It seems we have a serious identity problem here in Mountlake Terrace. We need to set the story straight.
I’ve lived in Mountlake Terrace for only a little under 2 years, but I’ve lived in the north-of-Seattle area for most of my life. I’ve always know the difference between Mountlake (as in “MOUNTain”) and Montlake (as in “MONTana”). Montlake is a neighborhood in Seattle just south of the U-district. Mountlake is the first half of the city’s name that I, and probably you, live in.
I’ve often criticized friends and family for incorrectly pronouncing the name of our fair city Montlake Terrace. But recently I’ve heard some long-time MLT locals make the same mistake. So is it acceptable to say “Montlake Terrace”? I think not. But I’ll let you decide. Below you will find a poll. If you are reading this in a feed reader, email or on Facebook, click here to see the poll. Vote in the poll below and we will call the results official. As the only hyper-local blog dedicated to all things Mountlake Terrace, I think we can do that. If it ends up I am wrong, I will concede and stop criticizing those who insist on saying “Montlake Terrace.” But if I’m right, you can forever send your friends and family here when and show them the facts when they say “Montlake” Terrace. If you have any facts or comments to back you up, add them below.
[poll id=”3″]
I've been here more than twenty years, and this continues to crop up on occasion; there has been an official city ordinance about the pronunciation.
I’ve been here more than twenty years, and this continues to crop up on occasion; there has been an official city ordinance about the pronunciation.
@SeattleOtaku Thanks for that link. I’m trying to find the text from the ordinance.
As a 1973 grad of MLT high school, I can tell you it is MOUNTlake not MONTlake
As a 1973 grad of MLT high school, I can tell you it is MOUNTlake not MONTlake
I’m glad that most people tend to agree with me
@SeattleOtaku Thanks for that link. I'm trying to find the text from the ordinance.
I'm glad that most people tend to agree with me
And then there are people who spell it as Mount Lake or Mt. Lake. And a lot of people get it confused with the Mountlake neighborhood in Seattle.
And then there are people who spell it as Mount Lake or Mt. Lake. And a lot of people get it confused with the Mountlake neighborhood in Seattle.
Sometimes the short versions are to fit in maximum-length forms. Even the US Postal Service’s own label printing software truncates it (as “Mountlake Terr”). 🙂
Sometimes the short versions are to fit in maximum-length forms. Even the US Postal Service's own label printing software truncates it (as “Mountlake Terr”). 🙂
It seems that the only acceptable abbreviation is MLT. But even that is probably not proper, I suppose it should be just MT.
It seems that the only acceptable abbreviation is MLT. But even that is probably not proper, I suppose it should be just MT.
Sometimes the short versions are to fit in maximum-length forms. Even the US Postal Service's own label printing software truncates it (as “Mountlake Terr”). 🙂
It seems that the only acceptable abbreviation is MLT. But even that is probably not proper, I suppose it should be just MT.