History
Laurelhurst was once a Duwamish Indian campground until the signing of the Point Elliot Treaty in 1855.  After the signing the Duwamish Indians were removed from the land and then resided at the Suquamish Indian Reservation on the Kitsap Peninsula.
 
During white settlement in the 1860’s, Laurelhurst was home to King County’s first sheriff, William H. Surber (aka Uncle Joe), and founder of a small saw mill, Henry Yesler.  Surber served as sheriff, federal marshal, and contracted many of the railroad trestles that ran through Seattle at that time.  He also enjoyed hunting the Union Bay (Laurelhurst) land for venison in which he supplied to the local market. 

Yesler’s sawmill turned the city into a busy town.  He built the sawmill in the perfect location near Lake Washington in order to clear out the shoreline.  Clear-cutting this area allowed agricultural growth and development, but it was only for a short while before the real settlement occurred.   Today only remnants of the old farms and orchards can be seen with in the residential areas.  In 1910, Laurelhurst became a neighborhood of Seattle.  Being the neighborhood furthest away from the city, Laurelhurst used boat transportation for many years to commute to and from the city. 

Description
Today, this neighborhood is filled with large private homes, spectacular views of Mt. Rainier and Lake Washington, wonderful shops, restaurants and other attractions.  The Laurelhurst neighborhood is located on a peninsula on the western shore of Lake Washington.  The western boundary is University Village and the University of Washington Campus.  Sand Point and Windermere are the northern boundaries and on the east is Lake Washington. 

Residents
Today there are about 8,000 residents in Laurelhurst.  The Laurelhurst homes feature Northwest architecture (Tudor, colonial, and craftsman homes) with beautiful views of the Cascade Mountains to the east, or Lake Washington on the West.  Many UW professors, students, and other young professionals call Laurelhurst home. 

Rental Housing
Rental pricing is approximately $1.00/sq ft to $1.75/sq ft. Fewer apartment buildings are located in this area of town, although there are a handful of properties close to University Village.  The majority of housing here is single-family homes. 

Fun Stuff
Both public and private schools are offered in this area, and an abundance of shopping at University Village is just around the corner.  Since the local community park, Laurelhurst Playfield and Park, has 13 acres and the Burke-Gilman Trail crosses through this area, Laurelhurst is a great stomping ground for joggers, bikers, and hikers of all ages.