History
The name "Issaquah" appears to be an Anglicized version of the Native American’s spoken word "Isquoh", meaning "the sound of birds". It is said that migratory peoples gathering food in and around Lake Sammamish would imitate the sound of local waterfowl taking flight.

The town originally was incorporated under the name Gilman, which honored Daniel Hunt Gilman, who was responsible for bringing the railroad to the area in 1889. It wasn’t until 1899 that the town requested permission from the Washington Legislature to change the name to Issaquah.

Despite the steady growth, Issaquah remained a relatively isolated community until the 1940 opening of the Lake Washington floating bridge. Before 1940, the population fluctuated between 500 and 1,000. By 1962, Issaquah had 2,000 residents, and by 1968, it jumped to more than 3,500. Today the population numbers exceed 11,000 and is continuing to grow.

Description
Issaquah has developed into a bustling residential community located on I-90 approximately 18 miles East of downtown Seattle. Many of its residents are drawn here by Issaquah’s scenic beauty, located at the base of the Cascade Mountains. As you drive out I-90 toward Issaquah much of what you see is undisturbed forests.

Residents
The City of Issaquah has approximately 10,000 residents and covers an area of 10.85 square miles. Because of the large number of planned communities Issaquah has one of the largest concentrations of young families in the area. Many of the residents are young professionals that want the suburban lifestyle away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Issaquah offers a short commute to Bellevue and a 30-45 minute commute into Seattle .

Fun Stuff
Issaquah is a community-oriented town that hosts major events such as "Salmon Days" during the first weekend in October, in addition to 4th of July activities, which include a town parade and fun contests. The 488-seat Village Theatre, completed in 1995, produces a nationally acclaimed mainstage season of family favorite musicals, comedies and dramas. The company continues to use its 1914 vintage theater for original musicals in development, and as the year-round home of Kidstage productions.

Numerous lakes provide many recreational opportunities. Snoqualmie Pass is a thirty minute drive, and offers good skiing. The many trails in the Issaquah foothills have earned the City the title of "Trailhead City."

There are a variety of recreation and entertainment facilities for community and social gatherings. These include a Community Hall, the Julius Boehm Swimming Pool, Tibbetts Creek Manor regional conference center (used for cultural and social events), Tibbetts Valley Park (a major athletic facility) and the Issaquah Community Center (used for athletic programs, youth, senior, cultural and civic activities).

Average Rent: $$

Primary Housing:

Medium Apartment Buildings

Large Apartment Buildings

Single-Family Homes

Condominiums

Commute Times:

Bellevue 15 minutes

Downtown Seattle 30 minutes

Issaquah is located directly east on I-90 from Seattle. This area has experienced some of the most concentrated residential development in our region in the last two decades. Planned communities and suburban development dominate this area with some early- and mid-century development close to downtown Issaquah.

The rental housing in Issaquah consists of larger, sprawling, newer condominium and apartment complexes along with a significant number of single-family homes available for rent in this suburban community. Pricing in this area is slightly lower than Bellevue, Redmond and Kirkland which is indicative of the more distant location from the city centers of Bellevue and Seattle. Many find this trade off well worth it and enjoy Issaquah's family-friendly environment and its quick access to skiing at Snoqualmie pass and the recreation east of the Cascade Mountains.

Due to the timing of the development of this area early century, vintage properties are virtually non-existent.