Interesting Facts about Bellevue Washington
A Unique History and Geography
Founded in 1869 by William Meydenbauer and incorporated as a city in
1953, Bellevue spans 31 square miles between Lake Sammamish and Lake
Washington. To the East are the snow-capped mountains of the Cascades.
To the South, Mount Rainier dominates the horizon, and to the North,
Mount Baker marks the proximity of the Canadian border. To the West, two
floating highway bridges link Bellevue to Seattle.
Bellevue's neighbors on the Eastside of Lake Washington are Yarrow
Point, Clyde Hill, Hunts Point, Beaux Arts, Medina, Kirkland, Bothell,
Newcastle, Redmond, Issaquah, Woodinville and Sammamish.
Climate - Bellevue's climate is uncommonly temperate. "Comfortable" is an
often-used description, along with "mild, gentle and calm." Summer
daytime temperatures average just under 70 degrees, while winter lows
tend to be in the 40's. Average precipitation totals only around 38
inches per year.
A Dynamic Population - Bellevue's population is right around 107,000 and is projected to
continue its upward trend. Bellevue is the largest city on the Eastside,
the second largest in King County, and the fourth largest city in
Washington state.
Employment - It is estimated that there are 121,000 jobs in Bellevue. This comprises
about 11 percent of the county's total. Bellevue's employment is
expected to grow between 25 and 30 percent over the next 20 years,
resulting in an increase of 30,000 to 35,000 new jobs.
Cost of Living - Bellevue has experienced an overall growth in incomes, placing it well
above the county average. Home ownership is also high. In spite of a
higher regional cost index than the national average, Bellevue remains
an affordable place to live, with incomes continuing to outpace
inflation. Most recent data suggest the average household income for
Bellevue is about 30 percent higher than the median household income for
the region, and significantly higher than the county average. Bellevue
Facts
Population: 107,000, the fifth largest city in Washington
Area: 31 square miles
Elevation: Low point - Surface of Lake Washington 14 feet - High point - The Summit 1,167 feet
Shorelines: Lake Washington: 6.5 miles - Lake Sammamish: 2.2 miles
Median temperature: 51.5 degrees
Annual average precipitation: 31.4 inches
Year Founded: 1869
Incorporated as City of Bellevue: 1953
Cost of Living Index: 120.3
Moody's Bond Rating: AAA
Sales Tax: 8.6%
Bellevue Household Family Profile
Average Age: 39 years
Households 45,591
Families 28,444
Average Household Size 2.32
Married, with children 19.8%
Married, no children 46.0%
Single, with children 5.7%
Single, no children 28.5%
Income Statistics
Per Capita Income $36, 289
Median Household Income: $63,007
Average Household Income $87,525
Average Family Household Income: $106,077
Median Family Household Income: $80,441
Housing
Housing Units 47,120
Single Family Housing: 57.7%
Multi-Family Housing: 42.3%
Average Rental Rate
Bellevue - West: $1,163
Bellevue - East: $879
Average Home Value: $324,415
Median Home Value: $275,701
Bellevue content reprinted with permission from bellevue chamber.org
