Kent is the second city (Seattle being the first) to be incorporated in King County in 1890. Kent had always been known for its farmlands and pastures and this began to change with development in the 1960s and 1970s. Today, Kent is one of the largest warehouse, distribution and manufacturing areas in the state and currently ranks as the third most industrial cities in the nation. Kent is the seventh most populated city in the state and the second largest city in South King County with a population of about 84,650. The population is expected to grow to 100,000 within the next few years. The city’s total area is about 29 square miles.
Kent is one of the most industrial cities in the nation mainly due to its strategic location next to major transportation routes and metropolitan areas. Kent is located halfway between the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma – 18 miles to the south of Seattle and 18 miles to the north of Tacoma and10 minutes away from Sea-Tac International Airport.
Kent has invested over $87 million and leveraged about $120 million for three east/west transportation corridors linking Kent businesses with Interstate 5. Public transportation can also be conveniently used to access major metropolitan areas. Kent is central to the King County Metro Transit with lines to various cities in King County including downtown Seattle.
Ben Wolters
Economic Development Director
220 Fourth Ave. S.
Kent, WA 98032
(253) 856-5703
EconomicDevelopment@ci.kent.wa.us
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| Total Population |
| Year |
Population |
| 2007 |
86,660 |
| 2006 |
85,650 |
| 2005 |
84,920 |
| 2000 |
79,524 |
|
| Median Household Income |
| 2000 |
$46,046 |
| 1990 |
$32,341 |
|
| Breakdown by Age (2000 Census) |
| 0 - 17 |
28% |
| 18 - 64 |
65% |
| 65+ |
7% |
|
|
| Ethnic Distribution (2000 Census) |
| White or other |
74.0% |
| Asian |
10.0% |
| African American |
8.0% |
| Hispanic |
8.0% |
|
| Major Businesses |
|
| Mikron Industries |
King County Regional Justice Center |
| Kent School District |
Hexcel Corporation |
| REI |
City of Kent |
| Sysco Food Services |
| Housing Totals |
| |
Single-Family |
Multi-Family |
Total |
| # of Units (2000) |
14,747 |
17,787 |
32,534 |
| New Residential (2006) |
302 |
17 |
319 |
|
Kent is one of the major warehouse, distribution and manufacturing centers in North America with more than 45 million square feet of industrial space. Companies are attracted to the area not just for its proximity to major transportation centers but also because of its low taxes (no Business and Opportunity tax) and also the city’s state of the art permit center. Kent is also expected to become a major regional banking center within the next 10 years. It is currently the home to a diverse economic base with corporate offices, retail, and warehouse, industrial and manufacturing companies. It also has the largest concentration of King County government services outside of Seattle and has become a focal point of international commerce with a wide range of employment opportunities. Kent Valley is also the location of a growing volume of class A wired office space and one of the largest warehouse and distribution centers in North America. Some of the companies that have settled in Kent include one of the Boeing plants, Flow International Corporation, Mikron Industries, Starbucks Roasting Plant, Oberto Sausage Company and REI. Kent is also attractive to global corporations as it is a sister city to cities such as Castlereagh (North Ireland, United Kingdom), Kaibura (Japan), Kherson (Ukraine), Yangzhou (China), El Grullo (Jalisco, Mexico) and Sunnfjozd (Norway).
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