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Issaquah Community Profile
Area Demographics
| Naturally Northwest | A Bright Future |
| Community Treasures | A Diverse and Colorful Past |
Nestled
on the southern shores of Lake Sammamish, between foothills framing Mount Rainier,
Issaquah is a unique Northwest treasure.
Issaquah's close proximity to Bellevue, Redmond and Seattle business districts, National Parks, and recreational areas, its excellent school system and sense of community make Issaquah an ideal location to live, work and play.
Surrounded by 200 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, Issaquah brings the great outdoors
to your backyard. Hikers can leave behind urban stress for serene forest adventures along the
Cascade trail. Swimmers, water skiers, boaters, anglers and picnic enthusiasts enjoy nearby Lake
Sammamish State Park. Snow skiers and boarders, snow shoers and sledders flock to Snoqualmie Pass
ski areas - just 30 minutes east. World-famous Snoqualmie Falls with its spectacular vistas and easy
walking trails is just a few minutes from Issaquah.
Wildlife is often seen in its natural habitat as Issaquah shares its peaceful valley with bald eagles, white-tailed deer, great blue herons and thousands of spawning salmon.
Every fall, Issaquah celebrates the return of salmon to our lakes, streams and downtown hatchery with the Issaquah Salmon Days Festival,
http://www.salmondays.org/ a weekend of non stop, fun and activities. Attracting over 200,000 attendees from throughout the Puget Sound
area, the Festival includes a Grande Parade, over 300 hand-crafted arts and crafts booths, Foods of the World, a giant children's Field of Fun
area, three stages of continuous live entertainment, hatchery tours and exhibits, and many more free events and activities for all ages.
The Washington State Salmon Hatchery, in the center of downtown, overflows with visitors who are awed by the spectacular return of the salmon to Issaquah Creek. It provides year-round information and exhibits about the miraculous life cycle of the salmon and plays an important role in ensuring the healthy return of native salmon to the region's lakes, rivers and streams each year. The Hatchery is well know as an important center of information, education and watershed stewardship, promoting awareness of the Northwest's most celebrated returning visitor - the salmon.
An abundance of cultural, historical and natural treasures defines Issaquah. The Village Theatre’s nationally acclaimed
mainstage season offers popular musicals, comedies and dramas. The company continues to use its 1914 vintage theater for
original musicals and is the home of Kidstage productions.
For those who enjoy concerts, the Sammamish Symphony offers wonderful fare under the direction of the esteemed conductor R. Joseph Scott (founder of the Bellevue Philharmonic).
Hedges Cellars, our local winery, is among the list of acclaimed Northwest wineries offering wine tasting, banquet rooms and boasting some of the state's finest award-winning vintages.
Issaquah's Historic Train Depot serves as a railroad museum and displays rail memorabilia and early photographs of Issaquah. It also has space available to host special events. The Gilman Town Hall Museum is located downtown in the original Town Hall Building. The museum's treasures include artifacts and photos from pioneer families and a two-cell jail dating back to 1914. Each summer, the society organizes the annual Pioneer Reunion, featuring descendants of local pioneer families and old-time Issaquah memorabilia.
Two 
history murals give a vivid look into Issaquah's past. "The History of Dairying
in the Issaquah Valley" was completed on the wall of the Darigold plant. A mural depicting the "History of Logging" in Issaquah was completed
near the center of downtown.
The Cougar Mountain Zoological Park specializes in threatened and endangered species such as macaws, Siberian reindeer and lemurs, and also serves as a unique teaching zoo. The scenic and natural habitats provide an excellent environment for education, research, captive breeding, conservation, recreation and exhibition.
The Issaquah Community Center offers year-round programming and activities for all ages and segments of the community, from guitar lessons to sports camps. Among the offerings are pre-schooler care and activities, after-school youth programs, recreational and exercise classes, league activities, computer facilities, career counseling and space for meetings, classes, lectures and exhibits.
Issaquah's Down Home Fourth of July celebration, sponsored by the City of Issaquah and presented by the Greater Issaquah Chamber of Commerce, kicks off Independence Day with the Kids 'n Pets Parade. From labradors to llamas, favorite pets accompany costumed children on decorated wagons and bikes down Front Street to Memorial Field. Old-fashioned games, music, food, a pie-eating contest, and the Annual Slug Speed Race and Beauty Pageant await to provide an afternoon of family fun.
The Holiday Parade and Lighting Celebration, held on the first Sunday in December, consists of a motorized parade traveling down Gilman Boulevard and Front Street. A community gathering at the Historic Train Depot with caroling and a special visit by Santa Claus follows the parade.
Boehm's Candies, an authentic Swiss chocolate factory, is known worldwide for its fine selection of hand-dipped truffles and European confections, attracting thousands of visitors annually to Issaquah since 1956.
Tree-lined Gilman Boulevard is the bustling center for shops of all kinds, offices and galleries, and dining establishments. Just off of Gilman Boulevard is Gilman Village. This picturesque collection of turn-of-the-century buildings continues to attract shoppers from far and wide with its unique variety of specialty boutiques and restaurants.
Pickering Place blends the charm of an historic farm into professional office space, retail shops, restaurants, and a multi-screen cinema. At the heart of the center, a bridged lake and waterfowl refuge border an outdoor stone amphitheater incorporating the history of the acreage in its public gathering space. Nearby, the restored 1887 Pickering dairy barn is the site for Saturday farmers markets.
Home to Costco’s worldwide headquarters, Issaquah has a thriving business community as well. Microsoft is poised to expand to a new, one million-square-foot campus in the Issaquah Highlands.
In the last ten years, Issaquah’s business growth has expanded its pool of talent, expertise, resources and services, as many business people and professionals participate in local government, community service and public events through the Chamber of Commerce. Such involvement enhances the quality of life for all and ensures economic vitality in Issaquah's future.
Issaquah School District (ISD) ranks among the highest test scores in the state and serves 13,500 students in twelve elementary, four middle and four high schools. The district is projected to grow to 15,000 or more students by the year 2005.
Bellevue Community College (BCC) is located less than ten minutes away from Issaquah. BCC is the state's largest community college, serving 17,000 students. Issaquah residents also have easy access to Lake Washington Technical College in Kirkland, City University in Bellevue, the University of Washington Bothell campus, and several other main and branch campuses of area colleges and universities.
The Trinity Lutheran College (TLC), located just north of Issaquah, is a private, church-sponsored school that enrolls approximately 800 students per year. TLC opens their facilities to the public for rental for retreats, conferences and other events. Other private schools located in Issaquah include Cougar Mountain Academy and Lakeside Montessori.
A Diverse and Colorful History
Yesterday . . .
The only thing certain about the long-debated origin of the name Issaquah is that it's a Native American term. It is said that migratory peoples gathering food in and around Lake Sammamish would imitate the sound of local waterfowl taking flight. The name appears to be an Anglicized version of the Native American's spoken work Isquoh, meaning the sound of the birds.
The town originally was incorporated under the name Gilman, which honored Daniel Hunt Gilman, who was responsible for bringing the railroad to the area in 1889. It wasn't until 1899 that the town requested permission from the Washington Legislature to change the name to Issaquah.
In 1862, L.B. Andrews located outcroppings of coal along Issaquah Creek, and the area
soon became a center for mining, farming, and lumber-jacking. The town
continued to grow through the latter part of the 19th century.
After Issaquah's incorporation in 1899, the first 70 ordinances passed dealt with liquor, wandering animals and unruly public officials. Tiny Issaquah boasted between ten and 12 saloons during those days.
Services, community groups, organizations and transportation developed as people's needs turned to products, utilities and social interaction. During the early 20th century, Issaquah became a melting pot of many nationalities, backgrounds and interests.
Despite the steady growth, Issaquah remained a relatively isolated community until the 1940 opening of the Lake Washington floating bridge. Before 1940, the population fluctuated between 500 and 1,000. By 1962, Issaquah had 2,000 residents, and by 1968, it jumped to more than 3,500.
Today . . .
Today, more than 12,000 residents within the city limits call Issaquah home. The surrounding population within the Issaquah School District, however, has mounted to more than 60,000. Today's Issaquah is a rising star along the region’s rapidly developing I-90 business corridor. Its history and heritage remain prominently visible through annual celebrations, historic landmarks and remembrances to early settlers and prominent citizens who have made this community a special place.
