Seattle, Wash.

Mayor:Ed Murray (to Dec. 31, 2017) 2010 census population (rank):608,660 (23);Male:304,030 (50.0%);Female:304,630 (50.0%);White:422,870 (69.5%);Black:48,316 (7.9%);American Indian and Alaska Native:4,809 (0.8%);Asian:84,215 (13.8%);Other race:14,852 (2.4%);Two or more races:31,247 (5.1%);Hispanic/Latino:40,329 (6.6%).2010 percent population 18 and over:84.6%;65 and over:10.8%;Median age:36.1. 2014 population estimate (rank):668,342 (20) Seeadditional census data Land area:84 sq mi. (218 sq km); Alt.:Highest, 521 ft.; lowest, sea level Avg. daily temp.:Jan., 40.1° F; July, 65.2° F Churches:罗马天主教,35岁;犹太人,12;新教,447;others, 42; City-owned parks, playgrounds, etc.:400 (6,200 ac.); Radio stations:AM, 15; FM, 22; Television stations:6 Civilian Labor Force (PMSA) April 2015:1,980,0001; Unemployed (April 2015):77,6001, Percent (April 2015):3.91; Per capita personal income 2013:$43,237 Chamber of Commerce:Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, 1301 5th Ave., Suite 2400, Seattle, WA 98101-2603 1. Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, Wash.

Seattle is the largest city inWashingtonand the seat of King County. A city of steep hills, Seattle lies in western Washington between two bodies of water—Puget Soundon the west and Lake Washington on the east. Its fine landlocked harbor has made Seattle one of the major ports in the United States.

Seattle was first settled by five pioneer families from Illinois at Alki Point at the south end of Elliott Bay in 1851. They moved in 1852 to the eastern shore of the bay and laid out a town in 1853. It was named Seattle after a friendly Suquamish Indian chief (Seattle is only an approximation of his name).

Seattle successfully withstood an Indian attack in 1856 and was incorporated as a city in 1869. A disastrous fire almost destroyed the entire business district in 1889. When the Great Northern Railway arrived in 1893, the city became a major rail terminus and it grew rapidly. It was a boom town during theAlaska gold rush of 1897and continued to prosper as a major Pacific port of entry with the opening of thePanama Canalin 1914.

西雅图是这个地区的商业nd transportation hub and the center of manufacturing, trade, and finance. Its important diversified industries include aircraft, lumber and forest products, fishing, high technology, food processing, boat building, machinery, fabricated metals, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and apparel.

Mayor Greg Nickels easily won reelection in the November 2005 mayoral race. Nickels was not successful in his bid for a third term in 2009; Michael McGinn beat Joe Mallahan in a close race.

See alsoEncyclopedia:Seattle.

Selected famous natives and residents:

• Chester CarlsonXerox inventor;
• Carol Channingactress;
• Judy Collinssinger;
• Fred Couplesgolfer;
• Gail Deversathlete;
• Frances Farmeractress;
• William GatesMicrosoft founder;
• June Havocactress;
• Jimi Hendrixguitarist;
• Robert Joffreychoreographer;
• Gypsy Rose Leeentertainer;
• Mary Livingstonecomedienne;
• Kevin McCarthyactor;
• Mary McCarthynovelist;
• Jeff Smithfood expert;
• Martha Wrightsinger.