Economy

Seattle is the largest city in the Pacific Northwest. Although nearly 150 miles (240 km) from the open sea, it is an important port and gateway to Alaska and Asia; it is closer to Asia than is any other major port on the United States West Coast. Grain, lumber, and wood products make up the largest share of the cargo shipped. Seattle is also the trade and business center for much of western Washington, an area heavily dependent on forest resources.

From its earliest days, the city has been a lumber milling and shipping center. Numerous plants make a variety of wood products, including plywood and furniture. Aircraft manufacture is a major industry; the Boeing Company's plants in Seattle and nearby cities produce commercial and military aircraft, as well as missile and satellite parts. Other important activities are commercial fishing and associated canning and freezing, ship repairing, and the manufacture of machinery and paper.

Seattle is served by all principal means of transportation. A network of railroads and highways, including two Interstate routes, provides service to all parts of the country and to Canada. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, a short distance south of the city, is a major terminus for overseas flights. The Port of Seattle includes the Lake Washington Ship Canal, linking Puget Sound, Lake Union, and Lake Washington; locks in the canal raise ships 26 feet (8 m) to the lakes. Ferries link Seattle with Canadian and Alaskan ports and serve cities on Puget Sound. Floating bridges carry highway traffic over Lake Washington.