Lynnwood is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. The city is part of the Seattle metropolitan area and is located 16 miles (26 km) north of Seattle and 13 miles (21 km) south of Everett, near the junction of Interstate 5 and Interstate 405. It is the fourth-largest city in Snohomish County, with a population of 35,836 in the 2010 U.S. census.

Lynnwood is a suburban bedroom community for Seattle, Everett and Bellevue. It has one of the largest concentrations of retailers in the region, anchored by the Alderwood Mall and businesses along major streets. The city also has a community college, a convention center, and a major transit center, located in the developing city center.

The Lynnwood area was logged and settled by homesteaders in the late 19th century and early 20th century, including the development of Alderwood Manor as a planned farming community. Lynnwood, named for the wife of a realtor, emerged in the late 1940s around the intersection of Highway 99 and 196th Street Southwest. The city was incorporated on April 23, 1959, and grew into a suburban hub in the years following the completion of Interstate 5 and Interstate 405. Alderwood Mall opened in 1979 and spurred the transformation of eastern Lynnwood into a retail and office district.

History

In 1889, William Morrice purchased 100 acres of land which is now the site of the Alderwood mall. Only a few pioneering families lived in this remote central part of South Snohomish County. A trip to Seattle for supplies took two days by horse-drawn wagon.

Early in the twentieth century, the area occupied by Lynnwood today was owned by the Puget Mill Company. Logging began and by 1916, most of the timber had been cut and the Puget Mill Company was liable for taxes on 6,285 acres of unproductive land. Puget Mill began selling five-acre "stump farms" and in 1917 they developed a 30-acre poultry farm, known as the Demonstration Farm, to demonstrate how a farmer might make a five-acre tract pay for itself. The Demonstration Farm was located next to the Interurban Railway that ran between Seattle and Everett. Across the tracks from the Demonstration Farm, ten acres were set aside as urban lots, and a brick Tudor-style general store was built to serve the growing new community of Alderwood Manor.

State Route 99 opened in October 1927 and brought major changes to the area. In 1931, a road (now 196th St SW) was paved connecting Alderwood Manor to State Route 99, and for a decade the highway corridor and the rail corridor complemented one another.

By the 1930s, the remaining chicken farmers in the Alderwood Manor area were struggling to survive. Income from the sale of eggs and broilers was down at the Demonstration Farm, but despite these losses, the Puget Mill Company made a handy profit in land sales. Some five-acre tracts were sold two or three time as buyers abandoned the Puget Mill contracts which carried an interest rate double the standard rate at the time. In 1933, the Puget Mill Company closed the Demonstration Farm, turning the central five acres over to Norm Collins who established the Washington Breeders Hatchery. The remaining 25 acres was subdivided into one-acre "ranchettes".

By the end of World War II, Lynnwood emerged along Highway 99, a mile west of Alderwood Manor, as an assertive business district catering to the motoring public. By the mid-1950s, growth dictated the need for municipal services such as fire prevention, sewers, policing and land use controls. This demand for services spurred an incorporation effort. Lynnwood was officially incorporated on April 23, 1959, from a larger unincorporated area called Alderwood Manor. Even today you can see many of the original 80-year-old homes, and old buildings.

Former Masonic Temple built in 1919 still stands today near 36th Ave W and 196th St Sw in Lynnwood.

The name "Lynnwood" comes from a developer from Seattle who planned to build something at Highway 99 and Alderwood Road (now 196th ST SW). He named the building "Lynn" for his wife and "wood" for Alderwood. Many other stores around took the name Lynnwood and were known as the Lynnwood Business District.

The initial center of the incorporated city was the intersection of State Route 99 (Highway 99) and State Route 524 (196th Street SW). When I-5 was built, the exit onto 44th Avenue West became the main Lynnwood exit. At that time, the city zoned the area East of 48th W, south of 194th SW, and west of the new freeway for commercial development, and the current city center area was born, with the construction of the Fred Meyer store, a new hotel called the Landmark (now La Quinta Inns & Suites) on 200th and 44th, and other commercial developments.

With the planned construction of I-405 bringing more people by the city, developers built the Alderwood Mall, effectively moving the main commercial area even farther east.

Geography

Lynnwood is located at 47°49′40″N 122°18′19″W / 47.827868°N 122.305391°W / 47.827868; -122.305391 (47.827868, -122.305391).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.86 square miles (20.36 km²), of which, 7.84 square miles (20.31 km²) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km²) is water.

Natural features within Lynnwood include Scriber Lake, Hall Lake, and Swamp Creek.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1960	7,207	—
1970	16,919	134.8%
1980	22,641	33.8%
1990	28,695	26.7%
2000	33,847	18.0%
2010	35,836	5.9%
2019 (est.)	39,141	9.2%
U.S. Decennial Census 2019 Estimate

The 1960 census counted 7,207 residents within Lynnwood city limits, which grew by 134 percent to nearly 17,000 by the 1970 census. From 1970 to 1990, the city's population nearly doubled, fueled by annexations and suburban development. During this period, Lynnwood gained a significant population of Asian Americans, primarily of Korean and Vietnamese origin, eventually growing to 14 percent of the city's population by 2000. The estimated population of Lynnwood was 36,420 in 2015, with an additional 28,973 people living outside city limits in Lynnwood's urban growth area. By 2035, the Lynnwood area is projected to have a population of over 92,000 people, including 54,400 people within the current city limits. Lynnwood residents had an estimated median household income of $47,700 in 2011, ranking lower than comparable suburban cities in the Seattle metropolitan area.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 35,836 people, 13,950 households, and 8,501 families residing in the city of Lynnwood. The population density was 4,570.9 inhabitants per square mile (1,764.8/km²). There were 14,939 housing units at an average density of 1,905.5 per square mile (735.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 63.8% White (58.6% non-Hispanic white), 5.5% African American, 1.1% Native American, 17.3% Asian, 0.5% Pacific Islander, 6.6% from other races, and 5.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.3% of the population.

There were 14,107 households, of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.7% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.13.

The median age in the city was 37.3 years. 21.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28% were from 25 to 44; 26.2% were from 45 to 64; and 13.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49% male and 51% female.

Landmarks

Overlooking Alderwood Mall on the intersection of 188th and 36th.

Alderwood is a regional shopping mall in Lynnwood. It is anchored by J.C. Penney, Macy's, and Nordstrom, and comprises a traditional enclosed mall and two open-air areas known as The Village and The Terraces. General Growth Properties manages and co-owns the property with an institutional investor. Alderwood is Snohomish County's largest malls and one of the major malls in the Puget Sound Region.

The Pine Cone Cafe on 188th SW and Highway 99 was open for decades. It resembled greatly Beth's Cafe about fifteen miles (24 km) south on 99 in Seattle and was historically a big draw for Lynnwood's now long gone biker culture. The interior was like a rail car with tables on each side of a central aisle. In the rear were two very playable pinball machines. Many teenagers came to the restaurant just to play pinball during the mid-1970s. In more recent times the Pine Cone was very popular among counter-culture teenagers in general, and seniors as well. No longer a restaurant, it is currently a smoke shop named "Crown Smoke." Jimbos, a burger restaurant that closed down in 2006 due to excavation was a well known burger restaurant for families to go out and eat.

On 164th St. SW and Highway 99 lies Keeler's Corner, an old-fashioned gas station long out of service (not to be confused with Keeler's Corner Apartments, which is across the street). The Pantry Cafe on Lincoln and Highway 99 was burned down in 2004, but before the accident its legacy was certainly considerable. Most locals are familiar with the House of Clocks, an old-fashioned clock store, on 156th and Highway 99. A little farther south on Highway 99 was the Sno-King Drive-In which opened in 1946 and closed in 1986. Now a Value Village occupies the site of the former drive-in theatre. The local bowling and roller skating center, Lynnwood Bowl & Skate (formerly Lynnwood Lanes and Lynnwood Roll-A-Way), on 200th St. SW and Highway 99 opened for business in the 1950s and still operates today.

The Lynnwood Convention Center opened in 2005 on 196th St SW. With 34,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, the Lynnwood Convention Center can accommodate groups from 20 to 2,500.

Parks

See Also: City of Lynnwood Parks & Recreation Homepage

Neighborhood parks

Daleway Park
Gold Park
N. Lynnwood Neighborhood Park
Pioneer Park
Scriber Creek Park
South Lynnwood Park
Spruce Park

Community parks

Lynndale Park, with Skate Park

A sign at Heritage Park about the Interurban Trolley.

Lynnwood Athletic Complex (Closed in 2009 at the same time Lynnwood High School Moved to North Road Location)
Meadowdale Playfields
Scriber Lake Park Twenty-two acre of wetlands south of Wilcox Park.
Wilcox Park, also known as "Flag Park", Lynnwood's first park built on the former Wilcox homestead.

Mini parks

Veterans Park, park south of Library honoring local veterans.
Maple Mini Park
Mini Park at Sprague's Pond

Facilities

Golf Course
Heritage Park, shows historic buildings of the Lynnwood, Washington area formerly called Alderwood Manor.
Recreation Center
Senior Center

Trails

Golf Course Trail
Interurban Trail, former site of Interurban Trolley tracks between Seattle and Everett (1910–1939).
Mesika Trail, trail runs along west border of Lynnwood Civic Center campus.
Scriber Creek Trail, trail runs along Scriber Creek wetlands near Lynnwood Transit Center.

Open space

Lund's Gulch

Economy

Largest employers (2015)
Employer	Employees
1. Edmonds School District	2,965
2. City of Lynnwood	513
3. Nordstrom	490
4. Costco	488
5. Macy's	366
6. Fred Meyer	306
7. J. C. Penney	241
8. ADP	211
9. Zumiez	211
10. Target Corporation	181

As of 2015^[update], Lynnwood has an estimated 19,095 residents who were in the workforce, either employed or unemployed. Only 12 percent of Lynnwood residents work within city limits, while approximately 31 percent commute to Seattle, 9 percent to Everett, 6 percent to Bellevue, and 4 percent to Edmonds. Regional job centers in Downtown Seattle, the Boeing assembly plant near Paine Field in Everett, Downtown Bellevue, and the Microsoft Redmond Campus employ the majority of Lynnwood workers. The average one-way commute for Lynnwood workers in 2015 was approximately 30 minutes; 69 percent of workers drove alone to their workplace, while 12 percent carpooled, and 10 percent used public transit. The largest industry of employment for Lynnwood workers are educational services and health care, with approximately 23 percent, followed by retail (15%), food services (13%), and professional services (12%).

Lynnwood is also a major job center for Snohomish County, with approximately 24,767 jobs in 2012, but only seven percent of workers in Lynnwood live within the city limits. Over 52 percent of workers in Lynnwood reside within Snohomish County, while 9 percent reside in Seattle. The largest industry in Lynnwood is the services sector, with approximately 45 percent of workers, followed by retail (28%) and education (8%). The retail sector, centered around Alderwood Mall, employs 7,000 people and generates 50 percent of the city's tax revenue. Professional services are concentrated in office parks near Alderwood Mall, comprising 176 buildings with nearly 2.8 million square feet (260,000 m²) of leasable office space. The largest non-retail employers in the city include the Edmonds School District, the city government, and Automatic Data Processing (ADP). Clothing retailer Zumiez and knife manufacturer SOG Specialty Knives are headquartered in Lynnwood.

Education

Snoqualmie Hall, a building shared by Edmonds College and Central Washington University, 2007

Public schools in Lynnwood are operated by the Edmonds School District, which also serves the cities of Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace, and Woodway. The district had an enrollment of approximately 20,847 students in 2014 and has 41 schools, of which 16 are located in or around Lynnwood. The Edmonds School District has three high schools located in the Lynnwood area: Lynnwood High School, Meadowdale High School, and Scriber Lake High School. The Lynnwood High School was originally located adjacent to Alderwood Mall, but moved to a new campus a mile (1.6 km) east on North Road in northern Bothell.

Lynnwood is also home to two post-secondary educational institutions. Edmonds College, established in 1967, offers two-year degree programs and other services. It enrolls an average of 11,100 students per quarter. Central Washington University offers four-year bachelor's degrees in select programs at its Lynnwood campus, which it has shared with Edmonds College since 1975.

Lynnwood also has several private schools, both religious and secular, including The Soundview School, St, Thomas More Parish, and the Brighton School.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Interstate 5 approaching Lynnwood from the south

Lynnwood is located at the northern junction of Interstate 5 and Interstate 405, the two primary north–south freeways in the Seattle metropolitan area. Interstate 5 continues south to Downtown Seattle, and north to Everett and Vancouver, British Columbia; Interstate 405 continues south to Bellevue and the Eastside, and north to Mukilteo as State Route 525. Lynnwood has two additional state highways: State Route 99, running north to Everett and south to Seattle; and State Route 524, connecting to Edmonds in the west as 196th Street Southwest.

Public transportation in Lynnwood is provided by Community Transit, which serves most of Snohomish County, and Sound Transit, the regional system serving the entire metropolitan area. Most bus service in Lynnwood is concentrated at hubs, including the Lynnwood Transit Center, Ash Way Park and Ride, and Edmonds College. Community Transit operates local routes, including Swift bus rapid transit on State Route 99, and peak-only commuter service to Downtown Seattle and the University of Washington. Sound Transit operates all-day express service from Lynnwood Transit Center and Ash Way Park and Ride to Downtown Seattle and Downtown Bellevue. In 2024, Sound Transit will begin operating Link light rail service to Lynnwood Transit Center, connecting it to Downtown Seattle and the Bellevue–Redmond area. Light rail service is planned to be extended north to Downtown Everett, via Ash Way and Paine Field, in 2036.

Utilities

Electric power in Lynnwood is provided by the Snohomish County Public Utility District (PUD), a consumer-owned public utility that serves all of Snohomish County. Puget Sound Energy provides natural gas service to the city; Lynnwood is also the terminus of a minor gas pipeline operated by the Northwest Pipeline Company.

The Alderwood Water and Wastewater District provides municipal tap water service for Lynnwood, sourced from Everett's Spada Lake Reservoir. The City of Lynnwood handles sanitary sewer and wastewater treatment; its wastewater treatment plant treats 5 million gallons per day (19,000 m³) that is discharged into Puget Sound. The water district serves the unincorporated areas around Lynnwood and also operates Well Number 5, an artesian well in North Lynnwood that has gained popularity for its quality. The city contracts with Republic Services and Waste Management for garbage, recycling, and yard waste disposal.

Notable people

Notable people from Lynnwood include:

Kenneth Bae, missionary and North Korean prisoner
Steven W. Bailey, actor
Randy Couture, UFC/MMA fighter and actor
Myles Gaskin, American football player
Paul Kenneth Keller, serial arsonist
Paul Lyttle, curler
Tom McGrath, animator and film director
Edward Nixon, brother of President Richard Nixon
Travis Snider, professional baseball player
Layne Staley, rock musician
Katie Thurston, television personality, contestant and star on The Bachelorette

Images for kids

The Wickers Building, a 1919 cottage built in Alderwood Manor
The Lynnwood Convention Center, opened in 2003 at the intersection of 196th Street Southwest and Interstate 5
Looking east on 164th Street Southwest in Lynnwood's urban growth area towards Mill Creek and the Cascade Mountains
Keeler's Corner, a service station listed on the National Register of Historic Places