Colleges in Bellevue, WA: Browse Courses & Degree Programs

ARTICLE: Bellevue In-Depth

Bellevue, Washington, is located in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metropolitan area, which has over 3 million residents. Bellevue itself has over 120,000 inhabitants, and is the home of many large companies and businesses. The name of the town comes from the French for "beautiful view," and on that score, Bellevue does not disappoint. Visitors to the area can enjoy views of the Olympic and Cascade Mountains, and take part in a multitude of outdoor activities, especially on the nearby lakes Washington and Sammamish.

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metropolitan area had an average per capita income of $41,634 in 2004, which was 26% higher than the national average. This is a booming area, as its personal income growth rate over the past ten years has been over 8%, compared to 5% nationally.

The Seattle metropolitan area as long been known as the home of the computer industry, and Microsoft still has its headquarters there. They will open up more office space in Bellevue's new Lincoln Center in 2007. However, the area isn't just about computers. A variety of enterprises, from Expedia Travel to Starbucks Coffee, have their headquarters there. Other top employers in the Bellevue area include:

• Amazon.com
• Washington Mutual (financial services)
• Nordstrom
• Costco

The Seattle metro area will continue to remain a center for technology, and Bellevue should be part of Washington's tech boom. Additionally, local government efforts are focused on making the area a hub for the biotechnology industry. Several biotech companies, like Corixa and Immunex, are already headquartered there.

Sources:

• City of Bellevue, WA
• Bureau of Economic Analysis
• Quickfacts (US Census), Bellevue, Washington
• Bureau of Labor Statistics

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