Pioneer Square
Moving to Seattle? What is Pioneer Square like?
Pioneer Square is Seattle’s original downtown, where rugged Puget Sound waterfront meets cobblestone alleys and stately Romanesque buildings for a lifestyle both historic and high-end. You’ll wake each morning with views of Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountains and enjoy easy access to transit, ferries, and the city’s waterfront promenade, allowing both cultured convenience and moments of natural escape. If you desire a neighborhood that offers both nature’s pulse of urban living and a grounding in history—Pioneer Square stands alone.
What’s around the Pioneer Square neighborhood?
EXPLORE
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Pioneer Square has a slice of something for everyone. Check out the many art galleries- better yet, check out Pioneer Square’s first Thursday Art Walk, rich with both art galleries, and small artist studios to explore. If art isn’t your vibe, Pioneer Square’s history is an exciting way to see the the city. Locals and tourists alike enjoy the Underground Tour, where you can learn about the history of Seattle’s building an why it once sat below the current streets of Pioneer Square. Of course, living here is also an excellent choice for sports fans, with Lumen Field and T-Mobile Park right in the neighborhood. Pioneer Square also has some great "Private Public" Spaces” that are a lot of fun to find.
DINE
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Pioneer Square has seen a huge resurgence in recent years with many chefs opening shop in these unique old buildings. Check out my personal favorite- Damn the Weather! A couple of other great restaurants to get hooked on the idea of loving in Pioneer Square: Bad Bishop and Il Corvo.
SHOP
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If you’ve ever visited Pioneer Square, you surely have seen Magic Mouse Toys, which is an old school toy shop that your visitors will love checking out when they visit Seattle. If you love boutique shopping ing, you may quickly come to love Pioneer Square. Check out Arundel Books, Bon Voyage, and Flora and Henri.
Where is Pioneer Square?
North of Sodo
East of Elliott Bay
South of Downtown
West of International District
Downtown Seattle: 3 min (0.5 mi)
SLU: 8 min (1.6 mi)
I-5 Access: 4 min (0.7 mi)
520 Access: 7 min (2.9 mi)
I-90 Access: 5 min (1.3 mi)
Downtown Bellevue: 15 min (11.6 mi)
Is Pioneer Square safe?
Pioneer Square experience major upgrades in recent years, and the result has greatly reduced crime. Those who haven’t spent much time in Pioneer Square may find thimselves surprised by recent crime data being fairly low for such an urban environment.
Facts and resources for Pioneer Square
Seattle Underground & Street Elevation after the Great Fire (1889)
After the Great Seattle Fire destroyed much of Pioneer Square in 1889, the city rebuilt using masonry and elevated (regraded) many of its streets. They built retaining walls on either side of the old streets and filled in between to raise the street level by one story in places. The original sidewalks and storefronts became subterranean.The Pergola & Totem Pole / Pioneer Place Park
In Pioneer Square there’s a historic pergola (cast iron and glass) built in 1909 at 1st Avenue & Yesler Way, designed by Julian Everett. It was intended as a shelter for cable car passengers. Also there is a Totem Pole (original stolen from the Tlingit in 1899, replaced via works by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1940 after damage) and a bust of Chief Seattle.“The Sinking Ship” Garage
Pioneer Square has a parking garage known locally as the Sinking Ship Garage. It’s called this because from certain angles (especially from 1st & Yesler), the structure looks like a large ship sitting (or sinking) into the streetscape. It replaced the historic Seattle Hotel in the 1960s during urban renewal.Oldest Fountain in Seattle: Prefontaine Fountain
The Prefontaine Fountain (in Prefontaine Place Park) is Seattle’s oldest fountain, completed in 1925. It has turtle sculptures around the rim, blue ceramic tile in the basin. It was rebuilt during construction of the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel (adjacent Pioneer Square station) and reopened in 1990.Arts & Galleries Density + Local Creative Culture
Within about a one-square-mile area, Pioneer Square is very rich in art galleries, live music venues, and creative spaces. Many are small, experimental venues; some long‐standing ones. The neighborhood is also home to institutionally supported galleries (e.g. Gallery 4Culture) and notable commercial galleries like Greg Kucera Gallery. Learn more about the galleries and studios here.Waterfall Garden Park: A Pocket Private Oasis
Sitting in Pioneer Square, there's a small private-public park known as the Waterfall Garden Park (also “UPS Park”) created in 1978. It features a 22‑foot waterfall powered with ~5,000 gallons per minute, Japanese garden features, and is one of the most expensive parks per square foot in the U.S. to build.
Pioneer Square Demographics and Statistics
Population Growth (since 2000): 5%
Population Density (ppl / mile): 3,939.70
Household Size (ppl): 1
Median Age: 45.35
Annual Residential Turnover: 34%
5+ Years in Residency: 10%
Median Year in Residency: 1.78
Households w/ Children: 3%
Population by Age Group
Household Income by Dollar Range
Highest Education Level Attended
Pioneer Square Homes For Sale
Homes currently for Sale in Pioneer Square
Q&A with your Pioneer Square realtor
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Yes! What, am I going to say no? Not in this urban area! Moving into a condo in Pioneer Square is an excellent way to remain ultra walkable, and soak up the history of the city. Also, condos are typically maintenance-free and we are seeing a lot of younger career-focused and older populations who want the maintenance-free lifestyle of condos. There are several “boutique” condos where you would/should have a roll in maintaining the community. The beauty of these smaller condos is that it’s almost like co-op living - for the most part it’s still maintenance-free where the building is taken care of by whoever your community hires to take care of it, but you decide as a community what you want in the gardens and such. Much less work than owning a house but still have the joy of improving something that is growing in value! Plus, this is the ultimate location if you want your condo to have architectural significance. Pioneer Square also has a great rental market should you want to rent it out later to upgrade to a larger home.