Many Faces, One Heart

New neighbors from around the globe are discovering Issaquah’s incomparable combination of urban sophistication with small-town charm.

Vibrant cultural and business districts coupled with a bustling civic center form the heart of this hometown, along with the best amenities –

• Innovative arts
• Fine dining
• Historic treasures
• Boutique shopping
• A bounty of natural wonders

Business is Brisk

Issaquah has established itself unequivocally as a prime business location in the northwest, attracting a mix of high tech firms, retail giants, and small businesses.

• Issaquah is strategically located just 17 miles east of Seattle along the Interstate 90 business corridor.
• Approximately 40 percent of the State of Washington’s six million people are located within a 40-mile radius of Issaquah, providing an expansive market for commerce.
• Issaquah is located in close proximity to the ports of Seattle and Tacoma, with access to the Pacific Rim.

Issaquah also boasts a number of transportation improvements including the Sunset Interchange and Sammamish Plateau Access Road. New park-and-ride facilities provide convenient transit options.

Issaquah has attracted high-tech industry leaders such as Microsoft Corporation and Siemens Medical Systems, one of the largest suppliers of health care equipment in the world.

At the western gateway to Issaquah, Hyla Crossing provides Class-A office space, hotel and high-tech facilities. Interwoven with a salmon stream and native plants, Hyla Crossing celebrates both industry and nature.

Pickering Place blends the charm of an historic dairy farm into professional office space, hotel, retail shops, restaurants, and a multi-screen cinema. At the heart of the center, a waterfowl refuge borders the offices of Costco international headquarters.

Tree-lined Gilman Boulevard is a bustling center for offices, medical facilities, antique shopping, sporting goods, clothing and dining. Gilman Village, a picturesque collection of historic buildings, provides unique boutique shopping and dining.

Boehms Candies, known worldwide for its award-winning hand-dipped confections, has attracted thousands of visitors annually since 1956.

Swedish Medical Center Issaquah operates a 24-hour free-standing emergency room near Lake Sammamish State Park, and Overlake Medical Center Issaquah provides an Urgent Care Clinic in the north end of town.

A Cultural Center

Historic downtown Issaquah combines art galleries, fine dining, the award winning Village Theatre, and generations of local merchants including the WestFarm Foods creamery (formerly Darigold).

Art Walks and Music on the Streets give the community a chance to meet and celebrate talented local artists. The City Arts Commission sponsors a variety of fine art events, and colorful murals give a vivid look into Issaquah’s past.

Historic Hailstone Feed Store and Shell Gas Station on Front Street, restored to its 1940s glory, is a tribute to Issaquah’s motoring history on the route to Snoqualmie Pass. The Train Depot and Gilman Town Hall display a multitude of early local photos and artifacts, including a two-cell jail dating back to 1914.

The Issaquah Valley Trolley is a unique project of the Issaquah History Museums. Following renovation, rides will be offered on the old mile-long track through town.

Public Places

Issaquah’s civic center is perfectly placed in historic downtown and includes city hall, a public swimming pool, community and fitness center, senior center, trails center, and historic railroad depot. Just a block away, the open-beamed public library fits seamlessly into the landscape.

Blakely Hall and historic Pickering Barn play host to community gatherings, including the Issaquah Farmers Market.

Outdoor Abundance

Issaquah is surrounded by 200 miles of hiking trails established by members of the Issaquah Alps Trail Club. Within minutes of downtown, hikers can leave behind urban stress for forest adventures on Cougar Mountain, Squak Mountain and Tiger Mountain. On summer weekends, paragliders hike or drive to Poo Poo Point and launch themselves into the atmosphere.

Swimmers, boaters, anglers and picnickers enjoy nearby Lake Sammamish State Park. Winter sports enthusiasts flock to Snoqualmie Pass – just 30 minutes east.

Most recently, Issaquah recreation opportunities now are connected to Seattle via the East Lake Sammamish Trail.

The Cougar Mountain Zoological Park is a unique teaching zoo specializing in endangered species and local wildlife.

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.

Living in Issaquah

Issaquah is dedicated to local tradition, home town 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.
• A planned shopping area with a hotel, high-end grocery, cinema, and office space.
• Talus is another award winning community. Amenities include -
• 400 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, 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 four stages
• Kiwanis Salmon Barbecue
• Rotary 5/10K Run
• 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.

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 and jazz

Quality Education is a Core Value

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 Community 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.