Full History Of Seattle In Timeline From 1901

4 hours ago : Seattle Area Rent Affordability Highlighted; April Fool's Prank Causes Panic

A report identified affordable Seattle rental cities. A video showed the cheapest regional rent. An April Fool's prank caused panic in Seattle.

1901: Library Fire

In 1901, the library mansion burned down, along with most of the 33,000 books in the library's collection.

1902: Alexander Pantages Opens Theaters

Starting in 1902, Alexander Pantages opened a number of theaters in Seattle exhibiting vaudeville acts and silent movies.

1906: Carnegie Library Building Constructed

In 1906, a Carnegie library building was constructed after the previous library burned down; it became known as the Seattle Central Library.

1907: American Messenger Company Founded

In 1907, James E. Casey founded the American Messenger Company (later UPS).

1909: Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition

In 1909, the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition took place, largely responsible for the layout of today's University of Washington campus.

1909: Completion of Harbor Island

In 1909, the artificial Harbor Island was completed at the mouth of the Duwamish Waterway in Seattle.

1911: City councillors elected at large

From 1911, Seattle's nine city councillors were elected at large, rather than by geographic subdivisions.

1912: City Development Plan

In 1912, a city development plan by Virgil Bogue went largely unused.

1917: Seattle Metropolitans Win Stanley Cup

In 1917, the Seattle Metropolitans became the first American hockey team to win the Stanley Cup.

1918: Jazz Nightclubs

Between 1918 and 1951, nearly 24 jazz nightclubs existed along Jackson Street in Seattle.

1918: Jazz Nightclubs Along Jackson Street

Between 1918 and 1951, there were nearly two dozen jazz nightclubs along Jackson Street, running from the current Chinatown/International District to the Central District.

1919: Seattle General Strike

In 1919, Seattle experienced the Seattle General Strike, an early general strike in the country, following a shipbuilding boom and subsequent retrenchment after World War I.

1926: Bertha Knight Landes elected as mayor

In 1926, Seattle became the first major American city to elect a female mayor, Bertha Knight Landes.

1926: Construction of the 5th Avenue Theatre

The 5th Avenue Theatre, built in 1926, stages Broadway-style musical shows featuring both local talent and international stars.

1927: Opening of Henry Art Gallery

The Henry Art Gallery opened in 1927, becoming the first public art museum in Washington.

1929: Tacoma–Seattle railway service ends

In 1929, Tacoma–Seattle railway service ended.

1933: Influence of "It's Up to the Women"

In 1933, Eleanor Roosevelt's book "It's Up to the Women" helped fuel a movement of women in Seattle pushing for recognition beyond their roles as housewives.

It's Up to the Women

Check it on Amazon

1933: Opening of Seattle Art Museum

The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) opened in 1933.

1934: Maritime Strike of 1934

In 1934, the Maritime Strike caused Seattle to lose much of its maritime traffic, which was rerouted to the Port of Los Angeles.

1939: Everett–Seattle railway service ends

The Everett–Seattle railway service came to an end in 1939, replaced by automobiles running on the recently developed highway system.

1941: End of streetcars in Seattle

The Seattle trolleybus system brought the end of streetcars in Seattle in 1941.

April 13, 1949: Earthquake

On April 13, 1949, a strong earthquake occurred in Seattle with a magnitude of 7.1.

1951: Jazz Nightclubs

Between 1918 and 1951, nearly 24 jazz nightclubs existed along Jackson Street in Seattle.

1951: Jazz Nightclubs Along Jackson Street

Between 1918 and 1951, there were nearly two dozen jazz nightclubs along Jackson Street, running from the current Chinatown/International District to the Central District.

1953: State Route 99 runs through downtown Seattle

From 1953, State Route 99 ran through downtown Seattle on the Alaskan Way Viaduct, which was an elevated freeway on the waterfront.

1956: Closure of coal gasification plant

In 1956, the coal gasification plant in Wallingford closed, and its preserved superstructure became a feature of Gas Works Park.

1960: International Style Library

In 1960, the Carnegie library building was replaced with an International Style design.

1960: Seattle's Racial Demographics

In 1960, whites constituted 91.6% of Seattle's population.

1962: Century 21 Exposition

In 1962, Seattle held the Century 21 Exposition, the World's Fair, for which the Space Needle was built, celebrating restored prosperity and seeking world recognition.

April 29, 1965: Earthquake

On April 29, 1965, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 caused three deaths in Seattle directly and one more by heart failure.

1967: SuperSonics in Seattle

From 1967, Seattle was home to the Seattle SuperSonics of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

1969: Seattle Pilots Awarded MLB Franchise

In 1969, Seattle was awarded a Major League Baseball franchise, the Seattle Pilots.

March 20, 1970: Ozark Hotel Fire

On March 20, 1970, twenty-eight people were killed when the Ozark Hotel was burned by an unknown arsonist.

1970: Establishment of Medic One

In 1970, Seattle saw local developments of modern paramedic services with the establishment of Medic One.

March 30, 1971: First Starbucks Coffee Location

On March 30, 1971, the first location for Starbucks Coffee opened at Pike Place Market in Downtown Seattle, initially selling coffee beans.

1974: NHL Expansion Franchise

In 1974, Seattle was awarded a conditional expansion franchise in the National Hockey League, but this opportunity did not come to fruition.

1974: Seattle named "the best place in the world to have a heart attack"

In 1974, a 60 Minutes story on the success of the then four-year-old Medic One paramedic system called Seattle "the best place in the world to have a heart attack."

Loading Video...

1974: NBA All-Star Game in Seattle

In 1974, the NBA All-Star Game was held in Seattle at the Seattle Center Coliseum.

1974: Original Sounders Team

In 1974, the original Sounders team played in the North American Soccer League.

1974: Founding of PNB School

The PNB School was founded in 1974 and is ranked as one of the top three ballet training institutions in the United States.

1976: Seahawks Enter NFL

In 1976, the Seattle Seahawks entered the National Football League as an expansion team.

1977: Seattle Aquarium Opens

In 1977, the Seattle Aquarium opened on the downtown waterfront.

1977: Mariners Begin Play

In 1977, the Seattle Mariners began play at the Kingdome.

1977: Seattle Thunderbirds Founded

In 1977, the Seattle Thunderbirds hockey team began representing Seattle in the Canadian major-junior Western Hockey League.

1978: Opening of the Burke–Gilman Trail

In 1978, the Burke–Gilman Trail, which travels for 27 miles along the Ship Canal and Lake Washington between Ballard and Bothell, first opened on a former railroad.

1978: SuperSonics Contended for Championship

In 1978, the Sonics also contended for the championship.

1979: MLB All-Star Game in Seattle

In 1979, the Major League Baseball All-Star Game was held in Seattle at the Kingdome.

1979: Microsoft Moves to Bellevue

Prosperity began to return in the 1980s beginning with Microsoft's 1979 move from Albuquerque, New Mexico, to nearby Bellevue, Washington.

1982: Emerald City Designation

In 1982, the official designation of Seattle was changed from the "Queen City" to the "Emerald City".

1983: Wah Mee Massacre

In 1983, the Wah Mee massacre resulted in the killing of 13 people in an illegal gambling club in the Seattle Chinatown-International District.

1987: NBA All-Star Game in Seattle

In 1987, the NBA All-Star Game was held in Seattle at the Kingdome.

1990: Influx of New Residents

Between 1990 and 2000, Seattle experienced an influx of new residents due to the success of technology companies, with a population increase of almost 50,000 within city limits.

1990: Growth of Foreign-Born Population

Between 1990 and 2000, Seattle's foreign-born population grew 40%.

1990: Population Increase

Between 1990 and 2000, Seattle's population increased by almost 50,000 due to the rise of new software, biotechnology, and Internet companies.

1990: Goodwill Games

In 1990, the Goodwill Games were held in Seattle.

1990: Downtown Population Growth

In 2009, the Downtown population of Seattle crested to over 60,000, up 77% since 1990.

1991: Sherry Harris elected as a Seattle city councilor

In 1991, Sherry Harris was elected as a Seattle city councilor, marking the first time in United States history that an openly gay black woman was elected to public office.

1991: SAM Relocation

In 1991, the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) moved to its current downtown location, with the 1933 building becoming SAM's Seattle Asian Art Museum (SAAM).

1993: APEC Leaders Meeting

In 1993, Seattle hosted the APEC leaders meeting.

1993: Sleepless in Seattle

In 1993, the movie Sleepless in Seattle brought the city further national attention.

Loading Video...

1996: Seattle Reign Founded

From 1996 to 1998, a women's professional basketball team named Seattle Reign played in the American Basketball League.

1996: SuperSonics Contended for Championship

In 1996, the Sonics also contended for the championship.

1997: Launch of Poetry Circus

Seattle Poetry Festival launched first as the Poetry Circus in 1997, and has featured local, regional, national, and international names in poetry.

1997: Adam Smith represents part of Seattle in Congress

Since 1997, Democrat Adam Smith has represented part of southeastern Seattle in the 9th congressional district.

1998: Seattle Reign Ended

From 1996 to 1998, a women's professional basketball team named Seattle Reign played in the American Basketball League and ended.

1999: Mariners Move to Safeco Field

In 1999, the Seattle Mariners moved to a purpose-built baseball stadium, Safeco Field (now T-Mobile Park).

1999: World Trade Organization Conference

In 1999, the World Trade Organization held its conference in Seattle, which was met with protest activity.

2000: Single-Person Households in Seattle

According to the 2000 U.S. Census, Seattle had a high proportion of single-person households nationwide among cities of 100,000 or more residents.

2000: Influx of New Residents

Between 1990 and 2000, Seattle experienced an influx of new residents due to the success of technology companies, with a population increase of almost 50,000 within city limits.

2000: Growth of Foreign-Born Population

Between 1990 and 2000, Seattle's foreign-born population grew 40%.

2000: Population Increase

Between 1990 and 2000, Seattle's population increased by almost 50,000 due to the rise of new software, biotechnology, and Internet companies.

2000: Last MLS team to win continental title

In 2000 the team became the first MLS team to win a continental title since 2000 and the first to win the modern Champions League.

2000: Kingdome Imploded

In 2000, the Kingdome was imploded.

2000: Seattle Storm Founded

In 2000, the Seattle Storm of the Women's National Basketball Association were founded.

February 28, 2001: Nisqually Earthquake

On February 28, 2001, the magnitude 6.8 Nisqually earthquake caused significant architectural damage in Seattle, especially in the Pioneer Square area, and resulted in one fatality.

2001: Damage to Alaskan Way Viaduct during earthquake

During the 2001 Nisqually earthquake, the Alaskan Way Viaduct sustained damage, which eventually led to its replacement by a tunnel.

2001: Boeing Headquarters Move

In 2001, Boeing separated its headquarters from its major production facilities and moved the headquarters to Chicago.

2001: Seattle Central Community College named community college of the year

In 2001, Time magazine selected Seattle Central Community College as community college of the year, recognizing its efforts to promote teamwork among diverse students.

2001: MLB All-Star Game in Seattle

In 2001, the Major League Baseball All-Star Game was held in Seattle at T-Mobile Park.

2001: Mariners Tie MLB Wins Record

In 2001, the Seattle Mariners tied the all-time MLB single regular season wins record with 116 wins.

2001: Mardi Gras Riots and Nisqually Earthquake

In 2001, the city was impacted by the Mardi Gras Riots and then by the Nisqually earthquake the following day.

2001: Dot-com Bubble Burst

In early 2001, the dot-com boom ended, causing a frenzy among the technology companies in Seattle.

2001: Seattle Hosted National Poetry Slam Tournament

Seattle hosted the 2001 National Poetry Slam Tournament.

2002: Qwest Field Opens

In 2002, the Seahawks moved into Qwest Field (now Lumen Field).

2002: BECU Expansion

Since 2002, BECU, Boeing's credit union for employees, has been open to all residents of Washington.

2003: Opening of McCaw Hall

McCaw Hall opened in 2003 on the site of the former Seattle Opera House at Seattle Center, hosting the Seattle Opera and Pacific Northwest Ballet.

2004: Single-Person Households in Seattle

According to the 2000 U.S. Census interim measurements of 2004, Seattle had the fifth highest proportion of single-person households nationwide among cities of 100,000 or more residents, at 40.8%.

2004: Increase in public transportation

From 2004 to 2009, the annual number of unlinked public transportation trips increased by approximately 21%.

2004: New Central Library Design

In 2004, the Seattle Central Library was replaced with a design by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas.

2004: Storm Claim WNBA Championship

In 2004, the Seattle Storm claimed the WNBA championship.

September 2005: King County's Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness

In September 2005, King County adopted a "Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness", which shifted funding from homeless shelter beds to permanent housing.

2005: Seattle Ranked Most Expensive City for Housing

In 2005, Forbes ranked Seattle as the most expensive American city for buying a house based on the local income levels.

2005: Seattle listed as most literate city

In 2005, Seattle was listed as the most literate of the country's 69 largest cities in studies conducted by Central Connecticut State University.

2005: Seahawks in Super Bowl XL

In 2005, the Seattle Seahawks played in Super Bowl XL and lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

2006: LGBTQ Population in Seattle

According to a 2006 study by UCLA, 12.9% of city residents polled identified as gay, lesbian, or bisexual, the second-highest proportion of any major U.S. city.

2006: Languages Spoken in Seattle

According to the 2006–2008 American Community Survey, approximately 78.9% of residents over the age of five spoke only English at home.

2006: Team Sale

Following a team sale in 2006, the SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City.

2006: Seattle listed as most literate city

In 2006, Seattle was listed as the most literate of the country's 69 largest cities in studies conducted by Central Connecticut State University.

2006: Effort to Spark Biotechnology Boom

In 2006, former Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels announced a desire to spark a new economic boom driven by the biotechnology industry, focusing on redevelopment in the South Lake Union neighborhood.

2006: Seattle's Population Growth Expectations

In 2006, regional planners expected the population of Seattle to grow by 200,000 people by 2040.

2006: Storm Sold to New Ownership

In 2006, the Seattle Storm sold to separate Seattle-based ownership.

2006: Transit Now proposition passed

In 2006, voters in King County passed the Transit Now proposition, which increased bus service hours on high ridership routes and paid for RapidRide bus lines.

2007: Seattle has highest transit ridership of major cities without heavy or light rail

According to the 2007 American Community Survey, 18.6% of Seattle residents used public transit, giving it the highest transit ridership of all major cities without heavy or light rail prior to the completion of Sound Transit's 1 Line.

2007: Danny Sherrard, National Poetry Slam Champ

In 2007, Danny Sherrard became the National Poetry Slam Champ and in 2008 the Individual World Poetry Slam Champ.

2007: Expansion of SAM and Opening of Olympic Sculpture Park

In 2007, Seattle Art Museum was expanded and reopened and SAM also opened the Olympic Sculpture Park on the waterfront north of the downtown piers.

2007: Seattle listed as second most literate city

In 2007, Seattle was listed as the second most literate of the country's 69 largest cities in studies conducted by Central Connecticut State University.

2007: Racial tie-breaking system struck down by Supreme Court

In 2007, Seattle's racial tie-breaking system for schools was struck down by the United States Supreme Court, but the ruling allowed for desegregation formulae based on other indicators.

2007: Roads and transit measure rejected

In 2007, Seattle-area voters rejected a roads and transit measure.

2007: Seattle Aquarium Expansion

In 2007, the Seattle Aquarium was expanded with an auditorium, gift shop, and cafe, alongside new exhibit spaces.

2007: Thunderbirds Move to Kent

In 2007, the Seattle Thunderbirds were based at the ShoWare Center in Kent.

2008: Seattle has highest percentage of college graduates

A 2008 United States Census Bureau survey showed that Seattle had the highest percentage of college and university graduates of any major U.S. city.

2008: Languages Spoken in Seattle

According to the 2006–2008 American Community Survey, approximately 78.9% of residents over the age of five spoke only English at home.

2008: Crime rates per capita

For the period of 2008–2009, the crimes per capita were 6744 crimes per 100,000 people.

2008: Danny Sherrard, Individual World Poetry Slam Champ

In 2007, Danny Sherrard became the National Poetry Slam Champ and in 2008 the Individual World Poetry Slam Champ.

2008: Transit only measure passed

In 2008, Seattle-area voters passed a transit only measure to increase ST Express bus service, extend the Link light rail system, and expand and improve Sounder commuter rail service.

2008: SuperSonics Relocate

In 2008, the SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City and became the Oklahoma City Thunder.

March 17, 2009: Seattle Post-Intelligencer switches to online publication

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer (P-I) ceased daily newspaper publication on March 17, 2009, and switched to a strictly online format.

2009: Crime rates per capita

For the period of 2008–2009, the crimes per capita were 6744 crimes per 100,000 people.

2009: Increase in public transportation

From 2004 to 2009, the annual number of unlinked public transportation trips increased by approximately 21%.

2009: Sounders FC Join MLS and Win U.S. Open Cup

In 2009, Seattle Sounders FC began playing in Major League Soccer and also won the U.S. Open Cup.

2009: MLS Cup 2009

In 2009, Seattle's Lumen Field hosted MLS Cup, played between Real Salt Lake and the Los Angeles Galaxy.

2009: Downtown Population Growth

In 2009, the Downtown population of Seattle crested to over 60,000, up 77% since 1990.

2009: Link light rail begins service to Sea-Tac Airport

In 2009, the Link light rail line (now the 1 Line) from downtown heading south to Sea-Tac Airport began service.

February 2010: Seattle's Climate Neutral Goal

In February 2010, the Seattle city government committed Seattle to become North America's first "climate neutral" city, with a goal of reaching net-zero per-capita greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

2010: Seattle Growth Rate

Between 2010 and 2020, Seattle's growth rate was 21.1%, making it one of the country's fastest-growing large cities.

2010: Crime rates per capita

For the period of 2010–2019, the crimes per capita were 6725 crimes per 100,000 people.

2010: Population Growth

From 2010 to 2015, Seattle gained an average of 14,511 residents per year, with growth skewed toward the city center.

2010: Seattle's Gross Metropolitan Product

In 2010, Seattle's gross metropolitan product (GMP) was $231 billion, making it the 11th-largest metropolitan economy in the United States.

2010: Sounders Win U.S. Open Cup

In 2010, the Seattle Sounders won the U.S. Open Cup.

2010: Storm Claim WNBA Championship

In 2010, the Seattle Storm claimed the WNBA championship.

2010: Seattle's Racial Demographics

In 2010, the census showed that Seattle was one of the whitest big cities in the country, with whites constituting 69.5% of the city's population.

2011: Sounders Win U.S. Open Cup

In 2011, the Seattle Sounders won the U.S. Open Cup.

March 2012: Top Seattle radio stations reported by Arbitron

In a March 2012 report by Arbitron, the top FM stations in Seattle were KRWM, KIRO-FM, and KISW, while the top AM stations were KNWN, KJR (AM), and KIRO (AM).

June 2012: Seattle Great Wheel Opens

In June 2012, the Seattle Great Wheel, one of the largest Ferris wheels in the US, opened on the city's waterfront at Pier 57, becoming a new permanent attraction next to Downtown Seattle.

2012: Same-Sex Households in Seattle

According to 2012 estimates from the United States Census Bureau, Seattle has the highest percentage of same-sex households in the United States, at 2.6 percent.

2012: Diversity in Seattle

According to a 2012 HistoryLink study, Seattle's 98118 ZIP code (in the Columbia City neighborhood) was one of the most diverse ZIP Code Tabulation Areas in the United States.

2012: Seattle Reign FC Founded

In 2012, Seattle Reign FC, a founding member of the National Women's Soccer League, was founded.

2012: Racial Makeup of Seattle

In 2012, according to the 2012–2016 American Community Survey (ACS), the racial makeup of Seattle was predominantly White Non-Hispanic (65.7%), followed by Asian (16.9%), Black or African American (6.8%), and Hispanic or Latino (6.6%).

2012: Seattleites vote to approve Referendum 74

In the 2012 U.S. general election, a majority of Seattleites voted to approve Referendum 74 and legalize gay marriage in Washington state. In the same election, an overwhelming majority of Seattleites also voted to approve the legalization of the recreational use of cannabis in the state.

November 5, 2013: Ballot measure changes city council elections

On November 5, 2013, a ballot measure was passed, changing the city council election system to a hybrid system.

2013: Relocation Attempt

An effort in 2013 to purchase the Sacramento Kings franchise and relocate it to Seattle as a resurrected Sonics squad was denied by the NBA board of governors.

2013: Slow increase in crimes

From 2013 to 2018 there was a slow increase in crimes.

2013: Inaugural Season at Starfire Sports Complex

In 2013, the Seattle Reign FC played at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila for the league's inaugural season.

2013: Seahawks Win Super Bowl XLVIII

In 2013, the Seattle Seahawks won Super Bowl XLVIII by defeating the Denver Broncos 43–8.

2014: Pronto Cycle Share bikeshare system debuts

In 2014, Pronto Cycle Share, a docked bikeshare system, debuted in Seattle.

2014: Minimum Wage Ordinance

In 2014, Seattle passed an ordinance to gradually increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2017 and increase it annually thereafter according to the metropolitan area's consumer price index (CPI).

2014: Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX

In 2014, the Seattle Seahawks lost Super Bowl XLIX to the New England Patriots.

2014: Sounders Win Supporters' Shield and U.S. Open Cup

In 2014, the Seattle Sounders won the MLS Supporters' Shield and the U.S. Open Cup.

2014: Reign FC Home Games

Seattle Reign FC holding their home games in Seattle from 2014.

December 2015: Original Completion Date of Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Tunnel

The 2-mile Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement tunnel was originally scheduled to be completed in December 2015.

2015: LGBT Residents

As of 2015, Seattle has the fifth-highest percentage of residents who identify as LGBT among major metropolitan areas in the U.S. (4.8 percent).

2015: Population Growth

From 2010 to 2015, Seattle gained an average of 14,511 residents per year, with growth skewed toward the city center.

2015: Hybrid system of city council elections implemented

In 2015, Seattle implemented a hybrid system for city council elections, with seven district members and two at-large members.

2015: Port of Seattle Merger

In 2015, the Port of Seattle's maritime cargo operations merged with the Port of Tacoma to form the Northwest Seaport Alliance.

2015: Global Health Organizations in Washington

In 2015, the Washington Global Health Alliance counted 168 global health organizations in Washington state, many of which are headquartered in Seattle.

2015: Majority of city council was female

In 2015, the majority of the Seattle city council was female.

2015: LGBTQ Population in Seattle

In a 2015 Gallup poll survey, Seattle ranked fifth in the proportion of residents identifying as gay, lesbian, or bisexual, at 4.8%.

2015: Mandatory curbside collection of food waste for composting

Since 2015, curbside collection of food waste for composting in Seattle has been mandatory to offer to all households.

March 2016: Link light rail extended to the University of Washington

In March 2016, the Link light rail line was extended north to the University of Washington.

November 2016: Sound Transit 3 package approved

In November 2016, voters in the Puget Sound region approved an additional tax increase as part of the Sound Transit 3 package to expand light rail to West Seattle and Ballard as well as Tacoma, Everett, and Issaquah.

2016: Racial Makeup of Seattle

In 2016, according to the 2012–2016 American Community Survey (ACS), the racial makeup of Seattle was predominantly White Non-Hispanic (65.7%), followed by Asian (16.9%), Black or African American (6.8%), and Hispanic or Latino (6.6%).

2016: Sounders Win MLS Cup

In 2016, the Seattle Sounders won their first MLS Cup title, defeating Toronto FC.

2016: Apartment Construction Increase

In 2017, almost 10,000 apartments were completed in Seattle, nearly twice as many as were built in 2016.

2017: Minimum Wage Increase

By 2017, Seattle's minimum wage was set to increase to $15 per hour due to the 2014 ordinance.

2017: Pronto Cycle Share shuts down

In 2017, Pronto Cycle Share was shut down due to low ridership numbers. The city government allowed privately operated dockless bicycles to operate within Seattle as a pilot.

2017: University of Washington ranked eleventh in the world

In 2017, U.S. News & World Report ranked the University of Washington eleventh in the world.

2017: Apartment Completion Record

In 2017, almost 10,000 apartments were completed in Seattle, marking a historic construction boom.

2017: Sounders Runners-Up in MLS Cup

In 2017, the Seattle Sounders were runners-up in MLS Cup against Toronto FC.

2017: Thunderbirds Win WHL Championship

In 2017, the Seattle Thunderbirds won one WHL championship.

2018: Slow increase in crimes

From 2013 to 2018 there was a slow increase in crimes.

2018: Seattle Kraken NHL Expansion

In 2018, a new Seattle-based group successfully applied for an expansion team in the NHL, which was named the Seattle Kraken.

2018: Seattle Seawolves Inaugural Season

In 2018, the Seattle Seawolves began play and won the league's inaugural championship.

2018: Storm Claim WNBA Championship

In 2018, the Seattle Storm claimed the WNBA championship.

2018: Household Income and Poverty Levels

In 2018, the median income of a city household was $93,481, and the median income for a family was $130,656. 11.0% of the population and 6.6% of families were below the poverty line.

2018: Reign FC Home Games

Seattle Reign FC holding their home games in Seattle until 2018.

February 2019: Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement tunnel opens

In February 2019, the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement tunnel opened, which replaced the elevated freeway that ran through downtown Seattle. Its opening was delayed due to issues with the tunnel boring machine.

2019: Crime rates per capita

For the period of 2010–2019, the crimes per capita were 6725 crimes per 100,000 people.

2019: Paine Field opens as secondary passenger airport

In 2019, Paine Field opened in Everett as a secondary passenger airport, located 25 miles north of Seattle. It is predominantly used by Boeing and their large assembly plant.

2019: Move to Tacoma

In 2019, the Seattle Reign FC moved to Tacoma's Cheney Stadium.

2019: Sounders Win Second MLS Cup

In 2019, the Seattle Sounders won their second MLS Cup title against Toronto FC.

2019: Seawolves Defend Title

In the 2019 season, the Seattle Seawolves successfully defended their title.

2020: Rite Aid acquires Bartell Drugs

Bartell Drugs, a family-run pharmacy chain in Seattle, was acquired by Rite Aid in 2020.

2020: Seattle Growth Rate

Between 2010 and 2020, Seattle's growth rate was 21.1%, making it one of the country's fastest-growing large cities.

2020: Crime rates per capita

For the period of 2020–2024, the crimes per capita were 6325 crimes per 100,000 people.

2020: OL Groupe Acquires Reign FC

In 2020, OL Groupe became the team's majority owner and rebranded the club as OL Reign.

2020: Seattle Sea Dragons Inaugural Season

In 2020, the Seattle Sea Dragons played at Lumen Field in the XFL's inaugural season before its suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020: Storm Claim WNBA Championship

In 2020, the Seattle Storm claimed the WNBA championship.

October 2021: Link light rail extended to Northgate

In October 2021, the Link light rail line was extended to Northgate.

2021: Port of Seattle Ranking

As of 2021, the Port of Seattle is the fourth-largest port in North America in terms of container handling.

2021: Crime rates Spike

In 2021 the crime rates Spiked.

2021: CenturyLink stopped providing cable television service

In 2021, CenturyLink stopped providing cable television service in Seattle.

2021: Population Decline Due to COVID-19

In 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Seattle experienced its first population decline in 50 years.

2021: Seattle Kraken Begin Play

In 2021, the Seattle Kraken began play in the NHL.

2021: Storm Win WNBA Commissioner's Cup

In 2021, the Seattle Storm won the first-ever WNBA Commissioner's Cup.

2022: End of Playoff Drought

From 2001 to 2022, the Mariners failed to qualify for the playoffs, marking the end of the longest active postseason drought in major North American sports.

2022: Crime rates Spike

In 2022 the crime rates Spiked.

2022: Ballard FC Founded

In 2022, Ballard FC was founded as an independent, semi-professional soccer team in the USL League 2.

2022: Fortune 500 Companies Headquartered in Seattle

In 2022, seven companies on Fortune 500's list of the United States' largest companies are headquartered in Seattle, including Amazon, Starbucks, Expeditors International of Washington, Nordstrom, Weyerhaeuser, Expedia Group, and Zillow.

2022: Sounders Win CONCACAF Champions League

In 2022, the Seattle Sounders won the CONCACAF Champions League, breaking the tournament attendance record.

2022: Seawolves Runners-Up

In the 2022 season, the Seattle Seawolves finished as runners-up in the championship game.

2022: Reign FC Home Games

Seattle Reign FC holding their home games in Seattle again since 2022.

2023: Seattle Electricity Production

As of 2023, at least 88% of Seattle's electricity is produced using hydropower.

2023: Seattle Public Library System Update

As of 2023, the Seattle Public Library system consists of 27 branches with a combined total of 3,119,298 items.

2023: Ballard FC Wins National Title

In 2023, Ballard FC won its first national title.

2023: Seattle Violent and Property Crime Rates

In 2023, Seattle had 5,000 violent crimes, with a violent crime rate of 683 per 100,000 people, and 5,174 property crimes per 100,000 people.

2023: Record Cruise Passengers

In 2023, Seattle saw a record total of 907,572 cruise passengers, surpassing Vancouver, BC, as the major departure point for Alaska cruises.

2023: Seattle ranked eighth in municipal parks systems

In 2023, Seattle was ranked eighth in the United States among municipal parks systems by the Trust for Public Land. It was estimated that 99 percent of residents live within a half-mile of a park.

2023: MLB All-Star Game in Seattle

In 2023, the Major League Baseball All-Star Game was held in Seattle at T-Mobile Park.

2023: Sea Dragons Return

In 2023, the Seattle Sea Dragons returned alongside the XFL after the league's re-launch.

2023: Seattle bans caste discrimination

In 2023, the Seattle city council voted to ban caste discrimination as part of the city's anti-discrimination laws, making it the first such ban in the United States.

April 2024: 2 Line opens between Bellevue and Redmond

In April 2024, the 2 Line opened between Bellevue and Redmond.

August 2024: Link light rail extended to Lynnwood

In August 2024, the Link light rail line was extended to Lynnwood.

2024: Religious Service Attendance in Seattle

According to a 2024 Household Pulse Survey, an estimated 64 percent of adults in the Seattle area never attend religious services or attend less than once a year, which is the highest percentage among large U.S. metropolitan areas.

2024: Religious Groupings in Seattle

According to a 2024 study by the Pew Research Center, the largest religious groupings in the Seattle metropolitan area are Christians (44%) and those who identify with no religion (44%).

2024: Seattle lacks a 24-hour retail pharmacy

As of 2024, Seattle lacks a 24-hour retail pharmacy due to the closure of locations across several chains.

2024: Crime rates per capita

For the period of 2020–2024, the crimes per capita were 6325 crimes per 100,000 people.

2024: Seattle Population

In 2024, Seattle is the 18th-most populous city in the United States with a population of 780,995.

2024: West Seattle Junction FC Joins USL League 2

In 2024, West Seattle Junction FC joined USL League 2, and Ballard FC will play out of Memorial Stadium due to field renovations.

2024: New Aquarium Building Opens

In 2024, a new, three-story building opened under the Overlook Walk, featuring tropical exhibits and a 500,000-US-gallon tank with sharks and rays.

2024: Bikeshare and scootershare trips taken in Seattle

In 2024, a total of 6.3 million trips on bikeshare and scootershare systems were taken in Seattle; there were also 163 serious injuries that year involving bikes and scooters.

2024: Opening of the Overlook Walk

In 2024, the Overlook Walk opened, connecting Pike Place Market to the downtown waterfront via a set of overpasses that integrate with an expansion of the Seattle Aquarium.

2024: Seattle Reign Name Restored

In 2024, the Seattle Reign name was restored.

2024: Phase Out of Small Business and Gratuity Carveouts

Seattle's 2014 minimum wage ordinance included carveouts for small businesses and gratuity that were phased out at the end of 2024.

2024: Sea Dragons Fold

The Seattle Sea Dragons folded prior to the 2024 season during the XFL's merger with the United States Football League to form the United Football League.

2025: Seattle Surpasses 800,000 Residents

According to state estimates, Seattle surpassed 800,000 residents in 2025.

2025: Seattle's High Minimum Wage

As of 2025, Seattle and its metropolitan area currently have one of the highest minimum wages in the country at more than $20 per hour.

2025: Mariners Remain World Series Absent

As of 2025, the Mariners are the only modern Major League Baseball franchise to have never reached a World Series.

2025: Closure of Bartell Drugs

Bartell Drugs closed in 2025.

2025: Smallest New Apartments

By 2025, Seattle's new apartments had become the smallest in the U.S., with an average of 649 square feet (60.3 m) among all unit types.

2025: Seahawks Win Super Bowl LX

In 2025, the Seahawks defeated the Patriots 29–13 in Super Bowl LX.

2025: Seattle Torrent Founded

In 2025, the Seattle Torrent were founded as one of the first two expansion teams in the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL).

2025: Katie Wilson elected as mayor

In the 2025 mayoral election, Katie Wilson was elected as mayor, defeating incumbent Bruce Harrell.

January 1, 2026: Katie Wilson takes office as mayor

On January 1, 2026, Katie Wilson took office as mayor of Seattle, becoming the third woman to serve in that role.

March 2026: 2 Line extends to Seattle

In March 2026, the 2 Line was extended to Seattle. The section between Seattle and Bellevue is the first railway to use a floating pontoon bridge.

2026: FIFA World Cup 2026

Seattle will be one of eleven US host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with matches played at Lumen Field.

2030: Seattle's Climate Neutral Goal

In February 2010, the Seattle city government committed Seattle to become North America's first "climate neutral" city, with a goal of reaching net-zero per-capita greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

2040: Seattle's Projected Population Growth

Regional planners expected the population of Seattle to grow by 200,000 people by 2040, with former Mayor Greg Nickels supporting plans for a 60% increase, or 350,000 people.