Federal Way, Washington
Federal Way is a city in King County, Washington, United States and part of the Seattle metropolitan area. One of the most recently incorporated cities in the county, its population was 101,030 at the 2020 census. Federal Way is the 10th most populous city in Washington and the fifth most populous in King County.
History
Originally a logging settlement, the area was first called "Federal Way" when a consolidated school district was established in 1929. The name derived from U.S. Route 99, a federally-designated highway which ran through the state and connected Seattle to Tacoma. It followed an earlier road between Fort Steilacoom and Fort Bellingham that was completed in the 1850s and later became known as Military Road. The first homestead in the area was established in 1871 by Sam Stone near modern-day Redondo and was followed by other settlers. Five existing school districts consolidated operations into School District No. 210 in 1929 and planned construction of Federal Way High School, which opened in 1930 and gave its name to the school district. The local chamber of commerce adopted the name in the early 1950s.New businesses, including motels and restaurants, moved to the Federal Way area in the 1940s and 1950s to serve the growing numbers of automobile travelers on the Pacific Highway. The first shopping mall in the future city, named Federal Shopping Way, opened in 1955 and included a small amusement park named Santafair and "Old World Square", which reproduced historic European buildings. The complex later grew to include historic Pacific Northwest buildings, including the log cabin of Seattle pioneer David Denny and a Catholic church from the Muckleshoot Indian Reservation, which were moved to the site in the 1960s. Federal Shopping Way was primarily home to small businesses and specialty retailers, but its amusement park and recreational areas were gradually closed by the 1980s. An effort to demolish Old World Square was resisted by the mall's businesses, who filed a lawsuit, but began in 1980 under the landlord's direction. The mall was demolished in 1995 and replaced by the Pavilions Centre, a conventional strip mall. The historic cabins were moved to a site near West Hylebos State Park and later restored by the local historical society.
A section of Interstate 5 through Federal Way opened to traffic in October 1962 and replaced U.S. Route 99 as the main north–south highway in the region. The highway brought residential growth to the area, which became a bedroom community for Seattle workers. Weyerhaeuser opened its headquarters complex on the east side of Interstate 5 in 1971 that was later expanded with a Bonsai museum and the Rhododendron Species Foundation and Botanical Garden. The company remained in Federal Way until moving to Seattle in 2016. An enclosed shopping center, named the SeaTac Mall, opened in 1975 with 43 stores and large big-box retailers to serve a regional clientele.
Attempts to incorporate Federal Way as a city were voted down in 1971, 1981 and 1985. The voters eventually approved incorporation as a city on February 28, 1990; the official act of incorporation was held at the Sportsworld Lanes bowling complex.
Growth since incorporation
As part of the Washington State Growth Management Act of 1990, Federal Way has identified areas of unincorporated King County as Potential Annexation Areas to be annexed to the city. Federal Way's current PAAs include the Star Lake and Camelot neighborhoods in Lakeland North and the neighborhoods of Parkland, Lakeland, and Jovita in Lakeland South. All of these neighborhoods are located east of the city proper. In 2004, the city annexed the Northlake, East Redondo, and Parkway neighborhoods, adding over 2,700 people and nearly of area. While Federal Way had previously considered Auburn's West Hill, Auburn annexed that along with Lea Hill in 2007.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, and a strip of Peasley Canyon Road connecting the two areas. Annexation of the area would add 20,000 people and nearly to the city, creating the sixth largest city in Washington by population, at over 106,000 residents and nearly.
On August 21, 2007, residents of the proposed East Federal Way annexation area rejected annexation to Federal Way by a 66% to 34% margin. 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, in the immediate, unchanged.
In 2011, opponents of annexation petitioned King County to designate this same area as a township, an undefined municipal structure that does not currently exist anywhere else in the state but which the state constitution provides for. Under the plan, township status would prevent the annexation of the area, which would be named Peasley Canyon Township. The King County Council declined to act on the proposal, and the county elections board denied the group a ballot item.
Geography
Federal Way is located in the southwest corner of King County.According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, of which is land and is water.
The city is home to several lakes, including Steel Lake and Lake Killarney.
Major city and state parks
- Steel Lake Park – located on S 312th Street east of Pacific Hwy S; large lakefront area with picnic areas, playground, and boat launch.
- Celebration Park – on 11th Avenue S just south of S 324th Street; with sports fields and wooded trails, and Independence Day fireworks.
- Dash Point State Park – 53rd Avenue SW & SW Dash Point Road; the only developed waterfront park located within the city, including hiking trails and campground.
- West Hylebos Wetlands Park – at S 348th Street and 4th Avenue S, with hiking trails through wetlands. The park also features two iconic buildings: the nearby Barker Cabin built in 1883, which is the city's oldest known building, and the Denny Cabin, which was once located west of present-day Seattle Center. The Denny Cabin was built by David Denny in 1889 as a real-estate office and was made from trees cut down on Queen Anne Hill.
- Dumas Bay Centre Park – on SW Dash Point Road; includes a beach, picnic area and walking trail
- Lakota Park – on SW Dash Point Road; includes baseball field, softball field, football field and 440 yard running track
- Saghalie Park – at 19th Avenue SW; includes basketball court, 440-yard track, children's playground, soccer and football field, sand volleyball, tennis courts and baseball courts
- The BPA Trail is a paved trail that follows the Bonneville Power Administration electricity transmission line from the entrance to Celebration Park west to approximately 18th Avenue SW, then south to the Pierce County border.
Climate
Economy and attractions
Until 2014, Federal Way was home to Weyerhaeuser, the largest private owner of softwood timberland in the world. Weyerhaeuser had opened much of its land in Federal Way to the public, including two botanical gardens: the Rhododendron Species Foundation and Botanical Garden, and the Pacific Bonsai Museum. In 2014, the company announced it would vacate its Federal Way headquarters. City leaders suggested promoting the location for a potential community college campus. Federal Way is also home to the US headquarters of World Vision International.Other attractions in the city include the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center, which features an Olympic-size swimming pool which has been used for the 1990 Goodwill Games and 2012 US Olympic Swim & Dive Trials. Celebration Park includes sports fields, a playground, and wooded trails. The city has also developed many lakefront and neighborhood parks, playgrounds, and trails.
The PowellsWood Garden, known for its outstanding structural plantings and perennial borders, is located off South Dash Point Road. This land, on a portion of the Cold Creek ravine, was purchased by Monte and Diane Powell in 1993 in order to preserve green space in an increasingly urbanized area.
Wild Waves Theme & Water Park, the largest amusement park in the region, opened in 1977 on the south side of the city. It 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, Florida, 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, the city's only indoor shopping mall, is located on South 320th Street and Pacific Highway South near the city's main Interstate 5 exit.
Largest employers
According to Federal Way's 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the largest employers in Federal Way are:| # | Employer | # of Employees |
| 1 | Federal Way Public Schools | 2,349 |
| 2 | World Vision International | 1,712 |
| 3 | CHI Franciscan Health - St. Francis Hospital | 996 |
| 4 | United States Postal Service | 600 |
| 5 | Washington Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists | 500 |
| 6 | Walmart Supercenter #3794 | 376 |
| 7 | Community Integrated Services | 364 |
| 8 | Costco | 352 |
| 9 | City of Federal Way | 339 |
| 10 | Virginia Mason Federal Way Medical Center | 325 |
| 11 | Fred Meyer | 303 |
| 12 | Korean Women's Association | 267 |
| 13 | Walmart Discount Store #2571 | 228 |
| 14 | MAKSU Inc. | 220 |
| 15 | The Home Depot | 196 |