Located between Bellevue, Renton, and the Cougar Mountain area of Issaquah, Newcastle is a new city with a rich history. In the 1800's, Newcastle had a larger population than Seattle. In fact, it was the richness of Newcastle's coal mining industry that played an important role in transforming Seattle into a major port. Prospectors and coal miners worked the Newcastle Hills for 100 years between 1863 and 1963--mining nearly 13 million tons of coal from under the surface of Cougar Mountain.

The Pacific Coast Coal Company formed the company town of "old" Newcastle in the early 1870's. When a later strike of coal was found a mile east, the town was moved to Coal Creek--becoming the "new" Newcastle. The present Newcastle sits directly on the site of Old Newcastle. Between 1880 and 1890, the economy of Newcastle went the way of its mineral resource.

Little evidence remains of the two colorful communities which once had as many as 600 houses between them--except abandoned mines and one miner's residence that has been restored to near-original condition (the Baima House).

Newcastle has been rediscovered, experiencing substantial growth over the last several years as a suburb and residential community. Newcastle incorporated in September 1994 after a group of citizens sought political autonomy from King County. It is a residential community with only one major industrial site within the corporate limits. The City does have a significant amount of home occupation business, as well as a retail core providing neighborhood-type commercial activity.

Now, more than thirty-five years after the end of the coal-mining era, Newcastle residents celebrate their history at Newcastle Days--a two-day event held in September.

For more information about Newcastle, visit their website at http://www.ci.newcastle.wa.us.