[2] In 1996, the city of Renton proposed an annexation of the Maplewood Heights area, part of the plateau's western edge, but it was rejected by voters.

[4] A competing proposal to create a new city named Briarwood was also rejected by voters in a March 1998 election.

East Renton Highlands is 17 miles (27 km) southeast of downtown Seattle.

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,264 people, 4,668 households, and 3,743 families residing in the CDP.

14.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.