Issaquah

About Issaquah

Issaquah is a midsize city in Washington's King County, tucked into a valley between the Sammamish Plateau and the Issaquah Alps. With proximity to numerous outdoor attractions, and just 15 miles from Seattle, it's a city with plenty to offer. National and local awards like "Best Suburb," "Best Town" and "Best Towns for Families" reveal just how attractive Issaquah truly is.

The History of Issaquah

Situated just east of Seattle, the land where Issaquah now sits was first settled in the late 19th century. The area was originally known as Squak, a Native American reference to the local waterbirds, and it was incorporated as Gilman in 1892. In 1899, the town took on the name Issaquah, and in 1972, Issaquah became a non-charter code city.

Throughout the years, Issaquah succeeded thanks to mining, a thriving lumber industry and eventually the arrival of large tech companies in many of its neighboring cities.

Jobs in Issaquah

Issaquah is home to a balance of large corporations and small businesses, which has created a range of local job options. The city serves as the headquarters for warehouse retailer Costco, and technology giant Microsoft is another major employer. The King County Library System and the Issaquah School District provide hundreds of educational and government jobs in the area. Health care facility Providence Marianwood and medical device manufacturer Siemens Medical Systems also play significant roles in the local job market.

Numerous industries thrive in the Issaquah and Seattle metro areas, including professional and business services, government, education and health services, and trade and transportation. Information technology is a rapidly growing industry that's quickly becoming a major player in the local economy as well.

Issaquah Schools

Issaquah School District 411 operates the city's public elementary, middle and high schools. You can also find a few highly-rated private schools throughout the area, serving students from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Resources for Moving to Issaquah

If you're getting ready for a big move to Issaquah, the following information will help you get settled:

• Utilities: Puget Sound Energy provides both gas and electricity services to homes in Issaquah, while the city manages water and sewer services.
• Garbage and Recycling: Recology Cleanscapes is the city's chosen contractor for all trash and recycling collection services.
• Transportation: Both King County Transit and Sound Transit operate public transit routes in Issaquah, including those that provide access to Seattle and Bellevue.

Issaquah Housing

Issaquah is divided into about 16 different neighborhoods. Issaquah Valley, Cougar Mountain, Sammamish Plateau and others are on the northern side of the city, while Mirrormont and a few others are on the city's southern side. You can expect home prices in Issaquah to be very high, with the average falling just slightly below that for the Seattle metro area.