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a true island community consisting of high quality residential areas, preserved parks and open space, as well as miles of developed shoreline. Incorporated in July 1960, the Island has its own sense of identity, distinct from its neighbors, Seattle and Bellevue. Native American legend had it that the island in Lake Washington was inhabited by evil spirits, or perhaps sunk into the deep every night, thus there were no permanent settlements here when Thomas Mercer first explored the land. Slowly, however, a settlement (called "East Seattle") developed on the northwest side of the island. But it wasn't until the I-90 floating bridge was built in the 1940s that the population really started to grow on this island that is a mere 13 miles from tip to tip, along with it a quaint business district developed.Today, with a population of just over 24,000, Mercer Island has been widely recognized as one of the premier residential communities and is consistently ranked as one of the 10 top school districts in the State of Washington. This island community is home to many affluent folks who enjoy the benefit of being located equidistant between Seattle and the other east side suburbs, making commuting a breeze. And, because it's an island, property is a hot commodity and suburban sprawl is impossible.There are 6 main areas on Mercer Island: North End, Town Center, Mid-Island, South End, East Mercer and West Mercer. As far as real estate is concerned there are sub-communities within these areas and the frequency in which homes come on the market in each community varies greatly. Ask your broker for the specifics of each—you will find the history interesting. Today, the north side of Mercer Island is considered the main business district, with cafes, pubsand various shops such as bookstores, boutiques and thrift shops. at just over five miles long and two miles wide, mercer Island is