Bellevue WA Moving Companies

Bellevue, Washington

Bellevue is the fifth largest city in Washington, with a population of about 120,000 residents. It is the high-tech and retail center of the Eastside, with more than 130,000 jobs and a skyline of gleaming high-rises. While business booms downtown, much of Bellevue retains a small-town feel, with thriving, woodsy neighborhoods and a vast network of green spaces and recreational facilities that keep people calling the place "a city in a park." Those moving to Bellevue will also discover a school system that is consistently rated among the best in the country.

History:
In 1867, coal was discovered in the Coal Creek area, and white settlers began to arrive as extensive mining got underway at the Newcastle Coal Mine. William Meydenbauer and Aaron Mercer, wealthy adventurers from Seattle, staked large claims here in 1869. Over the next 40 years, other white settlers, including Civil War veterans awarded homesteads for their service, trickled into the vicinity. Logging, almost by necessity, joined mining as an early occupation on the Eastside, as the settlers needed to clear land for their farms. During that period, the area got a post office and a schoolhouse. With the turn of the century, Bellevue prospered as a farming community. The rich soil yielded bountiful harvests, and the residents sold their fruit and vegetables, ferried across Lake Washington to Seattle, then even farther after a Northern Pacific rail line came through in 1904. Japanese immigrants, brought to Washington to clear and improve property claims, made the most of small plots they leased. They established a collective warehouse and soon produced the bulk of the strawberries and vegetables harvested in Bellevue. The town's agrarian success was celebrated with the first Strawberry Festival in 1925. The completion of the first bridge across Lake Washington in 1940 was a major event for Bellevue, bringing an influx of new residents. Unfortunately, after the United States entered World War II, the federal government sent the Japanese-Americans who had put the city on the agricultural map away to internment camps. In the past two decades, the city has grown to skyscraper heights and shed its "suburban" status to become a thriving metropolis and a high-tech hub.

Economy:
Bellevue is an exciting and vibrant place for commerce, international trade and technology innovation. The city is a major regional job center, with more people working in the city than living in it. It is a leader in commerce, not only for the Eastside, but also for the entire region. A diversified mix of businesses exists in Bellevue. Many businesses are small shops or small- to medium-sized service businesses, but Bellevue is also home to numerous companies with more than 1,000 employees, including about 150 company headquarters. More than 900 companies are involved in foreign trade. Services and retail are the largest employment sectors, but the high-tech sector continues to expand and drive growth. Microsoft, T-Mobile, Northwest Labs and Expedia all have large offices in Bellevue. PACCAR, Symmetra Financial and Puget Sound Energy are based in Bellevue. Major Employers in Bellevue include Bellevue Community College, City of Bellevue, Safeway, Nordstrom Inc., Expedia Inc. and Verizon Wireless.

Tourism:
Bellevue is surrounded by magnificent natural beauty and outdoor spaces; this one-of-a-kind place offers the ultimate in shopping, dining and cultural attractions. For the shopper, explore locally founded retail legends like Nordstrom and Eddie Bauer at The Bellevue Collection, and world-renowned Neiman-Marcus and other designers at The Bravern. For outdoor enthusiasts, the city boasts miles and miles of nature trails, public parks and swim beaches within easy walking distance of downtown. Then, after a busy day, unwind at any of Bellevue's numerous spas, museums, performing arts groups and art galleries. Of course, while in Bellevue, you are within minutes of Seattle. There you can visit Kirkland's waterfront parks and galleries, or tour Woodinville's Wine Country, home to 70 wineries and some of the world's best wines. You can even satisfy your taste for adventure with a day-trip to nearby mountains for hiking, biking, or skiing. Whatever you are looking for, you will find it in Bellevue.

Colleges/Universities:

• Bellevue College
• City University
• Bellevue Community College
• Bellevue Beauty College

Interesting Facts:

• Almost 25 percent of Bellevue's residents in 2000 were born outside the U.S.
• Bellevue means "Beautiful View" in French.
• The city has been ranked as the number one place for entrepreneurs in the U.S.