Sammamish, Washington

History

The Sammamish Plateau was part of unincorporated King County for most of its recorded history. The first Europeans arrived in the late 19th century and established a trio of resorts by the 1930s. The plateau remained a mostly rural area until suburban homes, shopping centers, and schools were built in the 1970s and 1980s. A vote in 1991 to join neighboring Issaquah failed, as did a vote on incorporation the following year. A renewed movement to become a city, born of frustration with development policies set by the county government, met with voter approval in 1998. Sammamish was officially incorporated on August 31, 1999. Sammamish annexed Klahanie on January 1, 2016, raising the population to about 61,000.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 18.47 square miles (47.84 km²), of which, 18.22 square miles (47.19 km²) is land and 0.25 square miles (0.65 km²) is water.

The city is situated on the shores and hilly terrain east of Lake Sammamish. Beaver Lake and Pine Lake are the two biggest lakes in Sammamish.

Climate

Sammamish has a mild Marine West Coast or oceanic climate. Extremes range from -5 °F (−19 °C), in February 1950, to 102 °F (39 °C), in August 1960.

Demographics

According to a 2012 estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $143,861, and the median income for a family was $152,364. The per capita income for the city was $55,550.

Sammamish ranked 15th in CNN Money magazine's 2011 review of the best places to live in the United States. Forbes ranked Sammamish 1st in its 2012 list of the Friendliest Towns in the United States.

In 2007, CNN Money ranked Sammamish as the 11th Best Place to Live in the United States, and subsequently ranked it as #12 in 2009 and #15 in 2011.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 45,780 people, 15,154 households, and 12,918 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,512.6 inhabitants per square mile (970.1/km²). There were 15,736 housing units at an average density of 863.7 per square mile (333.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 74.7% White, 1.0% African American, 0.3% Native American, 19.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.9% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.9% of the population.

There were 15,154 households of which 52.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 76.9% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 14.8% were non-families. 11.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.28.

The median age in the city was 37.7 years. 32.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.9% were from 25 to 44; 29.4% were from 45 to 64; and 5.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.1% male and 49.9% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 34,104 people, 11,131 households, and 9,650 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,888.9 people per square mile (729.5/km²). There were 11,599 housing units at an average density of 642.4/sq mi (248.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.82% White, 0.85% African American, 0.29% Native American, 7.89% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.60% from other races, and 2.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.50% of the population.

There were 11,131 households out of which 53.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 79.5% were married couples living together, 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.3% were non-families. 9.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.06 and the average family size was 3.29.

In the city the population was spread out with 33.4% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 33.2% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 4.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 101.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $101,592, and the median income for a family was $104,356. Males had a median income of $76,688 versus $47,164 for females. The per capita income for the city was $42,971. About 2.0% of the population and 1.6% of families were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.

Parks

Sammamish has nine parks (Beaver Lake Park, Big Rock Park, East Sammamish Park, Ebright Creek Park, Evans Creek Preserve, NE Sammamish Park, Pine Lake Park, Sammamish Commons, Sammamish Landing). Soaring Eagle Regional Park and Duthie Hill Park abut the city and are on the plateau. East Lake Sammamish Trail runs along Lake Sammamish and connects to a regional trail system.

Government

The Sammamish City Council is elected by the community. Of the seven council members, two members are elected as Mayor and Deputy Mayor. Council meetings are held at City Hall, part of the Sammamish Commons, which is also the site of Sammamish Library, a branch of the King County Library System.

Sammamish does not have its own post office. Eastside Fire and Rescue is contracted to provides fire services. Sammamish contracts with the King County Sheriff's Office for police services. Deputies assigned to Sammamish wear city uniforms and drive patrol cars marked with the city logo.

Education

Sammamish's public school system is served by two school districts.

North Sammamish is served by Lake Washington School District and has two high schools (Eastlake High School, Tesla STEM High School), two middle schools (Inglewood, Renaissance School of Art and Reasoning), and five elementary schools (Elizabeth Blackwell, Rachel Carson, Christa McAuliffe, Margaret Mead, Samantha Smith).

South Sammamish is served by Issaquah School District and has one high school (Skyline High School), two middle schools (Beaver Lake, Pine Lake), and six elementary schools (Cascade Ridge, Challenger, Creekside, Discovery, Endeavour, Sunny Hills).

Eastside Catholic School is a private school in the city.

Transportation

Sammamish does not have freeways within its city limits. SR-520 to the north is accessed via Redmond. I-90 to the south is accessed via Issaquah. I-605 was proposed in 1968 to run through Sammamish but was not realized.

Bus service is provided by King County Metro 216, 219, 269 and Sound Transit 554 for weekday peak-only routes to Redmond, Issaquah, and Downtown Seattle. South Sammamish Park and Ride is the city's transit center with 265 parking stalls.

Places

Notable people