Renton, Washington

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Renton, Washington
settlement_type = City


imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

---

mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Renton in
King County and Washington


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Washington
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = King
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Denis Law.
established_date =
area_magnitude = 1 E9
area_total_km2 = 44.8
area_land_km2 = 44.1
area_water_km2 = 0.7
population_as_of = 2008
population_note = City Proper
population_total = 78780
2008 Est._total = 78780
population_density_km2 = 514.1
timezone = PST
utc_offset = -8
timezone_DST = PDT
utc_offset_DST = -7
area_total_sq_mi = 22.3
area_land_sq_mi = 22.0
area_water_sq_mi = 0.3
elevation_m = 14-125
elevation_ft = 46-410
latd = 47 |latm = 29 |lats = 12 |latNS = N
longd = 122 |longm = 11 |longs = 43 |longEW = W
latitude = 47°29' N
longitude = 122°11' W
postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 98055-98059
area_code = 425
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 53-57745GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1512599GR|3
footnotes =
website = http://www.rentonwa.gov

Renton is a city in King County, Washington, United States. A suburb situated 13 miles (21 km) southeast of Seattle, Washington, Renton straddles the southeast shore of Lake Washington. The city's population was 50,052 at the 2000 census. The State of Washington Office of Financial Management estimates the City of Renton's population to be 78,780 as of April 1, 2008 [http://www.ofm.wa.gov/pop/april1/default.asp] , additional text.] . The population increased dramatically resulting from the recent annexation [http://rentonwa.gov/government/default.aspx?id=10076] , additional text.] of the Benson Hill communities directly southeast of the city. According to the data from the Office of Financial Management, Renton currently contains the 11th largest population in the state, and 5th largest in King County. [http://www.ofm.wa.gov/pop/april1/default.asp] , additional text.]

Based on per capita income, Renton ranks 100th of 522 areas ranked in the state of Washington. [http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/53/5357745.html] , additional text.]

History

The town of Renton was founded as a farming site by Erasmus M. Smithers who discovered coal there and brought in Charles D. Shattuck as coal mine operator.

Renton was incorporated as a city in 1901 (September 6) when coal mining and timber processing were the most important economic activities in the area. The town's population boomed during World War II when Boeing built their Renton Factory to produce the B-29 Superfortress. The factory has continued to operate since then, and still produces 737 aircraft. It also produced the Jetfoil and Pegasus class hydrofoils in the 1970s. As of 2001, 40% of all commercial aircraft in the air were assembled in Renton. Boeing remains the largest employer in Renton, which is home to over 10,000 employees and three of the aerospace giant's six major business divisions: Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Boeing Capital Corporation and the Shared Services Group. The local newspaper in the 1970s, the Record Chronicle, proclaimed the city the jet capital of the world.

Paccar has traditionally been a large employer in the city as well with its Kenworth Truck plant located in Renton's industrial area on the south end of Lake Washington. Game company Wizards of the Coast also is headquartered in Renton. Providence Health System has centralized certain of its operations in Renton and according to Mayor Koelker's 2007 State of the City address, expects to eventually have 1,000 workers at Southgate Office Park. Online social-networking website Classmates.com is also located in the aforementioned Southgate Office Park.

The city was involved in a 1986 Supreme Court case. In its decision on "City of Renton v. Playtime Theatres, Inc.", the Court upheld Renton's statute that no adult theater be located within convert|1000|ft|m of a school, park, church, or residential zone; the Court rejected the theater owners' argument that the statute violated the First Amendment.

Another State Supreme Court Case involving Renton was Scoccolo Construction v City of Renton. The contractor alleged that the City was responsible for delays in the project caused by third party utilities. The contractor prevailed making this an important precedent setting case for Washington State. [ [http://www.ucaw.org/Legislation/ScoccolovsRenton.aspx/ UCAW Legislation] ]

Recently, owing to its location at the confluence of three major freeways (I-5, I-405, and SR 167), Renton has become home to a number of destination retailers that draw customers from around the state, including Fry's Electronics, Target, and IKEA. Renton was also the starting point for the Spirit of Washington Dinner Train, which stopped service in the summer of 2007.

New developments

Formerly synonymous with the large industrial companies such as Boeing, and Kenworth, a pattern of future development was established with the attraction of the first IKEA in the Pacific Northwest to Renton in 1994. February 2007 saw the lease signing of another new resident, a branch of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with an address in Renton. [http://www.costar.com/News/Article.aspx?id=CE915F56F2FC2A5A22A6A881120E277C] , additional text.] A new branch of the Federal Reserve Bank now calls Renton home, beginning operations in the spring of 2008 on the site of the former Longacres horse-racing track. [http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS210767+07-Apr-2008+BW20080407] , additional text.]

To date, a myriad of major retail, residential, and other developments are amidst planning, in construction, or have been successfully executed. Among which include a spurt of activity at Port Quendall in north Renton. This lakeside parcel of land has become the new home to the Virginia Mason Athletic Center (VMAC), housing the Seattle Seahawks Headquarters and training facility that opened in August 2008. Formerly headquartered in Kirkland, Washington; the Seattle Seahawks state of the art Renton facility, which, at an expansive 200,000 square feet is the second largest facility in the NFL. [https://www.virginiamason.org/home/body.cfm?id=158&action=detail&ref=115] , additional text.]

The downtown core has experienced the dramatic impact of revitalization over the last decade [http://rentonwa.gov/business/default.aspx?id=5074] , additional text.] . Since the mid-1990s, Renton has combated the threat of urban decay beginning by revitalizing the downtown neighborhoods with a series of public and private projects targeted to develop a a stronger aesthetic, and community developments that encourage thriving neighborhoods [http://rentonwa.gov/business/default.aspx?id=5074] , additional text.] . Projects have included a new transit center in partnership with King County METRO transit. Adjacent to the transit center and in the surrounding blocks several mixed-use residential and retail buildings have been constructed includng:
* Revo 225
* Burnett Station
* Metropolitan PlaceThese developments are in conjunction with several new community event centers called the Piazza and the Pavilion Building. In addition there is a local Farmers' Market, and the development has attracted restaurants and further development.

Currently nearing completion of construction on 68 acres in the South Lake Washington neighborood is a major development titled The Landing. [http://www.thelandinginrenton.com/#] , additional text.] Modeled to be an "Urban Village," The Landing will offer over a half-million square-feet of retail, restaurant, and entertainment space. [http://rentonwa.gov/business/default.aspx?id=2814] , additional text.] The Landing will furthermore contain 880 residential homes. Several of the initial tenants of The Landing arrived in October 2007, with additional businesses opening throughout 2008.

Geography

Renton is located at coor dms|47|29|12|N|122|11|43|W|city (47.486622, -122.195163)GR|1, on the southeast shore of Lake Washington.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 17.3 square miles (44.8 km²), of which, 17.0 square miles (44.1 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.7 km²) of it (1.62%) is water, most of which is the Cedar River. Potential Annexation Areas (PAAs) include the communities of Fairwood southeast of Renton, the East Renton Plateau on the eastern edge of Renton, and West Hill west of Renton. These communities are large unincorporated urban areas that are encouraged by the King County Annexation Initiative [http://www.metrokc.gov/annex/default.aspx] , additional text.] to incorporate as cities or annex into neighboring cities; thus they are not part of the City of Renton, and shall not be referenced in demographic or statistical inclusion.

Renton is among a handful of cities in the Puget Sound Region with an independent street grid system. Roads names beginning with sectional divisions (N 32nd ST) generally follow a latitudinal direction, while roads names ending in a sectional direction (Duvall Ave NE) generally follow a longitudinal direction. Many of the avenues in the city are named in honor of other cities in Washington. The city also has its own library system and housing authority. This helps the city to avoid higher regional taxes. As a result, Renton property owners enjoy the smallest average tax increases in King County [ [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/349648_property01.html Average property tax is up $184 in Seattle ] ] .

Renton is bordered to the north by the cities of Bellevue, Washington; and Newcastle, Washington. Along the east side of Renton is the border of the Urban Growth Boundary established by King County [http://www.metrokc.gov/permits/codes/GMPC/CPP/default.aspx] , additional text.] , as such there is no incorporated city directly east of Renton. The geographical characteristics of Renton's eastern border is varied by the southwestern flank of Cougar Mountain, decending south southwest to the community of May Valley, ascending again in the south to the communities of the East Renton Plateau. Renton is bordered to the south by the city of Kent, Washington. The western border is with the city of Tukwila, Washington, the unincorporated PAA and CDP of West Hill, and finally Lake Washington.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 50,052 people, 21,708 households, and 12,243 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,939.7 people per square mile (1,134.8/km²). There were 22,676 housing units at an average density of 1,331.8/sq mi (514.1/km²). The ethnic makeup of the city was 68.14% White, 8.47% African American, 0.72% Native American, 13.37% Asian, 0.50% Pacific Islander, 4.24% from other ethnicities, and 4.57% from two or more ethnicities. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.63% of the population.

There were 21,708 households out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.9% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.6% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.8% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 36.9% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 98.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $45,820, and the median income for a family was $55,747. Males had a median income of $40,765 versus $31,543 for females. The per capita income for the city was $24,346. About 7.0% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.5% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Renton Technical College, opened in 1942 originally as a war production school, offers two year sub-baccalaureate degrees and certificates of completion.

Students in public schooling from Kindergarten to twelfth grade primarily attend schools within the Renton School District. [http://www.renton.wednet.edu/schools/boundaries.htm] , additional text.] Additionally, the Issaquah School District [http://www.issaquah.wednet.edu/schools/school.asp?school=liberty] , additional text.] as well as the Kent School District [http://www.kent.k12.wa.us/schools/schooldirectory.aspx] , additional text.] serve small portions of unincorporated Renton neighborhoods.

The Renton School District includes the following high schools (graded 9-12):
* Black River High School
* Hazen High School
* Lindbergh High School
* Renton High School

Middle Schools (grades 6-8):
* Dimmitt Middle School
* McKnight Middle School
* Nelson Middle School

Elementary Schools (K-5)
* Benson Hill Elementary School
* Bryn Mawr Elementary School
* Campbell Hill Elementary School
* Cascade Elementary School
* Hazelwood Elementary School
* Highlands Elementary School
* Kennydale Elementary School
* Lakeridge Elementary School
* Maplewood Heights Elementary School
* Renton Park Elementary School
* Sierra Heights Elementary School
* Talbot Hill Elementary School
* Tiffany Park Elementary School

The southern region of the Issaquah School District includes the following schools in unincorporated Renton neighborhoods:
* Liberty High School
* Maywood Middle School
* Apollo Elementary School
* Briarwood Elementary School
* Maple Hills Elementary School

The northeastern region of the Kent School District includes the the following schools in unincorporated Renton neighborhoods:
* Meeker Middle School
* Northwood Middle School
* Carriage Crest Elementary School
* Fairwood Elementary School
* Glenridge Elementary School

ister cities

Renton is a sister city of Nishiwaki, Japan and Cuautla, Jalisco, Mexico [http://rentonwa.gov/government/default.aspx?id=1938] , additional text.]

Transportation

Renton is served by King County Metro and Sound Transit Express buses.

Notable residents

*Jimi Hendrix, famous musician, buried in the city's Greenwood cemetery since 1970. [ [http://www.jimihendrixmemorial.com JIMI HENDRIX MEMORIAL :: jimihendrixmemorial.com ] ]
*Ann Rule, the true crime novelist currently resides in Renton.
*Sean Kinney, drummer of Alice In Chains grew up in Renton.
*Bonnie Guitar, singer in the 50's and 60's, gave singing lessons as Bonnie Tutmarc, in the early 50's.
*Tim Lincecum, famous Major League Baseball pitcher for the San Francisco Giants grew up in Renton, and attended Liberty HS.
*Brandon Roy, NBA basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers, resides in Renton. [ [http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2008/07/part_v_the_stories_this_bike_c.html Part V - The stories this bike could tell - Behind The Blazers Beat - The Oregonian - OregonLive.com ] ]
*Jamal Crawford, NBA player for the New York Knicks, has a home in Renton and resides there during the off-season. [ [http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2008/07/part_vi_what_do_you_get_an_nba.html Part VI - What do you get an NBA star for his birthday? - Behind The Blazers Beat - The Oregonian - OregonLive.com ] ]
*Kristina Horner, Eia Waltzer, Brittany Vahlberg, and Nick Horner, members of the wizard rock group The Parselmouths.

References

External links

* [http://www.rentonwa.gov/ Renton city government webpage]
* [http://www.renton.wednet.edu/ Renton School District webpage]
* [http://www.rtc.edu/ Renton Technical College webpage]
* [http://www.rentonfoundation.org/ Renton Community Foundation webpage]
* [http://www.gorenton.com/ Renton Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau webpage]
* [http://www.rentonrotary.org/ Rotary Club of Renton webpage]
* [http://www.rentonriverdays.org/ Renton River Days] - Community Family Festival
* [http://www.highlandscommunityassociation.com/ new Highlands Community Association webpage]
* [http://www.hca-renton.org/ previous Highlands Community Association/Declaration of Blight webpage]
* [http://www.rentonreporter.com/ Renton Reporter, a weekly newspaper delivered free to city residents]
* [http://virtual-fairwood.com/ Fairwood incorporation information page]