Full History Of Seattle In Timeline From 1901

1901: Mansion fire and book loss

In 1901, the Seattle Public Library's location, a mansion, burned down along with most of the 33,000 books that were in the collection.

1902: Alexander Pantages Opens Theaters

Starting in 1902, Alexander Pantages opened a number of theaters in Seattle exhibiting vaudeville acts and silent movies, becoming one of America's greatest theater and movie tycoons.

1906: Carnegie library building construction

In 1906, after the previous library was destroyed by fire, a Carnegie library building was constructed, which was eventually known as the Seattle Central Library.

1907: Founding of American Messenger Company

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

1909: Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition

In 1909, the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition was held in Seattle, significantly influencing the layout of the University of Washington campus.

1909: Completion of Harbor Island

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

1911: City councillors elected at large

From 1911 to 2013, Seattle's nine city councillors were elected at large, rather than by geographic subdivisions.

1912: Virgil Bogue's City Development Plan

In 1912, Virgil Bogue's city development plan for Seattle 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 on Jackson Street

Between 1918 and 1951, nearly 24 jazz nightclubs existed along Jackson Street in Seattle, nurturing the early careers of musicians such as Ernestine Anderson, Ray Charles, and Quincy Jones.

1919: Seattle General Strike

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

1926: Bertha Knight Landes elected mayor

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

1926: 5th Avenue Theatre Built

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

1927: Henry Art Gallery Opened

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

1929: Tacoma–Seattle railway service ended

In 1929, Tacoma–Seattle railway service ended.

1933: Eleanor Roosevelt's Book

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

It's Up to the Women

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1933: Seattle Art Museum Opened

The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) opened in 1933.

1934: Maritime Strike of 1934

The Maritime Strike of 1934 led to violence and the rerouting of much of Seattle's maritime traffic to the Port of Los Angeles.

1939: Everett–Seattle railway service ended

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

1941: End of streetcars in Seattle

In 1941, the opening of the Seattle trolleybus system brought the end of streetcars in Seattle.

April 13, 1949: Earthquake in Seattle

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

1951: Jazz Nightclubs on Jackson Street

Between 1918 and 1951, nearly 24 jazz nightclubs existed along Jackson Street in Seattle, nurturing the early careers of musicians such as Ernestine Anderson, Ray Charles, and Quincy Jones.

1953: State Route 99 ran through downtown Seattle

From 1953 to 2019, State Route 99 ran through downtown Seattle on the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

1956: Closure of coal gasification plant

In 1956, the coal gasification plant in Wallingford closed.

1960: International Style Library design

In 1960, the Carnegie library was replaced with an International Style design for the Seattle Central Library.

1960: Seattle Census Data

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, to celebrate its restored prosperity and seek world recognition; the Space Needle was built for this event.

April 29, 1965: Earthquake in Seattle

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. The team played for one season before relocating to Milwaukee and becoming the Milwaukee Brewers.

March 20, 1970: Ozark Hotel Fire

On March 20, 1970, twenty-eight people died in Seattle when the Ozark Hotel was burned by an 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 Location

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

1974: Seattle awarded conditional NHL expansion franchise

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

1974: 60 Minutes story on Medic One

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."

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1974: NBA All-Star Game at Seattle Center Coliseum

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

1974: PNB School Founding

The PNB School, founded in 1974, is one of the top three ballet training institutions in the United States.

1974: Original Sounders Team

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

1976: Seahawks enter the NFL

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

1977: Mariners begin play at Kingdome

In 1977, the Seattle Mariners began play at the multi-purpose Kingdome.

1977: Seattle Thunderbirds in the WHL

Since 1977, the Seattle Thunderbirds hockey team has represented Seattle in the Canadian major-junior Western Hockey League.

1977: Seattle Aquarium Opened

The Seattle Aquarium opened on the downtown waterfront in 1977.

1978: Burke–Gilman Trail first opened

In 1978, the Burke–Gilman Trail first opened on a former railroad. The trail travels for 27 miles (43 km) along the Ship Canal and Lake Washington between Ballard and Bothell.

1978: SuperSonics contend for the championship

In 1978, the Seattle SuperSonics contended for the NBA championship.

1979: Microsoft's Move to Bellevue

In 1979, Microsoft moved from Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Bellevue, Washington, near Seattle, marking the beginning of Seattle's return to prosperity.

1979: MLB All-Star Game at the Kingdome

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

1982: Seattle's Nickname Change

In 1982, Seattle's official designation changed from the "Queen City" to the "Emerald City".

1983: Wah Mee Massacre

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

1987: NBA All-Star Game at the Kingdome

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

1990: Influx of New Residents

Between 1990 and 2000, Seattle saw an influx of new residents and a population increase of almost 50,000 due to the success of technology companies such as Amazon, F5 Networks, RealNetworks, Nintendo of America, and T-Mobile.

1990: Increase in Foreign-Born Population

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

1990: Seattle Population Increase

Between 1990 and 2000, Seattle's population increased by almost 50,000 due to an economic revival led by new software, biotechnology, and Internet companies.

1990: Goodwill Games

In 1990, the Goodwill Games were held in Seattle.

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: Seattle Art Museum Moved

The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) moved to their current downtown location in 1991.

1993: APEC Leaders Hosted

In 1993, Seattle hosted the APEC leaders meeting.

1993: Sleepless in Seattle Movie Release

In 1993, the movie "Sleepless in Seattle" brought further national attention to the city, as did the television sitcom "Frasier".

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1995: Mariners appear in the MLB playoffs

The Seattle Mariners had relative success in the mid-to-late 1990s which saved them from being relocated. The team appeared in the MLB playoffs in 1995.

1996: Seattle Reign team plays

From 1996, the Seattle Reign, a women's professional basketball team that played in the rival American Basketball League.

1996: SuperSonics contend for the championship

In 1996, the Seattle SuperSonics contended for the NBA championship.

1997: Adam Smith became representative of the 9th congressional district

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

1997: Poetry Circus Launched

The Seattle Poetry Festival was launched first as the Poetry Circus in 1997.

1998: Seattle Reign team plays

Until 1998, the Seattle Reign, a women's professional basketball team that played in the rival American Basketball League.

1999: Mariners move to T-Mobile Park

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

1999: WTO Conference Protests

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

2000: Single-Person Households Census

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

2000: Influx of New Residents

Between 1990 and 2000, Seattle saw an influx of new residents and a population increase of almost 50,000 due to the success of technology companies such as Amazon, F5 Networks, RealNetworks, Nintendo of America, and T-Mobile.

2000: Foreign-Born Population Census

Between 1990 and 2000, Seattle's foreign-born population grew 40%. According to the 2000 United States Census Bureau, Seattle had the highest percentage of self-identified mixed-race people of any large metropolitan area in the United States.

2000: Seattle Population Increase

Between 1990 and 2000, Seattle's population increased by almost 50,000 due to an economic revival led by new software, biotechnology, and Internet companies.

2000: MLS team win a continental title

In 2000, Seattle became the first MLS team to win a continental title.

2000: Seattle Storm foundation

In 2000, the Seattle Storm of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) was founded and played their games at KeyArena.

2000: Kingdome Implosion

The Kingdome was imploded in 2000.

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.

2001: Damage to Alaskan Way Viaduct during earthquake

Due to damage sustained during the 2001 Nisqually earthquake the Alaskan Way Viaduct was replaced by a tunnel.

2001: Boeing Headquarters Move

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

2001: Mardi Gras Riots and Nisqually Earthquake

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

2001: Seattle Central Community College selected as community college of the year

In 2001, Time magazine selected Seattle Central Community College as community college of the year, highlighting the school's diverse student body working together in small teams.

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: Dot-com Bubble Bursts

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

2001: National Poetry Slam Tournament Host

Seattle hosted the 2001 national Poetry Slam Tournament.

2001: MLB All-Star Game at T-Mobile Park

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

2002: BECU Expands Membership

In 2002, BECU, Boeing's credit union for employees, opened its membership to all residents of Washington.

2003: Seahawks move to Qwest Field

In 2003, the Seattle Seahawks moved into Qwest Field (now Lumen Field) at the same site as the former Kingdome.

2003: McCaw Hall Opening

McCaw Hall opened in 2003 on the site of the former Seattle Opera House at Seattle Center.

2004: Single-Person Households Census

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

2004: Library Design by Rem Koolhaas

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

2004: Seattle Storm wins WNBA championship

In 2004, the Seattle Storm claimed the WNBA championship.

September 2005: Adoption of 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: Forbes Ranking of Most Expensive American City

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 the most literate

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

2005: Seahawks Super Bowl XL Loss

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

2006: UCLA Study on LGBTQ Population

According to a 2006 study by UCLA, 12.9% of Seattle city residents polled identified as gay, lesbian, or bisexual.

2006: American Community Survey Language Data

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

2006: Team sale of the SuperSonics

Following a team sale in 2006, there was a failed effort to replace the aging KeyArena.

2006: Seattle listed as the most literate.

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

2006: Biotechnology Industry Economic Boom

In 2006, former Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels announced a desire to spark a new economic boom driven by the biotechnology industry.

2006: Population Growth Expectations

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

2006: Seattle Storm sold to Seattle-based ownership

In 2006, the Storm began as a sister team to the now-defunct Sonics of the NBA, but 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 five limited-stop bus lines called RapidRide.

2007: Seattle transit ridership

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

Danny Sherrard was the 2007 National Poetry Slam Champ and 2008 Individual World Poetry Slam Champ.

2007: Seattle listed as the second most literate

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

2007: Racial tie-breaking system struck down

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

2007: Thunderbirds move to ShoWare Center

Since 2007, the Seattle Thunderbirds have been based at the ShoWare Center in Kent.

2007: Seattle Aquarium Expanded

The Seattle Aquarium was expanded in 2007 with an auditorium, gift shop, and cafe.

2007: SAM Reopened and Olympic Sculpture Park Opened

The Seattle Art Museum reopened in 2007 after expansion, and the Olympic Sculpture Park opened in 2007.

2008: Seattle had the highest percentage of college and university 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: American Community Survey Language Data

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

2008: Transit measure passed

After rejecting a roads and transit measure in 2007, Seattle-area voters passed a transit only measure in 2008 to increase ST Express bus service, extend the Link light rail system, and expand and improve Sounder commuter rail service.

2008: SuperSonics relocate to Oklahoma City

Ahead of the 2008–09 season, the Seattle SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City and became the Oklahoma City Thunder.

2008: Danny Sherrard World Poetry Slam Champ

Danny Sherrard was the 2007 National Poetry Slam Champ and 2008 Individual World Poetry Slam Champ.

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

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, known as the P-I, published a daily newspaper from 1863 to March 17, 2009, before switching to a strictly online publication.

2009: Link light rail line begins service

In 2009, A Link light rail line (now the 1 Line) from downtown heading south to Sea-Tac Airport began service, giving the city its first rapid transit line with intermediate stations within the city limits.

2009: MLS Cup at Lumen Field

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

2009: Sounders FC joins MLS

In 2009, Seattle Sounders FC began playing in Major League Soccer (MLS). Also, the team won the U.S. Open Cup in 2009.

2009: Downtown Population Increase

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

February 2010: Climate Neutral City Commitment

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

2010: Population Increase

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

2010: Seattle Growth Rate

From 2010 to 2020, Seattle experienced a growth rate of 21.1%, making it one of the fastest-growing large cities in the country.

2010: 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: Seattle Storm wins WNBA championship

In 2010, the Seattle Storm claimed the WNBA championship.

2011: Sounders win U.S. Open Cup

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

March 2012: Top FM and AM stations

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

June 2012: Seattle Great Wheel Opened

The Seattle Great Wheel opened in June 2012 as a new attraction on the city's waterfront.

2012: United States Census Bureau Estimates

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: HistoryLink Study on ZIP Code Diversity

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: American Community Survey Racial Data

According to the 2012 American Community Survey (ACS), the racial makeup of Seattle was 65.7% White Non-Hispanic, 16.9% Asian, 6.8% Black or African American, 6.6% Hispanic or Latino of any race, 0.4% Native American, 0.9% Pacific Islander, 0.2% other races, and 5.6% two or more races.

2012: Seattleites voted to approve Referendum 74

In 2012, 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.

2012: Seattle Reign FC founded

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

November 5, 2013: Ballot measure passed for hybrid election system

On November 5, 2013, a ballot measure was passed that changed Seattle's city council elections. This resulted in a hybrid system of seven district members and two at-large members for the 2015 election.

2013: Failed effort to relocate the Sacramento Kings

In 2013, an effort 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: Seahawks win Super Bowl XLVIII

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

2013: Inaugural season at Starfire Sports Complex

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

2014: Pew Research Center Study on Religion

According to a 2014 study by the Pew Research Center, the largest religious groupings in Seattle are Christians (52%), followed by those of no religion (37%), Hindus (2%), Buddhists (2%), Jews (1%), and Muslims (1%).

2014: Reign FC move to Memorial Stadium

From 2014 to 2018, Seattle Reign FC held their home games in Seattle at the Seattle Center's Memorial Stadium.

2014: Pronto Cycle Share debuts

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

2014: Seahawks Super Bowl XLIX Loss

In 2014, the Seattle Seahawks advanced to the Super Bowl the following year, but lost to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX.

2014: Sounders win MLS Supporters' Shield

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

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

The 2-mile (3.2 km) Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement tunnel was originally scheduled to be completed in December 2015 at a cost of US$4.25 billion.

2015: LGBT Residents in Seattle

As of 2015, Seattle hosts the fifth-highest percentage of residents who identify as LGBT in the U.S.

2015: Hybrid system of city council elections

For the 2015 election, Seattle changed to a hybrid system of seven district members and two at-large members. This was a result of a ballot measure passed on November 5, 2013.

2015: Unemployment Rate

From 2010 to 2015, Seattle's unemployment dropped from roughly 9 percent to 3.6 percent.

2015: Northwest Seaport Alliance Formation

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

2015: Majority of city council was female

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

2015: Washington Global Health Alliance Count

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

2015: Mandatory curbside collection of food waste

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

March 2016: Link light rail extends 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, part of the Sound Transit 3 package, to expand light rail to West Seattle and Ballard as well as Tacoma, Everett, and Issaquah.

2016: American Community Survey Racial Data

According to the 2016 American Community Survey (ACS), the racial makeup of Seattle was 65.7% White Non-Hispanic, 16.9% Asian, 6.8% Black or African American, 6.6% Hispanic or Latino of any race, 0.4% Native American, 0.9% Pacific Islander, 0.2% other races, and 5.6% two or more races.

2016: Apartment Construction

In 2016, Seattle completed almost half the amount of apartments that were completed in 2017.

2016: Sounders win first MLS Cup

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

2017: University of Washington ranked eleventh

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

2017: Apartment Completions

In 2017, almost 10,000 apartments were completed in Seattle, more than any previous year.

2017: Sounders finish as MLS Cup runners-up

In 2017, the Seattle Sounders finished as runners-up in a rematch against Toronto in MLS Cup.

2017: Thunderbirds win WHL championship

In 2017, the Seattle Thunderbirds won one WHL championship.

2017: Pronto Cycle Share shuts down

In 2017, the docked bikeshare system, Pronto Cycle Share, was shut down due to low ridership numbers. Privately-operated dockless bicycles were allowed to operate within Seattle as a pilot.

2018: City Household Income

According to the ACS 1-year estimates 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 move to Seattle Center's Memorial Stadium

From 2014 to 2018, Seattle Reign FC held their home games in Seattle at the Seattle Center's Memorial Stadium.

2018: Seattle Kraken Expansion Team

In 2018, a new Seattle-based group successfully applied for an expansion team in the NHL, which was named the Seattle Kraken. From 2018 to 2021, KeyArena underwent major renovations to accommodate the new NHL team.

2018: Seawolves begin play and win inaugural championship

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

2018: Seattle Storm wins WNBA championship

In 2018, the Seattle Storm claimed the WNBA championship.

February 2019: Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement tunnel opening delayed

The 2-mile (3.2 km) Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement tunnel opening was delayed to February 2019 due to issues with the machine.

2019: Reign FC move to Tacoma's Cheney Stadium

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

2019: Sounders win second MLS Cup

In 2019, the Seattle Sounders made their first-ever home-field appearance in MLS Cup, once again against Toronto FC, and won the game 3–1 to earn their second MLS Cup title.

2019: Seawolves defend their title

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

2019: Paine Field opened

Paine Field, a secondary passenger airport, opened in 2019 in Everett, 25 miles (40 km) north of Seattle.

2020: Seattle Growth Rate

From 2010 to 2020, Seattle experienced a growth rate of 21.1%, making it one of the fastest-growing large cities in the country.

2020: Rite Aid acquired Bartell Drugs

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

2020: Reign FC rebranded as OL Reign

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

2020: Sea Dragons Inaugural Season

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

2020: Seattle Storm wins WNBA championship

In 2020, the Seattle Storm claimed the WNBA championship.

October 2021: Link light rail extends 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: Bruce Harrell was elected as mayor

In 2021, Bruce Harrell was elected as mayor, succeeding Jenny Durkan.

2021: CenturyLink stops providing cable television

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

2021: Population Decline Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

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

2021: Seattle Storm wins WNBA Commissioner's Cup

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

2021: Seattle Kraken Begins Play

The Seattle Kraken began play in 2021. From 2018 to 2021, KeyArena underwent major renovations to accommodate the new NHL team.

January 1, 2022: Bruce Harrell took office

On January 1, 2022, Bruce Harrell took office as mayor of Seattle.

2022: End of Mariners' Playoff Drought

From 2001 to 2022, the Seattle Mariners failed to qualify for the playoffs—the longest active postseason drought in major North American sports, at 20 seasons.

2022: Ballard FC founded

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

2022: Seattle hosts CONCACAF Champions League Final

In 2022, Seattle hosted the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League Final, and the Sounders became the first MLS team to win a continental title since 2000.

2022: Seawolves finish as runners-up

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

2022: Reign FC returns to Seattle's Lumen Field

Seattle Reign FC has held their home games in Seattle again since 2022 at Lumen Field.

2022: Fortune 500 Companies Headquartered in Seattle

Seven companies on Fortune 500's 2022 list were headquartered in Seattle, including Amazon, Starbucks, Expeditors International of Washington, Nordstrom, Weyerhaeuser, Expedia Group, and Zillow.

2023: Seattle's Electricity Production

As of 2023, at least 88% of Seattle's electricity is produced using hydropower, with less than 40% of the hydroelectricity acquired via the Bonneville Power Administration. The remaining known electricity sources consist of wind power, nuclear power, and biogas.

2023: Library Collection Size

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

2023: Ballard FC wins first national title

In 2023, Ballard FC won its first national title.

2023: Seattle Crime Statistics

In 2023, Seattle had 5,000 violent crimes, and the city has 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, a record total of 907,572 cruise passengers passed through Seattle, surpassing Vancouver, BC, as the major departure point for Alaska cruises.

2023: Sea Dragons return with XFL relaunch

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

2023: Caste discrimination ban passed

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.

2023: MLB All-Star Game at T-Mobile Park

The Major League Baseball All-Star Game has been held at T-Mobile Park in Seattle in 2023.

2023: Seattle Parks System Ranking

The Trust for Public Land ranked Seattle eighth in the United States among municipal parks systems in 2023.

April 2024: 2 Line Opens

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

August 2024: Link light rail extends to Lynnwood

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

2024: Religious Service Attendance in Seattle

A 2024 Household Pulse Survey from the United States Census Bureau estimated that 64 percent of adults in the Seattle area never attend religious services or attend less than once a year, the highest percentage among large U.S. metropolitan areas.

2024: New Seattle Aquarium Building Opened

A new, three-story building under the Overlook Walk opened in 2024 at the Seattle Aquarium with tropical exhibits and a 500,000-US-gallon tank.

2024: Millionaires and Billionaires in Seattle

According to a 2024 study by Henley & Partners, the city of Seattle has an estimated 54,200 millionaires and 11 billionaires.

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: Ballard FC plays at Memorial Stadium

During the 2024 season, Ballard FC will play out of Memorial Stadium at the Seattle Center due to renovations at Interbay Soccer Stadium.

2024: Seattle Population

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

2024: Bikeshare and scootershare trips 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: Overlook Walk Opened

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

2024: Seattle Reign name restored

In 2024, the Seattle Reign name was restored.

2024: Seattle Crime Statistics

In Seattle, from 2020–2024, the total crimes are estimated at 6325 crimes per 100,000 people.

2024: Sea Dragons fold during XFL merger

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 Small Apartments

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

2026: Seattle to host FIFA World Cup matches

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

2030: Climate Neutral City Goal

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

2040: Population Growth Expectations

In 2006, regional planners expected the population of Seattle to grow by 200,000 people by 2040. Mayor Greg Nickels supported plans to increase the population by 350,000 people by 2040.