Auburn is a city located in the Green River Valley between Seattle and Tacoma and straddles both King and Pierce Counties, though the major part of the city is in King County. It is the thirteenth largest city in Washington State and is viewed as a suburb to the Seattle-Bellevue-Tacoma metropolitan areas. The city has a fantastic view of Mount Rainier and a historic downtown with a "Main Street USA appearance." The Muckleshoot Indian Reservation is within the city limits.
Auburn was founded in a fertile river valley and encompasses four areas: Lea Hill, West Hill, Lakeland Hills and the valley. Auburn has a major Boeing parts assembly facility employing about 11,000 people in a 2,100,000 square foot facility. Auburn has four major Washington entertainment attractions: Emerald Downs thoroughbred horse racing, Muckleshoot Casino, Pacific Raceways and White River Amphitheater.
Incorporated in 1891 and covering 22.73 square miles, Auburn boasts a noted wetlands. The city's population was estimated at 40,314 during the 2000 census but has grown to 67,005 in 2008 because of annexation of West Hill and Lea Hill communities.
Federal Way borders Auburn due west along with Pacific and Algona. To the south of Auburn is Sumner and to the north and east is unincorporated King County.
Auburn is located approximately 24 miles southeast of Bellevue via the I-405 and State Route 167. It is located about 30 miles southeast of downtown Seattle via Interstate-5 and State Route 18. From Tacoma, Auburn is about 16 miles via the Interstate-5 and State Route 18.
SR 167 -- the Valley Freeway -- provides a major thoroughfare to Renton and the Interstate 405 and to Interstate 5 and Tacoma. State Route 18 provides access to Interstate 5, the major north-south highway and also to Interstate 90, the major west-east highway. Auburn has a Transit Center and provides a stop to the Sounder train.
Auburn School District serves the city and neighboring Algona and Pacific as well as some unincorporated areas with four high schools: Auburn Senior High, Auburn Riverside High, Auburn Mountainview High, and West Auburn Secondary High. Auburn Adventist Academy is a private Christian high school in the city.
Green River Community College is a two year public college in the city.
Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire grew up in Auburn and Dave Reichert, former King County Sheriff, is a current State representative in Congress.
Auburn has a park system with more than 28 developed parks, 5 undeveloped sites, and 23 miles of trails.
White River Valley Museum - award winning museum of native American History to the 1920s, focusing on the Muckleshoot Indian tribe and early white settlers.