Skyway lies in an "unincorporated island" bordered to the north by the city of Seattle, to the west by Tukwila, and to the south and east by Renton. Though it is surrounded by major municipalities, its limited infrastructure and low-income demographics have made it an unattractive area to incorporate. It is frequently along the shortest route of travel for commuters using local streets to enter Seattle from the southeast. The neighborhood was mostly developed just after World War II as affordable housing for returning veterans. The area remains an affordable area close to the high employment areas of Renton and Seattle. The name "Skyway" may be derived from the area's siting on a high ridge in western Washington's hilly terrain, a name that echoes the Welsh "Bryn Mawr" (also the name used for a village and several other places), which means "big hill".