I think I recall reading somewhere that the clerk maps’ intent was to standardize document reporting or somesuch and not define working neighboorhood boundries. Regardless, people probably just use “Rainier Valley” to encompass everything in SE seattle. I think that makes sense, actually, with Mt. Baker, Columbia City, etc. being subneighborhoods.

Since I now live near the Safeway and warehouse, I was going to add a Genessee as according to what I have read is mainly the valley area north of Columbia City (and the area around the park) although its borders are historically “nebulous”. I have talked to a lot of my new neighbors and none of them think they live in Mt. Baker, which, like me, they think of the area around Colman Park, McClellan, Mt. Baker and Hunter blvds, and the lakefront… the north and eastern sections. They would say they live in the Rainier Valley (popular), Columbia City (almost as popular), or they don’t care so much.

The place I am in now was advertised as being in Columbia City. I can see that as the real estate becomes much different a few blocks north or east as one gains in altitude.

I had not heard of Courtland Place either before moving down here, but my P-Patch is supposedly in it.