Bellevue the Beautiful

Having lived in Bellevue for many years now, I've really come to love the cities vibrant atmosphere and certainly the fine foods offered downtown. Bellevue is a rapidly growing city located in King County, Washington, just a stones throw across Lake Washington from Seattle.

In 2003 the Census Bureau estimated the city had a total population of 112,344, making it the fifth largest city in the state and the largest on the Eastside of King County. According to the Washington State Office of Financial Management's April 1, 2006 estimate, the city has a population of 117,000. Based on per capita income, Bellevue is the 15th wealthiest of 522 communities in the state of Washington.

Since I've lived here, downtown Bellevue has undergone massive change. Lincoln Square, which opened in 2005, appears to be the leading edge of a development boom, and has the only theater I've ever been in that has leather reclining seats! Recently I've noticed the addition of Lucky Strike Bowling Lanes, an ultra-modern facility with full night-life amenities, and the newest dance club to open is Vertigo, which offers live DJ music and dancing. There is also Joeys, The Twisted Cork Restaurant, Daniels Steak House (all at the Hyatt), and The Parlor Billiards in Lincoln Square for your entertainment.

A Bit of History

Bellevue was founded in 1869 by William Meydenbauer and was officially incorporated on March 21, 1953. Prior to the opening of the Lake Washington Floating Bridge in 1940, Bellevue was a rural area with little development. Following the 1963 opening of a second bridge across the lake, the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge, the city began to grow.

A testament to Bellevue's growth over the years is Bellevue Square, now one of the largest shopping centers in the region. Opened in 1946, Bellevue Square underwent a significant expansion in the 1980s. More recently, an expansion to Bellevue Square along Bellevue Way called "The Lodge" and the new One Lincoln Towerpromise to strengthen downtown Bellevue's role as the largest Seattle Eastside shopping and dining destination.

The Bravern, a large mixed-use project currently under construction, will feature a Neiman Marcus (the first in the Pacific Northwest), along with an assortment of upscale stores.

Other projects in Bellevue's future include Meydenbauer Place, a new Performing Arts Center, a second City Center office tower (which broke ground in July 2006), three more residential towers, and resumption of work on the previously abandoned Tech Tower site, now called Tower.

Bellevue is bordered by the cities of Kirkland to the north and Redmond to the northeast along the Overlake and Crossroads neighborhoods. Across the short East Channel Bridge, I-90 connects Bellevue to Mercer Island to the southwest. Issaquah is to the east, down I-90 at the south end of Lake Sammamish. The city is also bordered to the west by the affluent suburbs of Medina, Clyde Hill, Hunts Point and Yarrow Point. The south end of Bellevue is bordered by the city of Renton, and to the southeast, the relatively recently incorporated city of Newcastle.

According to a 2006 estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $76,757, and the median income for a family was $89,020. Males had a median income of $56,456 versus $37,124 for females. The per capita income for the city was $36,905. About 3.8% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over. Bellevue was rated one of the 25 safest cities in America, based on the per-capita incidence of violent crime.

Bellevue is rapidly growing in size and diversity; nearly a third of the city's residents are foreign-born, up from a quarter five years ago. Bellevue has the highest percentage of foreign-born residents among major cities in the state. The largest communities come from China, India, Russia and Mexico.

Bellevue has the largest and most affluent Asian population in the state. As of 2005, 25% of the city's residents identify themselves as Asian, a rise from 17% in 2000. East Indian and Chinese communities have doubled in size since 2000.

Bellevue is home to Bellevue Community College (BCC) and City University. The highly rated BCC is the largest community college in Washington and the third largest institution of higher education in the state^.

The city hosts the Bellevue School District. There are four main public high schools - Bellevue High School, Interlake High School, Newport High School, and Sammamish High School, as well as two alternative high schools, International School and Robinswood High School. At the elementary level, Bellevue is home to the Eastside's only Waldorf Education, at Three Cedars School, and to several Montessori schools.

Overall, I have to say Bellevue is definitely one of the finest city's one could ever hope to live in and raise a family. Over the years I've had the great pleasure of selling many beautiful homes in this area, and making many good friends in the process. It is definitely deserving of the the title Bellevue the Beautiful.