Luxury apartments and condos housed in Seattle’s downtown area provide no shortage of comforts and activities unique to the city. As you come to know the city better you’ll find a lot of interesting facts like, there are more dogs in the city than children, and quirks that further define Seattle’s downtown living experience. We’ve compiled some of our favorite facts and information about Seattle to give you a sense of what life could be like for you in a luxury for-sale apartment in Downtown Seattle.
1. Seattle Has An Impressive History
While many people who visit Seattle can quickly pick up on its uniquely modern culture ripe with music, great food, and beautiful living spaces, the fact is that the area making up Seattle has been inhabited for much longer than you might think. With evidence dating back to some 12,000 years ago, the green wilderness of Puget Sound has since been home to a variety of distinct cultures, from the initial natives to European settlers and later immigrants from all across the world. This diverse culture is still present in the community of homes and luxury condo high rise and apartment communities in Downtown Seattle. And if you’re more interested in recent history, several tours will take you into the Seattle Underground, a network of passageways and basements near Pioneer Square–they were ground-level in the mid-1800s before the Great Seattle Fire of 1889. At that point, the new city was built one-to-two stories higher.
2. The First City in the US to Play a Beatles Song on the Radio Was…
Seattle has a unique history with many different forms of music. It seems only natural that it was also the first city to use broadcasting to play one of the most famous bands in history, The Beatles. Since then, Seattle has been home to many well-known and up-and-coming artists, including Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Heart, and so many more. Today, living in Downtown Seattle puts residents close to a large variety of music venues, including concert halls, vintage record stores, and showrooms for a unique cultural experience.
3. Seattle is the Birthplace of Starbucks
March 31, 1971, saw the opening of the very first Starbucks in Seattle. Its business used to be a little different then, as it was founded to sell high-quality coffee beans and the equipment to brew them. Rather than selling coffee in-store, the only drinks available were for sampling the coffee beans. It’s come a long way since, and Seattle is the perfect place to celebrate this history. With no shortage of artisanal cafés and coffee shops to weather out the rain or the cold, residents of luxury apartments and condos in Downtown Seattle can enjoy some of the best brews the city offers.
4. Seattle’s Waterfront is Known for Its Seafood
Whether you’re looking to buy and cook at home or dine on some of the freshest fish in the United States, Seattle has the answer for you. Even if you aren’t interested in buying, you have to visit the Pike Place Fish Market, where the fish fly! World-renowned for fishmongers hurling huge salmon and albacore thirty feet across the stall, these workers won’t drop a single one–and then they’ll wrap it up for you. If you’re more immediately hungry, head down the stairs to the pier and have more than 30 varieties of fresh oysters at Elliott’s, or, if you want something fried, sit at Ivar’s and feed the seagulls your fish ‘n chips while you watch the ferries come and go.
5. You Can Eat Your Way Through Seattle
Specializing in Northern Italian fine dining, Cafe Juanita is a destination restaurant that is a must for foodies–the fan-favorite is a braised rabbit. If you want the finest in haute cuisine, Canlis is Seattle’s resident restaurant boasting not one but two Michelin stars and is said to have the best wine list in the country. But if you’re looking for a drink and a burger, then look no further than Loretta’s Northwesterner, with its wide-open outdoor dining for cool Seattle evenings in the sea breeze. Bathtub Gin Co. boasts 30 different kinds of gin, Hazelwood is the place for cocktails, and the bizarre Cha Cha Lounge has to be seen to be believed.
6. Highest Percentage of Residents with a College Degree or Higher
Seattle currently has the highest percentage of residents with a college degree or higher. With Americans becoming more and more educated as time progresses, they are more educated now than they’ve ever been in history. In 2017, Seattle touts 63% of their population, 25 and older, has a college degree according to the Seattle Times. Even amongst the nationwide educational boom, Seattle is a stand out. With each new generation, the level of education increases, with millennials ages 25-34 roughly 73% are college graduates. There are also shifts between gender lines as well, previously among older adults more men completed a college degree over women. This has now been reversed and can especially be seen in Seattle. With so many educational achievements, it is easy to see why Seattle is considered the most literate city in the country.
7. One of the Fastest Growing US Cities
In 1897, news about a massive gold strike in Canada’s Yukon River Valley reached Seattle and all the areas around it. Prospectors from all over the country rushed toward the Klondike Gold Rush, bringing a massive economic boom for the city. Hawkers, shop owners, innkeepers, and even mining instructors emerged to take advantage of the action. Even today, this rich history remains with one of the world’s smallest national parks, the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. Today, Seattle is one of America’s fastest growing cities in America. Studies conducted during the most recent census show that between 2017 and 2018 Seattle not only had the most growth in population but they also saw an increase of 90,731 people over the past 5 years.
8. Sunglasses are Popular in Seattle
Did you know that people in Seattle purchase the most significant number of sunglasses per capita than any other city in the U.S.? While many people associate Seattle with gray, rainy skies, the simple fact is that Seattle experiences less annual rainfall than Houston, Chicago, and New York City. Living in luxury apartments or condominiums in Downtown Seattle means easy access to beautiful parks while staying within easy distance to famous national parks and wilderness areas. If you like getting out in nature or exploring the nearby ocean, Seattle offers many different opportunities to go boating, hiking, fishing, and many other activities.
9. First Major US City to Have A Female Mayor
In 1926, Seattle became the first city to have a woman mayor, Bertha Knight Landes who served a two year term. During her time, she worked hard to support city planning and zoning improvements as well as public health and safety programs and social and recreational programs. Today Seattle is a beautiful and thriving city, and much of that is due to their progressive and forward thinking nature. In fact, Seattle’s current mayor is Jenny Durkan who has been in office since 2009a and previously served as a United States Attorney, appointed by President Barack Obama.
10. Known as the Most Literate City in the Country
As far as literate rankings go, Seattle ranks the highest in the U.S. and also brags the highest percentage of library card-holders per capita. The Seattle Central Library is a must-see, well known for the iconic architecture (designed by Rem Koolhas). This impressive library is an 11 story glass and steel building, and has been featured in numerous films, it’s truly a must see for downtown Seattle. The culture is also an educated and artistic one, but not lacking in technology. It’s no surprise that a city housing massive tech companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Moz and many other big names provides a myriad of work opportunities for a variety of creative and technically minded people. Luxury apartments and condos in Downtown Seattle can make commuting to these business centers a breeze.
11. The Best Luxury Apartments and Condos
Seattle has no shortage of interesting history, landscapes and activities. From its early days rising in the middle of a gold rush to its modern progress with traffic, technology and business, residents have a lot to be proud about. You can become a part of the lively Seattle culture by checking out some of the luxury apartments and condos in Downtwon Seattle. Try checking out The Emerald to see how superior technology, design and service create one of the most elegant and convenient places to live in Seattle.
