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Burien, WA

Frequently asked questions

Burien, WA

Burien is a suburban city in King County, Washington, United States, located south of Seattle on Puget Sound. As of the 2020 census, making it the 25th most populous city in Washington, Burien's population was 52,066, which is a 56.3% increase since incorporation in 1993. An annexation in 2010 increased the city's population significantly.

European settlement in the Burien area dates to 1864, when George Ouellet (1831–1899), a French-Canadian born in Sainte-Marie-de-Beauce, Quebec, purchased his first of several land patents for homestead sites directly from a federal land office. Ouellet had first arrived in the Washington Territory at Port Madison on Bainbridge Island, off the Kitsap Peninsula, in 1858. Three years after purchasing his homestead in the Burien area, he married 14-year-old Elizabeth Cushner, who was born in the Washington Territory and started a family. Several years later, the Ouellet family moved to the White River Valley, near Auburn.

Several proposals to incorporate the greater Burien area, an unincorporated portion of King County, were attempted but failed. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, citizens felt they needed a more responsive government to help address the looming threat of the Port of Seattle's airport runway expansion (known as the "Third Runway") at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport to the east, so an effort was again made to incorporate as a city. Citizens also felt that multi-family apartments and dwellings had proliferated out of control in Burien and other unincorporated areas of King County and that they had no local voice in government, other than the King County Council, which would hear their concerns. The city of Burien was incorporated on February 28, 1993, after voter approval.

Burien is located in western King County at 47°28′6″N 122°20′44″W (47.468221, -122.345491). It is bordered to the north by the city of Seattle and the unincorporated communities of White Center and Boulevard Park, to the east by the cities of Tukwila and SeaTac, to the south by the city of Normandy Park, and the west by Puget Sound.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city of Burien has a total area of 13.23 square miles (34.27 km²), of which 7.42 square miles (19.22 km²) are land and 5.81 square miles (15.05 km²) are water.

The city's western border consists of 5.5 miles (8.9 km) of shoreline along Puget Sound. Lake Burien, a state-owned water body, is located within the city. It has been the subject of contentious debate due to it being surrounded by private property with no public access.

"Olde Burien" is a name for the area surrounding SW 152nd Street on the west side of Ambaum Boulevard. There are unique shops and restaurants here that reflect the eclectic mix of interests and residents of the town.

Health and wellness are at the forefront of Burien's priorities, with a myriad of options available for residents to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The Burien Community Center serves as a central hub for fitness and community activities, offering exercise classes, sports facilities, and wellness programs. St. Anne Hospital offers comprehensive health services, including wellness check-ups and preventive care programs. bodySTRONG Burien offers comprehensive fitness programs including cardio, strength training, and group exercise classes. For yoga enthusiasts, Be Yoga Burien and Aya Yoga Oasis provide serene environments for practicing yoga. Those looking for fitness classes can head to Freedom Fitness or Renascent CrossFit, which offers a range of workouts to suit all fitness levels. Lake Burien Park is perfect for outdoor activities like hiking and picnicking.

Top sites in Burien, WA are Seahurst Park, Highline Heritage Museum, and The Museum of Flight.

Population: 50,730 (2023). ZIP codes: 98062, 98146, 98148, 98166, 98168. Area code: 206. Elevation: 377 ft (115 m). Area: 13.23 square miles (34.27 km²).

FAQs

What are the demographics of Burien WA?

Burien, WA is home to a population of 51.5k people, of which 87.4% are citizens. As of 2022, 23.5% of Burien, WA residents were born outside of the country (12.1k people). In 2022, there were 3.5 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (25.3k people) in Burien, WA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 7.22k Asian (non-Hispanic) and 6.65k Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Is Burien, WA expensive to live in?

Burien is ranked 29 out of 273 cities across the US in terms of cost of living. The cost of living in Burien is 120.1% of the national average. The median household income in a city certainly helps gauge the cost of living. The median household income in Burien is $79,797, which is 3% less than that of the state. The median income for an individual is $41,962, which is 4% less than that of the state.

What is the crime rate in Burien, WA?

With a crime rate of 46 per one thousand residents, Burien has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes - from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One's chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 22. Within Washington, more than 88% of the communities have a lower crime rate than Burien. Separately, it is always interesting and important to compare a city's crime rate with those of similarly sized communities - a fair comparison as larger cities tend to have more crime. NeighborhoodScout has done just that. With a population of 50,806, Burien has a combined rate of violent and property crime that is very high compared to other places of similar population size.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Burien

Neighborhood Scout

Fly Homes

Data USA

Seahurst Park

Highline Heritage Museum

The Museum of Flight

Burien Community Center

St. Anne Hospital

bodySTRONG Burien

Be Yoga Burien

Aya Yoga Oasis

Freedom Fitness

Renascent CrossFit

Lake Burien Park

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