.
.
Newcastle Tidbits
Newcastle, Washington had a population of 10,380 people according to the census that was taken in 2010. It is located on the Eastside of King County.
Newcastle has been an important town and community since the late 1800's, although Newcastle wasn't incorporated until 1994. The community played an important role in the development of Seattle and the Seattle area. Newcastle was one of the earliest coal mining regions and was the first railroad link to Seattle in King County. During the early history of Newcastle, timber also played an important role. The railroad delivered coal from the mines in Newcastle, attracted more railroads, including the Great North Railroad and also helped to create the growth of the Port of Seattle.
It was during the 1870's that the Newcastle coal mine started producing coal. By the time the mine closed in the 1870's, over 13 million tons of coal had been extracted. The legacy of coal mining in Newcastle as well as the mines of many Chinese laborers, remains in place names that include Coal Creek Parkway, the China Creek Golf Course, and Coal Creek.
Newcastle was a hardly noticeable pass-through community for motorists who used its primary thoroughfare, known as Coal Creek Parkway, was used to make the connection to Bellevue and points elsewhere for years. However, it was another kind of driving that helped to place Newcastle on the map of Eastside, which was known as the Golf Club at Newcastle, which offers panoramic hilltop views as well as 36 holes of championship golf. The golf course opened in 1999. Since then, Newcastle has been a destination unto itself. Located east of Lake Washington and south of Bellevue, during the past 20 years, Newcastle has experienced rapid growth.
However, its history as a key supplier of timber and coal dates back much further. Newcastle was producing between 75 and 100 tons of coal every day, during the 1870's. Originally, he coal was delivered to Lake Washington from the mines of Newcastle via tramway, which is a railroad system that is laid lightly, where it was loaded into flat bottom boats and guided across the lake to Seattle by tugboats. Sooner or later, the Seattle and Walla Walla Railroad would travel into Newcastle in order to deliver the local timber, as well as the coal to communities throughout Washington State.
These days, nobody would ever mistake Newcastle for a mining community. The population of Newcastle was approximately 10,800 people, according to the census that was taken in 2012. This represents more than twice as many residents as when the city incorporated in 1994.
However, this rapid growth has done nothing to diminish the feeling of a small-town in Newcastle. Newcastle is sufficiently large to attract restaurants and other businesses, while still being mall enough to create the feeling of a close-knit community. Resident can go to their local grocery store and get pulled into a hug by an employee who has been working at that store for 20 years. Resident can go to the Newcastle Golf Club for lunch, and the neighbors who work there greet them and stay for a moment to chat at my table. CNN Money's Best Places to Live ranked Newcastle as 19th. It was also on the list in 2009 and 2011.
Newcastle is filled with open spaces, tree lined streets, distinct neighborhoods, large city access, small town charm, and is a family-friendly community. The community is known for its walking system, which includes a well-planned network of natural surface trails, sidewalks, and pathways. A volunteer organization known as Newcastle Trails works to expand. Preserve, and maintain the system.
The community is comprised of an area that is 4.5-square-miles, which also includes 19 parks. The 20-acre Lake Boren Park, which is the largest and the location of community events that include Newcastle Days, and Concerts in the Park.
The flagship golf course that was designed by renowned designer named Scott Oki, is the Newcastle Golf Club, which is located high about the city. In 1999, this signature golf course opened in Coal Creek. In 2001, China Creek added an additional 18 holes of championship golf. A 44,000 square foot restaurant and clubhouse is located in the middle of the complex. All around it are the views are spectacular, Seattle and Lake Washington in the west, the Cascade Mountains in the east, and the skyline of Bellevue in the north. Directly below the fairway some of the wealthiest homes in the community ring the course.
The AvalonBay Communities had contracted to buy the Mutual Materials location, which was 52 acres, with plans for the development of a group of retail, residential, and restaurants spaces. The location will be the center of the community, which will be a place for visitors and residents and visitors to congregate, as well as a central lawn to be used as a gathering location. The housing will include apartments and town homes at the upper end of the rental scale.
