Renton is a city in King County, within Washington State. Located within an area known as the Eastside, 21 km southeast of the city of Seattle, the city of Renton is a manufacturing center with a population of around 91,000 people. Renton lies along the southeast shore of Lake Washington. The city of Renton is the 9th biggest metropolis in Washington State and 4th most densely inhabited city in King County.
Established during the 1860s, Renton was incorporated as a city in the year 1901. Erasmus M. Smithers discovered coal here during the 1800s. Timber and coal resources were plentiful, and both mining and timber processing became the main economic businesses within the area. The town was a supply center for the Newcastle coal fields. Renton's proximity to the Black and Cedar Rivers made the city susceptible to floods until the building of the Lake Washington Ship Canal in the year 1916 lowered the surface of Lake Washington a few feet. The Cedar River was diverted to Lake Washington and drainage through the Black River was eliminated.
Based on per capita income, Renton ranks 100th of 522 regions within Washington. Tech companies like Paccar, Boeing, and some dot-com businesses make their home within the city. IKEA moved to Renton during 1994 and in the year 2007 a Federal Aviation Administration (or also known as FAA) branch established itself here. During 2008, a new Federal Reserve Bank branch moved to Renton.
The city of Renton is busy with many major retail and residential developments. The city has undergone some revitalization projects. One of the most important is the Virginia Mason Athletic Center (VMAC), housing the Seattle Seahawks Headquarters and training facility, completed in 2008. This is the second largest NFL facility. Located within north Renton, the Center has an area of 19,000 m2.