Overview

Introduction to Federal Way, Washington

Federal Way is situated between Seattle and Tacoma in King County and is known as a bedroom community. The city is bordered on the west by Puget Sound. Retail and services companies are major employers.

Weyerhaeuser, a timber based corporation, and World Vision are two of the city's prominent companies. The region's technology corridor is about thirty minutes away. The city has a large Korean-American community.

History

The area was established during the late 1800's as a logging settlement. Near the end of the 1950s the city included numerous neighborhoods and a notable commercial district. The name Federal Way was first used by a local school district and in the 1950s was taken as the name for the city by the Chamber of Commerce. During the 1960s residential districts expanded and included the residences of Boeing employees and executives from Weyerhaeuser. During the 1970s and the 1980s the population and the retail industry experienced rapid growth.

Activities

Federal Way features numerous parks and trails. Celebration Park is one of the top soccer and softball venues located on the West Coast. Steel Lake Park is situated along a lakefront and includes a boat launch. Dumas Bay Center is a beautiful acreage located on the Puget Sound. The West Hylebos Wetlands Park provides scenic hiking trails.

The Weyerhaeuser/King County Aquatic Center hosts numerous national and international swimming and diving competitions. A vast trail system traverses through the city which is utilized for activities and enjoying the natural environment. Residents and visitors enjoy taking walks along waterfront parks. Redondo Beach is a popular location along the Puget Sound.

Attractions

  • Knutzen Family Theatre features a variety of performances
  • Festival Days
  • Rhododendron Species Foundation and Botanical Garden features more than 10,000 rhododendrons and is located in a scenic wooded area
  • Wild Waves Theme Park is the biggest amusement park in the area
  • The Commons at Federal Way is a popular shopping mall
  • The Hanwoori Korean festival is a notable event which includes numerous activities for families
  • Numerous Korean Restaurants

Nearby Attractions

There are numerous noteworthy attractions in the region including Vashon Island, Winter Bird Wonderland, Commencement Bay and Maury Island.

Transportation

Federal Way is served by the Sea-Tac Airport.

Demographics

People

Total Population96,110
Male Share of the Population49.9%
Female Share of the Population50.1%
Senior Citizens12.7%
Employed Population 16+46,796
Age of the Population36

Families

% of people married46.1%
Average household size3

Education and Earnings

Population % with Bachelor Degree or Higher26%
Median Earnings25+$41,760
Median Earnings Without High School Qualification$27,497
Median Earnings With High School Degree$34,507

Wealth

Median Family Income$74,256
% Above Poverty Level87.3%
% Below Poverty Level12.7%

Commute & Sprawl

Average Commute Time35 minutes
% Working from Home4.5%
% Walking and Biking to Work1.6%
% Using Public Transportation8.4%

Housing

People Living Alone24.4%
Median Gross Rent$1,224
Median House Value$307,100

Ancestry

Other(often includes Hispanic and African American)48.8%
German11.1%
English6.6%
Irish6%
African3.1%
Norwegian2.9%
Italian2.4%
Ukrainian2.3%
French Except Basque1.9%
Swedish1.9%
Dutch1.6%
Russian1.5%
Polish1.4%
Scottish1.3%
Welsh0.7%
Canadian0.7%
Danishn0.6%
Kenyan0.5%
Arab0.5%
Romanian0.5%
West Indian0.4%
Swiss0.4%
Greek0.4%
Ethiopian0.4%
Somali0.4%
Finnish0.3%
Portuguese0.3%
Lithuanian0.3%
Jamaican0.2%
Haitian0.2%
Turkish0.2%
Austrian0.2%
Czech0.2%
Iraqi0.2%
Hungarian0.2%
New Zealand0.1%
Basque0.1%
Lebanese0.1%
Slovak0.1%
Egyptian0.1%
Croatian0.1%
Nigerian0.1%
Liberian0.1%
Ghanaian0.1%
Sudanese0.1%
Ugandan0.1%
Icelander0.1%
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Federal Way Almanac

CategoryValue
CountyKing County
Standard Zip Codes98003, 98023, 98001
P.O. Box Zip Codes98063, 98093
Phone Area Codes253
Time ZoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
Approximate Latitude47.3
Approximate Longitude-122.31

Federal Way Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

Notes:

  • Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
  • Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

StationTACOMA 1
Distance7 miles
Jan Temp35 to 47 F
Apr Temp42 to 60 F
Jul Temp55 to 76 F
Oct Temp45 to 61 F
Annual Precip38.9 inches
StationKENT
Distance7.1 miles
Jan Temp35 to 47 F
Apr Temp42 to 61 F
Jul Temp55 to 77 F
Oct Temp44 to 62 F
Annual Precip39.5 inches
StationSEATTLE TACOMA AP
Distance10 miles
Jan Temp36 to 46 F
Apr Temp42 to 58 F
Jul Temp55 to 75 F
Oct Temp46 to 60 F
Annual Precip37 inches

Nearby Cities and Towns

LocationPopulationMedian Family Income
Algona3,191$71,607
Auburn79,110$80,053
Des Moines31,518$74,164
Edgewood10,599$102,073
Milton7,543$86,660
Pacific7,177$60,192

Federal Way Hospitals

St. Francis Hospital
(Non-profit)
34515 9th Avenue South
(253) 838-9700

Federal Way Public Schools

Career Academy At Truman High School
31455 28th Ave S
ZIP: 98003
(253) 945-5800
High
Total Enrollment 161
Federal Way High School
30611 16th Av S
ZIP: 98003
(253) 945-5400
High
Total Enrollment 1634
Federal Way Public Academy
34620 9th Av S
ZIP: 98003
(253) 945-4482
Other
Total Enrollment 306
Federal Way Public School Eceap
33330 8th Ave S
ZIP: 98003
(253) 945-2000
Primary
Total Enrollment 2
Federal Way Public Schools Headstart
31457 28th Ave S
ZIP: 98003
(253) 945-2000
Primary
Total Enrollment 18
Federal Way Running Start Home School
33330 8th Ave S
ZIP: 98003
(253) 945-2000
High
Gateway To College
33330 8th Ave S
ZIP: 98003
(253) 945-2000
High
Total Enrollment 46
Illahee Middle School
36001 1st Ave S
ZIP: 98003
(253) 945-4600
Middle
Total Enrollment 747
Internet Academy
31455 28th Ave S
ZIP: 98003
(253) 945-2230
Other
Total Enrollment 275
Mark Twain Elementary School
2450 S Star Lake Rd
ZIP: 98003
(253) 945-3100
Primary
Total Enrollment 557
Merit School
36001 1st Av S
ZIP: 98003
(253) 945-5860
Other
Total Enrollment 13
Mirror Lake Elementary School
625 S 314th St
ZIP: 98003
(253) 945-3300
Primary
Total Enrollment 459
Nautilus K-8 School
1000 S 289th St
ZIP: 98003
(253) 945-3400
Primary
Total Enrollment 506
Open Doors Youth Reengagement (1418)
33330 8th Ave S
ZIP: 98003
(360) 725-6000
High
Panther Lake Elementary School
34424 1st Av S
ZIP: 98003
(253) 945-3600
Primary
Total Enrollment 422
Rainier View Elementary School
3015 S 368th St
ZIP: 98003
(253) 945-3700
Primary
Total Enrollment 375
Sacajawea Middle School
1101 S Dash Point Rd
ZIP: 98003
(253) 945-4900
Middle
Total Enrollment 709
Support School
33330 8th Ave S
ZIP: 98003
(253) 945-2000
Other
Total Enrollment 74
Todd Beamer High School
35999 16th Av S
ZIP: 98003
(253) 945-2570
High
Total Enrollment 1779
Wildwood Elementary School
2405 S 300th St
ZIP: 98003
(253) 945-4400
Primary
Total Enrollment 531
Adelaide Elementary School
1635 Sw 304th St
ZIP: 98023
(253) 945-2300
Primary
Total Enrollment 401
Birth To Three Development Center
35535 6th Pl Sw
ZIP: 98023
(253) 874-5445
Primary
Total Enrollment 107
Brigadoon Elementary School
3601 Sw 336th St
ZIP: 98023
(253) 945-2400
Primary
Total Enrollment 341
Decatur High School
2800 Sw 320th St
ZIP: 98023
(253) 945-5200
High
Total Enrollment 1318
Employment Transition Program
33250 21st Ave Sw
ZIP: 98023
(253) 945-4170
High
Total Enrollment 34
Enterprise Elementary School
35101 5th Ave Sw
ZIP: 98023
(253) 945-2600
Primary
Total Enrollment 492
Green Gables Elementary School
32607 47th Ave Sw
ZIP: 98023
(253) 945-2700
Primary
Total Enrollment 407
Lake Grove Elementary School
303 Sw 308th St
ZIP: 98023
(253) 945-2900
Primary
Total Enrollment 382
Lakota Middle School
1415 Sw 314th St
ZIP: 98023
(253) 945-4800
Middle
Total Enrollment 778
Olympic View Elementary School
2626 Sw 327th St
ZIP: 98023
(253) 945-3500
Primary
Total Enrollment 383
Saghalie Middle School
33914 19th Av Sw
ZIP: 98023
(253) 945-5000
Middle
Total Enrollment 501
Sherwood Forest Elementary School
34600 12th Av Sw
ZIP: 98023
(253) 945-3800
Primary
Total Enrollment 470
Silver Lake Elementary School - Federal Way
1310 Sw 325th St
ZIP: 98023
(253) 945-3900
Primary
Total Enrollment 397
Twin Lakes Elementary School
4400 Sw 320th St
ZIP: 98023
(253) 945-4200
Primary
Total Enrollment 382

Federal Way Private Schools

Brooklake Christian School
629 S 356th St
ZIP: 98003
Elementary
Total Enrollment 159
Christian Faith School
33645 20th Ave S
ZIP: 98003
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 242
Holy Innocents School Of The Northwest
2530 S 298th St
ZIP: 98003
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 29
Spring Valley Montessori School
36605 Pacific Hwy S
ZIP: 98003
Elementary
Total Enrollment 63
St Luke's Preschool & Kindergarten
515 S 312th St
ZIP: 98003
Elementary
Total Enrollment 18
St Vincent De Paul School
30527 8th Ave S
ZIP: 98003
Elementary
Total Enrollment 265
Compass Montessori School
1610 Sw Dash Point Rd
ZIP: 98023
Elementary
Total Enrollment 10
Kindercare Learning Center #1696
34110 Hoyt Rd Sw
ZIP: 98023
Elementary
Total Enrollment 6
Life Academy Of Puget Sound
414 Sw 312th St
ZIP: 98023
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 30
Sources :
Additional Details
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