History of Seattle in Timeline
Seattle, the most populous city in Washington State and the Pacific Northwest, had a population of 755,078 in 2023, making it the 18th-largest city in the U.S. It's the county seat of King County. The Seattle metropolitan area boasts a population of 4.02 million, ranking 15th nationally. Between 2010 and 2020, Seattle experienced rapid growth, with a 21.1% increase in population, marking it as one of the fastest-growing large cities in the country.
1901: Library Fire
In 1901, the library burned down along with most of its collection.
1902: Pantages Opens Theaters
Starting in 1902, Alexander Pantages opened a number of theaters in Seattle exhibiting vaudeville acts and silent movies.
1906: Carnegie Library
In 1906, a Carnegie library building was constructed to replace the one that burned down in 1901.
1907: Founding of American Messenger Company
In 1907, James E. Casey founded the American Messenger Company (later UPS).
1909: Harbor Island Completion
Harbor Island was completed in 1909 at the mouth of the Duwamish Waterway.
1909: Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition
In 1909, the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition was held, which is largely responsible for the layout of today's University of Washington campus.
1911: Seattle City Council
From 1911, Seattle's city councilors were elected at large, rather than by geographic subdivisions.
1912: Virgil Bogue Development Plan
In 1912, a city development plan by Virgil Bogue went largely unused.
1917: Seattle Metropolitans win Stanley Cup
In 1917, the Seattle Metropolitans became the first American hockey team to win the Stanley Cup.
1918: Jazz Nightclubs
Between 1918 and 1951, nearly 24 jazz nightclubs existed along Jackson Street in Seattle.
1919: Seattle General Strike
In 1919, the Seattle General Strike, an early general strike in the country, occurred.
1926: Bertha Knight Landes elected mayor
In 1926, Seattle made history by electing Bertha Knight Landes as its mayor, making it the first major American city to elect a female mayor.
1926: 5th Avenue Theatre Built
The 5th Avenue Theatre was built in 1926 and stages Broadway-style musical shows.
1927: Henry Art Gallery Opening
The Henry Art Gallery opened in 1927, becoming the first public art museum in Washington.
1929: End of Tacoma-Seattle railway service
In 1929, the Tacoma-Seattle railway service ended.
1933: Eleanor Roosevelt's Book
Fueled in part by Eleanor Roosevelt's 1933 book It's Up to the Women, a movement of women arose from Seattle during the Great Depression.
1933: Seattle Art Museum Opening
The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) opened in 1933.
1934: Maritime Strike of 1934
Violence during the Maritime Strike of 1934 cost Seattle much of its maritime traffic.
1939: End of Everett-Seattle railway service
In 1939, the Everett-Seattle railway service came to an end, 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
On April 13, 1949, Seattle experienced a strong earthquake of magnitude 7.1.
1951: Jazz Nightclubs
Between 1918 and 1951, nearly 24 jazz nightclubs existed along Jackson Street in Seattle.
1953: State Route 99 runs through downtown Seattle on the Alaskan Way Viaduct
From 1953, State Route 99 ran through downtown Seattle on the Alaskan Way Viaduct.
1956: Coal gasification plant closed
In 1956, the coal gasification plant closed.
1960: International Style Library
In 1960, the Carnegie library building was replaced with an International Style design.
1960: Racial Composition
In 1960, whites 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, Seattle experienced a strong earthquake of magnitude 6.5, which caused three deaths in Seattle directly and one more by heart failure.
1967: Seattle SuperSonics founded
From 1967, Seattle was home to the Seattle SuperSonics of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
1969: Seattle awarded MLB franchise
In 1969, Seattle was awarded a Major League Baseball franchise, the Seattle Pilots, who played for one season before relocating.
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.
1974: Conditional 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: Seattle dubbed "the best place in the world to have a heart attack"
In 1974, a 60 Minutes story on the success of Medic One called Seattle "the best place in the world to have a heart attack".
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 of the North American Soccer League was founded.
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 Mariners began playing at the multi-purpose Kingdome.
1977: Thunderbirds in WHL
Since 1977, the Seattle Thunderbirds hockey team has represented Seattle in the Canadian major-junior Western Hockey League.
1977: Seattle Aquarium Opening
The Seattle Aquarium opened on the downtown waterfront in 1977.
1978: Burke-Gilman Trail opens
In 1978, the Burke–Gilman Trail, first opened on a former railroad.
1978: SuperSonics contend for championship
In 1978, the SuperSonics contended for the championship.
1979: Microsoft Move
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.
1982: Emerald City Designation
In 1982, Seattle's epithet of the "Queen City" was officially changed 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 the Kingdome
In 1987, the NBA All-Star Game was held at the Kingdome.
1990: Population Increase
Between 1990 and 2000, Seattle saw a population increase within city limits of almost 50,000.
1990: Downtown Population Growth
Since 1990, the downtown population of Seattle increased 77%.
1991: Sherry Harris elected as Seattle city councilor
In 1991, Sherry Harris was elected as a Seattle city councilor, marking the first time in United States history that an openly gay black woman was elected to public office.
1991: SAM Downtown Relocation
In 1991, the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) moved to its current downtown location.
1993: APEC Leaders Hosted
In 1993, the APEC leaders were hosted in Seattle.
1993: Sleepless in Seattle Movie
In 1993, the movie Sleepless in Seattle brought the city further national attention.
1995: Mariners experience success
In 1995, the Mariners found relative success which saved the team from relocation.
1996: Seattle Reign played in the ABL
From 1996, Seattle Reign played in the rival American Basketball League.
1996: SuperSonics contend for championship
In 1996, the SuperSonics contended for the championship.
1997: Adam Smith becomes representative for 9th congressional district
Since 1997, Adam Smith has served as the representative for the 9th congressional district in southeastern Seattle.
1997: Poetry Circus Launched
The Seattle Poetry Festival, was launched in 1997 as the Poetry Circus.
1999: Mariners move to T-Mobile Park
In 1999, the 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.
2000: Census Data
According to the 2000 U.S. Census, Seattle had a high proportion of single-person households.
2000: Population Increase
Between 1990 and 2000, Seattle saw a population increase within city limits of almost 50,000.
2000: MLS Team Wins Continental Title
In 2000, Seattle became the first MLS team to win a continental title.
2000: Seattle Storm founded
In 2000, the Seattle Storm of the Women's National Basketball Association were founded and began playing their games at KeyArena (now Climate Pledge Arena).
February 28, 2001: Nisqually Earthquake
On February 28, 2001, the magnitude 6.8 Nisqually earthquake did significant architectural damage, especially in the Pioneer Square area.
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 for pushing diverse students to work together in small teams.
2001: Nisqually earthquake damages Alaskan Way Viaduct
In 2001, the Alaskan Way Viaduct sustained damage during the Nisqually earthquake, leading to its eventual replacement.
2001: MLB All-Star Game at T-Mobile Park
In 2001, the Major League Baseball All-Star Game was held at T-Mobile Park.
2001: Mariners tie MLB record
In 2001, the 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 Ends
In early 2001, the dot-com bubble ended among the technology companies in Seattle.
2001: National Poetry Slam Tournament
Seattle hosted the 2001 National Poetry Slam Tournament.
2002: BECU Expansion
In 2002, Boeing's credit union for employees, BECU, opened to all residents of Washington.
2003: Seahawks Move to Qwest Field
In 2003, the Seahawks moved into Qwest Field (now Lumen Field) at the same site as the Kingdome.
2003: McCaw Hall Opening
McCaw Hall opened in 2003 at Seattle Center on the site of the former Seattle Opera House.
2004: Single-Person Households
According to 2004 interim measurements of the U.S. Census, Seattle had the fifth-highest proportion of single-person households nationwide among cities of 100,000 or more residents, at 40.8%.
2004: Increase in public transportation trips begins
From 2004, Seattle began seeing a rise in public transportation usage.
2004: Koolhaas Library
In 2004, the International Style design was replaced with a design by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas.
2004: Storm Claim WNBA Championship
In 2004, the Storm claimed the WNBA championship.
September 2005: Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness
In September 2005, King County adopted a "Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness", shifting funding from homeless shelter beds to permanent housing.
2005: Housing Costs
In 2005, Forbes ranked Seattle as the most expensive American city for buying a house based on local income levels.
2005: Most literate of the country's 69 largest cities
In 2005, Seattle was listed as the most literate of the country's 69 largest cities.
2005: Seahawks in Super Bowl XL
In 2005, the Seahawks lost Super Bowl XL to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Detroit.
2006: LGBT Population Study
According to a 2006 UCLA study, 12.9% of Seattle residents identified as gay, lesbian, or bisexual, making it the second-highest proportion of any major U.S. city.
2006: American Community Survey
According to the 2006-2008 American Community Survey, approximately 78.9% of residents over the age of five spoke only English at home.
2006: Transit Now proposition passed
In 2006, King County voters approved the Transit Now proposition, increasing bus service hours and establishing RapidRide lines.
2006: Most literate of the country's 69 largest cities
In 2006, Seattle was listed as the most literate of the country's 69 largest cities.
2006: Biotechnology Industry
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 Seattle's population to grow by 200,000 people by 2040, after 16 years of 4,000 person annual growth.
2006: Storm Sold to New Ownership
In 2006, the Storm was sold to separate Seattle-based ownership.
2006: SuperSonics team sale
In 2006, there was a team sale of the SuperSonics.
2007: High 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: National Poetry Slam Champ
Danny Sherrard was the 2007 National Poetry Slam Champ.
2007: Second most literate of the country's 69 largest cities
In 2007, Seattle was listed as the second most literate of the country's 69 largest cities.
2007: Roads and transit measure rejected
In 2007, Seattle-area voters rejected a roads and transit measure.
2007: Seattle Aquarium Expansion
In 2007, the Seattle Aquarium expanded with an auditorium, gift shop, and cafe.
2007: Racial tie-breaking system struck down
In 2007, the United States Supreme Court struck down Seattle's racial tie-breaking system, but left open the possibility of desegregation formulas based on other indicators, like income.
2007: Thunderbirds based at ShoWare Center
Since 2007, the Thunderbirds have been based at the ShoWare Center in Kent.
2007: Olympic Sculpture Park Opening
The Olympic Sculpture Park, operated by SAM, opened in 2007 on the waterfront.
2008: American Community Survey
According to the 2006-2008 American Community Survey, approximately 78.9% of residents over the age of five spoke only English at home.
2008: Individual World Poetry Slam Champ
Danny Sherrard was the 2008 Individual World Poetry Slam Champ.
2008: SuperSonics relocate to Oklahoma City
Following a team sale in 2006, the SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City and became the Oklahoma City Thunder ahead of the 2008–09 season.
2008: Most literate U.S. city
In 2008, studies conducted by Central Connecticut State University showed Seattle as the most literate of the country's 69 largest cities.
2008: Transit only measure passed
In 2008, voters approved a transit-only measure to enhance ST Express bus service, extend the Link light rail system, and expand Sounder commuter rail service.
March 17, 2009: Seattle Post-Intelligencer switches to online publication
On March 17, 2009, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (P-I) ceased its daily newspaper publication and transitioned to a strictly online format.
2009: Increase in public transportation trips
From 2004 to 2009, the annual number of unlinked public transportation trips increased by approximately 21%.
2009: Lumen Field hosted MLS Cup
In 2009, Lumen Field hosted MLS Cup 2009.
2009: Link light rail begins service
In 2009, the Link light rail line began service, providing Seattle with its first rapid transit line.
2009: Downtown Population Increase
In 2009, the downtown population of Seattle crested to over 60,000, up 77% since 1990.
2009: Sounders FC in MLS
Since 2009, Seattle Sounders FC has played in Major League Soccer.
February 2010: Climate Neutral Commitment
In February 2010, the Seattle city government committed to becoming North America's first "climate neutral" city.
2010: Population Growth
Between 2010 and 2020, Seattle experienced a growth rate of 21.1%, making it one of the fastest-growing large cities in the United States.
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 Sounders won the U.S. Open Cup.
2010: Storm Claim WNBA Championship
In 2010, the Storm claimed the WNBA championship.
2010: Racial Composition
The 2010 census showed that Seattle was one of the whitest big cities in the country; whites constituted 69.5% of the population.
2011: Sounders win U.S. Open Cup
In 2011, the Sounders won the U.S. Open Cup.
March 2012: Top radio stations
In March 2012, Arbitron reported the top FM radio stations were KRWM, KIRO-FM, and KISW, while the top AM stations were KOMO, KJR (AM), and KIRO (AM).
June 2012: Seattle Great Wheel Opens
In June 2012, the Seattle Great Wheel opened as a new attraction on the city's waterfront.
2012: Same-Sex Households
According to 2012 estimates from the United States Census Bureau, Seattle had the highest percentage of same-sex households in the United States, at 2.6 percent.
2012: American Community Survey
According to the 2012-2016 American Community Survey, the racial makeup of the city was 65.7% White Non-Hispanic.
2012: Seattle Reign FC founded
In 2012, Seattle Reign FC, a founding member of the National Women's Soccer League, was founded.
2012: Legalization of gay marriage and recreational cannabis
In 2012, Seattle voters overwhelmingly approved Referendum 74, legalizing gay marriage in Washington state, and also voted to approve the legalization of recreational cannabis.
2012: Diversity Study
In 2012, a HistoryLink study found that Seattle's 98118 ZIP code was one of the most diverse in the United States.
November 5, 2013: Ballot measure passed
On November 5, 2013, a ballot measure was passed.
2013: Crime Rate Increase
From 2013 to 2018 there was a slow increase in crimes in Seattle.
2013: Effort to purchase Sacramento Kings denied
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 Seahawks won Super Bowl XLVIII, defeating the Denver Broncos 43–8 at MetLife Stadium.
2013: Club played in Tukwila
In 2013, the club played at the Starfire Sports Complex in nearby Tukwila.
2014: Religious Demographics
According to a 2014 Pew Research Center study, the largest religious groupings in Seattle are Christians (52%) and those of no religion (37%).
2014: Seattle Reign FC home games in Seattle
From 2014, Seattle Reign FC held their home games in Seattle.
2014: Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX
In 2014, the Seahawks advanced to the Super Bowl the following year, but lost to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX.
2014: Sounders win Supporters' Shield
In 2014, the Sounders won the MLS Supporters' Shield.
December 2015: Original estimated completion date for Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement tunnel
December 2015 was the originally scheduled completion date for the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement tunnel project.
2015: LGBT Community
As of 2015, Seattle hosted the fifth-largest LGBT community in the U.S.
2015: Hybrid Election System
For the 2015 election, the system changed to a hybrid system of seven district members and two at-large members.
2015: Population Growth
From 2010 to 2015, Seattle gained an average of 14,511 residents per year.
2015: Seaport Alliance
In 2015, the Port of Seattle's maritime cargo operations merged with the Port of Tacoma to form the Northwest Seaport Alliance.
2015: Majority female city council
In 2015, the Seattle City Council achieved a historic milestone, with the majority of its members being female.
2015: Global Health Organizations
In 2015, the Washington Global Health Alliance counted 168 global health organizations in Washington state, many headquartered in Seattle.
2015: Mandatory food waste composting collection
Since 2015, curbside collection of food waste for composting in Seattle has been mandatory.
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 approved the Sound Transit 3 package to expand light rail to West Seattle, Ballard, Tacoma, Everett, and Issaquah.
2016: American Community Survey
According to the 2012-2016 American Community Survey, the racial makeup of the city was 65.7% White Non-Hispanic.
2016: Sounders win MLS Cup
In 2016, the Sounders won the first of their two MLS Cup titles.
2016: Apartment Completion Increase
In 2017 almost 10,000 apartments were completed in Seattle, almost twice as many as were built in 2016.
2017: University of Washington ranked eleventh in the world
In 2017, U.S. News & World Report ranked the University of Washington eleventh in the world.
2017: Apartment Completions
In 2017, almost 10,000 apartments were completed in Seattle, more than any previous year.
2017: Thunderbirds win WHL championship
In 2017, the Seattle Thunderbirds won one WHL championship.
2017: Sounders runners-up in MLS Cup
In 2017, the Sounders finished as runners-up in a rematch against Toronto in MLS Cup.
2018: ACS Estimates
According to the ACS 1-year estimates in 2018, Seattle's median household income was $93,481, and the median family income was $130,656, with 11.0% of the population below the poverty line.
2018: Crime Rate Increase
From 2013 to 2018 there was a slow increase in crimes in Seattle.
2018: Seattle Group Applied for Expansion
In 2018, a new Seattle-based group successfully applied for an expansion team in the NHL.
2018: Seawolves begin play and win inaugural championship
In 2018, the Seattle Seawolves began play and won the league's inaugural championship.
2018: Storm Claim WNBA Championship
In 2018, the Storm claimed the WNBA championship.
2018: Seattle Reign FC home games in Seattle
Until 2018, Seattle Reign FC held their home games in Seattle.
February 2019: Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement tunnel opens
In February 2019, the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement tunnel finally opened to traffic after delays.
2019: Paine Field opens as secondary passenger airport
In 2019, Paine Field opened as a secondary passenger airport in Everett, located 25 miles (40 km) north of Seattle.
2019: Seawolves defend title
In 2019, the Seattle Seawolves successfully defended their title.
2019: Sounders win MLS Cup at home
In 2019, the Sounders won their second MLS Cup title, defeating Toronto FC.
2019: Team Moved to Tacoma
In 2019, the team moved to Tacoma's Cheney Stadium.
2020: Population Growth
Between 2010 and 2020, Seattle experienced a growth rate of 21.1%, making it one of the fastest-growing large cities in the United States.
2020: Majority Owner Change
In 2020, OL Groupe became the team's majority owner and rebranded the club as OL Reign.
2020: Rite Aid acquires Bartell Drugs
In 2020, Rite Aid acquired Bartell Drugs, a family-run pharmacy chain in Seattle.
2020: Crime Rate Decrease
In 2020, Seattle experienced a dip in its crime rate.
2020: Seattle Sea Dragons founded
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: Storm Claim WNBA Championship
In 2020, the Storm claimed the WNBA championship.
October 2021: Link light rail extended to Northgate
In October 2021, the Link light rail line was extended to Northgate.
2021: Port of Seattle Ranking
As of 2021, the Port of Seattle was the fourth-largest port in North America in terms of container handling.
2021: Bruce Harrell elected mayor
In 2021, Bruce Harrell was elected as the mayor of Seattle.
2021: CenturyLink stops cable television service
In 2021, CenturyLink stopped providing cable television service in Seattle.
2021: Crime Rate Spike
In 2021, Seattle experienced a spike in its crime rate.
2021: Population Decline
In 2021, Seattle experienced its first population decline in 50 years.
2021: Storm Won Commissioner's Cup
In 2021, the team won the first-ever WNBA Commissioner's Cup.
January 1, 2022: Bruce Harrell takes office as mayor
On January 1, 2022, Bruce Harrell officially took office as the mayor of Seattle, succeeding Jenny Durkan.
2022: Mariners end postseason drought
From 2001 to 2022, the Mariners failed to qualify for the playoffs, which marked the end of the longest active postseason drought in major North American sports, at 20 seasons.
2022: Seattle Reign FC home games in Seattle
From 2022, Seattle Reign FC held their home games in Seattle.
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 Sounders win CONCACAF Champions League
In 2022, Seattle Sounders won the CONCACAF Champions League, breaking the tournament attendance record.
2022: Crime Rate Spike
In 2022, Seattle experienced a spike in its crime rate.
2022: Fortune 500 Companies
In 2022, seven companies on the Fortune 500 list were headquartered in Seattle, including Amazon, Starbucks, and Nordstrom.
2022: Seawolves finish as runners-up
In 2022, the Seattle Seawolves finished as runners-up in the championship game.
2023: Seattle's Electricity Production
As of 2023, at least 88% of Seattle's electricity is produced using hydropower. The remaining known electricity sources consist of wind power, nuclear power, and biogas; less than 2% comes from an unidentified source.
2023: Library Collection
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, resulting in a violent crime rate of 683 per 100,000 people and 5,174 property crimes per 100,000 people.
2023: Parks System Ranked
In 2023, The Trust for Public Land ranked Seattle eighth in the United States among municipal parks systems.
2023: Record Cruise Passengers
In 2023, a record total of 907,572 cruise passengers passed through Seattle.
2023: MLB All-Star Game at T-Mobile Park
In 2023, the Major League Baseball All-Star Game was held at T-Mobile Park.
2023: Sea Dragons returned with relaunch of XFL
In 2023, the Sea Dragons returned alongside the XFL's re-launch under new ownership.
2023: Caste discrimination ban
In 2023, the Seattle City Council voted to ban caste discrimination as part of the city's anti-discrimination laws, making it the first such ban in the United States.
April 2024: Opening of the 2 Line
In April 2024, the 2 Line opened between Bellevue and Redmond.
August 2024: Link light rail extended to Lynnwood
In August 2024, the Link light rail line was extended to Lynnwood.
2024: Religious Attendance
According to a 2024 Household Pulse Survey, 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: Millionaire Study
According to a 2024 study by Henley & Partners, the city of Seattle had an estimated 54,200 millionaires and 11 billionaires.
2024: Lack of 24-hour retail pharmacy
As of 2024, Seattle lacks a 24-hour retail pharmacy due to the closure of locations across several chains.
2024: Aquarium Expansion
In 2024, a new three-story building opened at the Seattle Aquarium with tropical exhibits and a large tank.
2024: Overlook Walk opened
In 2024, the Overlook Walk opened to connect Pike Place Market to the downtown waterfront.
2024: Sea Dragons folded due to merger
In 2024, the Seattle Sea Dragons folded prior to the season during the XFL's merger with the United States Football League to form the United Football League.
2024: Ballard plays at Memorial Stadium
In the 2024 season, Ballard will play out of Memorial Stadium at the Seattle Center.
2025: Planned extension of the 2 Line
In late 2025, the 2 Line is planned to be extended into Seattle via the Interstate 90 floating bridge.
2026: Seattle a host city for FIFA World Cup
In 2026, Seattle will be one of eleven US host cities for the FIFA World Cup.
2030: Net-Zero Emissions Goal
Seattle set a goal of reaching net-zero per-capita greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
2040: Projected Population
By 2040, regional planners expected Seattle's population to grow by 200,000 people and former mayor Greg Nickels supported plans that would increase the population by 60%, or 350,000 people.
