#17 in Best Places to Live in Snohomish County | Urban Suburban Mix
Mountlake Terrace is a suburb of Seattle with a population of 21,210. Mountlake Terrace is in Snohomish County and is one of the best places to live in Washington. Living in Mountlake Terrace offers residents an urban suburban mix feel and most residents own their homes. In Mountlake Terrace there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many families and young professionals live in Mountlake Terrace and residents tend to have moderate political views. The public schools in Mountlake Terrace are highly rated.
Mountlake Terrace was founded in 1949 by real estate developers on the site of a disused airfield, intending to provide low-cost housing for veterans. Within five years, the community had grown to over 5,000 people and was incorporated as a city in 1954 to provide municipal services. An industrial park was developed at the northwest corner of the city, which was connected by Interstate 5 after it opened in 1965. Mountlake Terrace originally had several small shopping centers that declined due to the local economy and a pair of arsons in 1990.
The city government began developing a downtown revitalization plan with mixed-use buildings in the 2000s, with hopes of growing beyond a bedroom community for Seattle commuters. The Mountlake Terrace Transit Center, a major bus hub, opened in 2009 and is planned to have Link light rail service in 2024. The city has several parks, including access to Lake Ballinger, and hosts an annual summer festival that is part of Seafair.
The city sits on a plateau that is elevated from the surrounding landscape, with views of the Olympic and Cascade mountains.
