Why Kirkland
Kirkland is a city situated in King County, Washington, along the eastern shoreline of Lake Washington across from Seattle. Encompassing roughly 17.8 square miles with terrain rising from 14 to 500 feet above sea level, it stands as one of the state's most compact suburban communities. The city is widely recognized for its scenic lakefront, rich maritime heritage, and connection to notable commercial brands, including serving as the origin of game company Valve and the namesake for Costco's store brand.
The region was originally home to bands of the indigenous Duwamish people, who gathered local resources like salmon and plants near sites such as Juanita Bay. English settlers established homesteads in the late 1860s, creating early logging, farming, and boatbuilding settlements. In 1888, British entrepreneur Peter Kirk co-founded the town with intentions to construct a massive steel mill. Although economic setbacks halted steel production, Kirkland incorporated in 1905 and subsequently developed thriving ferry, wool, and shipbuilding industries, later expanding its territory through a series of neighborhood annexations.
Downtown Kirkland centers around Moss Bay and features a walkable waterfront district lined with dining options, public beaches, parks, and art galleries. A featured collection of public art, including several bronze sculptures, is displayed throughout the center. Local cultural venues include the Kirkland Performance Center and the historic Peter Kirk Building, which houses the Kirkland Arts Center. Downtown's Peter Kirk Park contains a dedicated youth facility with music stages and a recording studio. Nearby along the water, Carillon Point occupies the site of a former shipyard and hosts a Porsche automobile show every September.
Visitors to the area can explore outdoor spaces such as Juanita Beach Park, a historic homestead site on the bay. The city also possesses a distinct sports background, having served as the long-term original training site and headquarters for the Seattle Seahawks football franchise at both Carillon Point and Northwest University.
Kirkland registers an average annual temperature of 52 °F (11.1 °C) and receives approximately 36.27 inches (921 mm) of yearly precipitation. The city is accessible via Interstate 405, which connects to neighboring communities including Bellevue, Renton, and Bothell. State Route 520 provides direct transit across Lake Washington toward Seattle to the west and Redmond to the east.
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