History of Seattle in Timeline
Seattle, Washington, is the most populous city in both Washington state and the Pacific Northwest. As of 2024, it boasts a population of 780,995, making it the 18th-most populous city in the U.S. It also serves as the county seat of King County. The greater Seattle metropolitan area has a population of 4.02 million, ranking it 15th nationwide. Seattle experienced rapid growth between 2010 and 2020, with a growth rate of 21.1%, establishing it as one of the fastest-growing large cities in the United States.
1901: Fire destroys library and collection in 1901
In 1901, the Seattle Public Library's mansion location burned down, destroying most of the 33,000 books in its 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: Construction of a Carnegie library building in 1906
In 1906, a Carnegie library building was constructed to replace the mansion that burned down, 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 took place in Seattle, shaping the layout of today's University of Washington campus.
1909: Harbor Island Completion
In 1909, the artificial Harbor Island was completed at the mouth of Seattle's industrial Duwamish Waterway.
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 in Seattle.
1917: Seattle Metropolitans win the Stanley Cup in 1917
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 artists like Ernestine Anderson, Ray Charles, and Quincy Jones.
1918: Jazz nightclubs along Jackson Street from 1918
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 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 in 1926
The 5th Avenue Theatre, built in 1926, stages Broadway-style musical shows featuring both local talent and international stars.
1927: Henry Art Gallery opened in 1927
The Henry Art Gallery opened in 1927, the first public art museum in Washington.
1929: Tacoma–Seattle Railway Service Ends
Tacoma–Seattle railway service ended in 1929 as automobiles gained popularity.
1933: Eleanor Roosevelt's Book
In 1933, Eleanor Roosevelt's book "It's Up to the Women" fueled a movement of women in Seattle, advocating for recognition as vital contributors to family and society.
1933: Seattle Art Museum (SAM) opened in 1933
The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) opened in 1933 and moved to their current downtown location in 1991.
1934: Maritime Strike of 1934
In 1934, violence during the Maritime Strike cost Seattle much of its maritime traffic, which was rerouted to the Port of Los Angeles.
1939: Everett–Seattle Service Ends
In 1939, the Everett–Seattle railway service came to an end, replaced by automobiles running on the recently developed highway system.
1941: Streetcars End in Seattle
In 1941, the opening of the Seattle trolleybus system brought the end of streetcars in Seattle.
April 13, 1949: Earthquake
On April 13, 1949, Seattle experienced a strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1.
1951: Jazz Nightclubs Close
Between 1918 and 1951, nearly 24 jazz nightclubs existed along Jackson Street in Seattle, nurturing the early careers of artists like Ernestine Anderson, Ray Charles, and Quincy Jones.
1951: Jazz nightclubs along Jackson Street till 1951
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.
1956: Closure of coal gasification plant in 1956
Gas Works Park in Wallingford features the preserved superstructure of a coal gasification plant closed in 1956.
1960: Replacement of Central Library in 1960
In 1960, the Carnegie library building, also known as the Seattle Central Library, was replaced with an International Style design.
1960: Seattle population in 1960
In 1960, white residents constituted 91.6% of Seattle's population.
1962: Century 21 Exposition
In 1962, Seattle celebrated its restored prosperity and made a bid for world recognition with the Century 21 Exposition, the World's Fair, for which the Space Needle was built.
April 29, 1965: Earthquake
On April 29, 1965, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 occurred in Seattle, causing three direct deaths and one more from heart failure.
1967: Seattle SuperSonics founded in 1967
From 1967, Seattle was home to the Seattle SuperSonics of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
1969: Seattle awarded MLB franchise in 1969
In 1969, Seattle was awarded a Major League Baseball franchise, the Seattle Pilots.
March 20, 1970: Ozark Hotel Fire
On March 20, 1970, the Ozark Hotel fire in Seattle, caused by an unknown arsonist, resulted in twenty-eight deaths.
1970: Medic One Established
In 1970, the establishment of Medic One marked the local development of modern paramedic services in Seattle.
March 30, 1971: First Starbucks Opens
On March 30, 1971, the first Starbucks Coffee location opened at Pike Place Market in Downtown Seattle, initially selling coffee beans.
1974: Seattle awarded conditional expansion franchise in 1974
In 1974, Seattle was awarded a conditional expansion franchise in the National Hockey League; however, this opportunity did not come to fruition.
1974: Seattle Called Best Place for 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."
1974: Original Sounders team founded in 1974
Seattle Sounders FC is the latest continuation of the original 1974 Sounders team of the North American Soccer League.
1974: NBA All-Star Game at Seattle Center Coliseum in 1974
The NBA All-Star Game was also held in Seattle at the Seattle Center Coliseum in 1974.
1974: PNB School founded in 1974
The Pacific Northwest Ballet School (PNB School), founded in 1974, ranks as one of the top three ballet training institutions in the United States.
1976: Seattle Seahawks enter NFL in 1976
In 1976, the Seattle Seahawks entered the National Football League as an expansion team.
1977: Mariners began play in 1977
In 1977, the Mariners began play at the multi-purpose Kingdome.
1977: Seattle Aquarium opened in 1977
The Seattle Aquarium opened on the downtown waterfront in 1977 and was expanded in 2007 with an auditorium, gift shop, and cafe alongside new exhibit spaces.
1977: Seattle Thunderbirds founded in 1977
The Seattle Thunderbirds hockey team has represented Seattle in the Canadian major-junior Western Hockey League since 1977.
1978: Burke–Gilman Trail Opens
In 1978, the Burke–Gilman Trail, a 27-mile path along the Ship Canal and Lake Washington between Ballard and Bothell, first opened on a former railroad.
1978: SuperSonics contended for the championship in 1978
The Seattle Supersonics were frequent playoff participant and contended for the championship in 1978.
1979: Microsoft move to Bellevue
Prosperity began to return to Seattle in the 1980s beginning with Microsoft's 1979 move from Albuquerque, New Mexico, to nearby Bellevue, Washington.
1979: MLB All-Star Game at Kingdome in 1979
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game has been 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 occurred in Seattle's Chinatown-International District, resulting in the killing of 13 people in an illegal gambling club.
1987: NBA All-Star Game at Kingdome in 1987
The NBA All-Star Game was also held in Seattle at the Kingdome in 1987.
1990: Seattle's foreign-born population growth in 1990
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 an economic revival led by new software, biotechnology, and Internet companies.
1990: Population increase and real estate prices soar
Between 1990 and 2000, Seattle's population increased by almost 50,000, and its real estate became some of the most expensive in the country.
1990: Goodwill Games
In 1990, Seattle attracted attention as the host city for the Goodwill Games.
1990: Downtown population growth since 1990
The Downtown population crested to over 60,000 in 2009, up 77% since 1990.
1991: Sherry Harris Elected as 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 (SAM) moved in 1991
The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) moved to their current downtown location in 1991. Since 1991, the 1933 building has been SAM's Seattle Asian Art Museum (SAAM).
1993: APEC Leaders Host
In 1993, Seattle hosted the APEC leaders meeting, gaining international recognition.
1993: Sleepless in Seattle Movie Release
In 1993, the movie "Sleepless in Seattle" brought the city further national attention, as did the television sitcom "Frasier".
1995: Success for the Mariners in 1995
Relative success in the mid-to-late 1990s saved the Seattle Mariners from being relocated and allowed them to move to T-Mobile Park. The Mariners appeared in the MLB playoffs in 1995.
1996: SuperSonics contended for the championship in 1996
The Seattle Supersonics were frequent playoff participant and contended for the championship in 1996.
1996: Seattle Reign played from 1996 to 1998
The WNBA granted Seattle their expansion side following the popularity of the recently folded Seattle Reign, a women's professional basketball team that played from 1996.
1997: Adam Smith Represents 9th Congressional District
Since 1997, Democrat Adam Smith has represented the part of southeastern Seattle in the 9th congressional district.
1997: The Seattle Poetry Festival in 1997
The Seattle Poetry Festival was launched first as the Poetry Circus in 1997 and has featured local, regional, national, and international names in poetry.
1998: Seattle Reign played from 1996 to 1998
The WNBA granted Seattle their expansion side following the popularity of the recently folded Seattle Reign, a women's professional basketball team that played until 1998.
1999: WTO Conference Protests
In 1999, Seattle hosted the World Trade Organization conference, which was met with significant protest activity that overshadowed the conference itself.
1999: Mariners move to T-Mobile Park in 1999
In 1999, the Mariners moved to a purpose-built baseball stadium, T-Mobile Park (formerly Safeco Field).
2000: Single-person households in 2000
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: Seattle's foreign-born population growth and mixed-race population in 2000
Between 1990 and 2000, Seattle's foreign-born population grew 40%. According to the 2000 United States Census Bureau, the Seattle area had the highest percentage of self-identified mixed-race people of any large metropolitan area in the United States.
2000: 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: Population increase and real estate prices soar
Between 1990 and 2000, Seattle's population increased by almost 50,000, and its real estate became some of the most expensive in the country.
2000: Implosion of Kingdome in 2000
The Seattle Seahawks played in the Kingdome until it was imploded in 2000.
2000: Sounders became the first MLS team to win a continental title since 2000
The Seattle Sounders became the first MLS team to win a continental title since 2000 and the first to win the modern Champions League in 2022.
2000: Seattle Storm founded in 2000
The Seattle Storm of the Women's National Basketball Association have played their games at KeyArena since their foundation 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, and resulted in one fatality.
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 Selected as Community College of the Year
In 2001, Time magazine selected Seattle Central Community College as community college of the year.
2001: Nisqually Earthquake Damages Viaduct
In 2001, the Nisqually earthquake caused damage to the Alaskan Way Viaduct.
2001: Mariners tie MLB record in 2001
In 2001, the Seattle Mariners tied the all-time MLB single regular season wins record with 116 wins.
2001: National Poetry Slam Tournament in 2001
Seattle hosted the 2001 national Poetry Slam Tournament.
2001: MLB All-Star Game at T-Mobile Park in 2001
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game has been held in Seattle at T-Mobile Park in 2001.
2001: Dot-com bubble burst
The dot-com boom caused a great frenzy among the technology companies in Seattle, but the bubble ended in early 2001.
2002: BECU Expands Membership
In 2002, Boeing's credit union for employees, BECU, opened its membership to all residents of Washington.
2003: Seahawks moved into Qwest Field in 2003
In 2003, the Seattle Seahawks moved into Qwest Field (now Lumen Field) at the same site as the Kingdome.
2003: McCaw Hall opened in 2003
The Seattle Opera and Pacific Northwest Ballet perform at McCaw Hall, which opened in 2003 on the site of the former Seattle Opera House at Seattle Center.
2004: Single-person households in 2004
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 replaced in 2004
In 2004, the Seattle Central Library was replaced with a design by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas.
2004: Storm win WNBA championship in 2004
The Storm have claimed the WNBA championship in 2004.
September 2005: King County's "Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness" adopted in September 2005
In September 2005, King County adopted a "Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness", one of the near-term results of which is a shift of funding from homeless shelter beds to permanent housing.
2005: Seattle ranked as the most expensive American city in 2005
In 2005, Forbes ranked Seattle as the most expensive American city for buying a house based on the local income levels.
2005: Seattle Most Literate City
In 2005, Seattle was listed as the most literate of the country's 69 largest cities.
2005: Seahawks lost Super Bowl XL in 2005
In 2005, the Seattle Seahawks lost Super Bowl XL to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Detroit.
2006: UCLA study in 2006
According to a 2006 study by UCLA, 12.9% of Seattle city residents polled identified as gay, lesbian, or bisexual.
2006: American Community Survey in 2006
According to the 2006 American Community Survey, approximately 78.9% of Seattle residents over the age of five spoke only English at home.
2006: New Economic Boom in 2006
In 2006 former Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels announced a desire to spark a new economic boom driven by the biotechnology industry.
2006: Seattle Second Most Literate City
In 2006, Seattle was listed as the second most literate of the country's 69 largest cities.
2006: Seattle population growth in 2006
In 2006, regional planners expected the population of Seattle to grow by 200,000 people by 2040.
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.
2006: Storm sold to separate ownership in 2006
The Seattle Storm began as a sister team to the now-defunct Sonics of the NBA, but sold to separate Seattle-based ownership in 2006.
2007: Seattle Transit Ridership Ranked Highest
According to the 2007 American Community Survey, Seattle had the highest transit ridership of all major cities without heavy or light rail.
2007: Danny Sherrard in 2007
Danny Sherrard was the 2007 National Poetry Slam Champ and 2008 Individual World Poetry Slam Champ.
2007: Seattle Second Most Literate City
In 2007, Seattle was listed as the second most literate of the country's 69 largest cities.
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 left the door open 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 Art Museum operates in 2007
Seattle Art Museum (SAM) expanded and reopened in 2007. SAM also operates the Olympic Sculpture Park which opened in 2007.
2007: Thunderbirds move to Kent in 2007
Since 2007, the Seattle Thunderbirds have been based at the ShoWare Center in the suburb of Kent.
2007: Seattle Aquarium expanded in 2007
The Seattle Aquarium opened on the downtown waterfront in 1977 and was expanded in 2007 with an auditorium, gift shop, and cafe alongside new exhibit spaces.
2008: Seattle Tops in 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: American Community Survey in 2008
According to the 2008 American Community Survey, approximately 78.9% of Seattle residents over the age of five spoke only English at home.
2008: Danny Sherrard in 2008
Danny Sherrard was the 2007 National Poetry Slam Champ and 2008 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 to Oklahoma City in 2008
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, known as the P-I, published a daily newspaper from 1863 to March 17, 2009, before switching to a strictly online publication.
2009: Downtown population in 2009
As a sign of increasing downtown core growth, the Downtown population crested to over 60,000 in 2009, up 77% since 1990.
2009: Link light rail line opens
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: Lumen Field hosted MLS Cup 2009
Lumen Field hosted MLS Cup 2009, played between Real Salt Lake and the Los Angeles Galaxy, as a neutral site.
2009: Seattle Sounders FC joins Major League Soccer in 2009
Seattle Sounders FC has played in Major League Soccer since 2009 and in 2009 they also won the U.S. Open Cup.
February 2010: Seattle commits to climate neutrality in February 2010
In February 2010, the 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 experienced a growth rate of 21.1%, making it one of the fastest-growing large cities in the country.
2010: Average Residents Per Year
From 2010 to 2015, Seattle gained an average of 14,511 residents per year.
2010: Seattle's Gross Metropolitan Product in 2010
In 2010, Seattle's gross metropolitan product (GMP) was $231 billion, making it the 11th-largest metropolitan economy in the United States.
2010: Seattle population in 2010
In 2010, the census showed that Seattle was one of the whitest big cities in the country, with white residents constituting 69.5% of the city's population.
2010: Seattle Sounders win U.S. Open Cup in 2010
The Seattle Sounders won the U.S. Open Cup in 2010.
2010: Storm win WNBA championship in 2010
The Seattle Storm have claimed the WNBA championship in 2010.
2011: Seattle Sounders win U.S. Open Cup in 2011
The Seattle Sounders won the U.S. Open Cup in 2011.
March 2012: Arbitron Releases Radio Report
In a March 2012 report by the consumer research firm 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 in June 2012
The Seattle Great Wheel opened in June 2012 as a new, permanent attraction on the city's waterfront, at Pier 57, next to Downtown Seattle.
2012: Same-sex households in 2012
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, surpassing San Francisco (2.5 percent).
2012: HistoryLink study in 2012
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
According to the 2012-2016 American Community Survey (ACS), the racial makeup of the city 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 Approve Referendum 74 and Legalize Cannabis
In the 2012 U.S. general election, a majority of Seattleites voted to approve Referendum 74 and legalize gay marriage in Washington state, and also voted to approve the legalization of recreational cannabis use in the state.
2012: Seattle Reign FC founded in 2012
Seattle Reign FC, a founding member of the National Women's Soccer League, was founded in 2012.
November 5, 2013: Hybrid System of Election Adopted
On November 5, 2013, a ballot measure passed, changing Seattle's city council election system to a hybrid of seven district members and two at-large members.
2013: Effort to purchase Sacramento Kings denied in 2013
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
In 2013, the Seattle Seahawks won Super Bowl XLVIII by defeating the Denver Broncos 43–8 at MetLife Stadium.
2013: Seattle Reign club played at the Starfire Sports Complex in 2013
The Seattle Reign club played at the Starfire Sports Complex in nearby Tukwila for the league's inaugural 2013 season.
2014: Pew Research Center study on religion in Seattle in 2014
According to a 2014 study by the Pew Research Center, the largest religious groupings are Christians (52%), followed by those of no religion (37%), Hindus (2%), Buddhists (2%), Jews (1%), and Muslims (1%).
2014: Seahawks lost Super Bowl XLIX in 2014
In 2014, the Seattle Seahawks advanced to the Super Bowl the following year, but lost to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX on a last-minute play.
2014: Seattle Reign hold home games in Seattle in 2014
Seattle Reign FC held their home games in Seattle from 2014.
2014: Seattle Sounders win MLS Supporters' Shield in 2014
The Seattle Sounders won the MLS Supporters' Shield in 2014 and the U.S. Open Cup in 2014.
December 2015: Original Completion Date for Tunnel
December 2015 was the originally scheduled completion date for the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement tunnel.
2015: LGBT Residents
As of 2015, Seattle hosted the fifth-highest percentage of residents who identify as LGBT in the U.S.
2015: Hybrid System in Effect
For the 2015 election, Seattle transitioned to a hybrid system of seven district members and two at-large members for city councillors.
2015: Average Residents Per Year
From 2010 to 2015, Seattle gained an average of 14,511 residents per year, unemployment dropped, and the city faced issues with housing affordability and homelessness.
2015: Maritime cargo operations merged in 2015
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 state in 2015
In 2015, the Washington Global Health Alliance counted 168 global health organizations in Washington state. Many are headquartered in Seattle.
2015: Majority Female City Council
In 2015, the majority of the Seattle city council was female.
2015: Curbside collection of food waste for composting becomes mandatory
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, 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
According to the 2012-2016 American Community Survey (ACS), the racial makeup of the city 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 Completion Boom
In 2016, nearly twice as many apartments were built in Seattle compared to any previous year leading up to the construction boom in 2017.
2016: Sounders win MLS Cup in 2016
The Sounders won the first of their two MLS Cup titles in 2016, defeating Toronto FC 5–4 in a penalty shootout in Toronto.
2017: Apartment Completion Boom
In 2017, Seattle experienced a historic construction boom, completing almost 10,000 apartments, more than any previous year.
2017: UW Ranked Eleventh in the World
In 2017, U.S. News & World Report ranked the University of Washington eleventh in the world.
2017: Thunderbirds win WHL championship in 2017
In 2017, the Seattle Thunderbirds won one WHL championship.
2017: Sounders finish as runners-up in MLS Cup 2017
The Seattle Sounders finished as runners-up in a rematch against Toronto in MLS Cup 2017.
2018: Seattle gets new NHL team in 2018
In 2018, a new Seattle-based group successfully applied for an expansion team in the NHL.
2018: Median income of a Seattle household in 2018
In 2018, the median income of a Seattle city household was $93,481, and the median income for a family was $130,656.
2018: Seattle Reign hold home games in Seattle in 2018
Seattle Reign FC held their home games in Seattle in 2018.
2018: Seattle Seawolves begin play and win inaugural championship in 2018
The Seattle Seawolves began play in 2018 and won the league's inaugural championship.
2018: Storm win WNBA championship in 2018
The Seattle Storm have claimed the WNBA championship in 2018.
February 2019: Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Tunnel Opens
In February 2019, the 2-mile Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement tunnel finally opened.
2019: Paine Field Opens
In 2019, Paine Field, a secondary passenger airport, opened in Everett, 25 miles (40 km) north of Seattle.
2019: Seattle Seawolves defend their title in 2019
In 2019, the Seattle Seawolves successfully defended their Major League Rugby title.
2019: Sounders win MLS Cup in 2019
In 2019, the 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 in front of a club-record attendance of 69,274.
2019: Seattle Reign team moved to Tacoma in 2019
Under new management, the Seattle Reign team moved to Tacoma's Cheney Stadium in 2019.
2020: Seattle Growth Rate
Between 2010 and 2020, Seattle experienced a growth rate of 21.1%, making it one of the fastest-growing large cities in the country.
2020: Crime data
For the period of 2020-2024, per-capita estimates yield 6325 crimes per 100,000 people.
2020: Bartell Drugs Acquired by Rite Aid
In 2020, Bartell Drugs, a family-run pharmacy chain in Seattle, was acquired by Rite Aid.
2020: OL Groupe became team's majority owner in 2020
In 2020, OL Groupe became the team's majority owner and rebranded the club as OL Reign.
2020: Seattle Sea Dragons played in inaugural XFL season in 2020
The Seattle Sea Dragons played at Lumen Field in the league's inaugural season in 2020 prior to its suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: Storm win WNBA championship in 2020
The Seattle Storm have claimed the WNBA championship in 2020.
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 was the fourth-largest port in North America in terms of container handling.
2021: Population decline in 2021
In 2021 Seattle experienced its first population decline in 50 years.
2021: CenturyLink stops providing cable television service
In 2021, CenturyLink stopped providing cable television service in the city.
2021: Bruce Harrell Elected Mayor
In the 2021 mayoral election, Bruce Harrell was elected as mayor of Seattle, succeeding Jenny Durkan.
2021: Seattle Kraken begin play in 2021
The Seattle Kraken began play in 2021. Also, from 2018 to 2021, KeyArena (now Climate Pledge Arena), underwent major renovations to accommodate the new NHL team.
2021: Storm win WNBA Commissioner's Cup in 2021
The Seattle Storm won the first-ever WNBA Commissioner's Cup in 2021.
January 1, 2022: Bruce Harrell Takes Office as Mayor
On January 1, 2022, Bruce Harrell took office as mayor of Seattle, succeeding Jenny Durkan.
2022: Mariners fail to qualify for playoffs in 2022
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: Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Seattle in 2022
In 2022, seven companies on Fortune 500's list of the United States' largest companies were headquartered in Seattle including Internet retailer Amazon, coffee chain Starbucks, freight forwarder Expeditors International of Washington, department store Nordstrom, forest products company Weyerhaeuser, online travel company Expedia Group, and real-estate tech company Zillow.
2022: Seattle Seawolves finished as runners-up in 2022
In 2022, the Seattle Seawolves finished as runners-up in the championship game.
2022: Ballard FC founded in 2022
Representing the Seattle neighborhood of Ballard, Ballard FC was founded in 2022 as an independent, semi-professional soccer team in the fourth-division USL League 2.
2022: Seattle Reign FC held home games in Seattle again since 2022
Seattle Reign FC held their home games in Seattle again since 2022.
2022: Seattle hosted CONCACAF Champions League Final in 2022
The Seattle Sounders hosted the second leg of the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League Final, played in front of 68,741 to break the tournament attendance record. The Sounders became the first MLS team to win a continental title since 2000 and the first to win the modern Champions League.
2023: Seattle crime statistics
As of 2023, Seattle had 5,000 violent crimes, and has a violent crime rate of 683 per 100,000 people, and 5,174 property crimes per 100,000 people.
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.
2023: Seattle Public Library statistics in 2023
As of 2023, the Seattle Public Library system consists of 27 branches with a combined total of 3,119,298 items.
2023: Ballard FC won its first national title in 2023
In 2023, Ballard FC won its first national title.
2023: Caste Discrimination Banned
In 2023, 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: Cruise passengers in 2023
In 2023, a record total of 907,572 cruise passengers passed through Seattle, surpassing the number for Vancouver, BC.
2023: MLB All-Star Game at T-Mobile Park in 2023
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game has been held in Seattle at T-Mobile Park in 2023.
2023: Sea Dragons returned alongside XFL in 2023
The Sea Dragons returned alongside the XFL in 2023 after the league's re-launch under new ownership.
2023: Seattle ranked eighth in the US for municipal parks systems in 2023
The Trust for Public Land ranked Seattle eighth in the United States among municipal parks systems in 2023.
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: New Seattle Aquarium building opened in 2024
A new, three-story building under the Overlook Walk opened in 2024 with tropical exhibits and a 500,000-US-gallon (1,900,000 L) tank with sharks and rays from the Coral Triangle region of Southeast Asia.
2024: Seattle millionaires and billionaires in 2024
According to a 2024 study by Henley & Partners, the city of Seattle has an estimated 54,200 millionaires and 11 billionaires.
2024: Seattle Lacks 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 data
For the period of 2020-2024, per-capita estimates yield 6325 crimes per 100,000 people.
2024: Population of Seattle
In 2024, Seattle had a population of 780,995, making it the 18th-most populous city in the United States.
2024: Seattle area has highest percentage of non-religious adults in 2024
In 2024, a 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: Overlook Walk Opens
In 2024, the Overlook Walk opened to connect Pike Place Market to the downtown waterfront via overpasses integrated with the Seattle Aquarium expansion.
2024: The Seattle Reign name was restored in 2024
The Seattle Reign name was restored in 2024.
2024: Team folded prior to 2024 season
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.
2024: West Seattle Junction FC joined USL League 2 in 2024
West Seattle Junction FC, representing the neighborhood of West Seattle, joined USL League 2 during the 2024 season. Also during the 2024 season, Ballard FC will play out of Memorial Stadium at the Seattle Center.
2025: Smallest Apartments in the U.S.
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 will be a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Seattle will be one of eleven US host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with matches played at Lumen Field.
2030: Goal of reaching net-zero per-capita greenhouse gas emissions by 2030
In February 2010, the 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: Projected population growth by 2040
In 2006, regional planners expected the population of Seattle to grow by 200,000 people by 2040. Former mayor Greg Nickels supported plans that would increase the population by 60%, or 350,000 people, by 2040.
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