A trendy and youthful sport with reminders of its Scandinavian history.
Ballard has a high violent crime rate and a high property crime rate for Seattle.
Ballard is a neighborhood in northwest Seattle. In the early 1900s its residents were almost exclusively of Scandinavian heritage and worked in the fishing, shipbuilding, and lumber industries. Today you'll still find Scandinavian businesses, but this tightknit community has become particularly trendy: cool restaurants, shops, art galleries, microbreweries, and bars have found a home on the main street, Ballard Aveneue.
Along with attracting hip businesses, it's also attracted lots of new, younger residents. As people have flocked to this community they've outpaced the construction of new homes, so property here is particularly expensive. However, hundreds of new apartment and condo units are on the way to help ease the pressure.
With nearly 200 restaurants and hundreds of shops, this is one of the most walkable neighborhoods in Seattle. It's also home to a highly rated elementary school.
Ballard is bordered on the north by North Beach, on the east by Phinney Ridge, on the south by Salmon Bay, and on the west by Puget Sound.
Commute:
Downtown Seattle: 6.5 miles / 20-40 minutes by car / 35-45 minutes by transit
Bellevue: 16 miles / 35-60 minutes by car / 100-120 minutes by transit
Redmond: 20 miles / 35-70 minutes by car / 70 minutes by transit
Ballard LOCAL schools
Ballard Local Flavor 
Seafood and Tapas restaurant offering live music and happy hour.
Pastries, small bites and great drinks worth the drive.
All you could want in Mexican food with a vibrant atmosphere.
Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery crafts organic, classic American comfort desserts and other original and innovative confections. Founded in 2008 by Autumn Martin with the dessert that made them famous: Take-n-Bake Molten Chocolate Cake in a Mason Jar.
Photo Credits: Thanks to @seattles_parked_cars, @sweet_like_taylor, @ndenisi11, @jadamoon, @rachelgonewild, @ramencello, @cosbyshowdog, @shelbywarwood, @ppoptw, @popomarie15, @luke.nervig, @saboten.bob@soul.roams, @brianyskim, @patrick.ayres@nothingbutcrust, @monpetitseattle, @jsscarobertson for your great photos of this neighborhood!
