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114-474: Lake Stevens is a city in Snohomish County , Washington , United States, that is named for the lake it surrounds. It is located 6 miles (9.7 km) east of Everett and borders the cities of Marysville to the northwest and Snohomish to the south. The city's population was 35,630 at the 2020 census . The lake was named in 1859 for territorial governor Isaac Stevens and was originally home to

228-404: A city hall , which included a jail that was never used due to a change in state laws. The development of resorts around Lake Stevens also caused water quality to deteriorate, necessitating the creation of a voluntary drainage district in 1932 to manage runoff and pollution. It was replaced in 1963 by an independent sewer district , which mandated vegetation buffers for homes and later installed

342-717: A major homeport in Everett that opened in 1994. Snohomish County is part of the Puget Sound region of Western Washington , bordered to the south by King County , to the west by Puget Sound and other inland waters, to the north by Skagit County , and to the east by the Chelan County at the crest of the Cascade Range . According to the United States Census Bureau , the county has

456-606: A museum adjacent to the city library that opened in 1989 and included exhibits with fixtures from historic buildings and a collection of documents and photographs. The museum grounds also included the Grimm House, a historic house that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places . The house was constructed in 1903 for a mill worker and moved to the museum grounds in 1996, later undergoing extensive renovations before opening for public tours in 2004. The museum

570-442: A term limit of three terms. The county executive is Dave Somers , a Democrat . Somers is a former Snohomish County Councilmember and took office as county executive on January 4, 2016, having won the seat from incumbent and fellow Democrat John Lovick. The county executive seat was chartered in the 1979. The first county executive was conservative Democrat Willis Tucker of Snohomish from 1980 to 1992. Following Tucker,

684-568: A transmission line corridor. Lake Stevens plans to develop and connect these routes into a full network, including the Bayview Trail on the transmission line in collaboration with the City of Marysville. The city government also manages a community center near the city hall and library. Several local rowing clubs use Lake Stevens, including the in-city Lake Stevens Rowing Club that was founded in 1997. The local historical society operated

798-592: A Republican since George H. W. Bush in 1988 . The county's primary elections were historically held in June, but were moved to August in 2008. In the years since, turnout has been under 45% except for 2020; during odd-numbered years with municipal and local races, turnout has been under 27%. Snohomish County is one of the most-populous counties in the United States without a four-year, baccalaureate degree -granting institution. Columbia College offers AA all

912-636: A disputed meaning with unclear origins. Indian agent Dr. Charles M. Buchanan, who spent 21 years with the Tulalips , once said that he had "never met an Indian who could give a meaning to the word Snohomish". Chief William Shelton , the last hereditary tribal chief of the Snohomish tribe, claimed that it meant "lowland people", a name associated with the tribe's location on the waters of the Puget Sound ; other scholars have claimed "a style of union among them", "the braves", or "Sleeping Waters". The name

1026-433: A family was $ 77,479. Males had a median income of $ 56,152 versus $ 41,621 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 30,635. About 5.9% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line , including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over. As of the 2000 census , there were 606,024 people, 224,852 households, and 157,846 families residing in the county. The population density

1140-677: A geographical district that is redrawn every 10 years. As of 2023 , its members are: The judicial branch of the county government is divided between two courts: the Superior Court and District Court. The number of judges in each court is set by the state legislature as recommended by a panel of judges and analysis of the courts. The Superior Court has 17 judges elected to four-year terms and primarily handle major cases, including those that involve felonies and juveniles, as well as some civil cases. The District Court has nine judges that handle infractions, small claims, and domestic violence; it

1254-472: A large aeration system to slow the growth of algae in the lake. Frontier Village opened in 1960 and later expanded as State Route 9 and State Route 204 were improved through the area. A new highway bypassing downtown, State Route 92 , opened at the end of the decade. The area around Frontier Village was developed into a suburban commuter town in the 1970s and 1980s with the construction of several residential subdivisions . Hewlett-Packard won approval from

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1368-564: A municipal system serving the city of Everett; Island Transit , which connects Camano Island to Stanwood and Everett; and Skagit Transit , which operates an inter-county route from Everett to Mount Vernon . The regional Link light rail system was extended into Snohomish County with the opening of the Lynnwood Link Extension on August 30, 2024, which includes stations in Mountlake Terrace and Lynnwood on

1482-416: A planned skate park on 32 acres (13 ha). Lake Stevens Community Park is located east of downtown and includes several soccer and baseball fields on 43 acres (17 ha) of former timber land. Davies Beach (formerly Willard Wyatt Park) lies at the foot of Chapel Hill on the western lakeshore and includes a beach, boat launch , and a boathouse for rowing teams. Several city parks are located along

1596-566: A qualifier for the Ironman World Championship . Lake Stevens has 195 acres (79 ha) of parks and open space managed by the city government, Snohomish County, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife . The city government owns 158 acres (64 ha) and has nine parks that are categorized as community parks, neighborhood parks, mini-parks, and other facilities. In addition to public facilities,

1710-563: A second shopping center and commercial complex on Cavalero Hill. Lake Stevens unsuccessfully attempted to annex the western neighborhoods in 1993, but adopted plans to create "one community around the lake" and revitalize its downtown. The first major annexations were completed in 2006, adding 1,563 acres (633 ha) around Frontier Village and the north end of the lake. From 2000 to 2010, the city quadrupled in population to nearly 30,000 people and added 5 square miles (13 km). The largest annexation, consisting of 9 square miles (23 km) in

1824-451: A site on Chapel Hill for the new library began in March 2023; the two-story library building, which will incorporate mass timber construction and include 15,000 square feet (1,400 m) of space, is scheduled to begin construction in 2025. Lake Stevens is traversed by three state highways that connect the area to other parts of Snohomish County: State Route 9 , running north–south through

1938-506: A total square area of approximately 2,196 square miles (5,690 km ), of which 2,087 square miles (5,410 km ) is land and 109 square miles (280 km ), or 5.0%, is water. It is the 13th largest county in Washington by land area and is larger than the states of Delaware and Rhode Island . The county's surface is covered by plains and rolling hills in the west, where the majority of settlements are, and mountainous terrain in

2052-535: A two-year degree online or on campus from Edmonds College, students can continue their studies for a bachelor's degree from Central Washington University-Lynnwood in Snoqualmie Hall, a shared building on the Edmonds CC campus. Residents receive much of their information from Seattle-based media, the most prominent of which include The Seattle Times and regional TV news stations. The Everett Herald

2166-527: Is the fastest growing in Snohomish County since 2000, increasing by 18 percent from 2010 to 2018 through new residential development in the southwest and annexation of other areas. The city was originally the 11th largest in the county, but jumped to fifth by annexing 10,000 people in December 2009. As of the 2010 census , there were 28,069 people, 9,810 households, and 7,250 families residing in

2280-468: Is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington . With a population of 827,957 as of the 2020 census , it is the third-most populous county in Washington, after nearby King and Pierce counties, and the 72nd-most populous in the United States. The county seat and largest city is Everett . The county forms part of the Seattle metropolitan area , which also includes King and Pierce counties to

2394-401: Is a four-lane freeway that is frequently congested and is planned to be rebuilt to fix capacity issues. The city is also served by Community Transit , which operates bus routes between cities in Snohomish County. The agency provides all-day bus service from Lake Stevens to Everett, Granite Falls, Lynnwood , Marysville, and Snohomish. The city has a small park and ride that opened in 2004 and

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2508-636: Is also used for the Snohomish River , which runs through part of the county, and the City of Snohomish , the former county seat that was renamed after the formation of the county. The current spelling of the name was adopted by the Surveyor General of Washington Territory in 1857, with earlier documents and accounts using alternative spellings. John Work of the Hudson's Bay Company recorded

2622-567: Is classified as forestland, which is predominantly located in the eastern portions. These forests are dominated by conifer species such as Douglas firs , hemlocks , and cedars , with pockets of deciduous species in logged areas. As of the 2020 census , there were 827,957 people, 306,828 households, and 211,519 families residing in the county. The population density was 396.8 people per square mile (153.2 people/km ). There were 321,523 housing units at an average density of 146.4 units per square mile (56.5 units/km ). The racial makeup of

2736-492: Is connected to nearby areas by roads (including Interstate 5 ), railways, and transit systems. The county government is led by a five-member county council and chief executive elected by voters to four-year terms. "Snohomish" comes from the name of the largest Native American tribe in the area when settlers arrived in the 19th century. The name is spelled Sduhubš (Sdoh-doh-hohbsh) in the Lushootseed language and has

2850-667: Is delivered to Lake Stevens and Granite Falls. The city is also bisected by a pair of north–south electrical transmission lines operated by the Bonneville Power Administration that travel towards British Columbia . Natural gas for Lake Stevens residents and businesses is provided by Puget Sound Energy . The city government contracts with Republic Services and Waste Management to provide curbside collection and disposal of garbage , recycling , and yard waste for different areas of Lake Stevens. The Lake Stevens Sewer District, established in 1957, operates

2964-452: Is divided into four geographical divisions. Snohomish County has been a reliably Democratic county in recent presidential elections (albeit to a lesser degree than neighboring King County and Seattle ). It has voted Democratic all but four times since 1932, with those four occasions being national Republican landslides in which the GOP candidate won over 400 electoral votes. It has not voted for

3078-514: Is fed by Lundeen Creek, Mitchell (Kokanee) Creek, and Stitch Creek. It drains into Catherine Creek, which then flows to the Pilchuck River . The lake's relatively small watershed, at 4,371 acres (1,769 ha), minimizes the effect of upstream pollution but reduces flow to remove pollutants. Lake Stevens installed aeration system in the 1990s to control the release of phosphorus from lake sediments, which caused unwanted algae growth. Most of

3192-556: Is heavily influenced by maritime systems, pushed by prevailing westerly winds but dampened by the Olympic Mountains . The mean monthly temperatures for the county range from 20 to 40 °F (−7 to 4 °C) during the winter and 55 to 65 °F (13 to 18 °C) in the summer. The record highest temperatures were set during a June 2021 heat wave , with highs of up to 109 °F (43 °C) recorded in several areas. Annual precipitation ranges from 35 inches (89 cm) in

3306-548: Is part of Puget Sound, between Everett and Marysville . In November 2024, a ballot measure in the City of Everett proposed personhood and rights for the Snohomish River itself within the city limits. The lower Snohomish River was a site of major industry during the 20th century that contaminated the area with various pollutants, including oil and fuel products from former mills and factories. An ore smelter operated by ASARCO contaminated soil and groundwater near

3420-1211: Is provided by Amtrak , which has two lines operating within Snohomish County: Amtrak Cascades between Seattle and Vancouver , British Columbia , stopping in Edmonds, Everett, and Stanwood station ; and the Empire Builder between Seattle and Chicago , Illinois , stopping in Edmonds and Everett. Intercity bus service is provided by Greyhound Lines and Northwestern Trailways from Everett Station. Snohomish County has one major airport: Paine Field , otherwise known as Snohomish County Airport, which has had passenger service since March 2019. There are three smaller public airports that are open to general aviation : Arlington Municipal Airport in Arlington , Darrington Municipal Airport in Darrington , and Harvey Field in Snohomish . The county also has several private airports, including

3534-502: Is served by local routes as well as an express route to Lynnwood City Center station during peak hours on weekdays. The city's electric power and tap water are provided by the Snohomish County Public Utility District (PUD), a consumer-owned public utility that serves all of Snohomish County. The PUD sources its water from the City of Everett system at Spada Lake and Lake Chaplain, which

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3648-703: Is served by several public transit systems that connect to each other at regional hubs, including Everett Station and Lynnwood Transit Center . The primary provider is Community Transit , which operates local service within the county (apart from the city of Everett ) and commuter service to the Boeing Everett Factory and Downtown Seattle . Sound Transit , a regional transit agency, provides light rail , commuter rail , and express bus services that connect to regional destinations in Seattle and Bellevue . Other providers include Everett Transit ,

3762-480: Is the county's most popular daily newspaper, while weekly newspapers such as the Snohomish County Tribune , Stanwood Camano News and Edmonds Beacon serve their respective communities. The county is part of the Seattle broadcast television market and is served by several regional television news stations, including KOMO , KING , KIRO , KCTS , and KCPQ . Local radio stations based in

3876-643: Is the legislatively appointed leader of the University Center of North Puget Sound , which offers 25 bachelor's and master's degrees through Western Washington University, Washington State University, Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, The Evergreen State College, Hope International University, and the University of Washington Bothell. Edmonds College and Central Washington University have worked together since 1975 to provide higher education in Snohomish County. After earning

3990-519: The 1 Line . The project was approved in a 2008 ballot measure and began construction in 2019. An extension to Everett with six or seven stations was approved in the regional Sound Transit 3 ballot measure in 2016 and is expected to open between 2037 and 2041. Community Transit operates a bus rapid transit network called Swift with three lines as of 2024 : the Blue Line , which opened in 2009 from Everett to Shoreline along State Route 99;

4104-825: The Civilian Conservation Corps developed wilderness and recreational areas around several work camps. During World War II , the county had several shipyards and airplane factories established to supply the United States Armed Forces. Several existing and new airfields were converted into military use, which would continue beyond the war. A post-war population boom brought new suburban development to Snohomish County, where bedroom communities were built alongside new highways to Seattle. In 1967, Boeing began construction of an aircraft assembly plant —the world's largest building—in Everett for its Boeing 747 program. The U.S. Navy located

4218-935: The Frontier Airpark and Green Valley Airfield in Granite Falls. The Martha Lake Airport in Martha Lake was a former private airport that was closed in 2000 and was converted into a county park that opened in 2010. Snohomish County is also connected to adjacent counties by two ferry routes operated by Washington State Ferries . The Edmonds–Kingston ferry carries SR 104 between Edmonds and Kingston in Kitsap County . The Mukilteo–Clinton ferry carries SR 525 from Mukilteo to Clinton on Whidbey Island . 48°02′N 121°43′W  /  48.04°N 121.71°W  / 48.04; -121.71 Snohomish River Measured at Monroe,

4332-795: The Green Line from the Boeing Everett Factory to Bothell via Airport Road and State Route 527 ; and the Orange Line in Lynnwood and Mill Creek, which opened in 2024. A fourth line, the Gold Line , is planned to open by 2029 and connect Everett to Marysville and Smokey Point . Sound Transit also runs four daily Sounder commuter trains at peak hours between Everett Station and King Street Station in Seattle, stopping at Mukilteo and Edmonds . Intercity rail service

4446-639: The Salish Sea , including the Stillaguamish and Snohomish (fed by the Skykomish and Snoqualmie rivers). These rivers form several valleys used for agriculture that occasionally flood during major weather events, such as atmospheric rivers . The lowland areas of western Snohomish County generally has a temperate Mediterranean climate similar to the rest of the central Puget Sound region with dry summers and wet winters. The county's weather

4560-483: The Skykomish in the Pilchuck River basin. The first modern settlement on Lake Stevens was founded at the northeastern corner of the lake in 1889. It was later sold to the Rucker Brothers , who opened a sawmill in 1907 that spurred early growth in the area, but closed in 1925 after the second of two major fires. The Lake Stevens area then became a resort community before developing into a commuter town in

4674-570: The Skykomish Valley . The city's annual summer festival, Aquafest, is held at North Cove Park in downtown Lake Stevens over a three-day weekend in late July. It was founded in 1960 and includes a boat parade, carnival rides, a car show , and a circus . The 2018 festival was attended by 30,000 people. An annual Ironman 70.3 triathlon was added to Aquafest in the 2000s and features a 70.3-mile (113.1 km) course with swimming, cycling, and running segments. The triathlon also serves as

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4788-497: The Snohomish River floodplain between Everett and Cavalero Hill, with onward connections to areas around Lake Stevens. Suburban development around Lake Stevens began in the 1950s, shortly after plans were announced to build a large shopping center named Frontier Village at the intersection of two state highways west of the lake (later State Route 9 and State Route 204 ). Business owners in downtown Lake Stevens proposed incorporation in 1958 to prevent retailers from relocating to

4902-422: The 1960s and 1970s. Lake Stevens was incorporated as a city in 1960, following an exodus of businesses from the downtown area to a new shopping center . The city has since grown through annexations to encompass most of the lake, including the original shopping center, and quadrupled in population from 2000 to 2010. A revitalized downtown area is planned alongside new civic buildings in the 2020s. Lake Stevens

5016-535: The Lake Stevens area has 139 acres (56 ha) of private parks and open spaces that are owned by homeowner associations and other entities. The largest city-owned park is Eagle Ridge Community Park, located on 28 acres (11 ha) near the northwest shore of the lake, but largely undeveloped. The county government owns three community parks in the Lake Stevens area. Cavalero Community Park opened in 2009 and consists of two fenced dog parks , an open field, and

5130-587: The Snohomish River has an average annual flow of 9,500 cubic feet per second (270 m /s). In comparison, the Columbia River , Washington's largest river, has an average flow of about 265,000 cubic feet per second (7,500 m /s). The Snohomish River forms at the confluence of the Snoqualmie and Skykomish Rivers just west of Monroe. Both of these rivers originate in the Cascades and drain

5244-400: The Snohomish River with arsenic. The river has also been used a site for illegal dumping of tires, litter, and batteries. The county government began a program to remove derelict vessels, including old boats, in the Snohomish River delta in 2018; by 2023, the program had removed 27 vessels that had leaked pollutants into the river. This Snohomish County, Washington state location article

5358-638: The U.S. Census and Puget Sound Regional Council . The largest provider of jobs in Lake Stevens came from businesses in the services sector, at 1,595, followed by education (991) and retail (696). The city's largest employer is the Lake Stevens School District , followed by aerospace manufacturer Cobalt Enterprises, which is headquartered in the Hartford industrial area and expanded its facilities in 2016. Over 20 percent of people with jobs based in Lake Stevens live within city limits, while

5472-407: The age of 18 living with them, 52.4% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.1% were non-families, and 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.12. The median age was 37.1 years. The median income for a household in the county was $ 66,300 and the median income for

5586-407: The age of 18 living with them, 56.0% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.13. In the county, 27.4% of the population was under

5700-461: The age of 18, 8.5% was from 18 to 24, 33.0% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 53,060, and the median income for a family was $ 60,726. Males had a median income of $ 43,293 versus $ 31,386 for females. The per capita income for

5814-403: The average family size was 3.30. In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 33.9% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 36.3% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 5.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males. The median income for a household in

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5928-474: The city administrator, city clerk, police chief, planning director, public works director, and community programs planner. Several regional agencies provide other services, such as fire protection , library access, and water management. In addition to elected and executive positions, Lake Stevens has seven boards and commissions that advise the city council on a variety of specific issues. They are composed of volunteer citizens who are appointed to set terms by

6042-462: The city commute to other areas for employment, including 20 percent to Everett, 13 percent to Seattle, and 4 percent to Bellevue . Approximately 6.3 percent of Lake Stevens residents work within the city limits. Over 81 percent of workers commute in single-occupant vehicles, while 2 percent take public transportation and less than 10 percent use carpools . The city had 1,553 registered businesses with 4,202 total jobs, according to 2012 estimates by

6156-664: The city government during a four-year term. Former city councilmember Brett Gailey, who was also employed by the Everett Police Department , was elected as mayor in 2019. The city government has budgeted expenditures of $ 50.4 million and revenues of $ 43.4 million in 2020, largely funded by sales , property , and utility taxes. It has 85 employees organized into departments of economic development , finance , human resources , parks and recreation , planning , policing , and public works . Lake Stevens has several non-elected executive positions, including

6270-454: The city was $ 65,231, and the median income for a family was $ 68,250. Males had a median income of $ 51,536 versus $ 30,239 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 22,943. About 3.8% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line , including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over. Lake Stevens is a non-charter code city with a mayor–council system of government. The city council serves as

6384-576: The city's sewer system and is planned to merge with the city government in 2032. The sewer district built a treatment plant in 2013 at a cost of $ 100 million, and the debt payments on the project have caused disputes with the city. Lake Stevens has two urgent care centers that also provide medical services: a branch of The Everett Clinic (part of UnitedHealth Optum ); and a 4,000-square-foot (370 m) MultiCare Indigo Urgent Care Clinic that opened in 2017. Snohomish County, Washington Snohomish County ( / s n oʊ ˈ h oʊ m ɪ ʃ / )

6498-410: The city. The population density was 3,160.9 inhabitants per square mile (1,220.4/km). There were 10,414 housing units at an average density of 1,172.7 per square mile (452.8/km). The racial makeup of the city was 85.1% White, 1.7% African American, 0.9% Native American, 3.6% Asian, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 3.2% from other races, and 5.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.6% of

6612-410: The city. The population density was 2,951.8 people per square mile (1,142.3/km). There were 2,234 housing units at an average density of 1,036.7 per square mile (401.2/km). The racial makeup of the city was 92.31% White, 0.60% African American, 0.91% Native American, 1.10% Asian, 0.31% Pacific Islander, 0.90% from other races, and 3.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.55% of

6726-510: The county government to build a 125-acre (51 ha) manufacturing plant northwest of Lake Stevens in 1983, despite opposition from local residents looking to preserve the area's rural character. By the late 1990s, the city had over 5,700 residents and was among the fastest-growing cities in the state. The unincorporated areas to the west of the lake also grew to over 20,000 people, adding multi-family housing to its existing inventory of single-family neighborhoods, and rejected an attempt to build

6840-457: The county include KKXA , KRKO , KSER , and KWYZ . There are also smaller local publications, with significant online presences: My Edmonds News , My Everett News , The Mountlake Terrace News , News of Mill Creek , Mill Creek View, Lynnwood Today and Lynnwood Times. The county has been used as a filming location for several movies and television series since the mid-20th century. Snohomish County has five major routes that connect

6954-580: The county seat to Everett, amid controversy and allegations of illegal votes. After two years of litigation between the cities of Snohomish and Everett, the county seat was officially relocated to Everett in December 1896. One of the first county censuses was taken in 1862 by Sheriff Salem A. Woods. Early important pioneers in the Snohomish County region included E. F. Cady of Snohomish, Emory C. Ferguson of Snohomish and Isaac Cathcart . The early economy of Snohomish County relied on natural resources, namely timber and mining, alongside agriculture. The region

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7068-529: The county to the other counties and other areas. There are three major north–south routes: Interstate 5 , State Route 9 , and State Route 99 . The only complete east–west route is U.S. Route 2 . The countywide numbered street grid originates in Everett and was implemented beginning in the 1970s during the rollout of the 911 emergency phone number system. By the late 1990s, some roads had reverted to their historical names—either officially or by using commemorative signs—due to local backlash. Snohomish County

7182-631: The county was $ 23,417. About 4.9% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line , including 7.6% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over. Snohomish County is a home rule charter county with three branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial. The county government's powers and structure is defined by a charter that is updated every 10 years with amendments that are presented to voters for approval. The county executive and council seats are partisan positions with four-year terms; other positions elected by voters are generally non-partisan . Most county offices have

7296-571: The county was 66.1% white, 12.3% Asian, 3.54% black or African American, 1.3% Native American, 0.6% Pacific Islander, 5.4% other races, and 10.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 11.6% of the population. As of the 2010 census , there were 713,335 people, 268,325 households, and 182,282 families residing in the county. The population density was 341.8 people per square mile (132.0 people/km ). There were 286,659 housing units at an average density of 137.3 units per square mile (53.0 units/km ). The racial makeup of

7410-427: The county was 78.4% white, 8.9% Asian, 2.5% black or African American, 1.4% Indigenous, 0.4% Pacific islander, 3.8% from other races, and 4.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 9.0% of the population. In terms of ethnicity, 20.3% reported German ancestry, 12.6% Irish , 12.2% English , 8.2% Norwegian , and 3.6% American heritage. Of the 268,325 households, 35.2% had children under

7524-479: The demise of the Rucker mill, Lake Stevens was primarily a resort community that drew 3,000 visitors on busy days to fish, swim, and water-ski on the lake. While the major lakeside resorts were successful, the Lake Stevens area saw little residential and commercial development for several decades as the downtown area stagnated. The first Hewitt Avenue Trestle was completed in 1939, providing an elevated highway over

7638-481: The east by Chelan County , to the south by King County , and to the west by Kitsap and Island counties. Snohomish County was created out of Island County on January 14, 1861, and is named for the indigenous Snohomish people . It includes the Tulalip Indian Reservation , which was established by the 1855 Point Elliott Treaty , which relocated several indigenous Coast Salish groups to

7752-526: The east by the Centennial Trail , to the south by 28th Street Southeast, and to the west by State Route 204. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 9.30 square miles (24.09 km), of which 9.17 square miles (23.75 km) is land and 0.14 square miles (0.36 km) is water. The eponymous lake is not part of the city, but is part of the unincorporated urban growth area that also covers several neighborhoods on

7866-481: The east shore filed in 1886. A two- block townsite at the northeast end of the lake named "Outing" was claimed on October 8, 1889, by Charles A. Missimer and platted the following year. The construction of the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway along the eastern side of the Pilchuck River Valley in 1889 spurred the creation of more settlements in the area. Among them were Machias in 1890, which

7980-629: The east. The Cascade Range passes through the eastern part of the county and is largely protected from development as part of the Mount Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest . The mountain range includes the highest point in Snohomish County: Glacier Peak , at 10,541 feet (3,212.90 m) above sea level . Several major rivers originate in the Cascades and flow west towards Puget Sound and other parts of

8094-399: The failure of a library bond measure. The 3-acre (1.2 ha) property had been acquired in 2016 and is planned to be rezoned for commercial use. Lake Stevens is located 35 miles (56 km) northeast of Seattle and 6 miles (9.7 km) northeast of Everett , between the cities of Marysville and Snohomish . The city's boundaries are generally defined to the north by State Route 92, to

8208-476: The finalists and the project was abandoned entirely in 2008 due to a state budget shortfall. The first public library in Lake Stevens opened in 1946 at the home of a local resident and moved into a former post office three years later. The city government moved the library to a former pharmacy in 1985 and contracted with Sno-Isle Libraries , an inter-county system that later annexed Lake Stevens in 2008. The 2,400-square-foot (220 m) downtown library building

8322-473: The flow of Cassidy Creek, the main outlet of the lake, to prepare land for their shingle mill, which opened in 1907. A plat for the town of Lake Stevens was filed by the Rucker Brothers on February 8, 1908, including a business district and residences to accommodate the mill's 250 workers. The sawmill, one of the largest in the United States, was partially destroyed in a 1919 fire and later rebuilt. It

8436-478: The intersection of State Route 9 and 20th Street Southeast with a 160,000-square-foot (15,000 m) building, a gas station with 30 pumps, and 800 parking stalls. A development agreement was approved by the city government in December 2019 after a year of planning and several lawsuits from residents over impacts to the environment and traffic conditions. Lake Stevens is the fifth-largest city in Snohomish County, with an estimated population of 33,378 in 2018. The city

8550-672: The intersection of State Route 9 and State Route 204 and is a traditional suburban shopping center with strip malls and big box stores . The city government also has several designated neighborhoods and planning areas: Cavalero Hill , Frontier Village, the Hartford Industrial Area, and Machias. As of 2018, Lake Stevens has an estimated workforce population of 23,393 people, of which 15,084 are employed. The largest sectors of employment are manufacturing (18%), followed by educational and health services (17%), retail (13%), and professional services (11%). The majority of workers in

8664-585: The largest group and occupied an area from present-day Warm Beach to Shoreline , while Stillaguamish lived in the Stillaguamish River basin. The region was first charted and named by European explorers in the late 18th century, beginning with Captain George Vancouver and his British expedition. Vancouver arrived in Puget Sound and Port Gardner Bay on June 4, 1792, landing near present-day Everett . The Treaty of Point Elliott

8778-464: The late 2000s, Lake Stevens was a leading candidate for a proposed branch campus of the University of Washington (UW). The city government presented a 98-acre (40 ha) site on the southwest side of Cavalero Hill that was among the four finalists in 2007, but attracted controversy from neighbors for using land promised for a county park. The Lake Stevens proposal scored the lowest in a survey of

8892-494: The legislative body of the city government and has seven members who are elected at-large to four-year terms in staggered elections. The council holds regular meetings twice a month at the Lake Stevens School District administrative headquarters and a work session during other weeks as needed. The mayor is a full-time position that is also elected by Lake Stevens residents and serves as the executive of

9006-407: The mayor with the approval of the city council. The boards and commissions are tasked with managing arts, civil service and police, the public library, parks and recreation, planning, city salaries, and veterans' rights. At the federal level, Lake Stevens is part of the 1st congressional district , which is represented by Democrat Suzan DelBene and stretches from Arlington to Bellevue . The city

9120-557: The name "Sinnahmis" in 1824, while the Wilkes Expedition of 1841 used "Tuxpam" to describe the Snohomish River . The same river was named "Sinahomis" by Captain Henry Kellett in 1847, and was accepted by the U.S. government for several years. Snohomish County was originally inhabited by several Coast Salish groups, predominantly settled along the western coastline and near the region's rivers. The Snohomish were

9234-413: The new shopping center, offering local control of policing and street maintenance with no increase in taxes. On November 19, 1960, Lake Stevens voted 299–40 in favor of incorporating as a city, which was certified by the state government on November 29. The town boundaries were set around downtown and included an estimated 900 residents. The city government purchased a former post office building for use as

9348-417: The next county executive was Democrat Bob Drewel from 1992 to 2004, followed by Democrat Aaron Reardon from 2004 to 2013. Reardon resigned on May 31, 2013, amid a series of political scandals , and was replaced by former Snohomish County Sheriff and state legislator John Lovick for the remainder of his term. The county council has five members who are elected to four-year terms, each representing

9462-405: The population. There were 2,139 households, out of which 49.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.5% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.3% were non-families. 15.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and

9576-441: The population. There were 9,810 households, of which 45.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 26.1% were non-families. 19.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size

9690-488: The reservation. The county seat was originally at the city of Snohomish until an 1897 election moved it to Everett. Since the mid-20th century, areas of Snohomish County have developed into an aerospace manufacturing center, largely due to the presence of Boeing in Everett, as well as bedroom communities for workers in Seattle . Snohomish County now has 18 incorporated cities and 2 towns with their own local governments, in addition to developed unincorporated areas . It

9804-473: The rest commute from nearby cities in northern Snohomish County. Hewlett-Packard opened a large manufacturing facility on Soper Hill northwest of Lake Stevens in 1985 for its test and measurement division, following a planning dispute with the county government. The test and measurement division was later spun off into Agilent and shared its Lake Stevens facility with Solectron . The 270,000-square-foot (25,000 m) plant had 1,000 employees at its peak, but

9918-451: The river continues northwestward through a broad floodplain, forming the eastern boundary of the city of Everett . The final few miles of the river in Everett form the Snohomish River estuary, a river delta that features wetlands and tideflats spread out across various islands and arms of the river. Several bridges carry U.S. Route 2 , Interstate 5 , and State Route 529 across the delta. The river then empties into Possession Sound, which

10032-445: The shore of Lake Stevens, providing beaches with swimming areas and fishing docks. Lundeen Park is the largest of the city's beaches and was developed out of a former resort that opened in 1908. It also offers paddleboard and kayak rentals, a visitors center , and a concession stand . At the northeast end of the lake is North Cove Park, a downtown park that is planned to be developed into an urban gathering space. A disc golf course

10146-410: The shoreline is heavily developed, with little remaining native vegetation, and Lake Stevens is used for recreational fishing, swimming, boating, and skiing. Lake Stevens has two major commercial centers: downtown and Frontier Village. Downtown Lake Stevens is located on the northeastern arm of the lake and has been undergoing redevelopment since the 1990s. Frontier Village is located west of the lake at

10260-425: The south. The county's western portion, facing Puget Sound and other inland waters of the Salish Sea , is home to the majority of its population and major cities. The eastern portion is rugged and includes portions of the Cascade Range , with few settlements along major rivers and most of it designated as part of Mount Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest . Snohomish County is bound to the north by Skagit County , to

10374-601: The southeast side of the lake. The urban growth area has been sought for annexations in the early 21st century. The city lies on a plateau between the Snohomish River delta, which separates it from Everett and Ebey Island to the west, and the foothills of the Cascade Mountains . It surrounds the north and east sides of Lake Stevens, the largest and deepest lake in Snohomish County, with an area of 1,040 acres (420 ha) and an average depth of 64 feet (20 m). The lake has 7.1 miles (11.4 km) of shoreline and

10488-459: The southwest corner of the Lake Stevens urban growth area , was completed in December 2009 and added more than 10,000 residents. Further annexations of areas to the southeast of the lake are planned to complete the full encirclement of Lake Stevens. The city government adopted plans in 2018 to redevelop downtown Lake Stevens with denser housing and commercial use, including mixed-use buildings and walkable streets. The former city hall in downtown

10602-510: The way up to a Master's in Business along with other Associate and bachelor's degrees. Everett Community College and Edmonds College provide academic transfer degrees, career training and basic education in Snohomish County. Together, the two serve more than 40,000 people annually. About 40 percent of all high school graduates in Snohomish County begin their college education at Edmonds or Everett community college . Everett Community College

10716-477: The west of the city and continuing to Snohomish and Arlington ; State Route 92 , which continues northeast to Granite Falls ; and State Route 204 , which connects Frontier Village to U.S. Route 2 (US 2). The intersection of State Route 9 and State Route 204 and several roads around Frontier Village were replaced by a series of four roundabouts in 2023 after a proposed interchange was scrapped. The Hewitt Avenue Trestle , which carries US 2 to Everett,

10830-401: The west slopes of the mountains in southeastern Snohomish County and northeastern King County . The Snohomish River flows generally northwestward from the confluence, passing under state route 522 and flowing alongside Lord Hill Regional Park before reaching downtown Snohomish . Here, it is joined by the Pilchuck River , its main tributary, and flows under state route 9 . From Snohomish,

10944-473: The west to 180 inches (460 cm) in the upper elevations of the Cascades; the majority of the region's precipitation falls between October and March. The county's lowlands also has an average annual snowfall ranging from 10 to 20 inches (25 to 51 cm). The Puget Sound Convergence Zone , a known meteorological phenomenon, runs through southwestern Snohomish County and causes narrow bands of precipitation. Approximately 68 percent of land in Snohomish County

11058-431: Was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.26. The median age in the city was 32.5 years. 29.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 32.2% were from 25 to 44; 23% were from 45 to 64; and 6.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.9% male and 50.1% female. As of the 2000 census , there were 6,361 people, 2,139 households, and 1,683 families residing in

11172-621: Was 290 people per square mile (110 people/km ). There were 236,205 housing units at an average density of 113 units per square mile (44 units/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 85.6% White , 1.7% Black or African American , 1.4% Native American , 5.8% Asian , 0.3% Pacific Islander , 1.9% from other races , and 3.4% from two or more races. 4.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.2% were of German , 10.0% English , 8.8% Irish , 8.4% Norwegian and 6.6% United States or American ancestry. There were 224,852 households, out of which 37.3% had children under

11286-549: Was approved by voters in the February 2017 election, but fell 749 votes short of meeting the turnout requirement to pass. A second attempt in February 2018 was also rejected after failing to meet the 60 percent threshold for bonds. The library was demolished in June 2021 as part of renovations to North Cove Park and was replaced with a temporary library at Lundeen Park. Sno-Isle moved into a former police station in August after it

11400-561: Was approved for renovation work in 2016. The renovation cost $ 116 million and began construction in June 2018, opening its first phase in November 2019. The school district also has one mid-high school for grades 8–9, two middle schools , and seven elementary schools . The newest elementary school, Stevens Creek, opened in 2018 alongside an adjacent early learning center. The city's nearest post-secondary educational institutions are Everett Community College and Edmonds College . During

11514-627: Was closed and demolished in June 2017 as part of the North Cove Park redevelopment, which also included moving the Grimm House to a new location adjacent to a future museum site. The Lake Stevens School District operates a system of public schools within the city and surrounding areas, including a portion of southeastern Marysville. The school district had an enrollment of approximately 8,838 students in 2016, with 436 total teachers and 239 other staff. It has one high school, Lake Stevens High School , which opened at its current campus in 1979 and

11628-522: Was closed in 2002 after several rounds of layoffs. The 133-acre (54 ha) site was later redeveloped into a suburban housing complex in the mid-2000s. Lake Stevens is home to a large retail district anchored by Frontier Village, a shopping center located at the intersection of State Route 9 and State Route 204. It was developed beginning in the 1960s and now encompasses more than 208,000 square feet (19,300 m) of retail space, spread across several strip malls . A Costco store opened in December 2022 at

11742-559: Was connected by railroads at the end of the 19th century, which also created new towns that experienced major population booms as emigrants arrived from other parts of the United States. The county was among the largest New Deal aid beneficiaries in Washington due to its troubled economy during the Great Depression ; the Works Progress Administration built major projects around Snohomish County, while

11856-441: Was demolished in 2017 as part of an expansion for North Cove Park, with city services temporarily relocated at an adjacent building until a permanent replacement is built. The police station was relocated to an abandoned fire station and will open a new headquarters building on Chapel Hill in the 2020s. An earlier plan to combine city services, the police station, and a new library at a civic campus on Chapel Hill fell through after

11970-487: Was followed by Hartford (originally named "Ferry"), later a major junction for the Everett and Monte Cristo Railway completed in 1892. Outing was later vacated and sold between various investors before the townsite was acquired in 1905 by the Rucker Brothers , who planned to build a sawmill after a previous venture by Jacob Falconer had failed. The Rucker Brothers constructed a railroad spur from Hartford and redirected

12084-425: Was named in 1859 for territorial governor Isaac Stevens and was originally listed as "Stevens Lake" on early maps. The area around the lake was used for berry gathering by the indigenous Skykomish , who also used most of the Pilchuck River basin for hunting. The first homesteads around the lake were established by emigrants in the 1880s, beginning with Joseph William Davison's 160-acre (0.65 km) claim along

12198-479: Was opened in 2000 at Catherine Creek Park, a small park with hiking trails and natural areas. The county government also owns Centennial Trail , an inter-city hiking, bicycling, and equestrian rail trail . It travels 30 miles (48 km) between Arlington and Snohomish , passing through the east side of Lake Stevens. The city has several short trails that are owned by the Lake Stevens School District and private housing subdivisions, along with informal trails along

12312-488: Was part of the 2nd congressional district until a redistricting in 2012 that split most of Northwestern Washington. At the state level, Lake Stevens shares the 39th legislative district with Darrington , Granite Falls , and eastern Skagit County . It was part of the 44th legislative district until 2022. The city lies in the Snohomish County Council 's 5th district, which also includes Snohomish and

12426-451: Was permanently closed after a second fire in 1925 and dismantled, causing many residents to leave the area. One of the remnants from the old mill was a locomotive that sunk in the early 1910s and was rediscovered in 1995 by a U.S. Navy training team, following a request from the local historical society . By the mid-1920s, the entire shoreline of Lake Stevens had been divided into small lots and tracts for summer homes and resorts. Following

12540-430: Was permanently moved to Cadyville, later Snohomish , following an election on July 8. Residents north of the Snohomish River later proposed to be moved into Skagit County due to difficult travel to the county seat at Snohomish. After the incorporation of the city of Everett in 1893, the city's leaders attempted to move the county seat from Snohomish. A countywide general election on November 6, 1894, chose to relocate

12654-473: Was renovated into a new facility with fewer amenities. In January 2022, the city government proposed leaving the Sno-Isle system and using levy funds for the proposed civic campus as well as a privatized library system. A few days later, the proposal was withdrawn and Sno-Isle announced that it would continue to pursue plans for a permanent library building with $ 3.1 million in state grants. Site clearing at

12768-498: Was signed at present-day Mukilteo on January 22, 1855, marking the cession of Coast Salish territories in the Puget Sound lowlands. The Tulalip Indian Reservation was established to house the remaining tribes, including the Snohomish, Snoqualmie, and Skykomish. Snohomish County was created out of Island County 's mainland areas and the northernmost portion of King County on January 14, 1861. The separation from Island County

12882-509: Was the result of a petition by settlers to the territorial legislature that cited the difficulty of travel to Coupeville on Whidbey Island , the county seat at the time. The new county was the first in Washington to have its boundaries defined by a land survey rather than natural boundaries. The territorial legislature designated Mukilteo , the area's largest settlement, as the temporary county seat in January 1861. The county government

12996-414: Was the smallest in the Sno-Isle system and was determined to be unable to support the community's needs, necessitating plans for a replacement in the 2010s. Sno-Isle proposed a larger library with 20,000 square feet (1,900 m) of space as part of a civic campus on Chapel Hill near Frontier Village, which would cost $ 17 million and be financed by a bond issue paid through property taxes. The bond

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