Just over five miles long and two miles wide, Mercer Island is a true island community consisting of high quality residential areas, preserved parks and open space, as well as miles of developed shoreline. Incorporated in July 1960, “The Island” has its own sense of identity, distinct from its neighbors, Seattle and Bellevue. It is just 10 minutes from downtown Seattle via the Interstate 90 floating bridge, and a similar distance from the burgeoning businesses and high density residential communities of the Eastside.
Mercer Island has been widely recognized as one of the premier residential communities in the State of Washington. The City currently has over 500 acres of City owned park and open space lands, which helps maintain the Island’s natural beauty. The result is quiet, forested neighborhoods and parks, which are complemented by stunning views of Seattle, the Cascade Mountains, Mount Rainier and Lake Washington. It is an active community where the many volunteers, boards, and commissions work closely with the City Council and City staff. The City of Mercer Island is known for providing quality customer service to its 22,650 residents. Mercer Island has experienced small but steady growth since incorporation and has an estimated projection for the population to exceed 25,000 by the year 2015.
Mercer Island is experiencing a residential and retail building boom with the addition of over 1,000 residential units in the Town Center, along with new plazas, public art, shops, and restaurants that have revitalized the Island. Continued redevelopment is expected. Mercer Island is known for providing quality customer service to its residents. In a recent survey, the City received high marks for public safety, roads and parks maintenance, programs for citizens of all ages, and its careful use of taxpayer dollars. The Mercer Island School District has an outstanding reputation and is a source of community pride. The District serves in excess of 4,100 students on the island. Per capita spending for education, in the all-Island District, also ranks at the highest levels in the State. On statewide exams, Mercer Island students consistently score among the highest. Approximately 90% of the Island’s high school graduates continue on to post-secondary education. Mercer Island was recently included in Forbes magazine’s top twenty small communities in America for educational attainment.
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