Amazon’s West Coast headquarters are located in Seattle and Bellevue in the Puget Sound region of Washington State. The Puget Sound has more than 4 million people and a rich diversity of cities, towns, and neighborhoods with lots to offer.
People visit Seattle for attractions like the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, and the Great Wheel, but the city has so much more to offer.
There’s a lot to explore, with a vibrant arts and theater community, acres of public parks, museums, several professional sports teams, and outdoor activities for all seasons.
The vibrant green forests that surround Seattle gave the city its nickname: the Emerald City. But Seattle was first named for a hereditary chief of the Suquamish and Duwamish people, and many of the local communities feature names from the Lushootseed, or Puget Sound Salish, language.
More houseboats than any other city
Lake Union houseboats are a big part of what makes Seattle such a unique and special place. The city is also home to the famous floating home from Sleepless in Seattle. While houseboats are in short supply, there are thousands of residential options located nearby or with views of Lake Union, Lake Washington, and the Puget Sound.
The oldest farmer’s market in the US
Pike Place Market was created to combat the high prices of onions. In 1906, the city proposed the establishment of a public market where farmers could sell their products directly to consumers, thus avoiding the high prices charged by intermediaries. This market became known as Pike Place Market and is now an iconic destination. It is the oldest continuously operating farmer’s market in the country.
A home for dog lovers
At 246.67 dogs per 1,000 residents, Seattle was ranked the city with the most dogs per capita in 2020. You’ll find dog parks throughout the city and pet-friendly establishments to bring your furry friend with you anywhere you go—including many of our offices.
Kimberly KinradeUSA Today best-selling authorSeattle is for people who love culture, but refuse to sacrifice their wild nature to attain it.
Chief SeattleNamesake of Seattle, WashingtonEarth does not belong to us; we belong to earth. Take only memories, leave nothing but footprints.
Seattle Public Schools comprise 109 schools and 51,443 students. There are 39 preschools, 79 elementary schools, 30 middle schools, and 21 high schools. Find out more about Seattle Public Schools.
Private schools comprise 123 schools and 23,274 students. There are 74 preschools, 95 elementary schools, and 32 high schools. Find out more about Seattle’s private schools.
Some of Seattle’s popular neighborhoods
Bellevue is roughly 10 miles east of Seattle, across Lake Washington, and is home to many beautiful parks, glamorous shopping, and top schools. Bellevue is routinely ranked among the best mid-sized cities in the country.
Home to the Bellevue Botanical Garden
This beautiful garden has free admission and more than 53 acres. Each summer features Arts in the Garden, when local artists gather to display and sell their work. Each winter the gardens are decorated in festive lights.
A city of parks
Bellevue is home to more than 95 parks, totaling more than 2,700 acres of parks and open spaces. Surrounded by mountains and parks no matter what part of town you’re in, you’re never far from nature.
Puget Sound’s melting pot
According to the most recent census, more than 50 languchildren in Bellevue public schools. The Puget Sound prides itself on diversity and inclusion.
Bellevue Public Schools comprise 31 schools and 19,510 students. There are 15 preschools, 19 elementary schools, 8 middle schools, and 8 high schools. Find out more about Bellevue Public Schools.
Private schools comprise 52 schools and 8,896 students. There are 37 preschools, 38 elementary schools, and 15 high schools. Find out more about Bellevue’s private schools.
Some of Bellevue’s popular neighborhoods
As much as Amazon has grown, it’s always been important for us to call the Puget Sound region our home. We moved into South Lake Union in Seattle more than ten years ago, and since 2017, we’ve been growing our presence in Bellevue, just a 15-minute drive away. With more than 11,000 employees now working in Bellevue, and with plans to bring 25,000 jobs here in the next few years, it’s where we’re focusing our next phase of growth in the region.
As we started growing our footprint here, our goal was to integrate both our employees and our buildings into the fabric of the community, supporting vibrant 18-hour districts where people can live, work, dine, shop, and play. Our urban campuses span more than 15 million square feet and more than 50 buildings.
Located on our Seattle campus, the Spheres have become an iconic destination. People have an innate connection to nature, which is often lost in the urban environment. The Spheres were created to reconnect people to nature through biophilic design and provide a space to take in the positive effects of exposure to nature, like increasing creativity and reducing mental fatigue.
With more than 1,000 plant species, 40,000 individual plants, aquariums, a cafe, and ample seating and meeting areas located across four floors, the Spheres are a popular destination for our employees to collaborate with teammates or simply relax and recharge.
The Dogs at Work (DAW) program is an employee benefit administered by Amazon Global Real Estate & Facilities (GREF) in collaboration with Amazon Human Resources. Offered at select corporate sites throughout North America, the program supports Amazonians bringing their dogs to work in a safe way.
Three parks—Cascade Park and Playground, Denny Park and Lake Union Park—are located within walking distance of the Seattle campus.
Amazon has 13 affinity groups, also known as employee resource groups, which bring Amazon employees together across businesses and locations around the world. Some examples include the Black Employee Network (BEN), Amazon Women in Engineering (AWE), and Indigenous at Amazon.
There are also many informal employee social groups. Seattle and Bellevue are prime locations in the Pacific Northwest with access to hiking, biking, kayaking, paddle boarding, and much more. Puget Sound employees can join Outdoors at Amazon, a group that organizes inclusive outdoor adventures.
One of the great benefits of having a headquarter that’s fully integrated into the city is access to public transit.
Our employees have a range of commuting options, and more than half don’t drive to work—many walk, bike, take public transportation, or carpool.
We’re investing in dedicated bike lanes to provide safe, pollution-free, easy access to our offices. Many of our employees can live nearby, skip the commute altogether, and walk to work.
For those who live a bit farther out, Seattle is serviced by the Sound Transit Rail lines, Seattle Streetcars, and the Seattle Center Monorail. King County Metro Transit extends bus service to outlying neighborhoods in King County.
Amazon provides every Blue Badge employee an ORCA Card, the local transit card, which covers multiple modes of transportation.
Amazon provides a subsidy to help cover the costs of your commute, including parking, bike share, and more.
King County Metro Transit
Metro offers reliable and efficient bus service that operates in King County. With multiple service options like DART, Night Owl, RapidRide, and Trailhead Direct, Metro provides accessible and convenient transportation.
Sound Transit Link Light-Rail
Link light-rail extends between Northgate and Angle Lake, with stops along the way, including the University of Washington, downtown Seattle, and Sea-Tac Airport. Trains run every 6, 10, or 15 minutes depending on the time of day. New stations are under development that will connect our Seattle and Bellevue campuses.
Seattle Streetcar
The Seattle Streetcar has two lines—South Lake Union and First Hill—connecting you to multiple bus routes and the Link light-rail. The South Lake Union Line - Westlake Hub (McGraw Square) is one block from the Seattle Center Monorail - Westlake Center Station and travels between downtown and Seattle Center.
Washington State Ferries
Washington State Ferries connect you to the Olympic Peninsula and beyond. It’s the largest ferry system in the United States, with 21 ferries across the Puget Sound.
King County Water Taxi
Have fun, avoid traffic, and enjoy beautiful views from your seat on the King County Water Taxi. The fast boats can connect you from downtown Seattle to both Vashon Island and West Seattle.
Seattle sports fans are well known for their enthusiasm, team, spirit and loyalty. On December 2, 2013, the spectators in attendance at the Seahawks game at Lumen Field in Seattle set a Guinness World Record for crowd noise when they combined their voices to reach 137.6 decibels and cause a minor earthquake in northwestern Washington.
Whether you’re a hardcore sports enthusiast or just love the energy of the fans, Seattle has six professional teams to keep you entertained.
Seattle Seahawks
Men’s American Football
Seattle Storm
Women’s Basketball
Seattle Kraken
Men’s Hockey
Seattle Mariners
Men’s Baseball
Seattle Sounders FC
Men’s Soccer
Seattle Reign FC
Women’s Soccer
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