Seattle was named after Chief Sealth, of the Duwamish and Suquamish tribes, today it is the most populous city in the northwestern United States. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metropolitan statistical areas compose the 15th largest in the United States and Pacific Northwest. A coastal city and major seaport, between Puget Sound and Lake Washington, is major economic, cultural, educational center and the county seat of King County.

Seattle area has been inhabited for at least 4,000 years, only until the European settlement began in the mid-19th century with the first permanent white settlers Arthur A. Denny, known as the "Denny Party" arrived November 13, 1851. The settlements was referred as "New York-Alki" meaning "by and by" in the local Chinook Jargon and "Duwamps".

Doc Maynard in 1853, suggested that the settlement be renamed "Seattle", an anglicized rendition of the name of Sealth, the chief of the two local tribes. From 1869 until 1982, Seattle was known as the "Queen City", currently the official nickname is the "Emerald City", but is also referred to informally as the "Gateway to Alaska", "Rain City", and "Jet City".