The Eastside is the collective term for the highly independent, affluent eastern King County. It is comprised of 19 incorporated cities and unincorporated suburban and rural communities. The name derives from the fact that these communities all lie to the east of Lake Washington, except for Mercer Island, which lies within the lake itself. Its independent spirit is manifest in the two attempts in the recent past to secede from King County.

The name Bellevue is derived from a French term for “beautiful view”. On warm sunny days scenic vistas of the Olympic and Cascade Mountains can be viewed from hilltops and high rises within the incorporated city. Bellevue lies between the deepest fresh water lake on the west coast, Lake Washington to its west and the smaller Lake Sammamish to its east. It includes many nearby family friendly neighborhoods like Eastgate, Coal Creek, Factoria, Overlake, Newport and is neighbor to the wealthy suburban towns of Medina, Clyde Hill, Hunts Point and Yarrow Point.