History
The Woodinville valley was once a rural community surrounded by hills, lakes and rivers.  A scattering of farms and houses were spread across a 40 mile area until the 1970s, when residents from the city started to move out to the area.  A large amount of upper income housing emerged along with Woodinville’s new tenants, but many kept a barn and horses in the backyard of their homes.  Today Woodinville is rumored to have more horses per capita than any other place in the country, despite the surplus of shopping centers and malls that sprouted up in the 1980s. 

Description
Woodinville is situated approximately 20 miles northeast of Seattle and 10 miles north of Bellevue.  A morning commute from Woodinville to Seattle via State Route 520 is approximately 45 minutes depending on traffic.  Woodinville’s own downtown is rapidly developing with new retail stores and offices cropping up, but the rural feel of this area has not been lost.  The Sammamish River cuts through the city and winds up to Bothell, while houses and farms are nestled amongst lovely forest settings throughout much of the city.  Woodinville’s official slogan perfectly fits the character of this city: “Country Living, City Style.”

Residents
Due to its proximity to Redmond, many high-tech employees have moved out to Woodinville with their families in to the newer housing developments.  The beautiful, sprawling homes in isolated districts create close-nit neighborhoods.  These residents join the established households and their spacious farmland, resulting in a mix of younger and older families, while in the downtown Woodinville area and the neighborhoods closer to Redmond, there tends to be more young professionals.

Rental Housing
Most of the housing in this area is made up of renovated farmhouses with a bit of land or modern homes in newer housing developments.  There are fewer rentals in Woodinville than in the neighboring cities of Bothell and Redmond, but the apartments and rental homes that do exist run approximately $0.85 to $1.75 per square foot.  Typically apartments in the area are either in brand new complexes or were built during the 1980s development boom in Woodinville.

Fun Stuff
Woodinville is home to renowned wineries and breweries, such as the world-class Chateau St Michelle winery, the Columbia winery and Redhook Brewery. 

On a clear summer day, hot air balloons dot the sky about Woodinville’s valley as the Spirit of Washington dinner train chugs along beneath them. 

Molbaks, Washington’s world-famous greenhouse and nursery, offers a beautiful selection of local and exotic plants for purchase.  The Hollywood School House, a coveted spot for weddings and receptions, was once a brick schoolhouse in the early 1900s.  Now a historic landmark, the School House sits across the street from Antiques at Hollywood, with over 100 antique dealers in one spot.