Kenmore, Washingtonis in King County and is one of the best places to live in Seattle. Living in Kenmore offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Kenmore, there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many families and young professionals live in Kenmore and residents tend to have moderate political views. The public schools in Kenmore are highly rated. Family Circle Magazine selected Kenmore,Washington as one of the "10 Best Towns for families" in their August 2009 edition. Seattle Magazine also ranked Kenmore as the best Seattle-area neighborhood or surrounding city for 2008–2009.
Kenmore's name comes third-hand from the Scottishvillage of Kenmore, via town founder home town of Kenmore, Ontario in 1901. Founder John McMasters and his wife Annie arrived in Puget Sound circa 1889 from Canada, to establish themselves in the shingle-making trade. They opened a shingle mill on the northern shore of Lake Washington on land loaned to them by Watson C. Squire. Two years later, Kenmore had established a school system and post office, but it was not formally incorporated as a city until August 31, 1998.
Kenmore is located with borders encompassing all of the north shore and a significant portion of the northeastern shore of Lake Washington.
The terrain is typical of the Puget Sound lowlands with rolling hills formed from glacial till, occasionally interrupted by flatlands typically found near substantial bodies of water. The largest river is the Sammamish, which connects Lake Sammamish to Lake Washington.
Moving to the climate of Kenmore, this suburb is substantially similar to that of nearby Seattle, being defined principally by its latitude, proximity to the Pacific Ocean and Puget Sound, and inclusion in the Puget Sound Convergence Zone.
As such, it is usually considered Marine west coast in nature, with damp, cool winters, and mild, dry summers, despite being further north than cities such as Toronto, Ontario and Montreal, Quebec.
Kenmore has several distinct neighborhoods:
- Arrowhead, in southern Kenmore, saw its first house built in 1888. This was a small summer cabin; the oldest house still standing dates from 1929 which makes it a must visit during the weekend!
- Inglewood, in southern Kenmore, was first planned for construction in 1953, with large-scale suburban development appearing by 1962.
- Lower Moorlands, in eastern Kenmore, saw its first house in 1904. One significant development in this area after World War I included the 1927 landmark Charles and Elvera Thomsen House.
- Central (or downtown) Kenmore hugs Bothell Way and forms the original core of the city. Today it is Kenmore's commercial and industrial core.
- Northlake Terrace, an early residential neighborhood just north of town, is now a mix of commercial and residential development. Much of the eastern portion of this area is to be redeveloped as part of the new Downtown Plan.
- Linwood Heights, in northwest Kenmore, was first founded as part of the "Back to the Land" movement during the Great Depression and has since been redeveloped and is now largely suburban housing.
- Kenlake Vista, in northern Kenmore, is a post-war residential suburban housing.
- Uplake Terrace, a suburban neighborhood developed in 1953.
Major annual civic events to partake in are:
- The Kenmore Summer Concert Series, hosted at the former St. Edward Seminary, is now hosted at Saint Edward State Park, which happens to be the largest park in Kenmore at 365 acres (1.48 km2); it includes over half a mile of undeveloped Lake Washington shoreline, the historic Saint Edward Seminary and gymnasium, and the Carole Ann Wald Memorial Pool.
- The annual Kenmore Art Show, a juried art exhibition sponsored by the Arts of Kenmore.
- The Kenmore Spring Egg Hunt
- Fourth of July Fireworks, a fireworks display at Log Boom Park which is Kenmore's smaller Lake Washington park, includes 16 acres (65,000 m2) of shoreline and a large walking dock extending out into the lake;
- Visit Linwood Park, a small 3-acre (12,000 m2) park in northwest Kenmore with grass commons, playground, and picnic tables;
- Burke-Gilman Trail, a King County park which, combined with the Sammamish River Trail, connects Marymoor Park just outside downtown Redmond through the downtowns of Woodinville, Bothell, Kenmore, and Lake Forest Park to Gas Works Park in Seattle and points west. Several other trails and bike routes branch off of this trail backbone;
- Visit Moorlands Park, a 5-acre (20,000 m2) park including baseball and basketball facilities in southeastern Kenmore;
- Enjoy Tracy Owen Station at Log Boom Park,Wallace Swamp Creek Park, 17 acres (69,000 m2) surrounding Swamp Creek in northeast Kenmore, which features some walking trails.