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last decade, it has seen some of the sharpest rises in property values in the entire
Seattle metropolitan area. The result has been widespread gentrification, including the restoration of many of the older homes and, in the last several years, the building of numerous condos and the planned construction of several hundred more. As of 2008, Columbia City is one of Seattle's most diverse neighborhoods in terms of income and ethnicity, encompassing everything from public housing to multimillion-dollar view homes.
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The
Rainier Valley Heritage Parade and Summer Streets Party happens in August. Beatwalk is a live music series on the streets and in business within the Historic District, happening on second Sundays of June through September. A farmer's market operates May to mid-October along S Edmunds St with many
391:
A major early employer was the Hitt
Fireworks Company (1905–1960s) located at what is now Hitt's Hill Park. It employed 200 workers in the 1930s and was credited for firework displays at several world's fairs and Fourth of July celebrations. During World War II it produced smoke screens and parachute
424:
Beginning in the late 1980s, Columbia City saw a large influx of minority professionals, artists, gay and lesbian couples and "urban pioneers" seeking classic housing stock at low prices. By the late 1990s, Columbia City was already referred to as one of
Seattle's most creative neighborhoods. In the
360:
Columbia incorporated as "Columbia City" in
January 1893. Annexation to the City of Seattle came May 3, 1907 following a petition by citizens to the City Council to hold a special election on the matter. Although opposition to annexation had initially been strong due to citizens' desire for local
469:
and
Playfield is also the site of the Rainier Valley Community Center. The Rainier Arts Center and Southside Commons on either sides of Columbia Park are spaces for arts and cultural events. The Rainier Valley Historical Society documents and interprets the history of the larger district. The
445:
Housing stock include craftsman bungalows, a mix of market-rate and low-income apartment buildings, and townhome developments. Community estimates have put the number of new homes in the planning pipeline as numbering at least 1,500. Many of these developments are in formerly vacant lots.
441:
Today, the thriving pedestrian business district along
Rainier Avenue S. is home to six bars, a grocery store, a number of restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops, assorted retail, an art gallery, fitness facilities, a fraternal clubhouse, a movie theater, and multiple live music venues.
479:
in the neighborhood gathering for a dinner picnic in adjacent
Columbia Park. HONK! Fest West happens the first weekend of June each year. HONK! Fest West is an accessible community music festival driven by the energetic performances of street bands in public spaces.
457:, once a post-war suburban public housing project, has been redeveloped into a mixed-use, mixed income community built around the light rail station, and includes more than 900 new homes (some subsidized, some rental, some owner-occupied).
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The neighborhood's main thoroughfares running north–south are
Rainier Avenue S. and Martin Luther King Jr. Way S. The principal east–west thoroughfares are S. Alaska Street, S Orcas Street, and S. Genesee Street. Mass transit includes
470:
SouthEast
Economic Development organization operates a number of affordable housing units and supports economic development and the arts, including Columbia City Gallery and the Rainier Arts Center, in the district.
465:
Bike Works is a community charity that lets kids earn bikes by learning to repair them. The Boys and Girls Club has opened a new regional facility in the neighborhood. The neighborhood's large
512:
Extends north to S. Alaska Street, south to the intersection of 39th Ave S and Rainier Ave S, east to 39th Ave S., and west to the alley east of 35th Ave S (Added in 1980, ID #80004000)
372:
went bankrupt and was reorganized as the Seattle & Rainier Valley Railway. Its last run was just after midnight on January 1, 1937. Meanwhile, Columbia City's ambitions to become a
406:
As African Americans moved to Seattle to be part of the wartime industrial boom, many settled in the area, and in the 1960s the area began to suffer the effects of
410:
and racism. By the 1970s, the neighborhood had fallen victim to poverty, housing stock had deteriorated, and many storefronts along Rainier Avenue S. were vacant.
421:, extending north to S. Alaska Street, south to the intersection of 39th Ave S and Rainier Ave S, east to 39th Ave S., and west to the alley east of 35th Ave S.
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district. It has a landmark-protected historic business district and is one of the few Seattle neighborhoods with a long history of ethnic and income diversity.
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345:. Three streets in the neighborhood have names of other famous explorers (a Columbia Street already existed Downtown): Ferdinand Street after
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Carnegie-funded library built in 1915. Situated in Columbia Park at 4721 Rainier Avenue S (Added in 1982, ID #82004909)
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by nine feet and caused Wetmore Slough to dry up. The former slough was used as a dump from 1941 to 1963, and is now
357:. Lots in 1891 were sold under a canvas tent with the slogan "Columbia, Watch It Grow!" attached to the railway cars.
1384:
689:, Seattle: A National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary, National Park Service. Accessed 24 December 2007.
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flares. The Hitt Fireworks Company also provided pyrotechnic effects for some major release films including
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began in July 2009, connecting the neighborhood to both SeaTac airport and Downtown Seattle.
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Excitement, Trepidation in Columbia City | Slog | The Stranger | Seattle's Only Newspaper
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control, the March 5 vote was overwhelming: 109-3 in favor of annexation to Seattle.
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In 1905, the newly renamed Seattle Renton & Southern Railway extended south to
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316:(approx. 15 minutes to downtown Seattle and 20 minutes to SeaTac airport).
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HistoryLink.org- the Free Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History
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HistoryLink.org- the Free Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History
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664:"Hitt's Fireworks: Lighting Up the Skies from Columbia City (Seattle)"
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Rainier Arts Center seen from Columbia Park. The center is a former
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in 1891. Owners of the electric railway bought forty acres, built a
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701:, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. Accessed 24 December 2007.
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333:, until the arrival of the Rainier Valley Electric Railway from
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The area was once dense conifer forest, primarily inhabited by
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The following structures in Columbia City are listed on the
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Seattle City Clerk's Neighborhood Map Atlas — Columbia City
580:"Southeast Seattle ZIP Code 98118: Neighborhood of Nations"
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Seattle Neighborhoods: Columbia City -- Thumbnail History
770:
Seattle Times article on light rail-related development
629:, HistoryLink, May 30, 2001. Accessed 24 December 2007.
613:, HistoryLink, June 2, 2001. Accessed 24 December 2007.
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Columbia City Historic District (Seattle, Washington)
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The Columbia City business district was added to the
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City of Seattle annexes Columbia City on May 3, 1907
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Incorporated in 1893 and Annexed to Seattle in 1907
46:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
723:"Forum Category - Columbia Citizens public input"
118:Seattle Neighborhood in Washington, United States
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525:Seattle Public Library - Columbia City Branch
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820:
780:Guide to the Columbia City Records 1893-1913
1390:Former municipalities in Washington (state)
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813:
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566:"King County Assessors Office - Analytics"
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146:Map of Columbia City's location in Seattle
1405:1891 establishments in Washington (state)
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376:were thwarted with the completion of the
106:Learn how and when to remove this message
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640:"Columbia - CityArchives | seattle.gov"
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1400:Populated places established in 1891
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492:National Register of Historic Places
449:Train service at the neighborhood's
415:National Register of Historic Places
293:located in the southeastern part of
44:adding citations to reliable sources
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775:Rainier Valley Historical Society
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282:Butcher shop, Columbia City, 2007
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699:Columbia City Landmark District
687:Columbia City Historic District
437:Rainier Avenue in Columbia City
419:Columbia City Historic District
31:needs additional citations for
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353:, and Americus Street after
312:light rail service from the
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486:Registered historic places
378:Lake Washington Ship Canal
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1385:Neighborhoods in Seattle
822:Neighborhoods in Seattle
325:Founding and early years
55:"Columbia City, Seattle"
1410:Rainier Valley, Seattle
764:Columbia City cybertour
759:Citizens' photo gallery
461:Community organizations
451:Link Light Rail station
380:in 1917, which lowered
945:International District
785:Columbia City Beatwalk
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429:Neighborhood character
349:, Hudson Street after
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314:Columbia City station
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1361:47.5607°N 122.2870°W
766:from HistoryLink.org
727:columbiacitizens.net
474:Festivals and events
343:Christopher Columbus
331:Coast Salish peoples
235:Christopher Columbus
196:Neighborhood Council
133:Seattle Neighborhood
40:improve this article
1357: /
1218:University District
997:Industrial District
295:Seattle, Washington
274:church, built 1921.
1366:47.5607; -122.2870
1223:University Village
905:Central Waterfront
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395:Gone with the Wind
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245: • Total
209:South Precinct, R3
199:Southeast District
1395:Streetcar suburbs
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888:Broadway District
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272:Christian Science
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1332:Whittier Heights
1203:South Lake Union
1049:Lower Queen Anne
900:Central District
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1032:Victory Heights
992:Hawthorne Hills
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1109:Licton Springs
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1074:Madrona Valley
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1064:Madison Valley
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1017:Matthews Beach
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955:Yesler Terrace
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950:Pioneer Square
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920:Denny Triangle
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368:. In 1912 the
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1027:Olympic Hills
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57: –
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51:Find sources:
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35:
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29:This article
27:
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18:
17:
1342:
1265:West Seattle
1186:Hillman City
1175:
1059:Madison Park
925:Denny-Blaine
883:Capitol Hill
730:. Retrieved
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671:. Retrieved
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647:. Retrieved
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587:. Retrieved
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467:Genesee Park
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386:Genesee Park
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351:Henry Hudson
328:
310:Central Link
303:
291:neighborhood
286:
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214:Established
187:City Council
102:
93:
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69:
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38:Please help
33:verification
30:
1364: /
1352:122°17′13″W
1233:Wallingford
1213:Squire Park
1156:Seward Park
1131:Portage Bay
1104:Haller Lake
1089:Mount Baker
1039:Laurelhurst
1022:Meadowbrook
910:Cherry Hill
853:Bitter Lake
848:Beacon Hill
339:lumber mill
1379:Categories
1349:47°33′39″N
1327:Windermere
1290:Fauntleroy
1228:View Ridge
1208:South Park
1151:Sand Point
1136:Queen Anne
1114:Maple Leaf
1012:Cedar Park
977:Green Lake
972:Georgetown
940:First Hill
915:Crown Hill
863:Briarcliff
858:Blue Ridge
732:2019-09-16
673:2016-06-12
649:2019-09-16
589:2016-06-12
536:References
240:Population
222:Founded by
191:District 2
168:Washington
66:newspapers
1243:Northlake
1166:South End
1146:Roosevelt
1119:Pinehurst
1099:Northgate
1094:New Holly
1007:Lake City
982:Greenwood
873:Broadview
868:Broadmoor
408:redlining
231:Named for
96:June 2016
1315:Westwood
1295:Gatewood
1280:Delridge
1260:Westlake
1255:Wedgwood
1238:Meridian
1171:Brighton
1084:Montlake
1079:Magnolia
1002:Interbay
962:Eastlake
935:Belltown
930:Downtown
838:Atlantic
347:Magellan
254:ZIP code
1310:Seaview
1300:Genesee
1141:Ravenna
1069:Madrona
967:Fremont
895:Cascade
843:Ballard
374:seaport
320:History
297:in the
180:Seattle
153:Country
80:scholar
1181:Dunlap
1044:Leschi
878:Bryant
366:Renton
248:13,031
82:
75:
68:
61:
53:
833:Adams
289:is a
259:98118
163:State
87:JSTOR
73:books
1270:Alki
1161:SoDo
175:City
59:news
42:by
1381::
725:.
666:.
642:.
618:^
598:^
582:.
557:^
494::
398:.
388:.
814:e
807:t
800:v
735:.
676:.
652:.
592:.
568:.
551:.
109:)
103:(
98:)
94:(
84:·
77:·
70:·
63:·
36:.
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