Discovery Park, Magnolia, confirm that the Seattle area has been inhabited by humans for at least 4,000 years.^[5] tohl-AHL-too (“herring house”) and later hah-AH-poos (“where there are horse clams”) at the mouth of the Duwamish River in what is now the Industrial District has been inhabited since the 6th century BC.^[17] By the time the first European settlers arrived in the area, the Dkh^w‘Duw’Absh and Xachua’Bsh people (now called the Duwamish Tribe) occupied at least seventeen villages in the areas around Elliott Bay.^[18]

The first Europeans to attempt settlement in the area were the Collins Party, who filed legal claim to land at the mouth of the Duwamish River on September 14, 1851.^[19] Thirteen days later, members of the Collins Party were on the way to their claim when they passed the scouts of the group of settlers that would eventually found Seattle, the Denny Party.^[20] The scouts for the Denny Party, Terry Lee, David Denny, and John Low, would lay claim to land on Alki Point on September 28, 1851, with Terry Low returning to Portland, Oregon carrying a message from David Denny telling his brother, Arthur Denny, to “Come at once.”^[21] Following the instructions of David Denny, the rest of the Denny Party set sail from Portland and landed on Alki during a rainstorm on November 13, 1851. The landing party’s first sight of their new homestead was the roofless cabin that David had been unable to complete because of a fever.^[21]

After spending a winter of frequent rainstorms and high winds on Alki Point, most of the Denny Party moved across Elliott Bay and settled on land where present day Pioneer Square is located and established the village of “Dewamps” or “Duwamps.”^[21] The only members of the party that did not migrate to the eastern shore of Elliott Bay were Charles Terry and John Low, who remained at the original landing location and established a village they initially called “New York,” after Terry’s hometown, until April 1853 when they renamed it “Alki,” a Chinook word meaning, roughly, by and by or someday.^[22] The villages of New York-Alki and Duwamps would compete for dominance in the area for the next few years, but in time Alki was abandoned and its residents moved across the bay to join the rest of the settlers.^[23]

David Swinson (“Doc”) Maynard, one of the village’s founders, was the primary advocate for renaming the village to “Seattle” after Chief Sealth (si’áb Si’ahl) of the Duwamish and Suquamish tribes.^[24] Doc Maynard’s advocacy bore fruit, because when the first plats for village were filed on May 23, 1853, it was for the Town of Seattle. In 1855, nominal legal land settlement were established and the city was incorporated in 1865 and again in 1869, after having existed as an unincorporated town from 1867 to 1869.^[21][25]

Seattle is a coastal port city and the largest city in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located in the state of Washington between an arm of the Pacific Ocean called Puget Sound and Lake Washington, about 96 miles (154 km) south of the Canada – United States border in King County, of which it is the county seat.The Seattle area has been inhabited for at least 4,000 years,^[5] but European settlement began only in the mid-19th century. The first permanent white settlers—Arthur A. Denny and those subsequently known as the Denny party—arrived November 13, 1851. Early settlements in the area were called “New York-Alki” (“Alki” meaning “bye and bye” in the local Chinook Jargon) and “Duwamps”. In 1853, Doc Maynard suggested that the main settlement be renamed “Seattle,” an anglicized rendition of the name of Sealth, the chief of the two local tribes. As of 2006, the city had an estimated population of 582,174^[1] and an estimated metropolitan area population of approximately 3.2 million.^[2] Seattle is the hub and largest city of the Seattle metropolitan area, often called Puget Sound, which also includes Tacoma, Bellevue, and Everett. From 1869 until 1982, Seattle was known as the “Queen City”.^[6] Seattle’s current official nickname is the “Emerald City,” the result of a contest held in the early 1980s;^[7] the reference is to the lush evergreen trees in the surrounding area. Seattle is also referred to informally as the “Gateway to Alaska,” “Rain City,” and “Jet City,” the latter from the local influence of Boeing. Seattle residents are known as Seattleites.

Seattle is often regarded as the birthplace of grunge music,^[8] and has a reputation for heavy coffee consumption;^[9] coffee companies founded or based in Seattle include Starbucks,^[10] Seattle’s Best Coffee,^[11] and Tully’s.^[12] There are also many successful independent artisanal espresso roasters and cafes.^[9] Researchers at Central Connecticut State University ranked Seattle the most literate city of America’s sixty-nine largest cities in 2005 and 2006 and second most literate in 2007.^[13] Moreover, analysis conducted in 2004 by the United States Census Bureau of 2002 survey data indicated that Seattle was the most educated large city in the U.S. with 48.8 percent of residents 25 and older having at least bachelor degrees.^[14] Based on per capita income, in 2006 the Seattle metropolitan area ranked 17th out of 363 metropolitan areas in a study by the Census Bureau.^[15]

Seattle was the site of the 1999 meeting of the World Trade Organization, and the attendant demonstrations by anti-globalization activists. The city is also home to the Pride Foundation, which became the most-funded LGBT rights organization in the US when former Microsoft co-founder Ric Weiland bequeathed $65 million to the foundation as well as ten other organizations.^[16]

As part of the Washington State Growth Management Act of 1990 (GMA), Federal Way, along with other Puget Sound suburban cities have identified Potential Annexation Area’s (PAA’s) as areas of unincorporated King County that they feel could best be serviced by them. Federal Way has indicated interest in Auburn Hills (east of the city to the Auburn city limits), Lakeland (south and east of the city to the King/Pierce County border and east to the Auburn city limits), and Star Lake (north and east of the city to the Kent city limits). In 2004, the city annexed the Northlake, East Redondo, and Parkway neighborhoods into the city, adding over 2,700 people and nearly 1 square mile (2.57 km²) of area. Other possible annexation areas include the Jovita and Camelot neighborhoods.

In February 2007, the city announced formal plans to annex the majority of unincorporated land on its east border as one PAA named East Federal Way, comprising the Star Lake, Camelot, Lakeland, and Jovita neighborhoods^[9][10], and a strip of road connecting them. Annexation of the area would add 20,000 people and nearly 7 sq. mi (18 km²) to the city, creating the 6th largest ciy in Washington by population, at over 106,000 residents and nearly 29 sq. mi. (75 km²)^[11]

On August 21, 2007, residents of the proposed East Federal Way annexation area rejected annexation to Federal Way by a 66% to 34% margin.^[12] Opponents of the plan, favoring remaining under direct King County government, asserted fears that increased density and higher taxes would result from annexation.^[13]

The city operates under the council-manager form of government, with a City Council consisting of seven at-large seats who serve for staggered two-year terms. The city mayor acts as chair of the Council and is elected by the Council from among its members. As of 2008 the mayor is Jack Dovey. The city manager is Neal Beets.

In February 2008, a proposal will be on the ballot to change the city’s government to a mayor-council form of government, with a strong mayor chosen in a general election separate from the Council seats.

In 2008, the city of Federal Way will begin “Symphony” building project assembled by a development team from Vancouver, BC. There will be four hi-rises ranging from 16-24 stories tall. It will also include 60,000 square feet of retail shops, restaurants, and office space. There will also have 900 condos and apartments. Construction is scheduled to start in June 2008 and finish sometime in 2011.^[8]

Federal Way is home to Weyerhaeuser, the largest private owner of softwood timberland in the world. Weyerhaeuser has opened much of its land to the public, including two botanical gardens: the Rhododendron Species Foundation and Botanical Garden, and the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection. Federal Way is also home to the US office headquarters of World Vision.

Other attractions in the city include the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center, which features an Olympic size swimming pool and had been used for the Goodwill Games in 1990, and Celebration Park, with sports fields and wooded trails. The city has also developed many lake front and neighborhood parks and playgrounds.

Wild Waves Theme Park, the largest amusement park in the region, is known as Wild Waves and Enchanted Village. It is located on the south side of the city and is the Seattle area’s only permanent amusement park. Six Flags purchased Wild Waves in December 2000. However after low sales, Six Flags sold the park in April of 2007 to Parc Management LLC of Jacksonville, Fl for $31.75 million.

Federal Way is locally identified by its 1990s semi-urban development, characterized by landscaped off-street multi-structure apartment complexes and shopping centers. The Commons at Federal Way (previously Sea Tac Mall), the city’s largest and only indoor shopping center, is located on S 320th St. and Pacific Hwy South (Hwy 99) near the city’s main Interstate 5 exit.

Major city and state parks:

• Steel Lake Park – located on S 312th St just east of Pacific Hwy S; large lakefront area with picnic areas, playground, and boat launch.
• Celebration Park – on 11th Ave S just south of S 324th St; with sports fields and wooded trails, and Independence Day fireworks.
• Dumas Bay Centre – Has a beautiful 12 acre park on site with a conference and retreat facility. This park sits on the Puget Sound and looks toward the Olympic Mountain chain. ^[5]
• Dash Point State Park – on SW Dast Point Rd at the west end of town; the city’s only developed waterfront park, with hiking trails and campground.^[6]
• Five Mile Lake – on Military Rd S and S 364th St in the unincorporated area on the east side of town.
• West Hylebos Wetlands Park – at S 348th St and 4th Ave S, hiking trails through wetlands.^[7]
• The BPA Trail extending from the entrance to Celebration Park west to approximately 18th Ave SW, then south to the Pierce County border. The trail is paved and lies under the Bonneville Power Administration transmission line.

Originally a logging settlement, the area was first called “Federal Way” in 1929, when Federal Way School District #210 was created. The name derived from U.S. Highway 99 (now Washington State Route 99 or Pacific Highway South), completed that decade, which ran through the area on its way from Everett and Seattle to Tacoma. Federal Way High School was built, and about 20 years later, the name was adopted by the local Chamber of Commerce. The city was incorporated on February 28, 1990.

Federal Way is a city in King County, Washington, United States. Federal Way is considered a bedroom community by some people and is located between Seattle and Tacoma. Its western boundary is Puget Sound. It is bordered by Des Moines on the north, Kent, Auburn, unincorporated King County, and Milton on the east and Tacoma and Fife on the south. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 83,259. The population estimates for 2005 are 85,800 making it Washington’s 7th largest city.

There are more than 55 colleges and universities and dozens of institutions engaged in research and development in Houston.The city is the home to Rice University, one of the leading teaching and research universities of the United States and ranked the nation’s 17th-best overall university by U.S. News & World Report.^[145] The University of Houston (“UH”) is Texas’s third-largest public research university with more than 40 research centers and institutes. UH, with more than 36,000 students from 130 countries, is one of the most diverse campuses in the country.^[146] Other public institutions of higher learning in the city include   University of Houston–Clear Lake (“UHCL”), University of Houston–Downtown (“UHD”), and Texas Southern University (“TSU”). Additionally, several private institutions include University of St. Thomas and Houston Baptist University. The Houston Community College System serves most of Houston and is the fourth-largest community college system in the United States.^[147]

University of Houston

Houston is home to two of four public law schools in Texas: University of Houston Law Center and Thurgood Marshall School of Law. The University of Houston Law Center ranked in at No. 60 of the “Top 100 Law Schools” in 2007 by U.S. News & World Report.^[148] Additionally, South Texas College of Law—a private institution—is the city’s oldest law school founded in 1923 and has one of the nation’s top programs for trial advocacy.^[149][150]

There are 17 school districts serving the city. The Houston Independent School District (HISD) is the seventh-largest in the United States.^[151] HISD has 112 campuses that serve as magnet or vanguard schools—specializing in such disciplines as health professions, visual and performing arts, and the sciences. There are also many charter schools that are run separately from school districts. In addition, some public school districts also have their own charter schools.

The Houston area is home to more than 300 private schools,^{[152][153][154]} many of which are accredited by Texas Private School Accreditation Commission (TEPSAC) recognized agencies. The Houston Area Independent Schools, or HAIS, offer education from a variety of different religious as well as secular viewpoints.^[155] The Houston area Catholic schools are operated by the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.