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Bellevue, WA


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Bellevue, Washington

Introduction to Bellevue, Washington

Bellevue is a city located in King County in the state of Washington. Situated only 10 miles east of Seattle across Lake Washington, the city is considered a Seattle suburb. Bellevue is surrounded by vast wilderness areas, including the rugged Cascade mountains to its east and the Olympic mountains further to the west, which helps explain the city's name, a derivation of a French term for "beautiful view". Interstate I-405 bisects the city, which is also serviced by I-90 and Washington State Highway 520. Bellevue is home to several high-tech companies and is adjacent to Redmond, home of software giant Microsoft Corporation.

First settled in the late 1860s or early 1870s, Bellevue soon became a popular location for the summer homes of residents of nearby Seattle. The region's towering evergreens eventually gave way to agriculture, and throughout the first half of the 20th century Bellevue was dominated by an abundance of farms best known for strawberries and blueberries. When the first floating bridge across Lake Washington was completed in 1940, Seattle suddenly became much more accessible and a suburban era which would influence the area for several decades was ushered in. Bellevue was incorporated as a city in 1953.

Attractions in and near Bellevue

Bellevue is home to many places of interest and within short driving distance to many more. The Rosalie Whyel Museum of Doll Art houses one of the world's largest collections of dolls, covering two expansive floors with exhibits and over 1,000 dolls on display. The Bellevue Arts Museum, located in downtown Bellevue, is the Pacific Northwest’s principal center for the exploration of art, craft and design. The Museum places special emphasis on the work of regional artists. The KidsQuest Children’s Museum offers play and discovery areas, exhibits, educational activities and classroom space. The Bellevue Botanical Garden consists of 53 acres of display gardens, woodlands, meadows and wetlands. The Garden hosts the annual Garden d'Lights festival during the month of December, where numerous three-dimensional plant and animal sculptures made from bundled Christmas lights are on display in numerous nature-themed scenes. Several other attractions can be found nearby, including the following:

  • Pacific Science Center
  • Stevens Pass Ski Area
  • Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
  • Space Needle
  • Woodland Park Zoo
  • Museum of Flight
  • Seattle Aquarium
  • EMP/Science Fiction Museum

Bellevue is home to the Bellevue Blackhawks of the American Basketball Association (ABA). Several other pro sports teams are located just across Lake Washington in the city of Seattle. These include:

  • Seattle Mariners (baseball; MLB)
  • Seattle Seahawks (football: NFL)
  • Seattle SuperSonics (basketball: NBA)
  • Seattle Storm (women's basketball: WNBA)
  • Seattle Thunderbirds (hockey: WHL)
  • Seattle Sounders (soccer: USL A-League)

High Points

Bellevue strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Washington):

CategoryTrophy
Racial Diversity
(vs. State)
Top 4%trophyBellevue Racial Diversity
Well-Paid Single Women
(vs. State)
Top 4%trophyBellevue Well-Paid Single Women
Public Transportation Use
(vs. State)
Top 6%Bellevue Public Transportation Use
Well-Paid Single Men
(vs. Peers)
Top 7%Bellevue Well-Paid Single Men
College Educated Adults
(vs. Peers)
Top 7%Bellevue College Educated Adults
Median Family Income
(vs. State)
Top 8%Bellevue Median Family Income
People in Middle Class or Better
(vs. State)
Top 10%Bellevue People in Middle Class or Better
Low Rate of Poverty
(vs. State)
Top 16%Bellevue Low Rate of Poverty
Low Violent Crime
(vs. Peers)
Top 19%Bellevue Low Violent Crime

Comparative Profile of Bellevue, WA

Comparing Bellevue to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Washington (State):

Ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).


The People

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Well-Paid Single Men1010
Well-Paid Single Women1010
Male Share of the Population97
Age of the Population88
Racial Diversity710
Senior Citizens66
Female Share of the Population34
Children Under 5 Years Old23

Families

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Portion of People Married66
Average Household Size33

Wealth

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
College Educated Adults1010
Median Family Income910
People in Middle Class or Better910
People Above Poverty89

Commute & Sprawl

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Working at Home108
Public Transportation Use910
Walking and Biking to Work77
Short Commute Times76

Housing

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Seasonal and Vacation Housing98
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals88
Housing Recently Built77
People Living Alone66
Affordability of Property Taxes31
Affordability of Rents21

Crime

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Low Violent Crime98
Low Property Crime46

Detailed pages on related topics: Bellevue collegesBellevue travelBellevue mortgage and property.

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Additional Details

Bellevue CollegesBellevue Colleges
Bellevue colleges and trade schools.
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Bellevue hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation.
Bellevue MortgageBellevue Mortgage
Bellevue property, mortgage, and real estate.

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