Chapter 4: Megalopolis

Although Seattle is not considered part of the Megalopolis, as we glance through Seattle's development history we can see how much it has advanced and can be considered as a growing megalopolis. It is the biggest urban city in its region unlike the east coast region where they have spanning cities. However Seattle's location does give itself opportunities and advantages for a growing city. Seattle's habor has fishing industry that can generate more than $113 million dollars in local purchases. Other than the bodies of water surrounding Seattle, its economy is driven by a mix of older industrial companies, and Internet and technology companies, service, design and clean technology companies. Seattle is said to be one of the best start-up businesses in green building and clean technologies. According to Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Seattle is ranked as America's #1 "Smarter Cities" due to its government policies and green economy.

Although Seattle may not be considered as part of the Megalopolis, it sure does share a common problem with traffic congestion. Surprisingly, Seattle is ranked 9th in worst traffic congestion in the United States. The GPS maker TomTom ranked Seattle as #1. The difference in rankings is the TomTom study measured traffic on surface streets in Seattle while the INRIX study measured traffic on the highways around Seattle. The city sees this as a problem is determined to alleviate the congestion:

"Identify funds for bicycle and pedestrian facilities, work towards an all electric transit system, including light rail, streetcars, and electric trolley buses, and strive for a fairly allocated source of funds for bus service connecting Seattle neighborhoods and connecting Seattle with job centers in other parts of King County."

Sources
http://smartercities.nrdc.org/about
Seattle Times
http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~public/phot1.htm

Chapter 3: Foundation of Human Activity

Through archaeological excavations, Seattle area has been inhabited by humans for at least 4,000 years. It is said that when the first European explorers came, the people of the Duwamish Tribe occupied at least seventeen villages around Elliott Bay. In 1851, David Denny, his older brother Arthur A. Denny and stepmother Sarah Boren Denny traveled the Oregon Trail to Portland in a party of 50 settlers led by his father, John Denny. While the party waited in Portland, David Denny and John N. Low took the Cowlitz Trail to Olympia. There they joined with Lee Terry and sailed up Puget Sound to look for homesteads. David was the first to make landfall at the mouth of the Duwamish River on September 25, 1851. There they were welcomed by another group of explorers led by Luther Collins, Henry Van Asselt and Jacob and Samuel Mapel, who had filed claims in the Duwamish Valley nearly two weeks earlier. Denny was also greeted by no less than Chief Noah Sealth, leader of the resident Duwamish and Suguamish tribes. The city was named after the chief: Seattle. After spending a harsh winter on the west of the Elliot Bay, they migrated west and made a small establishment where it later became to what we know today as Seattle.

Names and Ages of the Denny Party upon Their Arrival on November 13, 1851
Families:

• Arthur A Denny, 29
• Mary Ann Denny, 28
• Louisa Catherine (Kate) Denny, 7
• Margaret Lenora (Lenora) Denny, 4
• Rolland H. Denny, 6 weeks 

• John N. Low, 31
• Lydia Low, 31
• Mary L. Low, 8
• Alonzo Low, 6
• John V. Low, 4
• Minerva Low, 2 

• Carson D. Boren, 26
• Mary Boren, 20
• Livonia Gertrude Boren, 11 months 

• William N. Bell, 34
• Sarah Ann Bell, 32
• Laura Keziah Bell, 8
• Olive Julia Bell, 5
• Mary Virginia (Virginia) Bell, 4
• Alvina Lavina (Lavina) Bell, 9 months  

          Single adults:

• Louisa Boren, 24
• David T. Denny, 19
• Charles C. Terry, 23 
• Leander (Lee) Terry, 33

Sources
Seattle.com
Lochkelden Mansion
Historylink.org

Chapter 2: Geographic Patterns of the Physical Environment

The city itself is consider to be hilly. These hills include: Capitol Hill, First Hill, West Seattle, Beacon Hill, Queen Anne, Magnolia, and Denny Hill. Seattle is surrounded by a sea, rivers, forest, and lakes. If we take a look at Seattle, it is located between the Puget Sound on the west which is an inlet of the Pacific Ocean and on the east we have Lake Washington. We also have Elliott Bay an inlet of the Puget Sound that is the city's chief habor.

Seattle's Climate:

Seattle's climate is usually rainy. It is categorized as temperate oceanic or marine west coast with mild, wet winters and mild, relatively dry summers. Luckily the region is protected from Pacific Ocean storms by the Olympic Mountains. These mountains are also the reason why Seattle has a reputation. Seattle has a reputation for having lots of rain. This is only half true, although it does rain, it seldom pours. The rain usually comes in drizzles or light rain. Seattle's reputation also owes it to its cloudy days, it is said to be cloudy on an average of 201 days and 93 partly cloudy days per year. Seattle is part of something called the Puget Convergence Zone, which is an important factor in it's weather. In it's convergence zone, we have air from the north meet the air from the south. It is explained that the air from the Pacific Ocean is split by the Olympic Moutains to the west of Seattle and the air flow is reunited by the cascade Mountains in the east. When the air is reunited, it causes the air to go upward, causing convection which is responsible for the rain and few thunderstorms.

 Sources

10 Reasons Why People Move to Seattle 

Komo News

Chapter 1: Regions and Themes

Seattle is located in the state of Washington right above Oregon which is located in the Pacific Northwest Region of the United States. Seattle is known as the largest city in the region and its state. It is also the leader as the economic, educational, and cultural center in the region. It is ranked as the 15th largest city in the United States. It is located about 100 miles away from the Canadian border.

Seattle was named after Chieft Sealth from the native tribes of Duwamish and Suquamishit. This city has been inhabited for more than 4,000 years. Now Seattle metropolitan area is ranked 17th out of 363 metropolitan areas according to the U.S Bureau of Economics Analysis in 2006. Seattle has a strong base for information technology, aviation, architecture and recreation industries. Seattle is known to be a strong supporter of "green" technologies. It is said that in February 2010 Seattle committed itself to becoming American's first "climate neutral" city along with the goal of reaching zero net per capita greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2030.

Demographics
3.2 million people live in the Greater Seattle Area. About 570,000 live in Seattle itself.
According to the 2006-2008 American Community Survey, the racial composition of Seattle was as follows:

• Whites: 71.3% (Non-Hispanic Whites 68.4%)
• Black: 8.0%
• Native American: 0.9%
• Asian:13.2%
• Native Hawaiian & other Pacific Islander: 0.4%
• Hispanic or Latino: 5.6%
• Other: 2.2%
• Two or more races: 4.0%

Sources
Wikipedia
Seattle.gov
US Census Bureau 

Intro

Hi my name is Amy. When I was a little girl about 5 or 6 years old, my family and I moved to Seattle, Washington. Our stay was brief about six months long when we decided Seattle just wasn't for us. From what I remember, it was always cold, gloomy and rainy in Seattle. Which is why I decided to do my blog on this city, in hopes I can rediscover Seattle and one day visit this city once again.