South Delridge - Seattle, WA

Established around the turn of the 20th century as part of the annexation of West Seattle, South Delridge was a working class neighborhood settled mostly by steelworkers from the local steel mill, which still operates today. Originally known as Youngstown before splitting into the Delridge and Westwood neighborhoods, South Delridge claims a rich indigenous culture and a stable housing market. For the most part it continues to be a sleepy neighborhood devoted to homes and apartments, where young families, singles and retirees live side by side.

South Delridge has no regular arts scene, so art-hungry residents usually visit the weekly West Seattle Art Walk or enjoy live performances and local arts and crafts demos in White Center, hosted by art collective Rat City Art City.

When it comes to dining, South Delridge has no central restaurant location, but it does offer a few unique options that are not to be missed.

Zippy's Giant Burgers welcomes burger fans with unique decor and great food – and when they say "giant," they mean it. Zippy's huge 1/3-pound burgers are made with beef ground fresh on the premises. Select a local beer or retro soda, shake, tots, fries and more to accompany your burger. Zippy's keeps neighborhood hours, closing between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.

At the Salvadorean Bakery and Restaurant on Roxbury and 18th Avenue SW, pick up fresh-baked Salvadorian specialties to go, or enjoy a hearty sit-down lunch or dinner with homemade chicken or cheese pupusas, fresh tamales, and flavorful soups. You can also get custom-made cakes for any occasion and a variety of Latin American grocery products.

The residential vibe of South Delridge is not interrupted by night clubs or bars, so some residents head to nearby places for nightlife. At the north end of Delridge Way, just before the freeway ramp, locals can enjoy live music, unique menu items and cocktails made with house-aged infusions at the Skylark Cafe, open daily until 2 a.m. Take a quick drive to downtown Seattle for a wide variety of live music, bars and nightclubs.

The main artery of Delridge Way SW cuts directly through the center of South Delridge, offering easy access to White Center via SW Roxbury Street and West Seattle via Sylvan Way SW. The neighborhood has decent freeway access to SeaTac via the 609 freeway, but it takes a few minutes of surface street driving for access. If your commute requires access to Interstate 5 it is not easy, since the only real route involves crossing the two-lane West Seattle Bridge. During morning and evening rush hours congestion is guaranteed.

The King County Metro 60 bus line runs from adjacent White Center through Deldridge to downtown Seatte via Georgetown, with access to the Century Link Field, Pioneer Square and beyond. The 120 bus runs north from Burien all the way to downtown via Delridge Way and the West Seattle Bridge, while the 128 covers Renton and SeaTac Airport southbound and West Seattle Northbound.

South Delridge is very much a walking neighborhood in terms of size, though since it's mainly residential, commercial distractions hardly pop up on every block. Walk or bike to the adjacent Westwood Village Shopping Center in a matter of minutes. Cyclists should take care on busy Delridge Way since only some parts feature buffered bike lanes. Side streets provide plentiful rider-friendly alternatives.

Uber covers all of South Delridge, as do other major cab companies like Orange and Yellow. Car2Go users can almost always find a car parked on a South Delridge street.

Roxhill Park, the closest park to South Delridge, has been a haven for neighborhood residents as well as wildlife since 1955. The park borders the wetlands region adjacent to the Duwamish River at the headwaters of Longfellow Creek. Great for bird-watching, picnicking and recreation, the park offers a playground and ball fields. The park closes at 10 p.m.

E.C. Hughes Playground, a tiny but exquisite green space between Holden and Kenyon streets, houses ball fields, a kids' playground and a view of Mt. Rainier.

South Delridge rents are comparable to neighborhoods more distant from the city center, averaging about $800 monthly for a one-bedroom apartment. Expect to pay about $4 for a pint at a local tavern like Mac's Triangle Pub in White Center or $2 for caned domestics, which are popular in the area.

That gas for your commute is going to cost about 14 percent more than the national average, but rest assured it's not much cheaper throughout the rest of Seattle.

South Delridge directly abuts the Westwood and White Center neighborhoods, where most of the residents do their shopping. The Westwood Village Shopping Center services the neighborhood with a post office, Barnes & Noble bookstore, Bed Bath & Beyond, GameStop and a variety of banking and dining options, along with a QFC grocery. Within the neighborhood proper, the 7-11 on SW Holden and the tiny Sixteenth Avenue Grocery are about the only grocery choices, though only quick convenience items are available.

South Delridge offers little in the way of entertainment and speciality shopping, though there are several options nearby in White Center to the south and West Seattle to the north. These include Roxbury Lanes bowling on the edge of Roxhill Park, Mac Fashion House and White Center Square shopping mall in White Center. A year-round farmers' market pops up every Sunday along West Seattle's California Avenue, about 4 miles away or a five-minute drive.