Federal Way, Washington

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Federal Way, Washington
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

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imagesize =
image_caption =

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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location in Washington


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = Washington
subdivision_name2 = King
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Jack Dovey [http://www.cityoffederalway.com/GetFile.aspx?id=13835]
leader_title1 = City manager
leader_name1 = Neal Beets
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = 1990
area_magnitude =
unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =Does not include area gained from annexations of county land since 2000.]
area_total_sq_mi = 21.1
area_total_km2 = 54.8
area_land_sq_mi = 21.0
area_land_km2 = 54.5
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1
area_water_km2 = 0.3
area_urban_sq_mi =
area_urban_km2 =
area_metro_sq_mi =
area_metro_km2 =
population_as_of = 2005
population_footnotes = [http://cityoffederalway.com/Page.aspx?page=1101 City of Federal Way - City Fact Sheet ] ]
population_note =
population_total = 85800
population_metro =
population_urban =
population_density_km2 = 1528.6
population_density_sq_mi = 3959.4
timezone = PST
utc_offset = -8
timezone_DST = PDT
utc_offset_DST = -7
latd = 47 |latm = 18 |lats = 46 |latNS = N
longd = 122 |longm = 20 |longs = 21 |longEW = W
elevation_m = 157
elevation_ft = 515
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 9800 [1] / [03] / [23] / [63] / [93]
area_code = 253
website = http://cityoffederalway.com/
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 53-23515GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1534582GR|3
footnotes =

Federal Way is a city in King County, Washington, United States. Federal Way is considered a commuter town by some people and is located between Seattle and Tacoma. Its western boundary is Puget Sound. It is bordered by Des Moines on the north, Kent, Auburn, unincorporated King County, and Milton on the east and Tacoma and Fife on the south. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 83,259. The population estimates for 2008 are 88,040 making it Washington’s 8th largest city.

History

Originally a logging settlement, the area was first called "Federal Way" in 1929, when Federal Way School District #210 was created. The name derived from U.S. Route 99 (now State Route 99 or Pacific Highway South), completed that decade, which ran through the area on its way from Everett and Seattle to Tacoma. Federal Way High School was built, and about 20 years later, the name was adopted by the local Chamber of Commerce. The city was incorporated on February 28, 1990.

Commerce and attractions

Federal Way is home to Weyerhaeuser, the largest private owner of softwood timberland in the world. Weyerhaeuser has opened much of its land to the public, including two botanical gardens: the Rhododendron Species Foundation and Botanical Garden, and the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection. Federal Way is also home to the US office headquarters of World Vision.

Other attractions in the city include the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center, which features an Olympic size swimming pool and had been used for the Goodwill Games in 1990, and Celebration Park, with sports fields and wooded trails. The city has also developed many lake front and neighborhood parks and playgrounds.

Wild Waves Theme Park, the largest amusement park in the region, is known as Wild Waves and Enchanted Village. It is located on the south side of the city and is the Seattle area's only permanent amusement park. Six Flags purchased Wild Waves in December 2000. However after low sales, Six Flags sold the park in April 2007 to Parc Management LLC of Jacksonville, Fl for $31.75 million.

Federal Way is locally identified by its 1990s semi-urban development, characterized by landscaped off-street multi-structure apartment complexes and shopping centers. The Commons at Federal Way (previously Sea Tac Mall), the city's largest and only indoor shopping center, is located on S 320th St. and Pacific Hwy South (State Route 99) near the city's main Interstate 5 exit.

Major city and state parks:
*Steel Lake Park - located on S 312th St just east of Pacific Hwy S; large lakefront area with picnic areas, playground, and boat launch.
*Celebration Park - on 11th Ave S just south of S 324th St; with sports fields and wooded trails, and Independence Day fireworks.
*Dumas Bay Centre - Has a beautiful 12 acre park on site with a conference and retreat facility. This park sits on the Puget Sound and looks toward the Olympic Mountain chain. [ [http://www.dumasbaycentre.com Dumas Bay Centre, located in Federal Way, Washington] ]
*Dash Point State Park - on SW Dast Point Rd at the west end of town; the city's only developed waterfront park, with hiking trails and campground. [ [http://www.parks.wa.gov/parkpage.asp?selectedpark=Dash+Point&pageno=1 Dash Point State Park] ]
*Five Mile Lake - on Military Rd S and S 364th St in the unincorporated area on the east side of town.
*West Hylebos Wetlands Park - at S 348th St and 4th Ave S, hiking trails through wetlands. [ [http://www.hylebos.org Friends of the Hylebos Wetlands] ]
*The BPA Trail extending from the entrance to Celebration Park west to approximately 18th Ave SW, then south to the Pierce County border. The trail is paved and lies under the Bonneville Power Administration transmission line.

Symphony tower project

In 2007, the city of Federal Way purchased a downtown lot formerly used by a defunct AMC Theatres cinema, and invited proposals from two developers, United Properties and Alpert Capital, to develop a multi-use tower project in the downtown core, adjacent to the recently-built transit center. Such a project follows in the steps of similar multi-use developments such as Kent Station in nearby Kent. The city awarded the contract to United Properties' "Symphony" project, comprising four 15-22 story towers including convert|60000|sqft|m2 of retail and office space, 900 housing units, and a large downtown park which would be relinquished to the city. Transfer of the land to United Properties followed by construction of the first tower was scheduled to start in mid- [2008] .cite web|url=http://www.federalwaynews.net/articles/2007/07/24/news/local_news/story01.txt|work="Federal Way News"|author=unknown|title=Symphony is music to Federal Way's ears|date=2007-07-24|accessdate = 2007-07-24] However, in July 2008, United Properties' requested a one-year extension on the terms of the purchase agreement, citing difficulties in the credit and housing markets to acquire the necessary funds.cite news|url=http://www.federalwaynews.net/articles/2008/07/21/news/local_news/story01.txt|title=Developers changing their tune regarding Symphony development timeline|accessdate=2008-08-11|date=2008-07-21|newspaper=Federal Way News] The park portion of the Symphony development was expected to serve as the main venue for Federal Way Festival Days, an annual city celebration. Festival Days were canceled in 2008 after the city's largest mall, The Commons at Federal Way, refused to allow the festival to use its parking lots, citing an increased demand for parking after a mall revitalization, as well as loss of parking land due to the introduction of retail pad lots.

Government

The city operates under the council-manager form of government, with a City Council consisting of seven at-large seats who serve for staggered two-year terms. The city mayor acts as chair of the Council and is elected by the Council from among its members. As of 2008 the mayor is Jack Dovey. The city manager is Neal Beets.

Growth

As part of the Washington State Growth Management Act of 1990 (GMA), Federal Way, along with other Puget Sound suburban cities have identified Potential Annexation Area’s (PAA’s) as areas of unincorporated King County that they feel could best be serviced by them. Federal Way has indicated interest in Auburn Hills (east of the city to the Auburn city limits), Lakeland (south and east of the city to the King/Pierce County border and east to the Auburn city limits), and Star Lake (north and east of the city to the Kent city limits). In 2004, the city annexed the Northlake, East Redondo, and Parkway neighborhoods into the city, adding over 2,700 people and nearly 1 square mile (2.57 km²) of area. Other possible annexation areas include the Jovita and Camelot neighborhoods.

In February 2007, the city announced formal plans to annex the majority of unincorporated land on its east border as one PAA named East Federal Way, comprising the Star Lake, Camelot, Lakeland, and Jovita neighborhoods, [http://www.cityoffederalway.com/folders/home/businesseconomicdevelopment/projectsconstruction/potentialannexationareaplanning/Large%20PAA%20map.gifPAA Community Level Subareas map] ] [http://www.cityoffederalway.com/GetFile.aspx?id=12165 Federal Way Proposed Annexation Area map] ] and a strip of road connecting them. Annexation of the area would add 20,000 people and nearly 7 sq. mi (18 km²) to the city, creating the 6th largest ciy in Washington by population, at over 106,000 residents and nearly convert|29|sqmi|km2|abbr=on. (75 km²) [http://www.cityoffederalway.com/Page.aspx?view=777 Proposed East Federal Way Annexation Area] ]

On August 21, 2007, residents of the proposed East Federal Way annexation area rejected annexation to Federal Way by a 66% to 34% margin. [http://www.metrokc.gov/annex/efedway.aspx East Federal Way annexation information] (King County)] Opponents of the plan, favoring remaining under direct King County government, asserted fears that increased density and higher taxes would result from annexation despite proponents showing studies that taxes and fees would be unchanged.cite web|url=http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/auburn/story/138421.html|work="Tacoma News Tribune"|author=Mike Archbold|title=Two annexation areas passing|date=2007-08-22|accessdate = 2008-08-17]

Geography

Federal Way is located at coor dms|47|18|47|N|122|20|21|W|city (47.312960, -122.339173)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 21.1 square miles (54.8 km²), of which, 21.0 square miles (54.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (0.61%) is water.

Demographics

The median income for a household in the city was $49,278, and the median income for a family was $55,833. Males had a median income of $41,504 versus $30,448 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,451. About 6.9% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

Local media

Two newspapers are published within Federal Way. The "Federal Way Mirror" [ [http://www.fedwaymirror.com/ Federal Way Mirror] ] and the "Federal Way News". [ [http://www.federalwaynews.net/ Federal Way News] ] The city receives additional coverage from most major media sources in both Seattle and Tacoma.

Noteworthy citizens

*Michael Dickerson, former NBA player
*Donny Marshall, former NBA player
*Corey Dillon, American football player
*Apolo Anton Ohno, Olympic speed skater, "Dancing with the Stars" winner
*Bryan Pittman, Football player for the Houston Texans in the NFL
*James Sun, president of Zoodango, Donald Trump's show "The Apprentice" participant [cite news|last=Horner|first=Margo|publisher="Federal Way Mirror"|date=2006-12-27|title=A phone call away from Donald Trump|accessdate=2007-05-29]
*Kyle Secor, Actor, "", "Commander in Chief", "Crossing Jordan"
*Sanjaya Malakar, Singer, "American Idol"
*Ciaran O'Brien, Professional soccer player, "Colorado Rapids"

ister cities

Federal Way has the following sister cities: [cite web|url=http://www.cityoffederalway.com/Page.aspx?view=183|title=Federal Way Sister City Association|accessdate=2008-09-17]
*flagicon|South Korea Donghae, South Korea
*flagicon|Japan Hachinohe, Japan

Notes/references

External links

* [http://www.cityoffederalway.com City of Federal Way]
* [http://www.federalwaychamber.com Federal Way Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.federalwayhistory.org The Historical Society of Federal Way]
* [http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=4215 Federal Way History]
* [http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/53/5323515.html Federal Way QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau]
*dmoz|Regional/North_America/United_States/Washington/Localities/F/Federal_Way/|Federal Way, Washington