Ballard

The neighborhood of Ballard lies on the northwestern side of Seattle, just north of the Lake Washington Ship Channel. One of the key features of Ballard are the Ballard Locks, a series of waterways and shipping channels that carry a steady stream of boat traffic. These locks drastically changed the area’s natural waterways, adding several miles of newly formed waterfront property and channelling water away from Lake Washington and Lake Union.

These locks make it possible to travel from Puget Sound to Lake Washington and back, something that was not previously possible for large shipping boats. This boosted the city’s economy while forever changing the area’s natural landscape. The locks have been a key part of the area’s infrastructure for over a century, playing an important role in the transportation of goods such as lumber and other raw materials.

Living in Ballard

Historically, Ballard has had a high concentration of Scandinavian immigrants and descendants. These fishermen flocked to the area because of the thriving salmon populations and ample employment opportunities. While the area has diversified in recent years, it still has a strong sense of community and deep ties to its Scandinavian heritage. Today, residents and visitors to Ballard can check out the Nordic Heritage Museum. This museum covers Ballard’s unique history as well as Scandinavian history as a whole.

Those that have young children will be interested to learn that Ballard is part of the Seattle Public School district. In addition to the elementary schools in the area, Ballard is also home to Seattle’s oldest continuously operating high school: Ballard High School. This school has been educating the area’s teenagers since the fall of 1901, before Ballard was even a part of Seattle. Today, the school encourages student exploration by offering the option to enroll in the Finance Academy, the Maritime Academy, or the Biotechnology Career Academy. These focused curriculums allow students that show a particular aptitude for one of these areas to cover more in depth material, preparing them for their future career paths as well as their college coursework.

Like in many parts of Seattle, the property values in Ballard have increased dramatically over the last decade. Due to ongoing efforts to update and urbanize Ballard, construction in the area has been booming. Not only have existing structures been updated, but many new apartment buildings and shopping centers have been springing up to replace older, outdated properties. The area’s high concentration of restaurants and nightclubs make it popular with young professionals as well as families with kids. Its ideal location with a great nightlife and easy access to Seattle give homeowners the best of both worlds.

In an effort to limit the suburban sprawl that threatens many major metro areas, the mayor of Seattle has encouraged high density development in Ballard and other similar communities. These apartment buildings can be a great investment for those looking to diversify their portfolios. Due to the rapid growth of Seattle’s tech industry, many families are choosing to relocate to communities like Ballard. Single family homes, apartments, and condos are in high demand, making these properties a good option for those looking to move to the area or simply invest in a commercial or industrial property. Browse the property listings on this website to see some of the top Ballard, Seattle homes for sale.

Available Listings in Ballard, WA

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