History of University District, Seattle
Today’s adventure into the history of Seattle neighborhoods brings us to the University District, a hyper local college town neighborhood. Home to the University of Washington since 1895, this neighborhood still caters to the college students while still being home to some families.
Located north of Portage Bay, the first settlement in the area came from the Brownfields in the late 1860’s. Close relatives of Christian Brownfield later joined them and met developer James Moore, who was a major developer of Seattle as we learned in the history of Capitol Hill. Moore used part of the farm built by Brownfield to build a school, then called Territorial University. The University has seen through two wars, during which buildings were loaned to the government. During the 60’s and 70’s, the campus grew in student body and in facilities. The University grew so much and was so successful in 1990 that it opened two additional campuses, one in Bothell and the other in Tacoma. The latest expansion was more recent, in 2009, abroad in Spain.
The area, originally named Brooklyn by Moore, was known as University Station for the trolley waiting area on University Avenue and 42nd Street. In fact, many of the streets named by Moore didn’t stick. The current Brooklyn Avenue was Broadway and University Way was Columbus Avenue. University Way was home to the trolley, the electric trolley by David Denny.
The popular University Village was first opened in the 1950’s. The 24-acre space was built on what used to be landfill and partial space of a wetland area. Home to the original Bartell Drugs, University Village once held mostly small local stores. Over the years, University Village (or U Village as it is colloquially known) has seen significant changes. It is now home to numerous stores and restaurants, and grocery stores.
The University District is also home to many landmarks. The tallest building in the neighborhood, and outside of downtown Seattle, is the UW Tower, standing 22 stories. It is currently the head office for the University. It is also home to the Neptune Theater (a designated Seattle landmark), the Varsity Theater, and the Grand Illusion Cinema all of which are still in operation.
University District is home to mostly college students, with many fraternity and sorority homes located along 17th Avenue NE, also known as Frat Row. Bounded on the west by Interstate 5, to the south by Lake Washington Ship Canal, to the east by 35th Avenue, and to the north by NE Ravenna Boulevard.