Capitol Hill Wall Art

Capitol Hill – Seattle Neighborhood Guide

Contrary to what its name would imply, there is no capitol to be found in Capitol Hill. Unless you consider the neighborhood to be the capitol of cool, that is.

History

There are two stories as to why city officials changed the name from Broadway Hill to Capitol Hill. Some say that the original developer’s wife simply liked the way it sounded, while others think he hoped that the state would actually move the capitol to that area.

In its early days, the neighborhood was certainly ritzy enough to be the political center of the state. Huge houses were built, which led to the nickname of “Millionaires’ Row” in one area. After World War II, a great number of apartment buildings were constructed, changing the demographics. These two cultures are still reflected today.

Vibe

Capitol Hill is funky and fast-paced, with an endless number of cool blocks to explore and, unfortunately, a limited number of parking spaces. During the day, markets, boutiques, and salons are a big draw. Nightlife is hopping with clubs, bars, and music venues, and you’ll often find coffee shops that moonlight as cocktail lounges. Individuality and fashion statements are encouraged, and there always seems to be some sort of block party or community forum to encourage residents and visitors to mix and mingle.

Who Lives Here?

Diversity is the name of the game here. There are tons of high-income singles, but 19% of the households have kids (this is higher than average city-wide). In the past few decades, the population of the LGBT community has grown quite a bit, so it’s not uncommon to see rainbow flags displayed proudly. There are lots of condos, lots of apartments, and according to Zillow the stats are split almost 50-50 as far as renters vs. owners go.

Activities and Attractions

Since the area is known for its music scene, make sure to check out a concert at one of the venues like Neumo’s, pick through a record store like Sonic Boom, or do the extreme and attend the Capitol Hill Block Party in July. You can also say hello to the Jimi Hendrix statue on the corner of Broadway and Pine. If you’re into film, see a movie at the Landmark Harvard Exit or Egyptian—both are classic buildings turned into theaters.

Despite being one of the most densely populated areas of the city, Capitol Hill also has a surprising amount of green space, including Volunteer Park, Cal Anderson Park, and Interlaken Park, not to mention the Washington Parks Arboretum on the northeast corner.

Homes in Capitol Hill

Capitol Hill Homes for Sale

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