Puget Sound

Puget Sound is an arm (sound) of the Pacific Ocean in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. It extends 144 km (90 miles) south from the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Olympia, Washington. The surrounding area, which includes three of the five largest cities in Washington state (Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, and Bellevue), is home to about 4 million people.

Geography

The urban region of the same name is centered around Seattle, Washington and consists of nine counties, two urban center cities and four satellite cities. Both urban core cities have large industrial areas and seaports plus a high-rise central business district. The satellite cities are primarily suburban, featuring a small downtown core and a small industrial area or port. The suburbs consist mostly of residences, strip malls, and shopping centers. The region is also home to numerous of ports. The two largest and busiest are the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma, which if combined will be the second largest container port in North America after Los AngelesLong Beach. The Port of Vancouver, the largest Canadian port, sits on the northern end of the Greater Puget Sound Area.

Related Topics:
Seattle, Washington - Counties - Cities - Seaport - Central business district - Suburb - Strip mall

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Counties

• Island County
• Jefferson County
• King County
• Kitsap County
• Mason County
• Pierce County
• Skagit County
• Snohomish County
• Thurston County

In addition, the San Juan Islands (all of San Juan County plus a few islands belonging to Whatcom County) are often considered part of the greater Puget Sound area.

Related Topics:
San Juan Islands - San Juan County - Whatcom County

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Prominent islands

• Anderson Island
• Bainbridge Island
• Blake Island
• Camano Island
• Fidalgo Island
• Fox Island
• Hartstene Island
• Indian Island
• Marrowstone Island
• Maury Island
• McNeil Island
• Squaxin Island
• Whidbey Island
• Vashon Island

Urban centers

• Seattle
• Tacoma

Satellite cities

• Everett
• Bellevue
• Bremerton
• Olympia

Other principal cities

• Kent
• Renton

Largest suburbs (in order from greatest to least population)

• Federal Way
• Lakewood
• Shoreline
• Redmond
• Kirkland
• Auburn
• Edmonds
• Sammamish
• Lynnwood
• Puyallup
• Burien
• Lacey
• Bothell
• University Place
• Des Moines
• Marysville
• Mercer Island
• Mountlake Terrace
• Bainbridge Island
• Oak Harbor
• Kenmore
• Mukilteo
• Tukwila
• Silverdale