Full History Of Seattle In Timeline From 1901

1901: Library Fire

In 1901, the Seattle Public Library's collection of 33,000 books was mostly destroyed when the mansion housing it burned down.

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

In 1906, a Carnegie library building was constructed to replace the one that burned down. It was eventually known as the Seattle Central Library.

1907: Founding of the American Messenger Company

In 1907, James E. Casey founded the American Messenger Company (later UPS) by borrowing $100 from a friend.

1909: Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition

In 1909, the Alaska–Yukon–Pacific Exposition was held, which largely shaped 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 city's industrial Duwamish Waterway, which is the terminus of the Green River.

1911: Seattle 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 on Jackson Street

Between 1918 and 1951, nearly 24 jazz nightclubs existed along Jackson Street in Seattle, from the Chinatown/International District to the Central District, nurturing the early careers of musicians.

1918: Rise of Jazz Nightclubs

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

1919: Seattle General Strike

In 1919, the Seattle General Strike, an early general strike in the United States, took place following a shipbuilding boom during World War I.

1926: Bertha Knight Landes Elected Mayor

In 1926, Seattle elected Bertha Knight Landes as its mayor, making it the first major American city to elect a female mayor.

1926: Construction of the 5th Avenue Theatre in 1926

The 5th Avenue Theatre, built in 1926, stages Broadway-style musical shows.

1927: Opening of the Henry Art Gallery in 1927

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

1929: Tacoma-Seattle Railway Service Ends

In 1929, Tacoma-Seattle railway service ended.

1933: Eleanor Roosevelt's book and Women's Movement

In 1933, Eleanor Roosevelt's book, It's Up to the Women, fueled a movement of women in Seattle during the Great Depression to push for recognition in society.

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1933: Opening of the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) in 1933

The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) opened in 1933.

1934: Maritime Strike of 1934

Violence during the Maritime Strike of 1934 resulted in Seattle losing much of its maritime traffic, which was rerouted to the Port of Los Angeles.

1939: Everett-Seattle Railway Service Ends

In 1939, Everett-Seattle railway service ended, replaced by automobiles.

1941: Streetcars End Service in Seattle

In 1941, the Seattle trolleybus system brought an end to streetcars in Seattle.

April 13, 1949: Earthquake in 1949

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

1951: Jazz Nightclubs on Jackson Street

Between 1918 and 1951, nearly 24 jazz nightclubs existed along Jackson Street in Seattle, from the Chinatown/International District to the Central District, nurturing the early careers of musicians.

1951: Decline of Jazz Nightclubs

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

1953: State Route 99 Runs Through Downtown

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

1956: Closure of Coal Gasification Plant

Gas Works Park in Wallingford features the preserved superstructure of a coal gasification plant that closed in 1956.

1960: International Style Library Design

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

1960: Seattle's Predominantly White Population

In 1960, whites constituted 91.6% of Seattle's population, highlighting its historically predominantly white demographic.

1962: Century 21 Exposition

Seattle celebrated its restored prosperity and bid for world recognition with the Century 21 Exposition, the 1962 World's Fair, for which the Space Needle was built.

April 29, 1965: Earthquake in 1965

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: Seattle SuperSonics formed

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

1969: Seattle Pilots Franchise Awarded

In 1969, Seattle was awarded a Major League Baseball franchise, the Seattle Pilots, who played at Sick's Stadium for one season.

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 Location Opens

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

1974: Conditional NHL Expansion Franchise Awarded

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

1974: Seattle Named Best Place to Have a Heart Attack

In 1974, a 60 Minutes story called Seattle "the best place in the world to have a heart attack" due to the success of Medic One.

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1974: NBA All-Star Game at Seattle Center Coliseum

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

1974: Original Sounders Team

In 1974, the original Sounders team was formed as part of the North American Soccer League.

1974: PNB School Founded in 1974

The PNB School was founded in 1974 and is recognized 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: Mariners Begin Play

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

1977: Thunderbirds in Western Hockey League

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

1977: Seattle Aquarium Opened in 1977

The Seattle Aquarium opened on the downtown waterfront in 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, opened on a former railroad.

1978: SuperSonics contend for NBA Championship

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

1979: Microsoft Moves to Bellevue

In 1979, Microsoft moved from Albuquerque, New Mexico, to nearby Bellevue, Washington.

1979: MLB All-Star Game at Kingdome

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

1982: Seattle's Nickname Change

In 1982, Seattle's official designation 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 at Kingdome

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

1990: Population Increase 1990-2000

Beginning in 1990, Seattle experienced an economic revival led by new software, biotechnology, and Internet companies, which increased the city's population by almost 50,000 in the decade between 1990 and 2000.

1990: Seattle's Foreign-Born Population Growth

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

1990: Goodwill Games Held in Seattle

In 1990, the Goodwill Games were held in Seattle.

1990: Downtown Population Increase

In 2009, the downtown population of Seattle crested to over 60,000, up 77% since 1990, signaling increasing downtown core growth.

1991: Sherry Harris Elected as City Councilor

In 1991, Sherry Harris became the first openly gay black woman elected to public office in United States history when she was elected as a Seattle city councilor.

1991: SAM Moved to Downtown Location 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 Meeting

In 1993, Seattle hosted the APEC leaders meeting.

1993: Sleepless in Seattle Movie

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

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1995: Mariners Playoff Appearance

The Seattle Mariners had relative success in the mid-to-late 1990s, which saved the team from being relocated. They appeared in the MLB playoffs five times, mostly between 1995 and 2001.

1996: Seattle Reign played in rival American Basketball League

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

1996: SuperSonics contend for NBA Championship

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

1997: Adam Smith Represents 9th Congressional District

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

1997: Launch of the Poetry Circus in 1997

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

1998: Seattle Reign Folded

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

1999: Mariners Move to T-Mobile Park

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

1999: WTO Conference Protests

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

2000: Seattle's Single-Person Households in 2000

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: Census Data on Seattle's Diversity

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 1990-2000

Between 1990 and 2000, Seattle saw a population increase of almost 50,000 within city limits due to the success of technology companies, leading to some of the most expensive real estate in the country.

2000: Kingdome Imploded

In 2000, the Kingdome was imploded.

2000: Seattle Storm Foundation

In 2000, the Seattle Storm of the Women's National Basketball Association began playing their games at KeyArena.

2000: MLS Team To Win a Continental Title

In 2022, the Sounders became the first MLS team to win a continental title since 2000.

February 28, 2001: Nisqually Earthquake in 2001

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: Boeing Headquarters Move

In 2001, Boeing separated its headquarters from its major production facilities, moving 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.

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

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

2001: Nisqually Earthquake Damages Alaskan Way Viaduct

In 2001, the Nisqually earthquake caused damage to the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

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 Bursts

In early 2001, the dot-com boom ended, impacting the technology companies in Seattle.

2001: Seattle Hosted the 2001 National Poetry Slam Tournament

Seattle hosted the 2001 national Poetry Slam Tournament.

2002: BECU Opens to Washington Residents

In 2002, BECU, Boeing's credit union for employees, became open to all residents of Washington.

2003: Seahawks Move into Qwest Field

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

2003: Opening of McCaw Hall in 2003

McCaw Hall opened in 2003 on the site of the former Seattle Opera House at Seattle Center, serving as the performance venue for the Seattle Opera and Pacific Northwest Ballet.

2004: Seattle's Single-Person Households in 2004

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

2004: Rem Koolhaas Library Design

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

2004: Storm Claim WNBA Championship

In 2004, the Seattle Storm claimed the WNBA championship.

2004: Public transportation trips increase begins

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

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 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 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 Super Bowl XL Loss

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

2006: UCLA Study on LGBT Population in 2006

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

2006: 2006-2008 American Community Survey on Languages Spoken

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

2006: SuperSonics Team Sale

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

2006: Economic Boom Driven by Biotechnology in 2006

In 2006 former Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels announced a desire to spark a new economic boom driven by the biotechnology industry. Major redevelopment of the South Lake Union neighborhood is underway in an effort to attract new and established biotech companies to the 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: Seattle's Population Growth in 2006

In 2006, regional planners expected the population of Seattle to grow by 200,000 people by 2040, after growing by 4,000 citizens per year for the previous 16 years.

2006: Storm Sold to Seattle-based Ownership

In 2006, the Storm was 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 Has High Public Transit Ridership

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

2007: Danny Sherrard Wins National Poetry Slam Champ

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

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: Seattle's Racial Tie-Breaking System Struck Down

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

2007: Roads and transit measure rejected

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

2007: Thunderbirds Move to ShoWare Center

In 2007, the Seattle Thunderbirds moved to the ShoWare Center in Kent.

2007: Expansion of the Seattle Aquarium in 2007

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

2007: SAM Expanded and Olympic Sculpture Park Opened in 2007

The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) was expanded and reopened in 2007; SAM also operates the Olympic Sculpture Park (opened in 2007) on the waterfront north of the downtown piers.

2008: Seattle Has Highest Percentage of College Graduates

A 2008 United States Census Bureau survey indicated Seattle had the highest percentage of college and university graduates of any major U.S. city and was also named the most literate city.

2008: 2006-2008 American Community Survey on Languages Spoken

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

2008: Danny Sherrard Wins Individual World Poetry Slam Champ

Danny Sherrard wins 2008 Individual World Poetry Slam Champ.

2008: Crimes per capita

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

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, after rejecting a roads and transit measure in 2007.

2008: SuperSonics Relocate to Oklahoma City

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

March 17, 2009: Seattle Post-Intelligencer Stops Daily Newspaper Publication

On March 17, 2009, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (P-I) ceased publishing a daily newspaper and switched to a strictly online publication.

2009: Public transportation trips increase ends

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

2009: Crimes per capita

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

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 join MLS

In 2009, Seattle Sounders FC began playing in Major League Soccer as the latest continuation of the original 1974 Sounders team.

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: Downtown Population Increase in 2009

In 2009, the downtown population of Seattle crested to over 60,000, up 77% since 1990, signaling increasing downtown core growth.

February 2010: Seattle's Climate Neutral Commitment

In February 2010, the city government committed Seattle to become North America's first "climate neutral" city.

2010: Seattle's Growth from 2010-2020

Between 2010 and 2020, Seattle experienced a significant growth rate of 21.1%, establishing it as one of the fastest-growing large cities in the United States.

2010: Crimes per capita

For the period of 2010-2019, there were 6725 crimes per 100,000 people.

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: 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 Demographic Shift

The 2010 census showed that Seattle was one of the whitest big cities in the country, although its proportion of white residents has been gradually declining. In 2010, whites constituted 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 Radio Stations in Seattle

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

June 2012: Opening of the Seattle Great Wheel

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

2012: Seattle's 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.

2012: HistoryLink study on Seattle 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: 2012 American Community Survey Racial Makeup

According to the 2012 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%), Hispanic or Latino (6.6%), Native American (0.4%), Pacific Islander (0.9%), other races (0.2%), and two or more races (5.6%).

2012: Seattle Reign FC Founded

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

2012: Seattleites Vote to Legalize Gay Marriage and Recreational Cannabis

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

November 5, 2013: Ballot Measure Changes City Councillor Elections

On November 5, 2013, a ballot measure passed, changing Seattle's city councillor elections to a hybrid system of seven district members and two at-large members.

2013: Crime Increase

From 2013 to 2018 there was a slow increase in crimes, however it dipped in 2020, before spiking up again in 2021 and 2022. As of 2023 the city has a violent crime rate of 683 per 100,000 people, and 5,174 property crimes per 100,000 people.

2013: Reign played at Starfire Sports Complex

In 2013, Seattle Reign FC played at the Starfire Sports Complex in nearby Tukwila.

2013: Failed Attempt to Purchase 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.

2014: Religious Groupings in Seattle

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

2014: Pronto Cycle Share debuts

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

2014: Seahawks Super Bowl XLIX Loss

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

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

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

2014: Seattle Reign FC played home games in Seattle

Seattle Reign FC held their home games in Seattle from 2014 to 2018 and again since 2022.

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

December 2015 was the originally scheduled completion date for the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement tunnel.

2015: LGBT Residents in 2015

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

2015: Population Growth from 2010-2015

From 2010 to 2015, Seattle gained an average of 14,511 residents per year, with unemployment dropping from roughly 9 percent to 3.6 percent.

2015: Hybrid System of City Councillor Elections Implemented

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

2015: Washington Global Health Alliance Count in 2015

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

2015: Merger of Seattle and Tacoma Ports in 2015

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

2015: Female Majority on City Council

In 2015, women comprised the majority of Seattle's city council.

2015: Curbside food waste collection 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 extends to 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: 2012–2016 American Community Survey Racial Makeup

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%), Hispanic or Latino (6.6%), Native American (0.4%), Pacific Islander (0.9%), other races (0.2%), and two or more races (5.6%).

2016: Sounders win MLS Cup

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

2016: Apartment Completion in 2016

In 2016, the number of apartments built in Seattle was nearly half the number completed in 2017, due to the construction boom initiated by Amazon's headquarters move.

2017: Pronto Cycle Share shuts down, dockless bicycles allowed

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

2017: Apartment Completion in 2017

In 2017, Seattle completed almost 10,000 apartments, more than any previous year, due to a historic construction boom initiated by Amazon's headquarters move.

2017: University of Washington Ranked Eleventh Globally

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

2017: Sounders Finish as Runners-up in MLS Cup

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

2017: Thunderbirds Win WHL Championship

In 2017, the Seattle Thunderbirds won one WHL championship.

2018: Seattle Household Income in 2018

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: Crime Increase

From 2013 to 2018 there was a slow increase in crimes, however it dipped in 2020, before spiking up again in 2021 and 2022. As of 2023 the city has a violent crime rate of 683 per 100,000 people, and 5,174 property crimes per 100,000 people.

2018: Seattle Awarded NHL Expansion Team

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

2018: Seawolves Inaugural Championship

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

2018: Storm Claim WNBA Championship

In 2018, the Seattle Storm claimed the WNBA championship.

2018: Seattle Reign FC played home games in Seattle

Seattle Reign FC held their home games in Seattle from 2014 to 2018 and again since 2022.

February 2019: Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Tunnel Opens

In February 2019, the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement tunnel finally opened after delays.

2019: Crimes per capita

For the period of 2010-2019, there 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, predominantly used by Boeing.

2019: Reign moved to Tacoma

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

2019: Seawolves Defend Title

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

2019: Sounders win MLS Cup

In 2019, the Seattle Sounders won their second MLS Cup title against Toronto FC, in their first-ever home-field appearance in MLS Cup.

2020: Seattle's Growth from 2010-2020

Between 2010 and 2020, Seattle experienced a significant growth rate of 21.1%, establishing it as one of the fastest-growing large cities in the United States.

2020: Crimes per capita

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

2020: Rite Aid Acquires Bartell Drugs

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

2020: Rebrand as OL Reign

In 2020, OL Groupe became the majority owner of the Seattle Reign FC and rebranded the club as OL Reign.

2020: Sea Dragons Inaugural Season

In 2020, the Seattle Sea Dragons, originally the Dragons, played at Lumen Field in the XFL's inaugural season prior to 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 extends to Northgate

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

2021: Port of Seattle Container Handling in 2021

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

2021: Bruce Harrell Elected as Mayor

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

2021: CenturyLink stops providing cable television

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

2021: Seattle's Population Decline in 2021

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 playing in the NHL, and the KeyArena underwent major renovations from 2018 to 2021 to accommodate the new team.

2021: Storm won WNBA Commissioner's Cup

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

2021: Crime Spike

Seattle saw an increase in crimes beginning in 2021 and continuing through 2022. From 2013 to 2018 there was a slow increase in crimes, however it dipped in 2020, before spiking up again in 2021 and 2022.

January 1, 2022: Bruce Harrell Takes Office as Mayor

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

2022: Mariners Playoff Drought Ends

From 2001 to 2022, the Mariners failed to qualify for the playoffs, marking 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: Sounders Host CONCACAF Champions League Final

In 2022, Lumen Field hosted the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League Final, breaking the tournament attendance record. The Sounders became the first MLS team to win a continental title since 2000.

2022: Seattle Companies on Fortune 500's 2022 List

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

2022: Seawolves Runners-up

In 2022, the Seattle Seawolves finished as runners-up in the Major League Rugby championship game.

2022: Seattle Reign FC played home games in Seattle

Seattle Reign FC held their home games in Seattle from 2014 to 2018 and again since 2022.

2022: Crime Spike

Seattle saw an increase in crimes beginning in 2021 and continuing through 2022. From 2013 to 2018 there was a slow increase in crimes, however it dipped in 2020, before spiking up again in 2021 and 2022.

2023: Seattle's violent crime statistics for 2023

As of 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: 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; less than 2% comes from an unidentified source.

2023: Seattle Public Library Collection Size

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

2023: Ballard FC National Title

In 2023, Ballard FC won its first national title.

2023: Record cruise passengers

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

2023: Seattle Parks System Ranking

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

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

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

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.

2023: Sea Dragons Return with XFL

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

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 extends 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 tank with sharks and rays from the Coral Triangle region of Southeast Asia.

2024: Religious Service Attendance in Seattle

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

2024: Seattle's 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 closures 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: Crimes per capita

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

2024: Seattle Population in 2024

In 2024, Seattle's population was recorded to be 780,995, making it the 18th-most populous city in the United States.

2024: Bikeshare and scootershare trips and injuries

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 Opens

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

2024: Seattle Reign Name Restored

In 2024, the Seattle Reign name was restored to the OL Reign club.

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 in 2025

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

2025: Seattle's Smallest Apartments by 2025

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.

2025: 2 Line planned extension into Seattle

The 2 Line is planned to be extended into Seattle via the Interstate 90 floating bridge in late 2025.

2026: Seattle to Host FIFA World Cup

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

2030: Seattle's Goal for Net-Zero Emissions by 2030

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.