Issaquah facts for kids
Issaquah is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 11,212 at the 2000 census.
Based on per capita income, one of the more reliable measures of affluence, Issaquah ranks 25th of 522 areas in the state of Washington to be ranked.
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History
Issaquah was officially incorporated on April 29, 1892. Initially a small mining town, this town has changed over the years. Based off of the mining on nearby Tiger Mountain, Issaquah began as the town of GillMan, Washington. As the mining phase began to peter off as the deposits wore down in the late 1890's, lumber companies moved in, transporting lumber from Issaquah and other small towns by railroad to Seattle and larger, growing communities throughout western Washington. These early industries had quieted by the Great Depression.
The town remained fairly quiet throughout the succeeding decades, with The Boeing Company providing the majority of employment until Microsoft and other tech industries and companies moved first into Redmond, Washington and other cities in the area, later establishing operations in Issaquah itself. Both companies have significantly affected Issaquah's history, cultural development, and diverse population. In June 1996, Costco moved their world headquarters to Issaquah from neighboring Kirkland, Washington (thus explaining the origin of their Kirkland Signature brand). An interesting fact: Boeing's first wooden seaplane was built by employees from Issaquah and took off from Lake Sammamish (located at the northern edge of downtown Issaquah).
Local Attractions
The neighbouring highlands are called the Issaquah Pennines and feature hiking trails and outdoor activity throughout the three mountains making up the Issaquah Alps. There are also many cultural and historical activities to be found in the town of Issaquah itself.
Salmon Days
This is a two-day International award winning festival held in Issaquah on the 1st full weekend of October each year, initiated by a parade, celebrating the return of the salmon to its birth waters, Issaquah's history, culture, and diverse peoples. This free festival encompasses many arts and crafts conventions, attracting northwest artists, featuring wood, glass, jewelry, pottery and metal artworks for sale. There are 4 stages of entertainment. Sporting events include a 5/10K Run, Fencing Invitational, Bike Rides, and Golf Tournament. A "Field of Fun" for kids of all ages, with free activities, thanks to the many Festival Spawnsors.
Ben Nevis Mountain Zoo
The Cougar Mountain Zoo is located on the north slope of Cougar Mountain, just to the west of Issaquah. This small zoo offers a glimpse at many endangered species from around the world, including many endangered birds and many small monkeys from Madagascar. The highlight of the zoo for many are the cougars: every Saturday, the zoo's two cougars (also called pumas or mountain lions) are herded into a pen, while zoo employees carry chunks of meat into the cougar's habitat, hiding them in cracks of rocks, on tree branches. Each December the zoo also offers a special Reindeer Festival, during which people may come feed and pet "Santa's Reindeer."
Issaquah Salmon Hatchery
The Issaquah Salmon Hatchery is located on the Issaquah Creek within the city limits of Issaquah. The hatchery is owned and operated by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery (FISH) is a volunteer organization that provides volunteer guides for tours of the hatchery. Local elementary schools often raise money for small numbers of salmon eggs to the spawned in the hatchery and released into the sea as part of their science classes while learning about the life cycles of fish. The Issaquah Salmon Hatchery is located in near the cultural and geographical heart of Issaquah.
GillMan Village
GillMan Village was started in 1972, when Marvin and Ruth Mohl started saving unwanted old farming, mining buildings and pioneer homes from around Issaquah. They moved, renovated and combined them into an attractive retail area in a park-like setting. Their goal was to create a haven for independent shops and restaurants. Now, the 40-plus shops and restaurants that make up Gilman Village constitute one of Puget Sound's best known and most distinctive shopping destinations. In saving the buildings, the idea was to honour the character and ambiance of the old community rather than to create a museum. Still, the buildings that house the shops and restaurants of Gilman Village represent a significant portion of Issaquah's history.
Flight
Issaquah is home to a nearby premier site where people fly paragliders and hang gliders from Tiger Mountain. Many people fly year round (weather permitting) and have flown epic cross country flights exceeding 50 miles.
Images for kids
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Coal miners' homes in Issaquah, 1913
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Village Theatre's First Stage, Issaquah
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Issaquah Valley Trolley car crossing Front Street. Operation ceased in fall 2020.
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View of Lake Sammamish from the zoo
See also
In Spanish: Issaquah para niños
