A Brief History of Renton
Among the first European settlers in Renton were Henry Tobin and his wife Diana. Erasmus M. Smithers was credited to the founding and establishment of the town in 1875, an entrepreneur who was attracted to the town because of its vicinity to coal mines. Smithers named Renton in honor of Captain William Renton, a local lumber and shipping merchant who invested heavily in the coal trade.
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. Because Renton is located at the confluence of three freeways (I-5, I-405 and SR 167), Renton’s economic development team has lured a number of specialty retailers that draw consumers from around the region, including Fry’s Electronics and IKEA. The Renton Public Library was built directly over the Cedar River in 1966. Port Quendall, a land parcel in north Renton, is home to the Virginia Mason Athletic Center (VMAC), housing the Seattle Seahawks Headquarters and training facility that opened in August 2008. The Renton Transit Center was built in the early 1970s.
Some notable people that are from Renton include:
- Clint Eastwood: an actor, filmmaker, musician and politician that became a cultural icon of masculinity. He was a lifeguard in Renton Kennydale Beach in 1949, 1950, and 1953.
- Jimi Hendrix: a rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter. His mainstream career lasted only four years, but he is widely regarded as one of the most influential guitarists in history and one of the most celebrated musicians of the 20th century. Hendrix is buried in Renton’s Greenwood Memorial Park.
- Sam Longoria: a Hollywood producer-director and sound engineer. Longoria photographed Ronald Reagan in the White House for a documentary.
- Joshua Farris: a former competitive figure skater. He is the 2015 Four Continents silver medalist, the 2013 World Junior champion, a two-time Junior Grand Prix Final medalist (silver in 2012, bronze in 2011), and the 2010 U.S. national junior silver medalist.
- Jamal Crawford: an NBA player for the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Los Angeles Clippers. Crawford resides in Renton during his off-season.
Renton Today
Today, Renton is the place where businesses and families thrive. With over 2,000 software companies in a 30-mile radius and over 2,800 acres of parks and playgrounds. The Renton School District is one of only 35 in the state of Washington to receive the “What Parents Want” award. Renton’s affordability makes the city an attractive place to call home. Compared to its neighbors (Seattle, Issaquah, Redmond, and Bellevue), Renton has the lowest median home price. From a business perspective, Renton’s land costs and lease rates are among the best in King County, and with low local business and occupation tax, businesses keep more of their earnings. The top employers in Renton include Boeing Company, Valley Medical Center, Renton School District, and Wizards of the Coast.
Some places to visit in Renton include:
- Gene Coulon Memorial Park
57 acres of water-related recreational enjoyment at the southeast corner of Lake Washington. Amenities include eight boat-launch lanes, four picnic shelters, horseshoe pits, a fishing pier, a 900-foot pier/water walk with picnic floats, and a summer swimming area.
- Cedar River Park
A 23-acre community park that includes a multi-use field with a baseball diamond; the Henry Moses Aquatic Center that houses numerous water structures and activities; the Renton Community Center, a full-service recreation center; the Carco Theatre, a 300-seat facility used for business meetings, seminars, and receptions; and Cedar River Trail access.
- Meadow Crest Playground
An all-inclusive playground – touted as the Pacific Northwest’s greatest playground – that is a vibrant and colorful outdoor space. Kids of all ages can spin on an open frisbee, swing in a saucer, climb a caterpillar, bang on oversize drums, and more.
Your Trusted Local German Auto Maintenance and Repair Shop
Like most Americans, Renton residents rely on their cars to get from one place to another. When the time comes to get their BMW, Mini or Audi serviced, they come to Eastside Bavarian in Issaquah. Eastside Bavarian has been serving those in the Greater Eastside and their German cars since 2003. Here are a few reasons why you should choose Eastside Bavarian as your German Car Service Specialist:
- We will act with integrity and operate with transparency.
- We will always provide honest and straightforward repair estimates to our customers.
- We will always strive to provide a correct diagnosis and effective repair the first time.
- We will continuously train our technicians for the vehicles in which we specialize.
If you are in Renton or surrounding areas, feel free to come to Eastside Bavarian in Issaquah today! You can give us a call at 425-391-1990 or schedule an appointment with us online.
