Small Town Charm, World Class Amenities

Living in Issaquah

Issaquah is dedicated to local tradition, hometown values, and thriving neighborhoods. Notable neighborhoods include Issaquah Highlands, an award winning community with a number of advantages –

All new homes meet Built Green™ standards and are certified ENERGY STAR® or equivalent.
Tree-lined streets and trails connect community parks with 1,400 acres of permanently preserved open space.

Talus is another award winning community. Amenities include –

Four hundred contiguous acres of protected open space that form one of the final links in the Mountains to Sound Greenway.
Timber Ridge at Talus, a state-of- the-art life care services community with spectacular views and first class service.
A planned business center with 500,000 square feet of commercial office space, and 50,000 square feet of retail and common facilities.

Community Celebrations

Issaquah celebrates the remarkable return of the salmon to our lakes and streams with the annual Issaquah Salmon Days Festival, the city’s most treasured event. More than 125,000 visitors flock to town during the free two-day event.

Presented the first full weekend of October and free to the public since 1970, the Salmon Days Festival highlights include –

300 artists and crafters, many featuring salmon-related arts;
Field of Fun giant children’s area;
Grande Parade;
Foods of the World;
Entertainment on five stages;
Kiwanis Salmon Barbecue;
Rotary 5/10K Run; and
60 local non-profit and service organizations.

The Issaquah Salmon Days Festival has been recognized for its outstanding promotional and marketing campaigns with numerous national and international awards.

Quality Education is a Core Value

Local citizens and businesses know that education is a core value that makes our community succeed, and we compromise nothing to keep our schools among the best in Washington. Working together, local businesses, parents, educators, civic leaders, and the Issaquah Schools Foundation continues to ensure that our students receive the best educational opportunities available. Over the last ten years, the Issaquah School District has earned voter support for more than $150 million in new construction. Strong support for schools has solidified Issaquah as a district with modern, efficient and cost-effective schools, high student performance, and exemplary staff.

Issaquah has a strong relationship with Bellevue College, the state’s largest community college. Residents also have easy access to Renton Technical College and several other branch campuses.
Private schools located in Issaquah include Cougar Mountain Academy, Sunnybrook Montessori, and St. Joseph’s Catholic School.

A Diverse and Colorful History

The only thing certain about the origin of the name Issaquah is that it’s a Native American term. The name appears to be an Anglicized version of the Native American word isquoh, meaning the sound of the birds.

In 1862, L.B. Andrews located outcroppings of coal along Issaquah Creek, and the area soon became a center for mining, farming and lumber-jacking.

Issaquah’s heritage is prominently visible among longtime residents, annual celebrations and historic landmarks that make this community a unique place. Whether relocating a business or a family, or just searching for a weekend adventure, Issaquah is the authentic face of the Great Northwest.

Summer Activities in Issaquah

May through September

Art Walks, sponsored by the Downtown Issaquah Association
Farmers Market at Pickering Barn
Classic car shows at the last remaining 1950s-style Triple XXX Root Beer in the United States

June

Tastin’ and Racin’ limited hydroplane races on Lake Sammamish
Mountains to Sound Greenway Days, including the Fenders on Front Street classic car show

July

Down Home Fourth of July featuring the Kids, Pets ‘n Pride Parade, and old fashioned games
Concerts on the Green every Tuesday evening on the Community Center lawn
Chocolate, Wine & All That Jazz, a celebration of local restaurateurs, wine makers, jazz and our own Boehm’s Candies

Keeping the Salmon Coming Home

Each fall, the Washington State Salmon Hatchery in the center of downtown overflows with visitors awed by the return of the salmon to Issaquah Creek. It is the most-visited hatchery in the state, and offers up close observation of the miraculous life cycle of the salmon.

Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery (F.I.S.H) work directly with local, state, Native American and environmental groups to preserve the hatchery and enhance public awareness about habitat protection.