Bellevue: Post World War II YearsBellevue has grown, in just a few generations, from a small farming town into an important urban center and economic hub, with the foundations for this success being laid in the two decades following World War II. The opening of the Mercer Island floating bridge, in 1940, promoted the settlement of the lands to the east of Lake Washington during the population and housing boom of the 1950s and 1960s, and Bellevue became the primary commercial center for these vibrant new communities. Families flocked to the shiny subdivisions, with new schools, shopping centers, churches, and parks springing up right behind. But it was strong political, business, and civic leadership that kept Bellevue from being just another sprawling suburb. As business began to push outward from Seattle, Bellevue was able to grow gracefully and preserve its sense of place. It remains a wonderful community for families from around the globe and a place that longtime residents are reluctant to leave. |
Contents
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| 11 | |
Getting to and through Bellevue | 23 |
Going to School | 35 |
Building New Neighborhoods | 51 |
Shopping | 63 |
Having Fun | 79 |
Building Community | 93 |
Governing | 109 |
Growing Up | 121 |
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104th Avenue America City Avenue and Northeast became began Bel-Vue Theater Bellevue area Bellevue Downtown Park Bellevue Fire Bellevue High School Bellevue Junior High Bellevue Police Department Bellevue School District Bellevue Square Bellevue’s Boeing brochure building built businesses church city hall Club collection of Eastside commercial center completed Crabapple Restaurant create Diamond S Ranch downtown Bellevue downtown core east Eastside Heritage Center Elementary School employment center families Frederick & Nelson freeways growing incorporated Interstate 405 Junior High School Lake Hills Lake Sammamish Lake Washington Lakeside larger left to right look Main Street Mercer Island Meydenbauer moved needed north of Bellevue Northeast Eighth Street Northeast Fourth Street opened original Bellevue Overlake Hospital Overlake School photograph above shows photograph shows plans regional Renton residents retail road route Safeway Sammamish High School shown suburban suburbs underway unincorporated Union S High Vuecrest Washington State Archives