Incorporated in 1905 with a population of 530, the Kirkland of today is the twelfth largest city in Washington and the sixth largest in King County with a population of 81,000. Kirkland has a robust parks system in which 11 of our 45 parks are on the waterfront. We are a suburban city, surrounded by other suburban cities and pockets of unincorporated King County. Kirkland is near several transportation routes, including Interstates 5 and 405 and State Route 520. The City operates under a Council-Manager form of government in which the City Council is the policy-making branch. Kirkland is a full-service city managed by a City Manager.
