Central District Seattle: The Emerald City′s Best Blend

The Central District Seattle is a culturally explorative and beautiful section of the Emerald City. Located to the east of the business hub that is downtown Seattle and south by southeast from Capitol Hill, the residential respite rests on dramatic hills that will make you pay attention to every curve. You can find a bevy of lovely buildings, great restaurants, and wonderful people around every corner.

Seattle's Best Blend

The cultural breakdown and demographics of the district's population have fluctuated dramatically throughout the years. Americans of European, Jewish, Japanese, and African descent have all made notable impacts on the culture and feel of the community in the area. Due to this mixture of people and beliefs, the Central District has played a prominent role in cultural movements like the push for Civil Rights in the 60s. While the housing prices have traditionally been less than surrounding areas like Madrona, a cascade of property value increases has been running north to south through the area, coinciding with a shift to a more European population. Still, the Central District has one of the largest concentrations of African-Americans in the Northwest and an extremely broad selection of people from all around the world.

Central District Seattle: The Early Years

The land where the Central District currently sits was originally cleared of forest back in the middle of the 19th century. Its proximity to areas of business and trade lent it well to its role as a residential area, and the ingenuity of the Pacific Northwest made itself apparent in how the residents took advantage of the naturally steep hills - cable cars were used to make transit up and down manageable without breaking your back, and Mill Street was so named because of the way logs were slid down it to their final destination. It has remained a place where people have built their lives and raised their families to this day.

A Western Metropolis with Exquisite Architecture

A fair portion of the current buildings still in existence can trace their origins to the late 19th and early 20th century. Compared to other portions of the city, the residential structures are some of the oldest to remain in existence. The housing types run from simple pioneer houses to lavish Victorians, sprawling apartment buildings, and petite bungalows. Given the predominantly residential use of the district, most of the notable landmarks in the region are churches, homes, and parks. The Langston Hughes Cultural Arts Center on 17th Avenue, for example, was made from an old synagogue constructed in 1912. Great social works like Providence Hospital (1911) and the Douglass Truth Public Library (1914) help preserve the people and history of the area. There are also several parks that embrace the natural beauty of Washington's temperate climate, such as Powell Barnett Park on Martin Luther King Jr. Way or the Edwin T. Pratt Park on the corner of 20th and Yesler.

A Diverse History of Art and Music

A number of great people have been forged and molded by their time spent in Central District. Jimi Hendrix, one of the most recognizable names in music, was raised there until he left to join the army in 1961. Although he wouldn't reach his legendary status until after he left the city, Jimi's guitar skills began developing on the streets of Seattle, leaving an indelible imprint. Bruce Lee is another one-time resident of the Central District, although his time in the city came later in his life when he attended the University of Washington. His film work took place elsewhere, but his legacy as one of the greatest martial arts teachers and as the founder of Jeet Kune Do began here. Perhaps most impressively, a young Quincy Jones would call Seattle his home before he would go on to spend over half a century accumulating an outstanding number of Grammy awards and nominations for his work in the music and entertainment industry.

Eat 'Em Up

Whether you're on Cherry, Union, or 23rd, you won't have to go far to find a place to sit down and grab some of the best food in the country. Like every portion of Seattle, the Central District loves to eat. Right on 23rd street, Ezell's Chicken serves up some of the finest fried fowl in the country; so amazing, in fact, that Oprah has called it her favorite place in the world for fried chicken, sweet potato pies, and mashed potatoes. Over on Cherry Street, you can get some no-nonsense charred meat at the Barbeque Pit. If you're looking for something a little more high-end, Seven Beef Steakhouse on Jefferson has soul-satisfying hunks of cow flesh, and Restaurant Zoe on Union has a robust mix of unique and interesting dishes like grilled English quail with leek fritters fried in duck fat or the decadent chocolate root beer cake for dessert.

In With the New

Now, people from the surrounding areas and over the globe are realizing just how spectacular the Central District in Seattle is, and they are flocking to the neighborhood in droves. Not everyone is happy with the influx of newcomers, but the addition of new people and new resources has been a source of strength for the community since its inception over a century ago. Buildings which have been neglected are being renovated and replaced with newer structures that embody Seattle's drive towards beauty and sustainability. New businesses and renewed vigor are pouring through the streets, and the future of the Central District looks brighter than ever. The past will continue to play a role in how the people of the Central District take on the world, but they are more than ready to take on the day.