Seattle is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington of the Northwestern United States. The encompassing Seattle-Tacoma-Belle vue metropolitan statistical area is the 15th largest in the United States, and the largest in the Pacific Northwest. Seattle is part of the 13th largest combined statistical area (CSA) in the U.S. A coastal city and major seaport, it is located in the western part of the state on an isthmus between Puget Sound (an arm of the Pacific Ocean) and Lake Washington, about 96 miles (154 km) south of the Canada - United States border. A major economic, cultural and educational center in the region, Seattle is the county seat of King County. By 2007 Census estimate, the city has a municipal population of 594,210, making it the twenty-fourth largest city by population in the US, and a metropolitan area population of 3,263,497. The Seattle area has been inhabited for at least 4,000 years, but European settlement began only in the mid-19th century. The first permanent white settlers Arthur A. Denny and those subsequently known as the Denny Party arrived November 13, 1851. Early settlements in the area were called New York-Alki (Alki meaning by and by in the local Chinook Jargon) and Duwamps. In 1853, Doc Maynard suggested that the main settlement be renamed Seattle, an anglicized rendition of the name of Sealth, the chief of the two local tribes. From 1869 until 1982, Seattle was known as the Queen City. Seattle’s current official nickname is the Emerald City, the result of a contest held in the early 1980s; the reference is to the lush evergreen trees in the surrounding area. Seattle is also referred to informally as the Gateway to Alaska, Rain City, and Jet City, the latter from the local influence of Boeing. Seattle residents are known as Seattleites. Seattle is the birthplace of rock legend Jimi Hendrix and grunge music, including Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam and Nirvana. Seattle has a reputation for heavy coffee consumption; coffee c...