Specifics about living in unincorporated Seattle? (Everett, Renton: sales, crime rates, house)

[artdecofan]

I was surprised to learn that parts of Seattle like White Center are actually unincorporated and NOT part of Seattle.

If you've lived in an unincorporated part of Seattle, what were the specific differences (compared to living in incorporated parts of Seattle), good and bad? What neighborhood did you live in? The two I know about are White Center and Skyway.

I've seen this thread:

[url]//www.city-data.com/forum/seattle-area/1786047-unincorporated-king-county-please-explain.html[/url]

but I'd appreciate any additional info or anything more up to date.

Thanks in advance!

[James Bond 007]

You can't really tell much difference.

I lived for 5 years in an unincorporated part of Snohomish County, referred to as "South Everett" and there's really no difference than living in the Everett city limits (which I did for a couple years prior to that). In the city limits you can use the Everett public library, and outside the city limits you can only check out stuff in a Snohomish County library. Plus, you don't get to vote for mayors, city councils, city ballot initiatives, etc. Services are the same as in any city ... maybe it's a different trash collection company.

Not sure about any differences in property tax rates.

[Hemlock140]

In those two cases you mentioned, there has been more crime than in the city limits, though there is now some gentrification starting in White Center. The Seattle PD doesn’t patrol, it’s the King County Sheriff which is stretched thinner. There is also the problem of no local municipal services, having to go to the county building in Seattle for things like building permits.

[WAIDOR]

Many of the urban unincorporated areas of King County have been annexed by cities. The area we moved to was annexed by Bothell less than a year after we moved. I believe the Cascade Fairwood area east of Renton is also still unincorporated in addition to North Highline (White Center) and Skyway. Snohomish County is very different from King County. They have many very populated unincorporated urban areas and I do not know of any push to incorporate these areas. I personally prefer to be in an incorporated city with local elected officials rather than relying on county commissioners who have an entire county to look after.

[Ira500]

I lived in unincorporated King County for 11 years before getting annexed by Renton. The main drawback in living in unincorporated is slower police response. The county doesn't want to spend money in unincorporated areas, although they are legally obligated to. But the KC Sheriff office is pretty spread thin. The actual crime rates are actually a little lower in the unincorporated areas, but some things they don't allow in cities, they have in unincorporated areas. Like casinos. There is a greater concentration of marijuana stores, which is a plus or minus depending on your viewpoint. Another difference is that you can get away with a little more outside of city limits. A disadvantage is that there's no direct elected representation, no city council member to complain to. But it also tends to mean lower housing costs, and often in places that aren't too far from downtown Seattle.

[Ira500]

Originally Posted by WAIDOR

Many of the urban unincorporated areas of King County have been annexed by cities. The area we moved to was annexed by Bothell less than a year after we moved. I believe the Cascade Fairwood area east of Renton is also still unincorporated in addition to North Highline (White Center) and Skyway. Snohomish County is very different from King County. They have many very populated unincorporated urban areas and I do not know of any push to incorporate these areas. I personally prefer to be in an incorporated city with local elected officials rather than relying on county commissioners who have an entire county to look after.

Cascade got annexed by Renton, but Fairwood is still unincorporated. The south end of White Center got annexed by Burien, but White Center proper is still unincorporated.

[CrazyDonkey]

There have been pushes for incorporating White Center into Seattle, but it has always come down to costing more in services delivered than taxes/fees realized. With gentrifying and rising property values, that could be changing.

[Ira500]

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

There have been pushes for incorporating White Center into Seattle, but it has always come down to costing more in services delivered than taxes/fees realized. With gentrifying and rising property values, that could be changing.

The last I heard was that with rising property values and all the new restaurants in White Center, Seattle is now interested.

[Sockeye66]

I moved and purchased my house in White Center in '02.
There has been many changes and most (if not all) are for the good. As far as public and support services I see little difference.

Zoning was/is certainly looser but we've less porn and pawn on our main strip and lots more good places going in.

Crime has been little issue in my neighborhood although I heard it had been in the past.

[bellamushy]

In White Center you won't pay the soda tax. When I lived there the phone and cable taxes were a bit less than Seattle's. The sales tax and car tabs may be less also. It's in the Highline school district, serviced by the King County sheriff office.

The County has been pushing White Center to incorporate since I was kid. People vote against it. Burien city limits have come North to 116th and parts of the Shorewood area became Seattle. There is very little unincorporated White Center left.