Kent is an outlying suburb of Seattle, but stands by itself in terms of development, industry and family friendly neighborhoods. Being situated in the Green River valley, Kent has a beautiful view of Mt. Rainier. Kent has a population of nearly 115, 000 people. There are many beautiful parks in Kent, and the city takes a great deal of pride in its appearance. Those moving to Kent will discover about 10 inches of snow in the winter, and the summer temperatures average in the mid 90s with humidity.
Economy:
Following in Boeing Corp. footsteps, Kent, Washington has become a popular home to many industries and factories. Whirlpool and G.E. have distribution centers there, as well as many other companies. Today, Kent is fourth largest in the nation when it comes to manufacturing and distribution centers.
History:
Although it was originally named ‘Titusville," Kent was first settled in the 1860s. It was renamed Kent after Kent County in England. Its first major industry was growing hops, but after several aphid plagues, that was abandoned. After the turn of the century, dairy farming took over, and the Carnation Condensed Milk Company was built there. Later, lettuce became a major crop there. In 1965, Boeing built a plant here to build parts for the aerospace industry.
Tourism:
Kent is home to the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum. It has three public art galleries. There is a Kent Historical Museum. In July, there is a Kent Cornucopia Festival which includes a dragon boat race, a farmer's market, a street fair and fun run. There are many hiking trails around Kent. The Greater Kent Historical Museum is housed in a three story home from 1908. Kent has a casino within the city limits.