Population and Demographics

As of the 2020 US Census, Kirkland had a population of 92,175 people. Kirkland is the 6th largest city in Washington state and is part of the Seattle metropolitan area. The racial makeup of Kirkland is predominantly white (75.4%), with sizable Asian (18.0%), Hispanic (6.9%), and African American (2.5%) populations as well. The median age in Kirkland is 36.8 years old. Kirkland has a highly educated population, with over 60% of adults holding at least a bachelor’s degree.

History

Kirkland was founded in 1888 by Peter Kirk, who purchased the land to build a steel mill. While the mill itself was never built, Kirkland grew as a suburb of Seattle due to its location on Lake Washington. Kirkland was officially incorporated in 1905 with a population of approximately 532 people. The opening of the Lake Washington Floating Bridge in 1940 connected Kirkland to Seattle and led to further residential and commercial development.

Some key events in Kirkland’s history include:

1888 – Peter Kirk purchases land and establishes the Kirkland Land and Development Company
1905 – Kirkland officially incorporates as a city
1940 – Lake Washington Floating Bridge connects Kirkland to Seattle
1968 – Kirkland annexes the neighborhood of Houghton
1999 – Kirkland becomes home to the headquarters of Google

Today, Kirkland is a thriving suburban city that has maintained a small-town feel while also attracting high tech companies and retail development.

Government

Kirkland has a council-manager form of government. The city council consists of seven members who pass legislation and appoint a city manager to oversee day-to-day operations. The current city manager is Kurt Triplett. The mayor is elected separately by voters and serves as chair of the city council. The current mayor of Kirkland is Penny Sweet, who was first elected in 2018. City Hall is located at 123 5th Ave in Kirkland.

Some of the main city government departments and services include:

Residents can get involved in local government by attending city council meetings, contacting elected officials, volunteering on boards and commissions, and voting in municipal elections.

Attractions and Landmarks

Some of the top attractions and landmarks in Kirkland include:

Marina Park – public park on Lake Washington with walking paths, concerts, and views of the lake and Seattle skyline.
Evergreen Cottage – historical home built in 1904 and restored/operated by the Kirkland Heritage Society.
Kirkland Performance Center – 350-seat theater that hosts concerts, lectures, performances, and events.
Outdoor Sculptures – over 30 pieces of public art scattered throughout Kirkland.
Google Kirkland Campus – Google’s offices in Kirkland served as headquarters from 2003-2022 and still house over 1,000 employees.

Kirkland’s parks, lakeside location, and pedestrian-friendly downtown make it popular for outdoor recreation. Major parks include Juanita Beach Park, O.O. Denny Park, and Carillon Point.

Economy

Kirkland has a robust economy centered around several key industries including:

Technology – Google, Tableau Software, and Wave Broadband have major office campuses in Kirkland. Many other tech companies are located in nearby Bellevue and Redmond.
Healthcare – EvergreenHealth Medical Center is a major regional hospital with over 350 beds. There are also numerous medical/dental clinics and offices.
Retail – Kirkland has several large shopping centers including Kirkland Parkplace and The Village at Totem Lake.
Services – As a suburban community, Kirkland’s economy includes many professional, financial, insurance, real estate, and other service sector businesses.
Tourism – Kirkland’s waterfront location and amenities help drive tourism and hospitality.

Some of the major employers in Kirkland include Google, EvergreenHealth, Lake Washington School District, City of Kirkland Government, and Wave Broadband. In 2019, Kirkland’s unemployment rate was very low at just 2.3%. Kirkland residents tend to be highly educated and have a median household income of over $117,000.

For more details on economic data and activity in Kirkland, visit the Kirkland Open Data Portal.

Education

Kirkland is served by the Lake Washington School District, which operates a number of public schools within the city:

Elementary Schools – Juanita Elementary, Kirk Elementary, Mark Twain Elementary, etc.
Middle Schools – Kirkland Middle School, Rose Hill Middle School.
High Schools – Juanita High School, Lake Washington High School.

There are also several private schools in Kirkland such as Eastside Preparatory School and Holy Family School. Kirkland is home to Lake Washington Institute of Technology, a public technical college that offers associates degrees in healthcare, technology, design, and other fields.

Transportation

Kirkland enjoys excellent transportation connections via roads, public transit, and waterways:

Major highways including I-405, SR-520, and I-90 are easily accessible from Kirkland.
The King County Metro bus system serves Kirkland with multiple routes.
Google and other companies run connector shuttles from Kirkland to offices in Seattle and Bellevue.
The Kirkland Transit Center offers connections between bus routes.
Passenger ferries and water taxis can take residents across Lake Washington to Seattle.
Kirkland has an extensive network of bike lanes, trails, and pedestrian paths.

The cross lake bridges and convenient freeways allow many Kirkland residents to commute to work in Seattle, Bellevue, and Redmond. However, Kirkland’s traffic congestion has been increasing in recent years due to rapid growth.

Housing

As a desirable Seattle suburb, Kirkland has high housing costs with median home values around $900,000. There is a mix of housing options including:

Single-family homes – Mostly built from 1950-1980, median value of $1.1 million.
Condominiums and apartments – More affordable options for renters and buyers.
Mixed use developments – Combining retail/office space with condos and apartments.
Retirement communities – Several located in Kirkland to serve seniors.

Due to Kirkland’s strong job market and amenities, the housing market is competitive with low vacancies and bidding wars common on available homes. There is concern that housing costs are making Kirkland unaffordable for lower and middle-income families leading to gentrification issues.

Culture and Recreation

Kirkland has a thriving arts and cultural scene anchored by amenities like the Kirkland Performance Center. Annual events include the Kirkland Concert Band Summer Concerts at Marina Park, the Kirkland Arts Festival, Kirkland Uncorked wine and art festival, and the Kirkland Salute to America 4th of July Celebration at Marina Park. The Downtown Kirkland Association promotes local businesses and activities through events like the Wednesday Market and Kirkland Summerfest.

Outdoor recreation is popular in Kirkland with miles of shoreline along Lake Washington. Activities include swimming at Houghton Beach, walking/biking along the Cross Kirkland Corridor, and boating on the lake. The city offers classes and sports leagues for youth and adults at the Peter Kirk and North Kirkland Community Centers. Major parks include O.O. Denny Park, Juanita Beach Park, Watershed Park, and Carillon Point. Professional sports teams based in Kirkland include the Seattle Seawolves rugby team.

Popular annual events:

4th of July Celebration
Kirkland Concert Band Summer Series
Kirkland Arts Festival
Kirkland Uncorked
Summerfest
Holiday Magic Festival and Tree Lighting

Facebook

Be sure to follow the City of Kirkland’s Facebook page to keep up with community news and events!

Kirkland, Washington

Population

As of the 2020 census, the population of Kirkland was 94,630 making it the 6th largest city in Washington state. Kirkland experienced rapid growth between 1970 to 2015, more than quadrupling in size during that time period. The city has become a hub for the high tech industry with companies like Google establishing a presence there.

Economy

Kirkland has a thriving economy anchored by several large employers in the technology and healthcare sectors. Some of the top employers in Kirkland include:

Google – The tech giant has a major campus in Kirkland after acquiring several companies based in the city.
Evergreen Health – A network of hospitals and clinics headquartered in Kirkland.
Costco – The retail giant has its headquarters in Kirkland.

Other major companies with a significant presence include Tableau Software, Valant, and Apttus. The city’s economic development plan focuses on supporting innovation and entrepreneurship, particularly in fields like technology, healthcare, and manufacturing.

Points of Interest

Kirkland has a vibrant downtown right on Lake Washington as well as several other attractions and things to do:

Downtown Kirkland – Has shopping, dining, entertainment, public art and seasonal activities like the Kirkland Summerfest.
Kirkland Summerfest – A major festival held each July with live music, beer garden, food and vendors.
Marina Park – Waterfront park with pedestrian pier, picnic areas, playground, and views of Lake Washington.
Heritage Park – Educational historic park with restored farmhouse, garden, and beach access.
Kirkland Waterfront – Scenic views of Lake Washington with pedestrian trails, public docks, and beaches.
Kirkland National Little League Headquarters – Located at Heritage Park. Houses the Casey Stengel Little League Museum.

Facebook

You can follow the latest news and events happening in Kirkland by liking the city’s Facebook page.

Sports

Kirkland is home to several top level sports teams and events. The Seattle Seawolves professional rugby team plays at Pop Keeney Stadium in Kirkland. The city also hosts the Lake Washington Youth Rugby Tournament, one of the largest high school rugby tournaments in the United States.