Redmond is the seventh most populous city in King County and the sixteenth most populous city in the State of Washington, with a residential population of  approximately 50,680 in 2007. It encompasses an area of over 16.85 square miles and is located less than 20 miles east of downtown Seattle at the north end of Lake Sammamish. The city prides itself for its high quality of life with good schools, a healthy economic base, a parks system that provides a variety of active and passive recreational opportunities, diverse offerings for shopping and dining, safe neighborhoods, and an emphasis on quality development and protection of the natural environment.

Redmond's park system consists of 31 developed and 14 undeveloped parks on over 1,300 acres and 26 miles of developed trails. Facilities range from community, neighborhood, and resource parks to undeveloped open space, beautification areas, and gathering places. They include a waterfront park on Lake Sammamish (Idylwood), a wildlife preserve known as the Redmond Watershed, and a farm with equestrian facilities at Farrel-McWhirter Park. Recreation programs provide learning, socializing, and entertainment opportunities for preschoolers through senior adults and an active cultural arts scene. Facilities include a senior center, a teen center, a community center, and two log cabins at Anderson Park. In addition, King County operates numerous trail connections with Redmond's system and points beyond.

The city is well known as a center of technology and the location for a number of nationally known high-tech and biomedical companies. Among these are Microsoft, Nintendo, AT&T and Physio-Control.  Redmond Town Center, a large downtown retail center, offers numerous shops, restaurants, three movie theaters, special events, and live performances by a repertory theatre company and other arts-related groups.

As Redmond continues to evolve into a thriving city of increasing diversity, it seeks to promote its sense of community through programs designed to celebrate its heritage, enhance its neighborhoods, and preserve its historical and natural treasures.

With 53 schools and nearly 24,000 students, the Lake Washington School District, the school district for the cities of Redmond, Sammamish and Kirkland combined, is one of the largest in the state. It is also a reflection of the community it serves, generally upper middle class and technology-comfortable. Scores on standardized tests place the district in the state's top 10 percent. The curriculum has been praised in several national education publications for its comprehensive approach to student-centered learning, and over 100 districts around the country are adapting it for their own use.

City of Redmond at a Glance
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GENERAL INFORMATION
Incorporated	December 31, 1912
Area	16.85 square miles
Elevation	50 feet at City Center
Annual Mean Temperature	52.8
Average Annual Precipitation	35.50 inches
Population in 1960	1,426
Population 2007	50,680
Retail Sales Tax	8.9 percent (effective 4/1/07)
Adopted City Budget for 2007/2008	$590.7 million
Adopted City Budget for 2005/2006	$374.6 million
Adopted City Budget for 2003/2004	$363.1 million
Adopted City Budget for 2001/2002	$355.6 million
Adopted City Budget for 1999/2000	$252.0 million
NUMBER OF CITY EMPLOYEES
Authorized for 2007-08	608 full-time equivalents
Authorized for 2005-06	581.97 full-time equivalents
Authorized for 2003-04	584.55 full-time equivalents
Authorized for 2001-02	563.5 full-time equivalents
Authorized for 1999-2000	524.4 full-time equivalents
FIRE PROTECTION
Number of uniformed personnel	151
Number of stations	6
Number of 2007 calls for service	9,896
Number of 2006 calls for service	9,951
Number of 2005 calls for service:	11,558
Number of 2004 calls for service	14,682
Number of 2003 calls for service	8,003
Number of 2002 calls for service	6,586
Number of 2001 calls for service	7,236
POLICE PROTECTION
Number of commissioned officers	81
Number of 2007 calls for service	23,819
Number of 2006 calls for service	24,477
Number of 2005 calls for service	24,036
Number of 2004 calls for service	23,488*
Number of 2003 calls for service	22,739*
Number of 2002 calls for service	21,693*
Number of 2001 calls for service	22,300*
*These numbers may appear different than reported in previous years due to a change in reporting practices.
PARKS
Miles of Developed Trails	26
Total Acres Park and Trail Open Space	1,342
TRANSPORTATION
Miles of paved road (includes state routes)	184.9
Number of traffic signals	89
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Redmond is served primarily by the Lake Washington School District #414.  Only the schools within the city limits of Redmond are included.
Number of schools in the city limits	TOTAL: 9
Elementary	6
Junior High	2
High School	1
Number of students in the city limits (10/07)	TOTAL: 5,539
Elementary	2,565
Junior High	1,335
High School	1,494
Family Learning Center	215 (K-12)
Stella Schola	90 (6-8)
BUSINESS
Number of active business licenses (12/31/07)	5,175
Number of FTE's (full-time equivalents) working in Redmond (12/31/07), which includes outside contractors and consultants coming into Redmond to do business.	75,059