Shoreline
Like many other cities, Shoreline came into existence because early settlers and farmers worked hard to preserve the community in the 1880s. But Shoreline also was known for its merriment. Beginning in 1916, Echo Lake was a popular bathing beach, and during frosty winter weather, the lake was used for ice skating.
Back then, most of the people who lived in Shoreline worked in other cities. Work in Shoreline was mostly at lumber mills and farms.
For most of its history, Shoreline was an unincorporated area governed by King County, relying on countywide elected officials to manage growth. As a result, Shoreline never developed a real downtown, and its main commercial drag is the busy Aurora Avenue North, cluttered with stores, car dealers and restaurants. The state Transportation Department has named part of the Aurora corridor that runs through Shoreline as one of the most dangerous traffic stretches in the state, and it had been troubled by crime.
In 1995, residents voted to incorporate Shoreline as a city, partly to avoid annexation by neighboring Seattle. Some feared that if Seattle swallowed up the community, Seattle Public Schools would take over Shoreline's well-regarded school district. Today, as in the past, Shoreline's schools are its biggest draw.
Shoreline has a mix of wealthy waterfront and more modest communities. Some, such as Richmond Beach, try to offer the subtle comforts of country life in a quasi-urban setting.
With nearly 400 acres of parklands, Shoreline offers views of Puget Sound, nature trails and swimming pools.