Seattle Research Paper

Submitted By Skennedy2441
Words: 2605
Pages: 11

1A Seattle Washington is not a major multiracial or multiethnic city. The white race, at 70.1% of the population, is the majority race within the city. The Asian population fallows behind at 13.1%. Soon after that is the Black population at 8.4%. The American Indian population of 1.0%, the Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander population of 0.5%, and other races of 2.5% finishes the city’s population percentages. (1) Because the white population has a heavy majority over the other races the spatial distribution is very widespread. The white population lives in both suburban and urban Seattle. The white population also lives in Tacoma as well as Everett; two areas not heavily resided in by other races. Whites, unlike the other races in Seattle do not tend to live in the suburb directly to the east of the downtown area. The white population also takes up residency in the area north of Seattle all the way through Everett. They also live south of Seattle even past the suburban Tacoma area. Whites have also taken residence in Mercer Island which is an area that other races tend not to reside. The Black population is spread as far as the white population, but does not have the same density as the white population. The area where there is the highest Black population is the suburban area directly east of downtown Seattle. The Asian population again is equally widespread as the white population but is not as dense. This population has its highest density in the same suburb to the west of downtown as the black population with about equal numbers in this area. But unlike the Black population the Asian population has higher numbers in the area towards the north of Seattle. The Hispanic population tends to spread northward of Seattle but is clustered within the city. This population most notably does not take residency in the suburb to the west of Seattle where the other minority races do. The Native American population tends to fallow the same distribution patterns as the Hispanic population. All remaining races are very spread out but clusters in the same area the Hispanic and Native American population does. The ancestors who first moved to Seattle were spread across the region not living in one particular area. 1B The main physical factor the creates an obstacle for Seattle residents is water. The city has the Puget Sound to the west and Lake Washington to the east. Because of this many people do not reside past these obstacles and live on the south and north side of Seattle. The population that lives on Bainbridge Island, the island directly across the Puget Sound, will tend to have a higher income and has more of availability to extended and alternate transportation. The population living across Lake Washington must have their own form of driven transportation available due to the lack of a mass transit system that far out of the main downtown area. As all of the population maps show many residents do not stray far from interstate 5 which leads directly into the city. The interstate spans south through Tacoma, north through Everett and just outside of the city splitting the downtown area from the suburb directly east of the main city. However this suburb is not cut off from the main city and has public transportation. Tacoma is also a popular suburb for lower income populations because it receives a mass transit light rail. This allows residents to travel to and from the city without the need of a car. The suburb to the north of Seattle is heavily populated by the white population. This suburb receives little public transportation buses and no light rail services. Interstate 5 does run straight through this area so the majority of the residents do need a car or other self transportation. The Everett area receives neither public transportation nor light rail but interstate 5 does run by the suburb. 1C The Seattle area has a lot of public transportation, mass transit, as well as a major interstate system within the city as well as