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Renton, WA

Frequently asked questions

Renton, WA

Renton is a city in King County, Washington, United States, and an inner-ring suburb of Seattle. Situated 11 miles (18 km) southeast of downtown Seattle, Renton straddles the southeast shore of Lake Washington, at the mouth of the Cedar River. As of the 2020 census, the population of Renton was 106,785, up from 90,927 at the 2010 census. The city is currently the 6th most populous municipality in greater Seattle and the 8th most populous city in Washington.

After a long history as an important salmon fishing area for Native Americans, Renton was first settled by people of European descent in the 1860s. Its early economy was based on coal mining, clay production, and timber export. Today, Renton is best known as the final assembly point for the Boeing 737 family of commercial airplanes, but it is also home to a growing number of well-known manufacturing, technology, and healthcare organizations, including Boeing Commercial Airplanes Division, Paccar, Kaiser Permanente, Providence Health & Services, UW Medicine, and Wizards of the Coast.

Renton is located on the southeast shore of Lake Washington at the mouth of the Cedar River. The city is bordered to the north by Newcastle. Along the east side of Renton is the urban growth boundary established by King County, as such there is no incorporated city directly east of Renton. The southern border is shared with Kent, while the western border consists of the city of Tukwila and the unincorporated community of West Hill.

The geographical characteristics of Renton's eastern border are varied and include (from north to south) the south flank of Cougar Mountain descending southward merging with the community of May Valley. The terrain then elevates south of May Valley to the communities of the East Renton Plateau before descending to the north bank of the Cedar River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 23.54 square miles (60.97 km²), of which 23.12 square miles (59.88 km²) is land and 0.42 square miles (1.09 km²) is water, most of which is the Cedar River.

Potential Annexation Areas (PAAs) include the communities of Fairwood southeast of Renton, the East Renton Plateau on the eastern edge of Renton, and West Hill northwest of Renton. These communities are large unincorporated urban areas that are encouraged by the King County Annexation Initiative to incorporate as cities or annex into neighboring cities. As of 2012, these three PAAs are not part of the City of Renton and are not included in its demographics or statistics.

Renton is one of the cities in the Puget Sound region with an independent street grid system. Road names beginning with sectional divisions (N 32nd Street) generally follow a latitudinal direction, while road names ending in a sectional direction (Duvall Ave NE) generally follow a longitudinal direction. Many of the avenues in the city are named in honor of other cities in Washington.

Renton places a strong emphasis on the health and wellness of its residents. The city is adorned with numerous parks and recreational spaces, such as Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, offering scenic views of Lake Washington and opportunities for outdoor activities like walking, jogging, and picnicking. The Renton Community Center is a focal point for fitness and community engagement, providing fitness classes, sports facilities, and wellness programs for residents of all ages. Moreover, Renton is served by high-quality healthcare facilities, including Valley Medical Center, ensuring that residents have access to comprehensive medical services. Barre3 is a popular spot for full-body workouts combining ballet, yoga, and Pilates. At LA Fitness, members can enjoy state-of-the-art gym facilities and personal training. Cedar River Yoga offers yoga classes for all levels, promoting physical and mental well-being. 

Top sites in Renton, WA are Renton History Museum, Thomas Teasdale Park, and Cedar River Trail Park

Population: 104,551 (2023). ZIP codes: 98055, 98056, 98057, 98058, 98059. Area code: 425. Elevation: 46–410 ft (14–125 m). Area: 25.23 sq mi (65.36 km²).

FAQs

What county is Renton, WA?

Renton is a city in King County, Washington, United States, and an inner-ring suburb of Seattle. Situated 11 miles (18 km) southeast of downtown Seattle, Renton straddles the southeast shore of Lake Washington, at the mouth of the Cedar River. As of the 2020 census, the population of Renton was 106,785, up from 90,927 at the 2010 census. The city is currently the 6th most populous municipality in greater Seattle and the 8th most populous city in Washington.

What are the demographics of Renton, WA?

Renton, WA is home to a population of 105k people, of which 87.3% are citizens. As of 2022, 28.1% of Renton, WA residents were born outside of the country (29.6k people). In 2022, there were 1.56 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (43k people) in Renton, WA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 27.5k Asian (non-Hispanic) and 8.78k Two+ (non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

What is the crime rate in Renton, WA?

With a crime rate of 50 per one thousand residents, Renton 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 20. Within Washington, more than 90% of the communities have a lower crime rate than Renton.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Renton

Neighborhood Scout

Data USA

Renton History Museum

Thomas Teasdale Park

Cedar River Trail Park

Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park

Renton Community Center

Valley Medical Center

Barre3

LA Fitness

Cedar River Yoga

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 (in the United States) immediately.