Earth Day Network
 Urban Environment Report: How Does Your City Perform?
 
CITY ENVIRONMENT DATA
Seattle, Washington
State Washington
City Seattle
County1 King*
City Population (2005)2 536,946 8.7% of state population
City Population Rank in United States, largest 50 Cities (2005) 25 (of top 50 in U.S.)
City Population Rank in Urban Environment Report (2005) 25 (of 72 in EDN study)
City Population Rank in State (2005) 1
City Size Classification - Population Large
City Size Classification - Population Density Medium High Density
State Capitol City Olympia
State Population (2005)2 6,146,338
 
 
CIVIC LEADERSHIP INFORMATION
Mayor Name (as of 1/1/2007) Greg Nickels
Mayor/City Website (as of 1/1/2007) http://www.seattle.gov/mayor/
Mayor/City Contact (as of 1/1/2007) 206-684-4000
Mayor Political Affiliation (as of 1/1/2007) Democrat
Next General Mayoral Election Tuesday, November 3, 2009
US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement as of 10/18/06  Yes
State Governor Name Christine Gregoire
State/Governor Website http://access.wa.gov/
State/Governor Contact Information 360-753-6780
State/Governor Party Affiliation Democrat
State Governor Current Term Ends January 1, 2009
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Note: All rank information is out of 72 cities, though not all may have reported in every category.
1 is the 'best' (least polluting, most tree cover, etc) and 72 is the 'worst'.
 

(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
 
EDN VULNERABLE POPULATION INDEX (EDN VPI) 1.18    
Vulnerable Population Estimate 13.5%    
     Disability Status 13.4% 25  
     Emphysema 1.21% 48  
     Cardiovascular Disease 25.07% 55  
     Diabetes 5.27% 52  
     Pediatric Asthma 8.54% 59  
     Adult Asthma 9.33% 58  
     Adult Obesity 18.9%   12
     People Without Health Insurance 13.4%   21
     Age: Children under 5 years 4.8% 2  
     Age: 65 years and over 11.4% 48  
     Not Literate (Adult Level 1 Literacy) 18.0% 25  
     Adults without High School Degree (or higher) 10.1% 67  
     High School Drop-Out Rate 33.4% 53  
     Unemployed (Civilian Labor Force) 6.4% 16  
     Individuals Below Poverty 17.3% 35  
     Children (under 18 years old) Below Poverty 13.8% 12  
     Free or Reduced Lunch (Not Available) (Not Available)  
     Other Languages Spoken at Home (primary language is not English) 23.0% 43  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
1 • TOXICS & WASTE     (metadata) (score) 2.7    
Overall Toxics Rank Average 33.7 (of 51) 42  
Cumulative Cancer-Causing Chemical Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 48,688,268 pounds   29
Cumulative Developmental Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 26,869,404 pounds 22
Cumulative Reproductive Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 3,232,948 pounds 27
Cumulative Suspected Neurological Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 350,037,453 pounds 27
Cumulative Suspected Respiratory Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 308,097,936 pounds 25
Dioxin Releases by State (grams in 2000) 84.6 grams 40
Number of Superfund Sites in County 9 sites 66  
Municipal Solid Waste Generation, tons per person (1997) 0.830 tons per person 10
Recycling Rate (1997) 48.0% 1
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Generated by State (2004) 8,723,068 tons 38
Municipal Solid Waste Generated Per Capita by State, tons/person (2004) 1.4 tons/person 32
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 3,529,466 tons 11
% Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 40.5% 5
% Municipal Solid Waste to Waste-to-Energy (2004) 3.5% 21
% Change in Municipal Solid Waste Generated (1997 to 2004) 68.7% 39
% Change in State Recycling Rate (1997 to 2004) -15.6% 28
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
2 • AIR QUALITY     (metadata) (score) 2.1    
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Released, Tons in 2002 19,000 tons   9
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Released, Tons in 2002 15,600 tons   11
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Released, Tons in 2002 11,246,900 tons   10
Mercury Released, Pounds in 2002 670.0 pounds   16
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2001-2003) 1.0 days 14  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2001 - 2003) 2.7 PM2.5 38  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2001 - 2003) 11.1 PM2.5 22  
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2002 - 2004) 1.0 days 15  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2002 - 2004) 1.0 PM2.5 27  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2002 - 2004) 11.2 PM2.5 27  
EPA Ambient Carbon Monoxide (CO) (8-hr ppm) 6 ppm 60  
EPA Ambient Lead (PB) Q Max (ug/m3) 0.03 ug/m3 12  
EPA Mean Ambient Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2 ppm) 0.018 ppm 30  
EPA Larger Particle (PM10) 24-hr (ug/m3) 22 ug/m3 11  
EPA Mean Ambient Sulfur Dioxide (SO2 ppm) 0.000 ppm 1  
EPA Days over 100 AQI (Warning Level) 4 days 10  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
3 • DRINKING & SURFACE WATER     (metadata) (score)    2.2***    
DRINKING WATER QUALITY
Tap Water Quality & Compliance Grade Fair ---  
Right to Know Report, What's in your Tap Water Grade Fair ---  
Drinking Water Source Protection Grade Excellent ---  
WATERSHED & RESOURCES
Watershed Name Puget Sound ---  
# of Units in Watershed (Not Available) (Not Available)  
# of Assessed Watershed Units (Not Available) (Not Available)  
# of Threatened & Impaired Watershed Units (Not Available) (Not Available)  
% of Watershed Units Assessed as Impaired or Threatened (Not Available) 1  
% of Watershed Units Not Assessed (Not Available) 1  
U.S. Census Annual Rainfall, inches (1961-1990) 37.19 inches 32  
Water Area Total, square miles 4,055 square miles 16  
Water Area Inland, square miles 1,545 square miles 28  
Water Area Coastal, square miles 2,511 square miles 2  
Water Area Great Lakes, square miles 0 square miles 10  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Station Seattle-Tacoma ---  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Length of record in years 54 years 38  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Annual 155 days 2  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Station Seattle-Tacoma ---  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Length of record in years 52 years 40  
Snow & Ice Pellets, Annual inches (thru 1998) 11.4 inches 35  
WATER WITHDRAWN
Water Withdrawn - Total, gallons/day 8,860,000,000 gallons/day 33  
Fresh Water Withdrawn - Per capita, gallons/day 1,620,000,000 gallons/day 20  
Ground water, gallons/day 1,760,000,000 gallons/day 28  
Surface water, gallons/day 7,100,000,000 gallons/day 35  
Irrigation, gallons/day 6,470,000,000 gallons/day 22  
Public Supply, gallons/day 1,300,000,000 gallons/day 24  
Industrial, gallons/day 652,000,000 gallons/day 26  
Thermo-Electric, gallons/day 376,000,000 gallons/day 52  
Fresh Water Consumption, gallons/day 3,080,000,000 gallons/day 26  
WATER POLLUTION
Water Supplier Seattle Public Utilities ---  
Number of People Served by Water Supplier 623,800 people 28  
Year(s) Included in Summary 1998-2002 ---  
Total Contaminants Detected 9 contaminants 12  
Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 3 contaminants 26  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected 3 contaminants 26  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected 3 contaminants 21  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 1 contaminant 32  
Industrial Pollutants Detected 5 contaminants 15  
Industrial Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 1 contaminant 29  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected 4 contaminants 12  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected, Over Health Based Limits 3 contaminants 29  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected 5 contaminants 18  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 1 contaminant 33  
WATER HEALTH & TESTING SUMMARY
Contaminants in Tap Water 9 contaminants 12  
Contaminants in Tap Water, Over Health Based Limits 3 contaminants 26  
Contaminants Reported as Tested by this Water Supplier 142 contaminants 22  
Contaminants with Federal Legal Limit in Tap Water 73 contaminants ---  
Regulated Contaminants Tested 112 contaminants 23  
Unregulated Contaminants Tested 30 contaminants 17  
WATER VIOLATION SUMMARY
Total Violations 1 violation 35  
Health Violations 1 violation 54  
Monitoring Violations 0 violations 1  
Reporting Violations 0 violations 1  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
4 • QUALITY OF LIFE (SITES4)     (metadata) (score)    2.5***    
DENSITY & SPRAWL
Population Density, people per square mile of land area 6,717.0 people per square mile 17  
Housing Density, units per square mile of land area 3,225.4 housing units per square mile 13  
TRANSPORTATION
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2000) 24.8 minutes 45  
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2004) 24.5 minutes 52  
Means of Transportation - % Carpool (2000) 11.2% 59  
Means of Transportation - % Public (2000) 17.6% 9  
Means of Transportation - % Walk or Bike (2000) 9.3% 10  
Means of Transportation - % Work @ Home (2000) 4.6% 1  
Cost of Living: Transportation, % of National Average 109.1 52  
Motor Vehicle Registrations per 100 Residents (2003) 87.5 MV registrations   35
% Change in Motor Vehicle Registrations (1980 to 2003) 66.8%   42
Motor Vehicle Registrations - Autos Only per 100 Residents (2003) 48.3 MV registrations   33
Motor Vehicle Registrations per Licensed Driver (2003) 1.22 MV registrations   33
Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 82,264 miles   27
Total State Highway Mileage, Estimated % of Land Area (2003) 0.281%   17
Urban Highway Mileage, % of Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 23.7%   21
Total Highway Mileage per Licensed Driver (2003) 0.02 miles   20
Total Highway Mileage per Motor Vehicle Registration (2003) 15.29 miles   19
State $ Disbursements for Highways (2003) $2,288,000,000   37
State $ Disbursements for Highways, per highway mile (2003) $27,813 per mile   30
% Change in State Disbursements for Highways (1995 to 2003) 19.9%   4
Annual Person Hours of Delay, per person (2003) 25.0 hours per person 34  
Annual Congestion Cost, $ per person (2003) $427 per person 35  
Annual Congestion Delay and Fuel Cost (2003) $1,237,000,000 35  
Fuel Wasted, gallons per person (2003) 17 gallons per person 37  
INCOME & EMPLOYMENT
Median Household Income (2004) $46,650 6  
Median Household Income (2000) $45,736 7  
Per capita income (2004) $33,061 4  
Per capita Personal Income (2000) $30,306 1  
% of Families Below Poverty Level (2004) 12.2% 31  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (1999) 11.8% 16  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (2004) 17.3% 35  
% of Households with Public Assistance Income (2000) 3.0% 16  
% of Children Under 18 Years Old Below Poverty Level (1999) 13.8% 12  
People In the Labor Force, Unemployed (2005) 21,174 people 40  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 4.6% 21  
% of the Civilian Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 6.4% 16  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2000) 3.6% 21  
% of the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000) 5.1% 16  
% Change in the Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 22.4% 39  
% Change in the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 20.3% 41  
State Minimum Wage Laws (2006) Higher Than Federal ---  
State Minimum Wage Rates (2006) $7.63 per hour 1  
EDUCATION
# of School Age Kids K-12 (ages 5 to 17) 64,597 kids (1.1% of total pop.) 47  
Largest School District Enrollment 47,575 kids (0.8% of total pop.) 44  
% on Free or Reduced Lunch (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Cumulative Promotion Index (CPI) Graduation Rate 66.6% 17  
Level of Education: % with High School Degree or Higher (2004) 89.9% 6  
Level of Education: % with Bachelor's Degree or Higher (2004) 51.3% 1  
Adult Level 1 Literacy Rate 18% 25  
State School Bus Efficiency (2002) Flunked Out   ---
State School Bus Soot Pollution Grade D   ---
State School Bus Cleanup Program Rank (2006) Good   ---
State School Bus Smog Pollution Rank (2006) Poor   ---
HOUSING & COST OF LIVING
Occupied Housing Units (2004) 266,569 units 17  
% of Owner Occupied Housing 52.5% 21  
Cost of Living: Housing 220.5 64  
Cost of Living: Utilities 73.3 1  
Cost of Living: Miscellaneous 100.1 41  
Cost of Living: Overall 145.6 64  
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Voter Turnout in the Election of November 2004 67.42%   11
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2002 Election 47.40%   20
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2004 Election 62.00%   20
State Volunteering Rate: 2002-2005 Combined 35.8%   13
SAFETY/SECURITY
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 8,092.0 incidents per 100,000 people 55  
Violent Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 659.6 incidents per 100,000 people 24  
Property Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 7,432.4 incidents per 100,000 people 57  
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2003) 8,719.5 incidents per 100,000 people 58  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
5 • PARKS & RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES     (metadata) (score) 2.4    
Average # of Parks, per square mile 4.8 parks per square mile 3  
Average Area Dedicated to Parks, per city square mile 73.8 park acres per city square mile 9  
Park Area per 1000 Residents, acres 10.7 acres 30  
Parkland as % of City Area 11.2% 13  
Adjusted Park Spending, per resident $214 per resident 44  
Total City Tree Canopy % 35.1% 7  
Total City Urbanized Area % 48.94% 19  
Park Programs to Assist Low-Income Park Users Yes ---  
Disability Advisory Committees Yes ---  
Collection of Data on Crime in Parks No ---  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
6 • HUMAN & PUBLIC HEALTH     (metadata) (score) 2.3    
Pediatric Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 8.54% 59
Adult Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 9.33% 58
Chronic Bronchitis, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 3.25% 63
Emphysema, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 1.21% 48
Cardiovascular Disease, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 25.07% 55
Diabetes, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 5.27% 52  
% of Adults with Obesity (2001) 18.9% 12
Change in % of Adults with Obesity (1991-2001) 9.0% 29
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 1992 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1992) <10% ---
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 1997 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1997) 10%-14% ---
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (2003) 20%-24% ---
% of Adults Lacking Healthcare Insurance, ages 18 - 65 (2001) 10.0% 16
Infant Mortality Rate (2002) 5.8% 11
Number of Cancer Deaths per 100,000 people (2002) 189.4 21
Cost of Living: Health 127.0 60  
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2003-04 Average) 14.3% 31
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2004-05 Average) 13.4% 21
Rate of Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 -6.3% 4
Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 -0.8% 6
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farms 36 farms 4
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farmers' Markets 20 markets 18
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Restaurants 13 restaurants 9
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Groceries 10 grocery stores 3
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Other 17 other sources 2
Cost of Living: Food 109.9 53
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Men (1999-2003) 61.9% 22
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Women (1999-2003) 42.2% 36
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
7 • GLOBAL WARMING CLIMATE CHANGE     (metadata) (score)    2.8***    
Mini-Kyoto Participant, US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement (as of 10/18/06) Yes ---
Number of State and Local Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Programs 1 program   13
Net Metering No Net Metering   ---
Net Metering Residential Size Limit 100 kW   6
Net Metering Commercial Size Limit 100 kW   9
Completed Climate Action Plans Completed State Climate Action Plan   ---
Regional Initiatives Yes   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Inventories Yes   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Reporting & Registries No   ---
States with Public Benefit Funds None   ---
States with Renewable Portfolio Standards 0%   20
Date set for Renewable Portfolio Standards (Not Available)   (Not Available)
States with Green Pricing Programs Mandatory   ---
States with Renewable Energy Credit Tracking Systems Yes   ---
States with Mandates and Incentives Promoting Ethanol Mandates supported by other incentives   ---
States with Residential Energy Codes State Codes with ECPA Compliance   ---
States with Commercial Energy Codes 1999 ASHRAE or Later (ECPA Compliant)   ---
Green Building Standards for State Buildings LEED Required   ---
ICLEI's Cities for Climate Protection Participant (US CCP) Yes ---
% of State Generation that is from Renewable sources (2003) 73.9%   2
Average percentage of possible sunshine thru 1998: Length of record (years) 51 years 25
Average percentage of Possible Sunshine: Annual 38% 59
Annual Average wind speed, m.p.h. 8.9 mph 30
January Average wind speed, m.p.h. 9.6 mph 31
July Average wind speed, m.p.h. 8.2 mph 29
Heating Degree Days 4,908 days 32
Cooling Degree Days 190 days 3
Average Relative Humidity (%), Length of record (years) 39 years 15
Annual Morning Average Relative Humidity (%) 83% 46
Annual Afternoon Average Relative Humidity (%) 62% 50
Elevation, feet 184 f eet 25
 
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
BACKGROUND INFORMATION      
SIZE & CLASSIFICATION
City Population (2005)2 536,946 25 (of 72 in EDN study) 8.7% of state population
City Population (2000) 563,374 23 (of 72 in EDN study)  
State Population (2005)2 6,146,338 14 (of 51 in EDN study)  
General Region West ---  
EPA Region 10 ---  
PHYSICAL QUALITIES
City Land Area, square miles 84.0 square miles 48 0.1% of state land area
State Land Area, square miles 66,581 square miles 20  
Watershed Name Puget Sound ---  
Elevation, feet 184 ft. (56.0 m) 35  
Average Daily Temperature - January 40.9°F (4.9°C) 30
Average Daily Temperature - July 65.3°F (18.5°C) 4  
DEMOGRAPHIC SUMMARY
Median Age 37.5 years 29  
18 years and older, % of population (2004) 83.6% 2  
65 years and older, % of population (2004) 11.4% 25  
Under 5 years of age 26,713 kids (4.8% of total pop.) 42  
One Race-White % (2005) 68.9% 26  
One Race - Non-white % (2005) 31.1% 47  
Hispanic or Latino, of any race % (2005) 6.3% 48  
% of Population who Speak a non-English Language at Home (2004) 23.0% 30  
Largest School District Name Seattle Public Schools ---  
 
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1 Use of the * within the County field indicates the city is in multiple counties. Typically the county for which the city serves as a county seat was selected.
2 Use of the * within the Population Rank Indicates year 2000 data was used since year 2004 data was not available.
3 Scores in parenthesis indicate partial scores, e.g. at least one scored indicator was not available or reported for this city.
4 SITES is an acronym developed by EDN as a summary for the 'Safety, Income, Transportation, Education and Sprawl' Topic.
 
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© 2006 Earth Day Network