AUBURN CITY

Auburn is a city of 67,005 (2008)[1] located in the U.S. state of Washington, in King County with some spill-over into Pierce County. Though founded before either Seattle or Tacoma (Seattle metropolitan area) had suburbs, Auburn is now often thought of as a suburb of these two cities. Auburn is roughly bordered by the suburbs of Federal Way, Pacific, and Algona to the west, Sumner to the south, unincorporated King County to the east, and Kent to the north. The Muckleshoot Indian Reservation is nearby.

Auburn has an extensive system of parks, open space and urban trails comprised of 28 developed parks, over 23 miles (37 km) of trails (including Auburn's 4.5-mile (7.2 km) portion of the Inter-urban Trail for bikers, walkers, runners and skaters), and almost 247 acres (1.00 km²) of open space for passive and active recreation.

FEDERAL WAY CITY

Federal Way is a city in King County, Washington, United States. Federal Way is considered a commuter town by some people and is located between Seattle and Tacoma. Its western boundary is Puget Sound. It is bordered by Des Moines on the north, Kent, Auburn, unincorporated King County, and Milton on the east and Tacoma and Fife on the south. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 83,259. The population estimates for 2005 are 85,800 making it Washington’s 7th largest city.

Originally a logging settlement, the area was first called "Federal Way" in 1929, when Federal Way School District #210 was created. The name derived from U.S. Route 99 (now State Route 99 or Pacific Highway South), completed that decade, which ran through the area on its way from Everett and Seattle to Tacoma. Federal Way High School was built, and about 20 years later, the name was adopted by the local Chamber of Commerce. The city was incorporated on February 28, 1990.

Federal Way is home to Weyerhaeuser, the largest private owner of softwood timberland in the world. Weyerhaeuser has opened much of its land to the public, including two botanical gardens: the Rhododendron Species Foundation and Botanical Garden, and the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection. Federal Way is also home to the US office headquarters of World Vision.
Other attractions in the city include the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center, which features an Olympic size swimming pool and had been used for the Goodwill Games in 1990, and Celebration Park, with sports fields and wooded trails. The city has also developed many lake front and neighborhood parks and playgrounds.
Wild Waves Theme Park, the largest amusement park in the region, is known as Wild Waves and Enchanted Village. It is located on the south side of the city and is the Seattle area's only permanent amusement park. Six Flags purchased Wild Waves in December 2000. However after low sales, Six Flags sold the park in April of 2007 to Parc Management LLC of Jacksonville, Fl for $31.75 million.
Federal Way is locally identified by its 1990s semi-urban development, characterized by landscaped off-street multi-structure apartment complexes and shopping centers. The Commons at Federal Way (previously Sea Tac Mall), the city's largest and only indoor shopping center, is located on S 320th St. and Pacific Hwy South (State Route 99) near the city's main Interstate 5 exit.
Major city and state parks:
Steel Lake Park - located on S 312th St just east of Pacific Hwy S; large lakefront area with picnic areas, playground, and boat launch.
Celebration Park - on 11th Ave S just south of S 324th St; with sports fields and wooded trails, and Independence Day fireworks.
Dumas Bay Centre - Has a beautiful 12 acre park on site with a conference and retreat facility. This park sits on the Puget Sound and looks toward the Olympic Mountain chain.

Dash Point State Park - on SW Dast Point Rd at the west end of town; the city's only developed waterfront park, with hiking trails and campground. Five Mile Lake - on Military Rd S and S 364th St in the unincorporated area on the east side of town.
West Hylebos Wetlands Park - at S 348th St and 4th Ave S, hiking trails through wetlands.The BPA Trail extending from the entrance to Celebration Park west to approximately 18th Ave SW, then south to the Pierce County border. The trail is paved and lies under the Bonneville Power Administration transmission line.

TUKWILA CITY

Tukwila is a city in King County, Washington, about 6 miles south of Seattle.

The earliest people in Tukwila were the Duwamish who made their homes along the Black and Duwamish Rivers. They named Tukwila for the lush forests of hazelnut trees which grew around them. The Duwamish lived in cedar longhouses, hunted and fished, picked wild berries and used the river for trade with neighboring peoples.
In 1853, the area was settled by Joseph Foster, a Canadian pioneer who had traveled to the northwest from Wisconsin. Foster would become known as the "Father of Tukwila" and serve King County, Washington Territory in the legislature for 22 years. Today, Foster's legendary home on the banks of the Duwammish River is preserved as Fort Dent Park, as it also served as a military base during 1850s Indian Wars. Foster's name is also memorialized in the Foster neighborhood of Tukwila where Foster High School is located.
In the early years of "Foster, Washington", the small village would grow into an agricultural center and a vital trading point in the upper-Duwammish River Valley. Population began to grow as well, and expanded industry would soon follow. Although with the largely farm-oriented commerce in Tukwila, other businesses found fertile land in which to grow from.
Early electric rail trains traveled along Interurban Avenue in Tukwila, connecting to Renton and a line to Tacoma. The Interurban Railroad operated a commuter line from 1902 to 1928, making it possible to travel from Seattle to Tacoma in less than an hour. The first Macadam paved road in Washington State was in Tukwila and bears the name of this new method of street paving. One of the earliest paved military roads is located in the city.
Tukwila was incorporated as a city in 1908.

Tukwila’s location at the confluence of rivers, freeways and railroads has determined its destiny as a center of commerce. Westfield Southcenter (formerly Southcenter Mall), Puget Sound's largest shopping complex, is located in Tukwila, as well as a number of Boeing corporation facilities. Tukwila is also the location of several Internet and Corporate datacenters, including Microsoft, InterNAP, The University of Washington, Savvis, AboveNet, [1]digital.forest, HopOne, and Fortress Colocation, these are mostly located in [2] Sabey Corporation's Intergate.Seattle campus near Boeing Field. It is only 5 minutes from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Approximately 45,000 people work in Tukwila every day, while only about 17,000 live there.

RENTON CITY

Renton is a city in King County, Washington, USA, 13 miles (21 km) southeast of Seattle. The population was 50,052 at the 2000 census. The Washington State Office of Financial Management estimates the 2007 Renton population at 60,290. Effective March 1, 2008, the Benson Hill communities added approximately 18,000 residents for a total population approaching 80,000 [3]. Renton's Growth Management Act Planning Area, including the city proper and the Potential Annexation Areas, PAAs, of Fairwood, Skyway, West Hill, and East Renton Highlands had a population of over 110,000 in 2000.

Throughout the past 5 years[when?], Renton has worked hard[citation needed] to shed its image as a blue collar city that is stuck in the past. Today, many new housing and retail developments are currently under construction or are in the planning stages. The city has attracted big names throughout the years such as Boeing, IKEA, Kenworth, the Federal Reserve Bank, FAA, Seattle Seahawks Headquarters and the proposed King County Events Center which would have been the new home of the Seattle Sonics NBA franchise and the Seattle Storm WNBA Franchise. The downtown core has seen the biggest impact of revitalization throughout the past few years, as a new transit center was constructed as well as many high-end condominiums and a farmers market. The biggest development in city history is currently under construction along the south shores of Lake Washington near Boeing. Known as "The Landing", this 68-acre urban development will bring many new restaurants and retailers to the city[citation needed]. The City has an annexation plan that would expand the city to over 130,000 in population. A resolution to annex one such area, a nearby plateau area referred to as Fairwood, was defeated in a special election.[6] The resolution to annex Benson Hill passed in a recent election adding approximately 18,000 residents to the city effective March 1, 2008.[7]

COVINGTON CITY

Covington is a city in King County, Washington, United States. Covington was officially incorporated as a city on August 31, 1997. In 2006, new Covington downtown businesses included a new Wal-Mart, a Kohls, a Carl's Jr, an Applebees. 2008 brought the newly opened Red Robin, Cutter's Point, and Home Depot in the new shopping center next to Jenkins Creek Elementary School. Fast growth is expected to continue in the area due to the continued widening and modifications done on State Route 18. New businesses arriving in 2008 include a Costco behind the Fred Meyer.

Covington is a great place to live, work, shop and play! Covington is close to the Puget Sound with views of Mount Rainier. As a young city, incorporated in 1997, Covington is proud of its family-oriented, small-town character and diverse commercial opportunities. Covington is committed to being a city where the residents, businesses and civic leaders partner together to maintain a strong sense of peace and community.

KENT CITY

Kent is a city located in King County, Washington, United States. The second largest city in south King County and the eighth largest in the state, Kent has the third largest industrial area in the United States[citation needed]. Often considered an outlying suburb of Seattle, Kent is the corporate home for companies such as REI and Oberto Sausage. Nearby towns include Renton and Tukwila to the north, Covington to the east, Federal Way, Des Moines and SeaTac to the west, and Auburn to the south.

Kent was officially incorporated on May 28, 1890 with a population of 793, the second city incorporated in King County after Seattle. Kent was formerly known as Titusville, as evidenced by a Titusville Station sign on Gowe St.
Prior to development in the 1960s and 1970s, the Kent area was known for its fertile farmland and verdant pastures. It was once called the "Lettuce Capital of the World."

Kent's extensive park system includes over 60 parks, miniparks, playfields, skateparks, greenbelts, and other related facilities. These parks range in size from as little as 4,300 square feet (400 m²) to over 160 acres (0.65 km²).

In 2003, Kent was named Sports Illustrated's Sportstown of the year for Washington. In January of 2006, a major new entertainment center, known as Kent Station, opened in downtown Kent adjacent to the transit station of the same name. Kent Station is the realization of the City of Kent's vision to create a destination downtown that is the community's focal point and identity. Kent Station is a $100 million, 470,000-square-foot (44,000 m²) retail, education, entertainment and residential project. The project is strategically located adjacent to Sound Transit's Sounder Commuter Rail Station and parking garage, Kent's existing downtown and the King County Regional Justice Center. It includes a 14-screen AMC Theatres multiplex cinema, restaurants such as the Ram Restaurant & Brewery, Johnny Rockets, Pizzeria Fondi, Chipotle Mexican Grill and many clothing shops and other forms of entertainment. There are plans to add to Kent Station over the next few years including the new Kent Events Center (formerly known as Amiga), which will be the new home for the Western Hockey League team, the Seattle Thunderbirds starting in 2009. There is currently debate about whether or not there is enough road and parking infrastructure in place to handle the anticipated increase in traffic volume these projects will bring. The concerns in particular are along the valley corridors, such as Smith and James Streets.