Black Diamond, a growing community in the Cascade foothills
Located in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, Black Diamond has an expansive landscape of thick forest, broken apart by small lakes and pocket neighborhoods. The area originated as a coal mining town in the 1880s, with a small commercial area built around the train depot. Once the coal mining industry dried up, residential development began in earnest in the 1990s with the construction of multiple subdivisions, bringing more people to the area. "There are a lot of positive attitudes towards building new homes in the area,'” says David Newberry, a real estate agent and designated broker for Newberry Realty, who has over 30 years of experience. “It’s a neat little city and it’s easy to get to. Also easy to get out of and go somewhere.” With Tacoma around 26 miles west of the area and Seattle roughly 35 miles northwest, commuters have access to major employers.
A historic locomotive welcomes visitors outside the Black Diamond Museum.
Ten Trails features pocket parks and shared paths between close-knit homes in Black Diamond.
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Variety of home styles from suburban cottages to lakefront estates
A variety of housing styles are found within Black Diamond’s pocket neighborhoods. Homes close to town are lined along suburban-style streets with grassy front lawns. Traditional single-story homes and cottages with front porches are common. There are also New Traditional multistory homes with front gables and picture windows. These properties were built between the 1980s and 2010s and are priced around $475,000 to $880,000.
Ten Trails is a master-planned community in Black Diamond, a bit east of the downtown area, where most houses were built in the 2010s and 2020s. The suburban neighborhood is outfitted with tree-lined sidewalks, decorative shrubbery and privacy fences. New Traditional single and multistory homes are the main housing options. Some have tucked-in garages, while others have front porches. Prices range from $650,000 to $1 million. “There’s a tremendous amount of new construction going on,” Newberry says. “The biggest draw is the price of housing versus Kent. You can get a better, more beautiful home.” There are also contemporary, multistory townhouses. Units are attached and cost $530,00 to $600,000.
Farther north, a handful of homes surround Lake Sawyer. These properties are lined along country roads and separated by thick trees. Ranch-style and traditional two-story homes from the 1950s to 1990s are popular and go for $630,000 to $1.1 million, depending on property size and proximity to the waterfront. Multistory lakefront homes are guaranteed to have a view. Some are cabin-inspired, and most have wrap-around balconies and porches. These properties sit between $1.4 million and $2.2 million.
The CAP Index Crime Score for Black Diamond is 1 out of 10, much lower than the national average of 4.
Black Diamond’s Lake Sawyer supports motorized boating and year-round water activities.
Ten Trails homes in Black Diamond feature compact yards and walkable sidewalks.
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Recreational facilities, state parks and open spaces
A handful of recreational spots are found in town. There’s a Little League baseball field next to Black Diamond Elementary School, and a playground and basketball court on Bruckners Way. A BMX bike track is accessible near the Black Diamond Community Gym.
Black Diamond Open Space is a 1,240-acre forested area with streams and wetlands, about 2 miles north of town. Several trails meander through the area for hiking, biking and horseback riding. Some connect to Henry’s Ridge Open Space, while others lead to Lake Sawyer Regional Park, which has 15 miles of trails on its own. Lake Sawyer Regional Park also has a boat launch and allows fishing. “There are only four lakes where you can have motorized watercraft in King County, and Lake Sawyer is one of them. It’s very popular because you can go water skiing, ride jet skis and all that,” Newberry says.
Around 4 miles south of town, Flaming Geyser State Park allows swimming, fishing, kayaking and white-water rafting along Green River. As the name suggests, the park features two natural, active geysers. There’s also an area for flying model airplanes. Farther east is the Green River Gorge Conservation Area, which is largely undeveloped with a stretch of cliffs and canyon walls visible from walking trails. One trail explores Franklin, a ghost town in the area.
Black Diamond Open Space draws cyclists to forested singletrack trails.
Lake Sawyer Regional Park features a boat launch for summer recreation in Black Diamond.
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Retail and restaurants in Black Diamond and Maple Valley
Black Diamond’s downtown area between Railroad Avenue and Third Avenue has a handful of small businesses and local restaurants. There’s an auto parts store, antique store and butcher shop. Black Diamond Grill is a family-owned eatery serving Italian-inspired dishes. Black Diamond Bakery & Restaurant serves homestyle meals and sells made-from-scratch bread loaves and pies. “It’s been there for over 30 years and it’s very popular to go there for breakfast,” Newberry says.
Additional options are found traveling north along Third Avenue, including Sahara Pizza and an Indian grocery store. Maple Valley is about 7 miles north and has multiple shopping centers located at the intersection of state Route 169 and SE Kent Kangley Road. Grocery stores in the area include Safeway, Fred Meyer and Grocery Outlet. There are also dozens of fast-food chains like Dairy Queen and McDonald’s.
Residents in Black Diamond can pick up delicious bakery items from Black Diamond Bakery & Restaurant.
Maple Valley Town Square offers retail shops near Black Diamond.
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Getting educated in King County’s public school systems
Black Diamond is served by multiple school districts: Enumclaw, Kent, Tahoma and Auburn. The Enumclaw School District is the area’s primary system, and includes Black Diamond Elementary School and Enumclaw Middle. Enumclaw High School provides career exploration opportunities through organizations such as Future Farmers of America (FFA) and Health Occupation Student Association (HOSA). All three schools earn B grades from Niche.
Black Diamond Elementary School sits next to the Little League field.
Enumclaw Senior High School offers career programs through FFA and HOSA for Black Diamond residents.
Enumclaw Middle School serves families south of Black Diamond.
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Traveling through Black Diamond by car
Navigating Black Diamond’s expansive landscape and country roads requires a vehicle. Washington state Route 169 is the area’s main thoroughfare. Commuters can use it to travel to Maple Valley, about 7 miles north, and Enumclaw, around 8 miles south. The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, or SeaTac, is roughly 32 miles away.
Black Diamond residents make the short 7 mile commute to Maple Valley.
Black Diamond residents looking to travel can head north to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
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Written By
Brittany Bell
Photography Contributed By
Ellie Brown
Video By
Mike Dunleavy
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Jim Clifford,
an experienced agent in this area.
On average, homes in Black Diamond, WA sell after 79 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Black Diamond, WA over the last 12 months is $758,728, down 10% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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