More about SeattleSeattle, founded in the 1850s and named after Chief Seattle, has a total estimated city population of 572,600 and a metropolitan population of almost 3.8 million (2004). It is sometimes referred to as the "Rainy City," the "Gateway to Alaska," "Queen City" and "Jet City" (due to the heavy influence of Boeing). Its official nickname is "the Emerald City." Seattle is known as the home of grunge music, and has a reputation for heavy coffee consumption. Seattle was also the site of the 1999 meeting of the World Trade Organization. During the meeting the city was shut down by anti-globalization demonstrators. Seattle residents are known as Seattleites. Seattle Demographics Main article: Demographics of Seattle As of the U.S. Census of 2000, Seattle had a population of 563,374 and in all the Greater Puget Sound metropolitan area is home to almost 3.8 million people. The population today is approximately 73.40 % Caucasian, one of the highest percentages of Caucasians for a major American city. The city also has one of the nations highest percentages of multiracial ancestry: 4.70% claim ancestry from two or more races. [1] According to the 2000 U.S. census, 13.71% of Seattleites are Asian Americans, 8.44% are African Americans, 1.10% are Native Americans, 0.50% are Pacific Islanders, and 6.84% are from other non-Caucasian backgrounds. The median income for a household in the city is $45,736, and the median income for a family is $62,195. Males have a median income of $40,929 versus $35,134 for females. The per capita income for the city is $30,306. 11.8% of the population and 6.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 13.8% are under the age of 18 and 10.2% are 65 or older. Seattle has seen a major uptick in legal and illegal immigration in recent decades. The foreign-born population increased 40 percent between the 1990 and 2000 census. [2] Although the 2000 census shows only 5.28% of the population as Hispanic or Latino of any race, Hispanics are believed to be the most rapidly growing population group in Washington State, with an estimated increase of 10% just in the years 2000–2002. [3] It is estimated that 1.25% of the population is homeless, and that up to 14% of Seattles homeless are children and young adults. Many people in Seattle are involved with social causes and in 2005 the Borgen Project moved to the city. In 2005, Mens Fitness magazine named Seattle the fittest city in the U.S.

