Auburn Washington: A Look Down Main Street

This well-researched, illustrated history covers the first hundred years in Auburn, a town on the banks of the Green River, north of Mt. Rainier & south of Seattle in Washington state. In 1891 the small pioneer town was incorporated as Slaughter, named after the Lieutenant who was killed during the Indian conflicts of 1855. Hop farms & sawmills once flourished on the outskirts of town--renamed Auburn in 1893. Some of the richest agricultural areas were farmed by Japanese Americans who settled in the White River Valley. Over the years intermittent floods wreaked havoc for the farmers until the Mud Mountain & Howard Hanson dams were constructed. An important railroad center, at one time over 140 trains passed through daily, connecting Auburn with Seattle, Tacoma & cities east of the Cascades. Auburn was nicknamed "Little Detroit of the West" after World War II, & today is an important employment center for companies like Boeing in one of the fastest growing regions of the state. The Muckleshoot Reservation is located east of town. This fascinating book, detailing Auburn's ethnic diversity, cultural heritage & steady economic growth, will please all readers & provide important information on Northwest history.