King, Washington

King County, Washington has the largest state population at 1,825,830 (est. 2006 - U.S. Census bureau) and the 12^th largest county population in the U.S. But we're not crowded here in the Pacific Northwest; with 2,100 square miles, King County is almost twice as large as the average US county. The median income for a household in King County was $53,157, and the median family income was $66,035 which earns the county a space in the top 100 highest county incomes in the U.S. as of the 2004 Census.

The scintillating City of Seattle is nestled along the shoreline of Puget Sound in King County. It is the county's largest city and also the county seat. Over one-third of the county population resides in the Seattle area. The land mass of the county, 2300 square miles, is about twice the size of the State of Rhode Island. While not as mountainous as some surrounding counties, King does host Mount Daniel with its peak near 8000 feet above sea level. The Seattle area is serviced by two Interstate Highways. I-900 terminates in downtown Seattle and is the major artery to and from the mountainous easterly direction. I-90 is the prominent and only highway well into the State of Idaho. In the north-south direction, I-55 bridges the way through Oregon and all the way into Southern California

King County was born out of Thurston County by decree of the Oregon Territory Legislation in 1852. It was named after then Vice President under Franklin Pierce, William Rufus King. In 1986 the county retained its name but was rededicated to the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King. Seattle became the county seat in 1853.

Residents and government officials in King County are ecologically aware and civic minded. Native plant salvages and habitat restorations are but a few of their projects. With over 200 parks and 200 miles of nature trails in King County, outdoor recreational opportunities are in abundance in this Pacific Marine climate. Even childcare is given county attention with the Child Care Resources Network.

The King County Government provides efficient, effective and innovative services. Transportation choices for King County residents are many and modern. They incorporate regular and handicapped access busses that weave a thick web of routes from downtown Seattle far out into the suburbs using a computer assisted system that includes Carpool, Vanpool, Ride Match, Van Share, Bike routes and a network of Park-n-Ride facilities. The Shilshole Bay Marina Renewal and Replacement Project, at a budgeted $80 million, is planned to be completed within 3 years with the Shilshole Bay Marina remaining open the entire time.