Bothell, Washington
Bothell is a city in King and Snohomish counties in the U.S. state of Washington. It is part of the Seattle metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 33,505, and in 2019 the estimated population was 47,415.
History
Prior to European settlement, the Sammamish River valley from Lake Washington to Issaquah Creek south and upstream of Lake Sammamish was inhabited by a population of as many as 200 Native Americans known as the Sammamish people. The Sammamish were relocated after the Puget Sound War in 1856 to reservations and non-reservation lands.In 1870, Columbus S. Greenleaf and George R. Wilson filed land claims in the area formerly inhabited by the Sammamish near present-day Bothell, and built homes. Eight families followed over the next six years. In 1876, Canadian George Brackett bought land and began commercial logging out of a camp located on the north bank of the Sammamish River in what is now the heart of downtown Bothell. A store, school, and sawmill followed over the next several years.
In 1885, Brackett sold to David Bothell, a settler from Pennsylvania. The town's first postmaster, who bought his property from Bothell, named the town in his honor when it was platted in 1888. Later that same year, a local railroad was built through the town to transport coal from Issaquah. Bothell was officially incorporated on April 14, 1909.
Bothell continued to grow as logging expanded and boat traffic brought increasing amounts of goods and passengers up and down the river. As more people moved into the area, the Army Corps of Engineers decided to dredge and straighten the river in the years shortly after Bothell's incorporation. Most boat traffic came to an abrupt end only a few years later when Lake Washington was lowered in 1917. Water transport also shifted to trucks after a brick road was built from Seattle. The logging economy declined quickly around the same time, and the local economy shifted to farming.
After World War II, better highways and a post-war boom brought suburban development to Bothell. These new neighborhoods and a series of annexations dramatically expanded Bothell's population from about 1,000 in 1950 to over 45,000 as of 2017. In 1992, the city annexed an area in southern Snohomish County, becoming a dual-county city and adding 11,400 people. During the decade, the city's population had increased by 144 percent to over 30,000. Bothell was mostly a bedroom community for people working in Seattle until the 1990s, when business development brought new jobs to create a regional employment center in Canyon Park with about 20,000 jobs, many in high technology sectors such as biotechnology and software development. In 1990, a campus of the University of Washington opened in Bothell.
In 2010, the city of Bothell began a $150 million program to redevelop downtown, including the demolition of 15 buildings, moving State Route 522, expanding the Bothell–Everett Highway, expanding a city park, and expanding the city hall.
A major fire in downtown broke out at the Mercantile Building on July 22, 2016, damaging and closing more than 20 businesses. The fire dealt a blow to the redevelopment program and required state aid for rebuilding.
Geography
Bothell is located at . The largest river is the Sammamish, which connects Lake Sammamish to Lake Washington.According to the City of Bothell, the city has a total area of, all of it land.
Bothell is a geographical oddity in that it straddles two counties. Because most streets in Bothell are numbered and not named, streets that cross the county line often change numbers. For example, 104th Avenue NE in King County becomes 23rd Avenue SE when it crosses into Snohomish County.
The area has several wetlands that are home to large groups of crows, up to 16,000 at a time, that commute from the Seattle region to roost in Bothell.
Neighborhoods and districts
Bothell has several communities, districts, and neighborhoods. These include:- Anderson School is a former junior high school that currently operates as a renovated restaurant, bar, and hotel, operated by the McMenamins family chain.
- Canyon Creek is the residential area east of Canyon Park and south of Maltby Road, with two elementary schools Canyon Creek Elementary, and Skyview Junior High School. The schools are part of the Northshore School District.
- Canyon Park is a commercial and business district at the junction of Bothell-Everett Highway and Interstate 405, with several restaurants, shops, and grocery stores, along with several major employers.
- Downtown Bothell, north of Bothell Way on the north side of the Sammamish River, was an area originally settled by pioneers. It contains a business district along Main Street, and several blocks of residences at the foot of Beckstrom Hill. It also contains city hall and the police station, the Bothell Library, and Pop Keeney Stadium.
- Fitzgerald is a southern extension of Canyon Park containing Canyon Park Junior High.
- The Highlands is a neighborhood right next to Canyon Park Junior High.
- Lake Pleasant/Country Village is the area bordering the wooded and winding portion of Bothell-Everett Highway between downtown and Canyon Park. Lake Pleasant hosts an RV park, and Country Village was an outdoor shopping center that opened in 1981 and closed in 2019.
- Maywood/Beckstrom Hill is a residential neighborhood on the hill north of downtown, and is the location of Maywood Hills Elementary School, Heritage Christian Academy and St. Brendan's Parish School.
- North Creek, named for Bothell's second-largest waterway, is a business and light industrial district and community with several large big box retail stores, and the production facility for the Seattle Times. The North Creek Forest is recently established protected area in this neighborhood. The residential part of North Creek extends to the beginning of the Everett School District and includes Fernwood Elementary and North Creek High School. Much of it is outside of Bothell city limits.
- Norway Hill is a residential neighborhood overlooking downtown from the south. Since 2014 all of Norway hill is within the Bothell city limits.
- Pioneer Hills is a residential community on the hills east of North Creek that borders Woodinville, and contains Woodin Elementary School.
- Queensgate is a residential neighborhood along Brickyard Road, south of the Sammamish River and adjacent to nearby Woodinville.
- Mays Pond is a residential neighborhood just north of the Bothell's city limits containing Woodside and Cedar Wood Elementary Schools.
- Queensborough/Brentwood is a residential neighborhood west and north of Canyon Park, containing Frank Love Elementary School and Wallace Swamp Creek Park.
- Riverfront, south of Bothell Way and mostly along the south side of the river near Riverside Drive, contains Sammamish River Park, Blyth Park, several residences, and the Northshore Senior Center.
- Waynita is a residential neighborhood along Waynita Way between Wayne Curve and nearby Juanita. The former Wayne Golf Course, now a city-owned parkland, is in Waynita.
- Westhill is a mid-20th century residential expansion on the hill to the west of downtown, and includes Bothell High School and Westhill Elementary School.
- Shelton View is a residential neighborhood north of Westhill in Snohomish County containing Shelton View Elementary.
- Thrasher's Corner is a retail district mostly outside the city limits of Bothell, that along with the residential Red Hawk neighborhood to the east is part of the city's official planning area.
Climate
Bothell has a temperate oceanic climate, with cool summers and cool winters. Winter sees much more rainfall than summer and winters in Bothell are very cloudy and overcast. Summers are drier and cool to warm.Education
Bothell is home to Cascadia College and the University of Washington, Bothell. The two institutions share the same campus, which opened in the year 2000. In 2014 the University of Washington Bothell was ranked #37 in the nation among all colleges and universities by Money Magazine and was ranked 6th in the Nation by Washington Monthly in their "Best Bang for the Buck" rankings of colleges and universities. After becoming accredited in 2006 Cascadia College was named the second best community college in the nation, behind Atlanta Technical College. UW Bothell has an enrollment of over 6,000 students, of which 13 percent are from Snohomish County.Schools for Bothell students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade are part of the Northshore School District while private schools include Cedar Park Christian Schools serving preschool through 12th grade. Heritage Christian Academy serving kindergarten through 9th grades. Schools in Northshore School district include Fernwood Elementary, Crystal Springs Elementary, Canyon Creek Elementary, Shelton View Elementary, Westhill Elementary, Lockwood Elementary, Frank Love Elementary, Maywood Hills Elementary, Woodmoor Elementary, Woodin Elementary, Northshore Junior High School, Canyon Park Junior High School, Skyview Junior High School, Bothell High School, Inglemoor High School, and Secondary Academy for Success. North Creek High School opened in the North Creek area of the city in 2017.
Government and politics
Bothell has a council–manager government governed by a city council consisting of seven council members, each of whom is elected to a four-year term. Council elections are held every two years, with either three or four positions standing, depending upon the class. All positions are nonpartisan and at-large. The Council passes ordinances and resolutions, approves the budget, sets policies and adjudicates issues, and elects from its own membership a mayor and deputy mayor for two-year terms.Day-to-day affairs in the city are administered by a City Manager hired by the council. The current city manager is Jennifer Phillips and the mayor is Liam Olsen.
Culture
Civic events
Major annual events throughout the year in Bothell include:- The City of Bothell Freedom Festival, a two-day festival celebrating American Independence, including an annual Fourth of July parade and a reenactment of the Battle of Concord on the Bothell Landing Bridge.
- The Music in the Park concert series, every Friday in July and August at Bothell Landing Amphitheater.
- Greater Bothell Arts & Crafts Fair
- City of Bothell Riverfest
- The Summits of Bothell bike ride
- La Fiesta Viva!, a celebration of Latino cultural heritage, at Country Village.
- Harvest Festival and Pumpkin Carving, at Country Village.
- Tree Lighting and Santa Arrival, at Bothell Landing.
- The Bothell Farmer's Market at Country Village.
Sports
Bothell's Pop Keeney Stadium hosts games for several local high schools, including Inglemoor, Woodinville, and Bothell High Schools, even though the stadium was originally Bothell High School's and serves as its most important tenant. Football games at Pop Keeney have become major cultural and, to an extent, spiritual, gatherings for the community.Popular culture
In December 1962, Life magazine recognized Bothell's Christmas tree as the largest living Christmas tree in the world. However, in the late 1970s, disease attacked the tree, and the top had to be removed.In 2007, about 5,000 to 7,000 people gathered for a parade and outdoor concert at the Veterans Memorial Amphitheater at Bothell Landing in honor of local American Idol contestant Blake Lewis.
Demographics
2010 census
As of the 2010 U.S. census, there were 33,505 people, 13,497 households, and 8,779 families residing in the city. The population density was. There were 14,255 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 79.7% White, 1.6% African American, 0.6% Native American, 10.2% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 3.4% from other races, and 4.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.7% of the population.There were 13,497 households, of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.0% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.00.
The median age in the city was 38.3 years. 22.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.3% were from 25 to 44; 28.1% were from 45 to 64; and 12.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.8% male and 51.2% female.
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 30,150 people, 11,923 households, and 7,928 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,501.5 people per square mile. There were 12,303 housing units at an average density of 1,020.8 per square mile.As of the 2000 census, there were 11,923 households, out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the city the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 33.2% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $59,264, and the median income for a family was $68,580. Males had a median income of $48,476 versus $34,385 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,483. About 3.6% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Bothell was until recently predominantly a bedroom community with most of its residents working outside of the city. Starting in the 1990s, several businesses opened offices in Bothell, creating a regional employment center providing about 20,000 jobs. Many of these businesses are located in the Canyon Park and North Creek business districts.Biotechnology is a key industry, with OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Seattle Genetics, CMC Icos, Alder Biopharmaceuticals, MDRNA, Blue Heron Biotechnology, Amgen, Iverson Genetic Diagnostics, and Elitech all opening in Bothell. Medical device manufacturers are also located in Bothell, including Philips Medical Systems and Lockheed Martin Aculight. Medical device company Ventec Life Systems is based in Bothell and manufactures ventilators.
Computer technology, data, and telecommunications are well represented, and include companies such as AT&T, AVST, Kinesis, Leviton Voice & Data, Systems Interface, Silicon Mechanics, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, SonoSite, T-Mobile, Panasonic Avionics Corporation, Parity Corporation, Allocent, Teltone, and Google. Microsoft had a Canyon Park campus in the early 2000s
Engineering firms, including electrical engineering, environmental engineering, and civil engineering, are well represented. Examples include SNC-Lavalin, RH2 Engineering, Romac Industries, North Creek Analytical, ECS Engineering, Emulex, and Path Engineers. Bothell also has companies working on new or improved energy technologies, including Neah Power Systems.
The US Army has a Reserve facility in the northwest part of the city. The Seattle Times moved its main production facility to the North Creek business district in Bothell in 2001, and national magazine publisher Scotsman guide Media also is headquartered in the city. Defunct retailer Pacific Linen was once based in Bothell until 1996.
Notable people
- Bryan Alvarez, professional wrestler and radio host
- Bernadette Bascom, singer
- Ross Bowers, American football player
- Karan Brar, actor
- Kyle Cease, comedian and actor
- Michael Dahlquist, musician
- Robert DeLong, electronic musician
- Maxine Dexter, Oregon state representative
- Michael Dong, skateboarder
- Cori Enghusen, aka Korel Engin, basketball player
- Brenden Foster, 11-year-old boy with leukemia who gained national attention for his activism
- Phil Harris, fisherman and reality TV star
- Johnny Hekker, American football player
- Zach LaVine, basketball player
- Blake Lewis, American Idol 2007 runner-up
- Patty Murray, U.S. Senator since 1993
- Tracie Ruiz-Conforto, Olympic medalist in synchronized swimming
- Ernie Steele, American football player
- Hal Sutherland, animator and painter
- Rob Thompson, film and television writer/producer/director
- Cody Votolato, musician
- Chris Walla, musician
- Doug Yule, musician