Mountlake Terrace was founded in 1954 to meet the housing needs of WW2 veterans and their families. This family-friendly community, located 14 miles north of Seattle along the I-5 corridor, has a ethnically diverse population of 21,980 (2021) with a median age of 36.6.
Within its 4 square miles, the City of MLT boasts:
- 355 acres of recreational activities, including parks, playfields, year-round swimming, sports pavillion,
- A wooded off-leash dog park, several birding hotspots, multiple Geo-caches, and public open spaces.
- A beach and public dock at Lake Ballinger allows quiet boating, fishing, and waterfront play.
- The adjacent Nile Golf Course is open to the public.
The new Civic Campus, site of this event, hosts the MLT Library, City Hall, The Police Department, and Fire Station 19.