Where Did the Term “Highline Communities” Come From?
Today, the phrase “Highline Communities” is frequently used to describe the cities and neighborhoods surrounding Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The term appears in airport planning documents, environmental reports, and regional government discussions. But where did it come from?
It turns out the name predates Sea-Tac Airport by decades.
The High Line Road
The origin of the name can be traced back to the late 1800s, when settlers established what became known as the High Line Road. Rather than following the valleys, the road ran along the top of the glacial ridge separating Puget Sound from the Duwamish and Green River valleys.
Because it occupied the “high line” across the landscape, the route naturally became known as the High Line Road. Over time it became the principal north-south transportation route serving the growing settlements along the ridge.
A Name for the Region
As communities developed along the ridge, the name gradually expanded beyond the road itself. By the early twentieth century, “Highline” had become a geographic identity for much of southwestern King County.
In 1924, students selected the name Highline High School for the area’s first regional high school. According to the school’s history, the name reflected both the existing geographic designation and the students’ aspirations for high standards and sportsmanship.
As the school district grew, the name spread even further through the creation of the Highline School District, serving what are now Burien, SeaTac, Normandy Park, Des Moines, White Center, and portions of Tukwila.
Sea-Tac Airport Arrives
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport did not create the name “Highline.” Instead, when the airport opened in the 1940s, it was built squarely within an area that was already widely known as Highline.
By the 1950s and 1960s, newspapers, civic organizations, and government agencies routinely referred simply to “the Highline.” Organizations such as Highline Community College, the Highline Historical Society, the Highline Times, and numerous civic groups reinforced the regional identity.
A 1975 historical article published by Highline Community College noted that the term had evolved from a road name into the designation for a 32-square-mile region encompassing many of the communities surrounding today’s airport.
Why It Matters Today
When the FAA, the Port of Seattle, and airport planners refer to the “Highline Communities,” they are using a regional name that existed long before modern airport noise programs or environmental planning.
Understanding the origin of the term also helps explain why so many institutions continue to use “Highline” even though the region is now divided among several incorporated cities. The name reflects a shared geographic and historical identity that predates Sea-Tac Airport itself.
Sources
- Highline High School historical records.
- City of SeaTac Comprehensive Plan.
- The Thunderword, Highline Community College, February 21, 1975 (history of the Highline region).