Bellevue, city in King County, western Washington, between Lakes Washington and Sammamish. Two floating bridges link Bellevue with Seattle across Lake Washington. The retail, high technology, and service industries are significant sectors of the city's economy. Manufactures include computer hardware and software and other light industry products. In the 1980s, Bellevue experienced tremendous growth in the service sector of its economy. A community college is located in the city. The community was laid out in 1891, and the railroad reached it in 1904. It was incorporated in 1953. The city's name, French for “beautiful view,” refers to its scenic setting. Population 73,903 (1980); 86,874 (1990); 109,569 (2000).
