West Bellevue guide

Bellevue was Founded 1869 and incorporated as the City of Bellevue in 1953. Bellevue has experienced an overall growth in incomes, placing it well above the county average. Home ownership is also high. In spite of a higher regional cost index than the national average, Bellevue remains an affordable place to live, with incomes continuing to outpace inflation. Most recent data suggest the average household income for Bellevue is about 30 percent higher than the median household income for the region, and significantly higher than the county average.

Bellevue's population is right around 107,000 and is projected to continue its upward trend. Bellevue is the largest city on the Eastside, the second largest in King County, and the fourth largest city in Washington state.

Bellevue's neighbors on the Eastside of Lake Washington are Yarrow Point, Clyde Hill, Hunts Point, Beaux Arts, Medina, Kirkland, Bothell, Newcastle, Redmond, Issaquah, Woodinville and Sammamish. It's a city where people of all ages and backgrounds share and invest in common values.

Bellevue city government delivers exceptional public services to its citizens and is working with its regional partners to build upon the Eastside's high quality of life.

From waterfront estates to suburban ramblers to condominiums in the heart of the city, Bellevue offers housing choices to suit any lifestyle. Views of lakes, snow-capped mountains, parks and open spaces are common in nearly every neighborhood. Recreation facilities, freeway access, good schools and amenities are near to all of Bellevue's neighborhoods.

West Bellevue has earned its reputation as an ideal city, a microcosm of the best of the best that people look for in a place to live and work. It's a diversified economy, one that supports a population of 107,000 individuals who contribute an enterprising mix of talent and entrepreneurial zeal.

Bellevue has 47,120 housing units of which 57.7% are single family homes and 42.3% are multi family homes. The bellevue household family Profile includes 45,591 households with 28,444 families consisting of 2.32 residents, 19.8% of which are married, with children, 46.0% are married, no children,  5.7% are single, with children and 28.5%are single, no children.

Bellevue has 47,120 housing units within 31 square miles of city limits. While nearly half of Bellevue's homes are older than 30 years, a strong urban economy and well paying jobs has translated into one of the hottest housing and rental markets nationwide. Downtown is quickly becoming Bellevue's fastest growing "neighborhood." In 1990, approximately 400 housing units were located in downtown. Today, downtown is home to more than 1,800 households. Looking ahead, the city estimates that more than 15,000 condominiums and apartments, housing more than 22,500 people, could eventually be built in downtown.

Technology is an ingrained part of West Bellevue's culture. Approximately 80 percent of Bellevue homes have personal computers, which is significantly higher than the national average of 60 percent. Even with this higher percentage of wired households, the City has a plan for extending fiber optic networks to residential neighborhoods. This will provide fast internet connections via copper, a technology that rivals cable modem and provides "persistent connections" meaning users don't have to continually log on.

New commercial ventures in downtown Bellevue include entertainment and attractions such as cinemas, restaurants, galleries and theaters. This increased nightlife and cultural activities are within easy reach of those living in and around downtown.

View websites in West Bellevue of things and places to shop.

Bellevue is recognized nationally for its award winning schools, innovative curriculum and exceptional teachers. Bellevue Public School District operates sixteen elementary schools, seven middle schools and six high schools. Total student enrollment is approximately 15,000.

The Bellevue School District Bellevue is recognized nationally as a leader in providing strong basic education skills while introducing innovative and successful learning initiatives such as, full-day kindergarten open to all students, advanced placement offerings in every high school and opportunities to study six years of foreign-language. Diversity can be seen in Bellevue's public schools through the 53 languages that are spoken.

Bellevue students are connected to the Internet. Throughout Bellevue schools, technology is seamlessly woven into the fabric of learning. For example, the ratio of five students to one networked computer is above the national average of about nine to one. In addition, the number of high school juniors with computers at home climbed from 68 percent in 1991 to 90 percent in 1997. The Bellevue School board has adopted a set of district-wide technology proficiencies to insure that each student will learn skills such as word processing, information retrieval, networking and utilizing multimedia in communications.

A minimum of 85% of Bellevue grads attends community college and University. SAT scores have increased forty-three points in just five years, from 1084 to 1108.

West Bellevue's median temperature is 51.5 degrees with an annual average precipitation of 31.4 inches. Bellevue's climate is uncommonly temperate. "Comfortable" is an often used description, along with "mild, gentle and calm." Summer daytime temperatures average just under 70 degrees, while winter lows tend to be in the 40's. Average precipitation totals only around 38 inches per year.

Founded in 1869 by William Meydenbauer and incorporated as a city in 1953, Bellevue spans 31 square miles between Lake Sammamish and Lake Washington. To the East are the snow-capped mountains of the Cascades. To the South, Mount Rainier dominates the horizon, and to the North, Mount Baker marks the proximity of the Canadian border. To the West, two floating highway bridges link Bellevue to Seattle.