Redmond history

Foundation and First Mentions

The history of Redmond is rooted in times when these lands were inhabited by indigenous peoples who utilized the region's rich natural resources for hunting and fishing. The modern settlement began to take shape in 1870 with the arrival of Captain Luke McRedmond. Notably, the city's name changed several times during its formation:

• Initially, the area was called Salmonberg due to the incredible abundance of salmon in the nearby waters.
• In 1871, following the arrival of Warren Perrigo and the opening of an inn, the settlement was renamed Melrose.
• The final name was established in the early 1880s when Luke McRedmond became the postmaster, and the city was named in his honour.

Key Development Factors

The transformation of a small settlement into a thriving city was driven by a combination of geographical and economic factors:

• Geography and Logistics: Its location near Lake Sammamish and the Sammamish River (formerly known as Squak Slough) allowed for the transport of goods to the larger markets of Seattle.
• Forest Resources: The dense forests surrounding the city became the foundation for the rapid development of the timber industry.
• Transport Accessibility: The arrival of the railway in the late 19th century significantly accelerated the pace of trade and the influx of new residents.

Early Cultural and Economic Features

In the first decades of its existence, Redmond was a typical logging town. The economy relied on sawmills and shingle production, which provided employment for the majority of the population. Cultural life was centred around saloons, trading posts, and hotels catering to the workers. As forests were cleared, fertile land became available, facilitating the development of agriculture, which became the second important pillar of the city's economy in the early 20th century.

Major Milestones in Redmond's History

The city's history has journeyed from a logging village to a global technology hub. Below are the key events that shaped the modern face of Redmond.

• 1870: Captain Luke McRedmond files a claim for a plot of land by Squak Slough, marking the beginning of the settlement's foundation.
• 1881: The first post office opens, and the settlement officially receives the name Redmond.
• 1888: The Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway reaches the city, sparking a boom in the timber industry.
• 1912: Redmond officially receives city status (incorporated on December 31) with a population of just under 300 people.
• 1920s: As timber resources deplete, the economy shifts towards agriculture, specifically poultry farming and dairy farms.
• 1939: The first Redmond Bicycle Derby is launched, earning the city its later nickname, the "Bicycle Capital of the Northwest".
• 1963: The opening of the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge (SR 520) across Lake Washington provides a direct link to Seattle and stimulates an influx of new residents.
• 1982: Nintendo of America moves its headquarters to Redmond.
• 1986: Microsoft moves its corporate headquarters to Redmond, forever changing the region's economic landscape.
• 1997: Redmond Town Center, a large open-air retail and entertainment complex, opens on the site of an old golf course.
• 2003: The city completes a major reconstruction of the historic downtown, preserving heritage while developing the urban environment.
• 2019: The active construction phase begins for the Link Light Rail extension, connecting Redmond to the region's global transport system.

Stages of Redmond's Transformation

Redmond's development is a clear example of how a remote logging village transformed into one of the world's most influential technology centres. Highlighted below are the key moments that defined the city's economic and urban character.

• Arrival of the Railway (1888)

  The construction of the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway line became the first powerful economic driver. This event turned the isolated settlement into a major logging centre, ensuring the export of timber and shingles. The railway laid the foundation for initial capital accumulation and population growth.

• Agrarian Adaptation (1920s)

  After the depletion of forest resources, the city avoided decline by successfully reorienting its economy towards agriculture. The development of dairy farms and poultry farming allowed for economic stability during the Great Depression and shaped the city's landscape for the next half-century.

• Opening of the Evergreen Point Bridge (1963)

  The launch of the floating bridge across Lake Washington (Route SR 520) was a turning point in urban planning. Redmond ceased to be a "rural backwater" and became an accessible suburb for those working in Seattle, triggering the first boom in residential construction and the growth of the service sector.

• Technological Revolution (1980s)

  The relocation of the headquarters of Nintendo of America and Microsoft radically changed the city's demographics and status. This event led to explosive growth in jobs, an influx of highly qualified professionals from around the world, and Redmond's transformation into a global brand.

• Creation of a New City Centre (1997)

  The opening of Redmond Town Center on the site of a former golf course was a significant urban planning decision. The project reimagined the concept of a downtown, creating a pedestrian-friendly mixed-use zone (retail, offices, housing) instead of the enclosed malls traditional to the US, thereby improving the quality of the urban environment.

• Integration into the Regional Transport Network (2020s)

  The current expansion of the Link Light Rail line marks a transition to a transit-oriented development model. This stimulates the densification of buildings around stations, reduces reliance on cars, and definitively integrates Redmond into the unified transport system of the Seattle metropolitan area.

Architectural Evolution: From Sawmills to High-Tech Campuses

The architectural appearance of Redmond is a visual chronicle of its transformation from a provincial village into a global technology hub. The urban environment here is eclectic: historic brick buildings sit side-by-side with futuristic offices and modern mixed-use residential complexes.

Historic Centre and Early Heritage

In the oldest part of the city (the Downtown and Old Town districts), traces of early 20th-century urban planning remain. This period is characterised by functionality and simplicity, dictated by the needs of the agricultural and logging community.

• Style: American Vernacular, elements of Neoclassicism in public buildings.
• Characteristic Features: Use of red brick, low-rise structures (1–2 floors), and large display windows on the ground floors of shops.
• Landmark: Old Redmond Schoolhouse, built in 1922. This is a classic example of brick school architecture of that time, which today serves as a community centre and a symbol of historical preservation.

The Era of Suburbanisation (1960–1980s)

With the opening of the bridge across Lake Washington, Redmond began to develop as a typical American suburb. Urban planning of this time focused on car owners, leading to low-density development.

• Style: Single-story America (Ranch-style), commercial functionalism.
• Urban Planning Features: Appearance of extensive residential areas with private houses, wide streets, and shopping centres with huge car parks (strip malls).
• Influence: This period formed the "bedroom" communities of the city, which still occupy a significant portion of its territory.

Corporate Modernism and Campus Development

The arrival of tech giants in the 1980s brought a new type of architecture to Redmond — corporate campuses. The Overlake district became the epicentre of this style.

• Style: Late Modernism, High-Tech, Eco-architecture.
• Concept: Low-rise office buildings made of glass and concrete, integrated into the forest landscape. The goal of such development is to create a secluded and productive environment for employees.
• Landmark: Microsoft Campus. Initially, these were modest buildings in the shapes of "X" and "V", nestled among the trees. In recent years, the campus has been undergoing massive renovation, replacing old structures with modern, energy-efficient buildings featuring open spaces and a focus on pedestrian accessibility.

New Urbanism and Modern Densification

Since the late 1990s, Redmond has set a course for creating a dense, pedestrian-friendly city centre, moving away from the car-centric model.

• Style: Postmodernism, Contemporary urban style, "Podium" construction (wooden residential floors on a concrete base).
• Urban Planning Solutions: Mixed-use development, where ground floors are dedicated to retail, and upper floors to housing or offices.
• Landmark: Redmond Town Center (opened in 1997). This is not just a shopping mall, but an example of reconstructing the urban environment under the open sky, mimicking a traditional street grid instead of an enclosed mall.
• Transit-Oriented Development (TOD): Currently, high-rise residential complexes and offices are being actively built around future light rail stations, forming a new, more urbanised skyline for the city.

Notable Figures Associated with Redmond

The history and modernity of Redmond are inextricably linked with the names of people who have influenced not only the development of the city itself but also global technological and cultural processes.

• Luke McRedmond
  City Founder, First Postmaster
  An Irish immigrant who arrived in these parts in 1870. It was he who laid the foundations of the settlement near Squak Slough and became its first postmaster. The city received its modern name in his honour, changing from Melrose to Redmond.
• Warren Perrigo
  Early Settler, Entrepreneur
  An associate and, in some ways, a competitor of McRedmond in the early years. Perrigo opened the first trading post and inn, paving the first roads in the region. His activities played a key role in the commercial establishment of the city in the late 19th century.
• Bill Gates
  Co-founder of Microsoft, Philanthropist
  Although Gates lived in neighbouring Medina, his professional life is inextricably linked to Redmond. His decision to move the corporation's headquarters here in 1986 became the main turning point in the city's history, transforming it into a "technology capital".
• James Doohan
  Actor
  Performer of the iconic role of Chief Engineer Montgomery "Scotty" Scott in the original "Star Trek" series. Doohan lived the final years of his life in Redmond, where he was known as an active and friendly member of the local community.
• Carrie Brownstein
  Musician, Actress, Writer
  Member of the famous rock band Sleater-Kinney and creator of the series "Portlandia". Brownstein grew up in Redmond; the experience of living in a typical American suburb of the 1980s and 90s influenced her later creative work.
• Steve Ballmer
  Business Magnate, Former CEO of Microsoft
  Led Microsoft from 2000 to 2014. Under his leadership, the campus in Redmond expanded significantly, and the number of jobs in the city grew manifold, strengthening the region's economic base.
• Satya Nadella
  CEO of Microsoft
  The current head of the corporation, who initiated the massive modernisation of the Redmond campus. His activities contribute to the transformation of the city into a centre for cloud computing and artificial intelligence, attracting thousands of specialists from around the world.