City of Everett

Everett was officially established in 1893, the same year the Great Northern Railroad was completed. Between 1900 and the start of World War II in 1941, Everett was recognized as the chief manufacturing city in Washington and had the nickname of the City of Smokestacks. During that time, there were 12 sawmills, 16 shake and shingle mills, two sash and door factories, two plywood plants, four pulp and paper mills, and two Foundries and the country's most significant salmon packing plant. All have since vanished. Today, Everett’s principal industries are the Naval shipyard and Boeing, and is home to Everett Community College.

The Port Gardner Peninsula, bounded by the Snohomish River to the east and north and Port Gardner Bay to the west, has been inhabited for over 10,000 years. Hibulb, the primary village of the Snohomish Tribe, was located at the northwest point of the peninsula due to its abundant food sources and transportation access via the Snohomish River and Port Gardner Bay. In 1792, George Vancouver claimed the area for England, naming the bay Port Gardner. Despite initial contact, the region remained relatively quiet until traders from the Hudson's Bay Company arrived in 1824. In 1853, Washington Territory was established, and the first non-Native settlers built a sawmill on Tulalip Bay. However, with the Treaty of 18 55 creating a reservation, they relinquished their operation to the tribes. Subsequently, white settlers from various Puget Sound locations began logging the peninsula's vast timber resources and establishing small camps. During the Treaty Wars, the Snohomish area remained peaceful, and plans for a military road in 1859 spurred further exploration of the Snohomish River valley. A boom began to hit Everett as individuals continued to buy land and grow the economy. However, in 1893, a national depression had lasting impacts on the area. As businesses began to shut down, so did the street lights, causing people to withdraw investments and move elsewhere. This trend began to turn around after the construction of a Naval Base during World War II, which helped revitalize the economy, and this paved the way for companies like Boeing to locate in Everett. Boeing has brought jobs and people into Everett, creating a lively environment where individuals can flourish in a bustling urban hub.

Everett -- Thumbnail history. (n.d.). HistoryLink. https://www.historylink.org/file/7397