Mercer Island Real Estate

Mercer Island, City Guide

Mercer Island Community

The City of Mercer Island is part of King County, Washington. It is home to over 22,000 residents and ranks 7th in the state of Washington for per-capita incomg. The city has no neighboring communities because it is literally an island on Lake Washington. It is connected via Interstate 90 to Seattle on the west and Bellevue on the east.

Mercer Island Education

The highly acclaimed Mercer Island School District operates six schools on the island: three elementary schools (K-5), one middle school (6-8), one high school (9-12), and one alternative high school (9-12). Mercer Island High School students have consistently had the top average SAT scores for Washington public high schools and the top overall scores on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL).

Mercer Island is also home to the highly acclaimed St. Monica School (K-8), the French American School of Puget Sound (P-5) and the Northwest Yeshiva High School (9-12).

There are also a number of preschools on Mercer Island (members of the Mercer Island Preschool Association).

Mercer Island History

Mercer Island was first settled by non-Natives in the 1870s. It was named after early visitors, the Mercer brothers, who rowed from Seattle often for berry picking, hunting and fishing. The first large settlement was on the northwest side of Mercer Island, called "East Seattle". C.C. Calkins built a resort, the Calkins Hotel, in 1889 in East Seattle. This resort led to the development of a ferry dock (Calkins landing), which in turn led to a growing population. While the Calkins hotel burned to the ground in 1908, the ferry service continued, and a small business district prospered. In the 1930s, George W. Lightfoot began campaigning for a bridge to Seattle. The Lake Washington Floating Bridge was built in 1940, and this spurred the move of the business district to its present location.

The City of Mercer Island incorporated on July 5, 1960. It included all the land area of the island with the exception of the 70 acre (280,000 m²) business district. Just over a month later, on August 9, the business district incorporated as the Town of Mercer Island, wholly surrounded by the City. The two municipalities finally merged on May 19, 1970.

Mercer Island News

1. Seattle Humane: The MaxMobile is Headed Your Way with Adoptable Animals - Seattle Post-Intelligencer

   Can't make it out to our shelter in Bellevue? No worries! The MaxMobile , Seattle Humane Society's bright yellow "schoolbus for animals," will bring our adorably adoptable animals to YOU! Come meet the MaxMobile full of cats, dogs, and other critters at the locations below.

   
   
2. Team Cowboy Launches New Social Networking Features for Managing Sports Teams - PRWeb

   Seattle, WA March 3, 2010 -- Team Cowboy, a leader in online sports management, announces immediate availability of social networking features for users and teams.

   
   
3. Team Cowboy Launches New Social Networking Features for Managing Sports Teams - PRWeb

   Seattle, WA March 3, 2010 -- Team Cowboy, a leader in online sports management, announces immediate availability of social networking features for users and teams.

   
   
4. 19 - The Herald

   IRS certified AARP volunteers will prepare and electronically file income tax returns for low-middle income tax payers, with special emphasis on taxpayers over the age of 60, for free.

   
   
5. Lobbyists pounding legislators over taxes - The Seattle Times

   Funny, the scourge of our nation is helping to keep taxes lower. I wonder why? Could it be they are trying to get a piece of the pie for themselves? seattlelender Mercer Island, WA 9 comments Folks just spend some time researching on http://www.fiscal.wa.gov/ - the state's own budget transparency website.

   
   
6. 4 - The Herald

   Local group of business owners/professionals meeting weekly to share leads and professional development.

   
   

Mercer Island Recreation

The Mercer Island Parks and Recreation Department takes pride in providing the highest quality facilities and services in partnership with the community to enhance livability on Mercer Island."

Comprehensive and diverse services include recreation, athletic, social, art, special event, park and facility operations/maintenance, open space acquisition, urban forestry management and other services.

Services are provided to preschool age children, youth, teen, adult, family and senior populations through partnerships with community agencies, businesses and institutions.

With over 35 parks and open space areas boasting over 400 acres and trails in excess of 50 miles, the Department maintains

Mercer Island Weather