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Land for sale in King County, WA

King County Land

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You Can Still Buy Land In King County. You Just Have to Know Where to Look…

When most people think of Washington State, they think of Seattle. The Space Needle, Pike Place Market, the waterfront. They may think of Snoqualmie Falls, the majestic Cascade Range, or even Lake Washington. But what are they really thinking of? What they are really dreaming about is King County, Washington State’s most populated, and arguably one of its most beautiful counties. Washington State’s crown jewel, one of the best places to invest in land in King County.

History of King County Washington

History of King County Washington

Tacoma Washington History

Long before the Denny Party arrived on the schooner Exact and landed at Alki Point, Indigenous peoples lived off of and worked with the land that is now called King County. These Lushootseed-speaking people, the Duwamish Tribe, had 17 villages on or near Seattle where they lived in Longhouses, were sustained by salmon, shellfish, and berries, and traveled by cedar canoe.

Like most origin stories, the white settlers who arrived in the area likely would have perished if it were not for the help of the Indigenous peoples. The very people who had stewarded and revered this land since time immemorial.

By 1846, Great Britain ceded Pacific Northwest land to the United States, an area that would later become the Oregon Territory. And then the northern portion of it became the Washington Territory. And then not long after that: statehood.

A lovely essay on King County’s history explains that the Oregon Territorial Legislature created King County on December 22, 1852, and less than three months later when the Washington Territory was formed, King County became a part of that newly-designated area.

The city of Seattle grew. Born from a rough and tumble logging town with a deep water port and abundant timber to export, it remains as the epicenter of King County and all of Washington State.

Settlers flocked to the King County area for many reasons, most of which were pursuing opportunity and the ability to change their lives. If you surveyed buyers today on why they are looking to buy land in King County, Washington, they’ll likely tell you the very same story.

Tacoma Washington History

King County Namesake

King County Namesake

King County Courthouse, Seattle, 1927

Washington State is the only one of the 50 to be named after a United States President. History tells us that King County was originally named for William Rufus DeVane King, a senator from Alabama elected U.S. Vice President the year he died, in 1853.

The problem with William King though, was that he was a slave-holder and according to Ron Sims, King County Council member and driving force behind the 1986 namesake change, “Just doesn’t pass muster as one of America’s great leaders.”

So it was in 1986, and also in 1987, that King County would keep its name but replace the eponym and logo with civil rights leader and activist Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., upholding the standards of leadership, thoughtfulness, and progressivism that the county is known for.

King County Courthouse, Seattle, 1927

Unreal land in King County, WA

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Location

Map showing King County, Washington

Location

When most people think of Washington State, they think of Seattle. The Space Needle, Pike Place Market, the waterfront. They may think of Snoqualmie Falls, the majestic Cascade Range, or even Lake Washington. But what are they really thinking of? What they are really dreaming about is King County, Washington State’s most populated, and arguably one of its most beautiful counties. Washington State’s crown jewel, one of the best places to invest in land in King County.

King County, WA Demographics

King County, WA Demographics

Large group of people forming the shape of Washington

King County Facts
According to the 2020 Census report, over 2.2 million people reside in King County, a land area that is 2,116 square miles. The robust number of people calling King County home makes it the most populous county in Washington State, and the 12th most populous in the nation.

Many of the largest cities in Washington State are located in King County: Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, and Renton to name a few. The outskirts of these areas are still great places to buy land in King County where you can remain close to the action, yet still maintain your sanity with less traffic-clogged streets and a more rural and pastoral landscape.

Residents, current and prospective, are attracted to King County because of the economic opportunities it affords. With abundant jobs in the tech sector offered by giants like Microsoft and Amazon headquartering their operations in the county, they also join other mega-retailers like Costco and Starbucks in providing high-paying jobs to Washington workers.

Industry is big in the region too, with Boeing and Weyerhaeuser building airplanes and exporting timber for the benefit of King County residents and beyond.

The Census report states that the average household income in King County is $95,000, an important factor when it comes to living in a county with such a high cost of living. Thankfully, King County recognizes this and stipulates that its workers receive one of the highest minimum wages in the country.

Homeowners shared with the census report that the median cost of their mortgages was nearly $2,500 per month, and the average value of their owner-occupied housing units edged close to a half-million dollars. Add to that the cost of raw land, and you’ll need pretty deep pockets to buy land in King County and then build your dream home—but those who say it can’t be done definitely are not the people doing it.

Large group of people forming the shape of Washington

Why should you buy land in King County, WA?

Why should you buy land in King County, WA?

Kirkland Washington

Land In King County
If you have been dreaming and scheming your way to a plot of land to call home—you’re not alone. Buying raw land in King County is a solid investment and a fertile place to set down some roots to grow your family’s legacy.

Land within the major cities is still able to be found, but let's be honest: it’s pretty expensive. Savvy buyers will know just where to look though, on the outskirts of the county, in hidden pockets of towns, and by keeping an eagle eye on the MLS.

All hope is not lost when it comes to purchasing land in King County, however. Here are five great parts of the county where you can begin your search:

Kirkland Washington

Unreal Neighborhoods in King County, WA

Unreal Neighborhoods in King County, WA

Explore some of the best neighborhoods in King County, WA

Why King County?

Why King County?

Issaquah Washington

There’s something special about newly purchased raw land. Perhaps it’s observing how the light falls upon it throughout the year, so you can determine the best place to situate your future garden? Or maybe it’s seeing it during a storm to get a feel of which way the winds come from so you can best angle the roof of your dream home? Regardless of “wherever you land” in purchasing land in King County, you’ll be delighted in the fact that in a county with so much to offer, you can be the Country Mouse and the City Mouse and you don’t have to choose.

Issaquah Washington
FAQ
FAQ

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