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Renton, Washington |
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Renton is situated 11 miles (21 km) southeast of Seattle, Washington, Renton straddles the southeast shore of Lake Washington. Founded in the 1860s, Renton became a supply town for the Newcastle coal fields. The city is now a center of manufacturing and technology companies, such as Boeing, Paccar, and several dot-com companies. The City of Renton's population was 90,927 as of April 1, 2010 United States Census. Renton currently contains the 9th largest population in the state, and 4th largest in King County. The town of Renton was founded as a farming site by Erasmus M. Smithers who discovered coal there and brought in Charles D. Shattuck as coal mine operator. Renton was incorporated as a city on September 6,1901 when coal mining and timber processing were the most important economic industries in the area. The town was prone to flooding from the Cedar and Black Rivers. In 1916 the completion of the Lake Washington Ship Canal lowered the surface of Lake Washington several feet which consequently eliminated drainage of Lake Washington through the Black River. The Cedar River was then diverted to drain into Lake Washington instead of the Black River. The culmination of these actions reduced the threat of annual flooding. The population sharply increased during World War II when Boeing built their Renton Factory to produce the B-29 Superfortress. The factory has continued to operate since then, and still produces 737 aircraft. It also produced the Jetfoil and Pegasus class hydrofoils in the 1970s. As of 2001, 40% of all commercial aircraft in the air were assembled in Renton. Boeing remains the largest employer in Renton, which is home to over 10,000 employees and three of the aerospace giant's six major business divisions: Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Boeing Capital Corporation and the Shared Services Group. The local newspaper in the 1970s, the Renton Chronicle, proclaimed the city the jet capital of the world. Paccar has traditionally been a large employer in the city as well with its Kenworth Truck plant located in Renton's industrial area on the south end of Lake Washington. Game company Wizards of the Coast also is headquartered in Renton. Providence Health System has centralized certain of its operations in Renton and according to Mayor Koelker's 2007 State of the City address, expects to eventually have 1,000 workers at Southgate Office Park. Online social-networking website Classmates.com is also located in the aforementioned Southgate Office Park. Recently, owing to its location at the confluence of three major freeways (I-5, I-405, and SR 167), Renton's economic development has lured a number of big-box retailers that draw consumers from around the region, including Fry's Electronics and IKEA. Renton has a unique and well-loved institution in its library, built in the European style directly over the Cedar River. The residents of Renton were enthralled by the 1964 prize-winning design for the new library that would span the river in the Liberty Park grounds. Donald W. Custer, former mayor of Renton who championed the project, says, "We were limited in the sites we could choose. We had to build on city property and couldn't find the land. Then the architect, David Johnston, said we should do what they do in Europe and build it across the river." When the new library opened in 1966 more than 1,000 Renton residents gathered to celebrate. Designed by Johnston-Campanella & Co., the Cedar River Library stretches 80 feet across the Cedar River. 12 columns support the library in the river and the reinforced river banks support each end. The front walkway is a bridge deck and long-time residents fondly recall leaning on the rail watching the salmon run up the river. The library has been featured in advertisements, one in the 1966 Journal of the American Institute of Architects. "Plywood and Tru-joists were the most economical solution to the unique, over-a-river design", the architects commented. State-of-the-art construction materials (in 1966) proved their worth when the library weathered the Nisqually earthquake. Most recently, the iconic building has been the center of much controversy. Residents want to keep the landmark one-of-a-kind library in its park setting and have sponsored a petition to that effect. This is only the second time the petition process has been used in Renton. Coordinates: 47°29'12"N 122°11'43"W |
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PO.1060.0011 - Interior of Dobson store in Renton print. John Dobson, father and Bob.
Print, Photographic
Record Type: Photo
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