Brio Realty - Washington Real Estate: About Federal Way Washington

Federal Way (Federal Way Washington Real Estate) is a city located in King County, Washington ( King County Homes ), United States. Federal Way is an edge city between Seattle ( Seattle Real Estate ) and Tacoma ( Tacoma Real Estate ). It is located on Puget Sound and bordered by Tacoma to the south and the suburbs of Milton ( Milton Real Estate ) to the southeast, Auburn ( Auburn Washington Homes ) to the east, Kent ( Kent Washington Homes ) to the northeast, and Des Moines ( Des Moines Washington Homes ) to the north. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 83,259. The population including surrounding unincorporated areas exceeds 110,000. The city is usually considered part of the Seattle metropolitan area rather than that of Tacoma despite its closer proximity to the latter.

Originally a logging settlement, the area was first called "Federal Way" in 1929, when Federal Way School District #210 was created. The name derived from U.S. Highway 99 (now Washington State Route 99), completed that decade, which ran through the area on its way from Everett and Seattle to Tacoma and Olympia. Two years later, Federal Way High School was built, and about 20 years later, the name was adopted by the local Chamber of Commerce. The city incorporated on February 28, 1990.

Federal Way is home to Weyerhaeuser, the largest private owner of softwood timberland in the world. Weyerhaeuser has opened much of its land to the public, including two minor attractions: their Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden and the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection.

Other attractions in the city include the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center, which features an Olympic size swimming pool, and Celebration Park, with generous sports fields and wooded trails. The city has also developed many lakefront and neighborhood parks and playgrounds. Wild Waves Enchanted Village, on the south side of town, is the Seattle area's only permanent amusement park and the only Six Flags park in the Pacific Northwest.

Federal Way is locally identified by its glut of 1990s semi-urban development, characterized by landscaped off-street multi-structure apartment complexes and shopping centers. The Commons at Federal Way (previously Sea Tac Mall), the city's largest and only indoor shopping center, is located on S 320th St. and Pacific Hwy South (Hwy 99) near the city's main Interstate 5 exit.

With encouragment from King County, Federal Way has investigated the options of annexing the unincorporated neighborhoods between its east border and the Auburn Hills, most of which identify with and are dependent upon the city. (Other bordering neighborhoods in this area, such as Milton, have opted to self-incorporate.) In 2004, the city agreed to add the North Lake, East Redondo, and Parkway neighborhoods to its territory.

As of the census of 2000, there are 83,259 people, 31,437 households, and 21,251 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,528.6/km² (3,959.4/mi²). There are 32,581 housing units at an average density of 598.2/km² (1,549.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 68.84% White, 7.94% African American, 0.89% Native American, 12.29% Asian, 1.02% Pacific Islander, 3.67% from other races, and 5.35% from two or more races. 7.53% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 31,437 households out of which 37.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% are married couples living together, 12.2% have a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% are non-families. 24.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 5.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.63 and the average family size is 3.17.

In the city the population is spread out with 28.2% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 7.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 32 years. For every 100 females there are 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 93.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $49,278, and the median income for a family is $55,833. Males have a median income of $41,504 versus $30,448 for females. The per capita income for the city is $22,451. 9.3% of the population and 6.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 12.5% of those under the age of 18 and 6.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Federal Way is located at 47°18'47" North, 122°20'21" West (47.312960, -122.339173).

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