Rainier Valley — Thumbnail History (historylink.org)
Seattle’s Rainier Valley is both a neighborhood and a geographical feature. The valley, which is not a watercourse but the low land between two ridges, extends some seven miles southeast from downtown Seattle to Lake Washington. As a neighborhood, “Rainier Valley” most frequently refers to the northern and central portions of the valley, but the name is sometimes used for the entire length of the valley including neighborhoods such as Columbia City and Rainier Beach.- Rainier Valley, Seattle (Wikipedia)
The Rainier Valley (/reɪˈnɪər/ ray-NEER) is a district in southeast Seattle. It is located east of Beacon Hill; west of Mount Baker, Seward Park, and Leschi; south of the Central District and north of Rainier Beach. It is part of Seattle’s South End.