Federal Way,
Washington occupies twenty-one square miles of scenic
King County’s southwestern corner. Situated between
Green River Valley and
Puget Sound, Federal Way, incorporated as a city in 1990, exhibits some of
the finest scenery found along the
nation’s
Pacific Coast. Federal Way was named in honor of U.S. Highway 99 which is
now called Washington State Route 99. Interstate 5 and Highways 18 and 509 also
serve the city.
This community that began as a small logging
settlement, now boasts nearly 3,200 flourishing businesses located within its
borders. The headquarters of
Fortune 500 companies such as
Weyerhaeuser and
World Vision are also located here. Other well known companies include
Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc. (T.O.T.E) and
St. Francis Hospital, which is ranked among
America’s top 100 hospitals.
At the time of the
2000 Census, Federal Way was home to 83,259 residents, making Federal Way
one of WA’s top ten most populous cities. Located 8 miles north of downtown
Tacoma and 25 miles south of
Seattle's downtown, Federal Way serves as a bedroom community for both.
Close proximity to
Puget Sound also affords convenient access to some of the nation’s most
vital international trade routes via the ports of
Olympia,
Tacoma, and
Seattle.
Puget Sound stretches inland nearly fifty miles from the Pacific and flows
through an intricate system of channels, inlets, and islands, forming WA’s
coastal border. In addition to its vital deep water ports, Puget Sound affords
the perfect location for bird watching, boating, hiking and kayaking. The
Washington Ferry System provides access throughout the Sound, including all
the various islands located there. This visually stunning region, where views
include the
Cascade Mountains and the 14,410 foot snow-covered peak of
Mount Rainier, lies in close proximity to Washington State’s numerous
wilderness regions. Federal Way showcases its spectacular scenery with 28
developed parks and 19 open-space parks. Parks include
Dash Point State Park,
Five Mile Lake, and
West Hylebos Wetlands Park. Residents also have access to The BPA
Trail and West Campus Trail that together cover 3.5 miles.
Federal Way boasts
Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center, with an Olympic sized swimming
pool, and
Wild Wave Theme Park, the region’s largest amusement park. Local shopping
opportunities include
The Commons at Federal Way. Additional opportunities for recreation exist
in nearby cities. Popular regional destinations include
Lake Washington, the
Museum of Glass, the
Space Needle, and
Washington State History Museum.
Federal Way,
Washington features an outstanding
public school district with 23 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, and 5
high schools. Students also have several
private and parochial schools from which to choose. The Puget Sound area
teems with opportunities for higher education. These facilities include
DeVry University,
Highline Community College, and several campuses of the
University of Washington.
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