55 Interesting Facts About Seattle [Free Fact Cards]

Ready to explore Seattle, Washington, and learn all about it? These interesting Facts about Seattle will make you a Seattle expert in no time!

Put on your rain boots and grab an umbrella, because Seattle is famous for its rainy weather. But don’t worry, everyone loves the rain because it is what makes everything so green and beautiful. Imagine hills covered in giant trees, gardens full of flowers, and even a big lake to play near! If this sounds pretty cool, you may just love Seattle!

So, where is Seattle? Seattle is way up in the northwest corner of the United States. If you look at a map, it’s in the state of Washington, and nope, it’s not the same as Washington, D.C. where the President lives. This Washington is a state, not a city, and Seattle is its biggest city!

Have you ever seen a really tall tower that kind of looks like a spaceship on stilts? That’s the Space Needle! It’s one of the coolest places to visit in Seattle. You can go all the way to the top and see the whole city, the mountains, and even some islands. It’s like being on top of the world!

Did you know that Microsoft and Amazon are actually headquartered in Seattle! Yup, the computers you play games on and the website where you get your awesome toys come from companies that started right here. So, let’s dive in and learn more interesting facts about Seattle so that you can be a Seattle expert!

Don’t forget to download your facts about Seattle cards to add to your growing collection of fact cards! Have you grabbed your Facts About Blizzards cards yet or your Facts About Red Wolves cards? Be sure you do!

Best Facts About Seattle

1. The Space Needle in Seattle was originally sketched on a napkin.
2. The Original City of Seattle is Underground.
3. The famous Pike Place Market originally started due to overpriced onions.
4. Seattle was founded by the Denny Party in 1851.
5. Despite having infamous rainy weather in winter, Seattle receives less annual rainfall than New York, Atlanta, Boston, and Houston.

6. There is a big troll living under one of Seattle’s bridges.
7. Seattle is one of America’s most well-educated cities.
8. The eye of the Fremont Troll is made out of a VW Beetle hubcap.
9. Seattle is home to the world’s first floating bridge and the world’s longest and widest floating bridge.
10. Seattle has an entire wall filled with used gum.

11. Pike Place Market is Seattle’s top attraction today, but it was in danger of being destroyed in 1963.
12. Gold was discovered in the Canadian Klondike region in 1896, thus starting the largest boom period in Seattle, called the Klondike Gold Rush. 
13. Seattle is one of the country’s most eco-friendly cities.
14. Seattlites are quite cultured. It is ranked as the most literary city in the US with the highest percentage of citizens with a college degree or higher.
15. The bronze pig and the flying fish of Pike Place Market have interesting backstories.

16. Seattleites purchase sunglasses in spades.
17. The first Starbucks is not in Pike Place Market. The very first Starbucks opened in 1971 at 2000 Western Avenue and no longer exists.
18. People in Seattle buy the most sunglasses per capita than in any other U.S. city.
19. Seattle is (allegedly) home to the world’s first gas station.
20. Seattle Seahawks Fans Caused An Earthquake.

21. The name Seattle comes from Chief Seattle, or Chief Si’ahl, who was a prominent Native American leader.
22. The Evergreen Point Floating Bridge is the longest floating bridge in the world. It’s an incredible 2,285 meters long and connects Seattle and Bellevue.
23. Seattle has several nicknames like Emerald City, Jewel of the Northwest, and Future Queen City of the Pacific.
24. Seattle was the first major American city to have a female mayor.
25. Seattle’s most-photographed object is not the Space Needle.

26. The band Soundgarden got its name from Seattle.
27. Seattle has nearly 500 houseboats, more than anywhere else in the world.
28. Seattle has a building nicknamed ‘Darth Vader’.
29. Seattle is the Birthplace of Grunge.
30. Harbor Island is the largest man-made island in the country. 

31. The Great Fire of Seattle destroyed most of the business district in 1889.
32. Apart from White, native and African Americans, Seattle has a large number of Asian Americans, Hispanic, Latino and Pacific Islanders living in it.
33. Seattle is the best city in the country for bicyclists.
34. Seattle Library has perks for members.
35. The world’s largest floating home is located on Lake Union in Seattle.

36. Seattle is built on top of another city.
37. Much of Seattle’s Natural Environment Was Altered To Make it Livable.
38. Seattle is surrounded by two mountain ranges, the Olympic Mountains to the west and the Cascade Mountains to the east.
39. The name Seattle is derived from the Suquamish word “Sealth”, the language of the first white settlers who arrived in 1851.
40. The Seattle Ferry System is the largest in the country.

41. Seattle is home to the country’s first 24/7 radio station.
42.  Bruce Lee’s final resting place is in Seattle.
43. The University Bridge gets regular baths to protect it from the heat during the summer.
44.  Real-life superheroes Once patrolled Seattle.
45. Many of Seattle’s Parks Were Designed by the Olmsted Brothers.

46. Seattle sits on top of an underground ghost town.
47. Our city has the second-highest per capita rate for live music performances in the country, second to New York City.
48. The Emerald City is America’s fastest-growing technology hub.
49. Seattle City Light is a publicly owned utility, powering 90% of the city with hydroelectricity. It has zero carbon footprint.
50. There are more dogs and cats than children in Seattle.

51. The United Postal Service started in Seattle.
52. The Washington State Ferry System is the largest in the country and the third largest in the world, carrying more than 25 million passengers each year.
53. Seattle is the first city to have police on bicycles.
54. The highest temperature ever recorded in the city was 103°F on July 29, 2009, while the coldest temperature during wintertime in Seattle was 0°F on January 31, 1950.
55. Seattle is the perfect place for nature lovers.

Do you have even more interesting facts about Seattle? Share them with us in the comments! Also, don’t forget to grab your free Seattle fact cards to add to your collection!