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118-514: The highway connects the towns of Granite Falls and Darrington . It is paved for 34 miles (55 km) from Granite Falls to Barlow Pass (2349') where the highway becomes unpaved for 13 miles (21 km), and then paved again for the remaining 9 miles (14 km) to Darrington. The unpaved section is U.S. Forest Service Road #20 and passes several USFS campgrounds. Portions of the unpaved section are often closed for periods of several years due to flood damage. Between Granite Falls and Barlow Pass,

236-592: A city hall that opened in 2019, a public plaza, a community center, and a gymnasium for the Boys & Girls Club that will also serve as an emergency shelter. The city government has also proposed promoting Granite Falls as a location for outdoor recreation retailers and businesses. Granite Falls is located in Snohomish County, approximately 17 miles (27 km) east of Everett , the county seat, and 45 miles (72 km) northeast of Seattle . It lies on

354-420: A council–manager system of government. The five members of the city council are elected at-large to four-year terms in staggered odd years. The city council serves as the city's legislative body and selects a ceremonial mayor from its members to manage meetings. The daily operations of the city government are overseen by the city manager , who is appointed by the city council. Granite Falls switched from

472-693: A fishing pier , restrooms, picnic tables, and walking paths. The city and local school district maintain several athletic facilities for residents, as well as a skate park and dog park . The first newspaper in Granite Falls, the Post , began publishing on July 23, 1903. It was later replaced by the Record in 1922 and the Press , which later merged with a newspaper in Lake Stevens. Granite Falls

590-573: A lahar hazard zone 60 miles (97 km) downstream from Glacier Peak , an active stratovolcano in the eastern part of the county. During an eruption 13,000 years ago, several eruption-generated lahars deposited more than 7 feet (2 m) of sediment on modern-day Arlington. The city of Arlington publishes a decennial comprehensive plan , which divides the urban growth area into ten planning subareas, each containing neighborhoods and subdivisions. The West Arlington Subarea, designated in 2011, combines several neighborhoods annexed by Arlington in

708-570: A marine west coast climate , abbreviated "Cfb" on climate maps. As of 2018 , Granite Falls has an estimated workforce population of 1,816 people, of which 1,746 are employed. The largest sectors of employment are educational and health services (21.6 percent), followed by construction (17.0%), manufacturing (16.6%), and retail (10.7%). The majority of workers in the city commute to other areas for employment, including 19 percent to Everett, 11 percent to Seattle, and 5 percent to Marysville . Approximately 5.2 percent of Granite Falls residents work within

826-411: A "strong" mayor–council government in 2015 and hired former city administrator and public works director Brent Kirk as its first city manager. The city government had nine full-time employees and an annual budget of $ 5.2 million in 2017. Municipal services include public safety , utilities , street maintenance, and managing parks and recreational activities. Granite Falls has contracted with

944-478: A 1,700-seat football stadium opened at the new high school campus in 2018, replacing the Hi-Jewel Stadium at the former high school, which had been converted into a middle school. Granite Falls is the terminus of State Route 92 , which connects the area to State Route 9 in Lake Stevens. A 1.9-mile (3.1 km) bypass for freight traffic was completed around the north side of the city in 2010 at

1062-542: A 50-acre (20 ha) park with sports fields that is owned by Snohomish County but maintained by the city of Arlington. The city's third-largest park, Bill Quake Memorial Park, consists of soccer and baseball fields on 13 acres (5.3 ha) near Arlington Municipal Airport. The county government also owns the Portage Creek Wildlife Area, a 157-acre (64 ha) wildlife reserve located outside of city limits near downtown Arlington. The reserve

1180-516: A 7,600-square-foot (710 m ) building that opened in August 2019. It cost $ 3.9 million to construct, using loans and reserve funds, and replaced a smaller building across the street that had accessibility issues. At the federal level, Granite Falls is part of the 8th congressional district , which encompasses the eastern portions of the Snohomish, King , and Pierce counties as well as

1298-525: A bilingual Christian church that opened in 2015. The LDS Church established a local ward in the 1990s and opened a dedicated chapel adjacent to Granite Falls High School in 2009. Other religious institutions in the area include a Khmer Buddhist temple and an Evangelical Christian church. The city has four public schools that are operated by the Granite Falls School District , which also serves unincorporated communities to

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1416-540: A cemetery. Arlington's municipal fire department was annexed into the North County Regional Fire Authority in 2021, joining Stanwood and several unincorporated areas. At the federal level, Arlington is part of Washington's 1st congressional district , which is represented by Democrat Suzan DelBene . Prior to redistricting in 2022, the city was part of the 2nd congressional district alongside most of western Snohomish County. At

1534-650: A city administrator to oversee city operations. The council meets twice per month on Mondays in a chamber at city hall in downtown Arlington. According to the Washington State Auditor , Arlington's municipal government employs 128 people full-time and operates on an annual budget of $ 50 million. The city government switched to a biennial budget in 2017, after an ordinance was passed by the city council in 2016. The municipal government provides emergency services, as well as water and sewage utilities, street maintenance, parks and recreation, an airport, and

1652-653: A cost of $ 28.8 million. The scenic Mountain Loop Highway begins in Granite Falls and travels east into the Cascade Mountains before turning north to reach Darrington . It is used by an estimated 55,000 tourists annually and provides access to recreational areas in the Mount Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest . Community Transit , the countywide public transportation agency, has one bus route serving Granite Falls. It connects

1770-420: A digitization project in 2016, using volunteer labor to preserve photographs and newspaper records. The Granite Falls area has been home to several renowned artists, including Kenneth Callahan and Guy Anderson in the 1940s and 1950s. The city has several works of public art , including downtown murals and sculptures at local schools. Among them is a 12-foot (3.7 m) wood carving of Bigfoot created by

1888-537: A fire in the fourth after a dutch roll had been executed beyond maximum bank restrictions. The plane made an emergency landing in the riverbed while unsuccessfully trying to reach a nearby open field. The completion of Interstate 5 and State Route 9 in the late 1960s brought increased residential development in Arlington, forming a bedroom community for commuters who worked in Everett and Seattle . Despite

2006-409: A four-year term and has no term limits . Don Vanney was elected mayor in 2023 after defeating three-term incumbent Barbara Tolbert. Previous mayors included John and Margaret Larson, who served as mayor from 1980 to 1990 and 2003 to 2011, respectively. The city council is composed of seven residents who are elected in at-large , non-partisan elections to four-year terms. The council also appoints

2124-531: A gathering place for residents and a venue for festivals. On March 22, 2014, a large landslide near Oso dammed the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River, with mud and debris covering an area of one square mile (2.6 km ). A total of 43 people were killed and nearly 50 structures destroyed. The landslide closed State Route 530 to Darrington, cutting the town off, leaving Arlington as

2242-403: A household in the city was $ 47,643, and the median income for a family was $ 52,150. Males had a median income of $ 40,469 versus $ 26,809 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 17,425. About 5.1% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line , including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over. Granite Falls is a non-charter code city with

2360-584: A local cryptozoologist . In 2000, Granite Falls erected several sculptures depicting toilets to raise funds for a public restroom as part of the annual Art in the Parks festival. The 1977 movie Joyride , set in Alaska , and the 2018 movie Outside In were partially filmed in Granite Falls. A local music venue at the Scherrer Ranch was closed in 1995 by the county government after it constructed

2478-511: A male householder with no wife present, and 31.1% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.21. The median age in the city was 34.3 years. 28.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.2% were from 25 to 44; 22.4% were from 45 to 64; and 11.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of

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2596-556: A period of growth for the city. The Great Depression of the 1930s forced all but one of the mills to close, causing unemployment to rise in Arlington and neighboring cities. The federal government established a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp near Darrington to create temporary jobs; the young men built structures and conducted firefighting in the Mount Baker National Forest . The Works Progress Administration and Civil Works Administration funded

2714-742: A plateau in the western foothills of the Cascade Range between the South Fork Stillaguamish River to the north and the Pilchuck River to the south. Granite Falls is also the southern entrance to the Mountain Loop Highway , a scenic highway that continues into the Cascades to Darrington . The city limits are defined to the north by the Stillaguamish River, to the east by Iron Mountain, to

2832-436: A population of 19,868 people at the time of the 2020 U.S. census , making it the tenth largest of eighteen cities in Snohomish County. From 1980 to 2010, Arlington's population increased by over 450 percent, fueled by the construction of suburban housing and annexations of outlying areas. The United States Census Bureau estimates the city's July 2022 population at 21,059. In 2005, the Arlington city council projected that

2950-563: A referendum on May 5, in which 134 of 173 voters approved the city's incorporation. The new city elected shingle mill owner John M. Smith as its first mayor. In the years following incorporation, Arlington gained a local bank , a cooperative creamery , a city park, a library, electricity, and telephone service. During the early 20th century, Arlington's largest employers remained its shingle mills and saw mills. Other industries, including dairy processing, mechanical shops, stores, and factories, became prominent after World War I , during

3068-519: A settlement with winter longhouses and 200–300 people at the confluence of the two forks of the Stillaguamish River. Other Coast Salish peoples who were intermarried with the Stillaguamish would travel to this village in the summer to follow fish runs . The neighborhood of Kent Prairie ( Lushootseed : xʷbaqʷab ) was once a prairie where the Stillaguamish, Sauk , and Snohomish would gather wild crops. In modern Lushootseed , Arlington and

3186-573: A stage without permits. Granite Falls is located near recreational areas along the Mountain Loop Highway in the Mount Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest , including sites for hiking, camping, and fishing. Among the major attractions on the Mountain Loop Highway are the ghost town of Monte Cristo and the Big Four Ice Caves . Other major recreational areas near Granite Falls include Lake Bosworth and Lake Roesiger to

3304-421: A station for the town on the route between Monte Cristo and the county seat of Everett . On November 8, 1903, Granite Falls voted to become a city. It was officially incorporated as a fourth-class city on December 21, 1903. At the time, it had approximately 600 residents and several lumber mills. Electricity, sewers, sidewalks, telephones, cars, and all the amenities of modern life soon followed. A power plant

3422-410: A track through the area. G. Morris Haller, son of Colonel Granville O. Haller , founded a settlement on the banks of the Stillaguamish River in 1883, naming it "Haller City". The Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern Railroad chose to build its depot on higher ground to the south of Haller City, leading contractors Earl & McLeod to establish a new town at the depot on March 15, 1890. The new town

3540-462: Is also served by two regional daily newspapers: The Everett Herald and The Seattle Times . Granite Falls has a public library that is operated by the regional Sno-Isle Libraries system, which annexed the city in 1995. The 6,500-square-foot (600 m ) library building is located east of downtown Granite Falls and was initially owned by the city government until it was transferred to Sno-Isle in 2012. The Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America

3658-696: Is also used as a staging ground for holiday parades. The Stillaguamish Tribe hosts an annual powwow and festival of the river at River Meadows County Park on the South Fork of the Stillaguamish River in August. Arlington has one weekly newspaper, The Arlington Times , which has been published in the Arlington area since 1890. It has been under common ownership with the Marysville Globe since 1964; Sound Publishing , which acquired both papers in 2007, suspended their publication in March 2020 in

Mountain Loop Highway - Misplaced Pages Continue

3776-520: Is called E Stanley Street and the Mountain Loop Highway is known called N Alder Street. The highway goes north away from Granite Falls and turns east at the point where the road meets the South Fork of the Stillaguamish River . From there, the road roughly follows the river and intersects some Forest Routes such as FR 4201, FR 4018, FR 4020, FR 4037, FR 4052, and FR 4059 while traversing the communities of Robe, Verlot , and Silverton before

3894-456: Is considered part of the Seattle metropolitan area . It is approximately 41 miles (66 km) north of Seattle and 10 miles (16 km) north of Everett. Arlington's city limits are generally defined to the south by Marysville at State Route 531 (172nd Street NE) and roughly 165th Street NE, to the west by Interstate 5 , to the north by the Stillaguamish River valley, and to the east by

4012-530: Is home to a quarry . The Rogers Belt , a series of local faults, runs northwest from Granite Falls towards Mount Vernon . The climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and most of the rainfall occurs between October and May. Temperatures in the summer can be up to 10 degrees warmer than nearby Everett, due to its slightly inland location. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Granite Falls has

4130-524: Is in Snohomish County . Granite Falls, Washington Granite Falls is a city in Snohomish County , Washington, United States. It is located between the Pilchuck and Stillaguamish rivers in the western foothills of the Cascade Range , northeast of Lake Stevens and Marysville . The city is named for a waterfall north of downtown on the Stillaguamish River, also accessible via

4248-488: Is situated on a bluff above the confluence of the Stillaguamish River and its North and South Forks. Most of Arlington sits in the watersheds of the Stillaguamish River, Portage Creek , and Quilceda Creek . From various points in Arlington, the Olympic Mountains , Mount Pilchuck , and Mount Rainier are visible on the horizon. The Stillaguamish River valley and floodplain, including Arlington, lies in

4366-713: Is the County Charm Park and Conservation Area, located east of downtown Arlington along the South Fork Stillaguamish River. The 150-acre (61 ha) park was purchased from the Graafstra family in 2010, and is planned to be developed into sports fields, hiking trails, camping areas, and a swimming beach, in addition to a 40-acre (16 ha) riparian habitat. Across the South Fork is Twin Rivers Park, Arlington's second-largest park,

4484-451: Is the coolest, at an average high of 44.5 °F (6.9 °C). The highest recorded temperature, 103 °F (39 °C), occurred on June 28, 2021, amid a regional heat wave , and the lowest, 7 °F (−14 °C), occurred on January 1, 1979. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Arlington has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Csb). The city of Arlington had

4602-624: Is the third-largest event of its kind in the United States, with over 50,000 visitors and 1,600 planes participating. The Downtown Arlington Business Association hosts several annual events in downtown Arlington, including a car show in June, a street fair on Olympic Avenue in July, and a Viking festival in October. Legion Park hosts a weekend farmers' market from June to September and

4720-469: The 2016 U.S. presidential election , 50.6 percent of Arlington voters chose Republican Donald Trump , while 39.5 percent voted for Democrat Hillary Clinton . During the same year's gubernatorial election , 42.9 percent of Arlington voters preferred incumbent Democrat Jay Inslee , while 56.8 percent voted for Republican Bill Bryant . During the 2012 presidential election , Democrat Barack Obama won Arlington narrowly with 50.6 percent of votes. Arlington

4838-580: The Burlington Northern Railroad in the late 20th century. The city of Arlington also maintains a 6-mile (9.7 km) unpaved walking trail around the Arlington Municipal Airport. The Arlington Municipal Airport hosts the annual " Arlington Fly-In " air show during the summer, traditionally the weekend after Independence Day but later changed to August. The Fly-In has operated annually since 1969 and

Mountain Loop Highway - Misplaced Pages Continue

4956-538: The Cascade Range foothills. The city's urban growth boundary includes 10.3 square miles (27 km ) within and outside of city limits. The city lies on a glacial terrace formed during the Pleistocene epoch by the recession of the Cordilleran Ice Sheet . Arlington covers a series of hills that sit at an elevation of 100 to 200 feet (30 to 61 m) above sea level. Downtown Arlington

5074-636: The Eviation Alice , an electric prototype model. The city of Arlington plans to increase the number of jobs within the city to over 20,000 by 2035, bolstered by the designation of the Cascade Industrial Center by the Puget Sound Regional Council in 2019. The industrial center, located between the two cities near Smokey Point, already included major distribution centers and other light industry in

5192-472: The Mountain Loop Highway . It had a population of 3,364 at the 2010 census . The site of Granite Falls was originally a portage for local Coast Salish tribes prior to the arrival of American settlers. The settlement was founded in 1883 and prospered after the discovery of gold and silver in the Monte Cristo mines located east of Granite Falls on the Everett and Monte Cristo Railway . Granite Falls

5310-664: The Sauk River . The "inside" of the highway's namesake loop is a large area containing significant Cascade peaks, including Three Fingers (6,850 ft; 2,090 m), Whitehorse Mountain (6,850 ft; 2,090 m), Mount Dickerman (5,723 ft; 1,744 m), and Mount Forgotten (6,005 ft; 1,830 m). The Mountain Loop Highway starts at the eastern end of SR 92 in Downtown Granite Falls . Within Downtown Granite Falls, SR 92

5428-475: The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office to provide policing services for the area since 2014, when the city's police department was disbanded. Firefighting services are provided by Snohomish County Fire District 17, which covers 38 square miles (98 km ) of Granite Falls and surrounding unincorporated areas. The Granite Falls city hall is located on South Granite Avenue in downtown at

5546-592: The Stillaguamish River contain artifacts that are dated to the Olcott Phase, approximately 9,000 years before present . The traditional territory of the Stillaguamish people includes modern-day Arlington and much of the Stillaguamish River basin; they had at least ten known villages along the river and its tributaries, including two in the Arlington area. Among them was sq'ʷuʔalqʷuʔ (meaning "confluence"; variously anglicized as Skabalko or Skabalco),

5664-517: The Tulalip Indian Reservation , but many members refused and remained in their ancestral lands. After attempts in the early 20th century, the tribe were granted federal recognition in 1976 and a reservation in 2014. In 1856, the U.S. Army built a military road connecting Fort Steilacoom to Fort Bellingham , crossing the Stillaguamish River near the confluence. In the 1880s, wagon roads were constructed to this area from

5782-448: The county seat , and 40 miles (64 km) north of Seattle , the state's largest city. As of the 2020 U.S. census , Arlington had a population of 19,868; its estimated population is 20,075 as of 2021. The city lies in the traditional territory of the Stillaguamish people , an indigenous Coast Salish group. Arlington was established in the 1880s by settlers and the area was platted as two towns, Arlington and Haller City. Haller City

5900-493: The northern spotted owl from extinction. In June, 1990, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department declared the spotted owl an endangered species, and in 1991, a federal court judge ruled the Forest Service's logging plan to save the owl was inadequate. Over one-fourth of old-growth forest on both public and private land were put off-limits to logging. In the 21st century, Granite Falls has focused on attracting visitors to

6018-869: The workforce , either employed or unemployed. The average one-way commute for Arlington workers in 2015 was approximately 30 minutes; 85 percent of workers drove alone to their workplace, while 7 percent carpooled , and 2 percent used public transit . As of 2015 , only 12 percent of employed Arlington residents work within city limits, while approximately 17 percent commute to Everett, 9 percent to Seattle, 8 percent to Marysville, 3 percent to Bellevue , 2 percent to Renton , and 49 percent to other cities, each of which accounted for less than 2 percent. The largest industry of employment for Arlington workers are educational services and health care, with approximately 19 percent, followed by manufacturing (18%), retail (11%), and food services (10%). Arlington's early economy relied heavily on timber harvesting and processing, notably

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6136-540: The 1990s and 2000s, including Smokey Point and Island Crossing. Arlington has a general climate similar to most of the Puget Sound lowlands, with dry summers and mild, rainy winters moderated by a marine influence from the Pacific Ocean . The majority of the region's precipitation arrives during the winter and early spring, and Arlington averages 181 days of precipitation per year. Arlington's location in

6254-475: The 2000s. A five-story, $ 355 million Amazon distribution center opened near the airport in 2023. It is the company's largest facility in Washington at 3 million square feet (280,000 m ) and is expected to employ 1,200 workers. Arlington is defined as a non-charter code city and operates under a mayor–council government , with an elected mayor and an elected city council. The mayor serves

6372-521: The 2014 movie 7 Minutes was filmed at Haller Stadium in Arlington. Arlington has 17 city-maintained parks with over 257 acres (104 ha) of public open space within its city limits and urban growth boundary. Park facilities include nature preserves, neighborhood parks, sports fields, playgrounds, boat launches, and gardens. The Arlington School District also has 59.3 acres (24.0 ha) of sports fields and playgrounds that are open to public use during non-school hours. Arlington's largest park

6490-464: The Cascades, particularly around Monte Cristo , lured miners and settlers to the Granite Falls area. A general store and post office were established in 1890 at the corner of four homesteads, which would later form the center of the townsite platted in August 1891. The name "Granite Falls" was chosen for the settlement to replace the earlier name of "Portage". The Everett and Monte Cristo Railway reached Granite Falls on October 16, 1892, building

6608-512: The PUD, which is sourced from the City of Everett system at Spada Lake and Lake Chaplain. Since 2012, the PUD has also supplied water to Granite Falls that is sourced from groundwater wells near Lake Stevens and treated to be similar to the water from the City of Everett system. The city government also manages a sanitary sewage system that terminates at a treatment plant that discharges water into

6726-724: The Pilchuck River. Natural gas service for the city is provided by Puget Sound Energy , a regional gas utility company. The city government contracts with Waste Management to provide curbside collection and disposal of garbage , recycling , and yard waste . The Granite Falls area also has two recycling and disposal centers operated by Snohomish County. Telecommunications services are provided by Verizon and Comcast . The nearest general hospitals to Granite Falls are Providence Medical Center in Everett and Cascade Valley Hospital in Arlington. The city's medical clinic

6844-542: The Stillaguamish River. A major cooperative creamery and condensery was established in Arlington during the 1910s, but later moved to Mount Vernon after World War II. The transformation of Arlington into a bedroom community for Everett and Seattle during the 1980s and 1990s came with it a move towards a service economy . Among the largest employers of Arlington residents are the Boeing Everett Factory and Naval Station Everett . The expansion of

6962-518: The aerospace industry in the Seattle region led Arlington to develop its own municipal airport into an aerospace job center, which includes a high concentration of Boeing subcontractors. As of 2012 , the airport has 130 on-site businesses that employ 590 people, with an annual economic output of $ 94.5 million. Aircraft manufacturer Glasair Aviation is based in Arlington, and Eviation Aircraft uses its Arlington hangars for assembly and testing of

7080-429: The age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.0% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.33. The median age in

7198-401: The airport was formally transferred from the federal government back to the city of Arlington in 1959. On October 19, 1959, a Boeing 707-227 crashed on the banks of the Stillaguamish River's North Fork during a test flight, killing four of eight occupants. The plane, being flown by Boeing test pilots instructing personnel from Braniff International Airways , lost three engines and suffered

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7316-404: The average family size was 3.19. In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 31.5% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males. The median income for a household in

7434-606: The center of the coordinated emergency response to the disaster. Arlington was recognized for its role in aiding victims of the disaster and hosted U.S. President Barack Obama during his visit to the site in April. The city has continued to grow in the late 2010s, with new apartment buildings constructed in Smokey Point, including those designed as retirement communities . The Cascade Industrial Center, located on 4,000 acres (1,600 ha) between Arlington and Marysville,

7552-409: The city limits. Over 80 percent of workers commute in single-occupant vehicles, while 4 percent take public transportation or carpools . The city had 202 registered businesses with 849 total jobs, according to 2012 estimates by the U.S. Census and Puget Sound Regional Council . The largest providers of jobs in Granite Falls came from businesses in the education and services sectors. Several of

7670-514: The city to Lake Stevens and Everett Station , with extended service to the Boeing Everett Factory during peak hours. The nearest airport to Granite Falls is Paine Field in Everett. Electric power in Granite Falls is supplied by the Snohomish County Public Utility District (PUD), a consumer-owned public utility that serves all of Snohomish County. The city government purchases its tap water from

7788-417: The city was $ 40,000, and the median income for a family was $ 51,941. Males had a median income of $ 41,517 versus $ 26,912 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 19,146. About 5.8% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line , including 9.2% of those under the age of 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 and older. As of 2015 , Arlington has an estimated 9,481 residents who were in

7906-554: The city was 34.4 years. 29.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 30.9% were from 25 to 44; 23.1% were from 45 to 64; and 8.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.2% male and 49.8% female. As of the 2000 census , there were 2,347 people, 846 households, and 594 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,372.9 people per square mile (529.9/km ). There were 873 housing units at an average density of 510.7 per square mile (197.1/km ). The racial makeup of

8024-543: The city was 48.6% male and 51.4% female. As of the 2000 census , there were 11,713 people, 4,281 households, and 3,097 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,548.4 people per square mile (598.2/km ). There were 4,516 housing units at an average density of 597.0 per square mile (230.6/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 90.0% White, 1.1% African American, 1.0% Native American, 2.2% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 2.5% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.8% of

8142-430: The city was 85.6% White, 1.2% African American, 1.4% Native American, 3.3% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 3.9% from other races, and 4.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.5% of the population. There were 6,563 households, of which 40.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.6% had

8260-549: The city was 90.84% White, 0.68% African American, 2.09% Native American, 1.53% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 1.28% from other races, and 3.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.56% of the population. There were 846 households, out of which 45.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.7% were non-families. 23.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.0% had someone living alone who

8378-526: The city's parks system and water and wastewater utilities . Other services, including public utilities , public transportation , and schools, are contracted to regional or county-level agencies and companies. The indigenous Coast Salish peoples have inhabited the Puget Sound region since the retreat of the Vashon Glacier approximately 12,000 years ago. Several archeological sites along

8496-757: The city's Sculpture Walk in downtown Arlington and along the Centennial Trail. The Arlington High School campus has a performing arts venue, the Byrnes Performing Arts Center, which opened in 2007. A fine arts and crafts festival has been held annually at Legion Park since 2008 and is organized by the Arlington Arts Council. The city is also located near the Pilchuck Glass School , a rural art school that focuses on glass art . A scene in

8614-439: The city's population would double from 15,000 to 30,528 by 2025; updated estimates in 2017 projected a population of 25,000 by 2035. As of the 2010 census , there were 17,926 people, 6,563 households, and 4,520 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,937.9 inhabitants per square mile (748.2/km ). There were 6,929 housing units at an average density of 749.1 per square mile (289.2/km ). The racial makeup of

8732-491: The city, after a lengthy court battle with Marysville, which instead was permitted to annex Lakewood to the west. The city began developing a large business park around the municipal airport in the 1990s, bringing the city's number of jobs to a total of 11,000 by 2003. The city of Arlington celebrated its centennial in 2003 with a parade, a festival honoring the city's history, sporting events, and musical and theatrical performances. The centennial celebrations culminated in

8850-450: The construction of the city's sidewalks, a high school , and a municipal airport that opened in 1934. The entry of the United States into World War II brought the U.S. Navy to Arlington, resulting in the conversion of the municipal airport into a naval air station in 1943. The Navy constructed new runways and hangars and, beginning in 1946, the municipal government was allowed to operate civilian and commercial services. Ownership of

8968-404: The dedication of the $ 44 million Arlington High School campus, attended by an all-class reunion of the old school. In 2007, the city of Arlington renovated six blocks of downtown's Olympic Avenue at a cost of $ 4.4 million, widening sidewalks, improving street foliage , and adding new street lights. The project was credited with helping revitalize the city's downtown, turning Olympic Avenue into

9086-517: The entirety of Chelan and Kittitas counties. The city was part of the 1st congressional district until 2022. At the state level, Granite Falls shares the 39th legislative district with Lake Stevens, Darrington , and eastern Skagit County . The city lies in the Snohomish County Council 's 1st district, which includes most of the county north of Everett and Lake Stevens. Granite Falls has several annual community events,

9204-536: The feasibility of access to Monte Cristo via the South Fork Stillaguamish River. Mining interests funded a wagon road from Silverton to the Sauk wagon road via Barlow Pass. These roads roughly followed the current route of the Mountain Loop Highway along with some railroads. Construction of the road started in 1936 and finished in 1941. The road was closed in 1942 due to the World War II . The highway closes mostly in

9322-416: The first non-Japanese people to be ordained as a priest; he retired in 2023 and the shrine was closed. The Holy Cross Catholic Church in downtown Granite Falls was built in 1903 and served as a satellite parish of St. Michael's Catholic Church until 2004. The church's congregation was split between Granite Falls and Lake Stevens until a new church was constructed in 2008. The old building was renovated for

9440-481: The foothills of the Cascade Range brings additional precipitation compared to nearby communities, with 46 inches (1,200 mm) annually compared to 33 inches (840 mm) in Everett. Arlington rarely receives significant snowfall , with an average of 7 inches (18 cm) per year since 1922. July is Arlington's warmest month, with average high temperatures of 73.6  °F (23.1  °C ), while January

9558-413: The highway passes Big Four Mountain and the trailhead leading to the Big Four Ice Caves at its base. At Barlow Pass, a gravel road maintained by Snohomish County (closed to motor vehicles) branches from the highway and leads to the former silver mining town of Monte Cristo . The portion from Granite Falls to Barlow Pass follows the Stillaguamish River . The portion from Barlow Pass to Darrington follows

9676-411: The influx of commuting residents, Arlington retained its small-town image while unsuccessfully attempting to lure new industries and a state college. Suburban housing developments began construction in the 1980s and 1990s, driving a 450 percent increase in Arlington's population to 15,000 by 2007. In 1999, Arlington annexed the community of Smokey Point , located along Interstate 5 to the southwest of

9794-498: The larger, more prosperous Arlington, signalling the end for Haller City. Today, Haller City is memorialized in the name of a park in downtown Arlington, as well as a middle school operated by the Arlington School District. Arlington was incorporated as a fourth-class city on May 20, 1903, including the remnants of Haller City (located north of modern-day Division Street). The incorporation came after

9912-421: The largest employers are located in an industrial park in the northeast corner of the city near the Mountain Loop Highway. They include electrical manufacturer B.I.C. and aerospace manufacturer Cobalt Industries. Granite Falls is located near several rock and gravel quarries , which created traffic congestion in downtown that was later mitigated through the opening of a truck bypass in 2010. The population

10030-436: The largest of which is Railroad Days in early October. The Railroad Days festival was established in 1965 by a schoolteacher and celebrates the city's local history. It attracts about 5,000 visitors and includes a parade , a street fair , carnival rides, and tours. The city's historical society opened its museum in October 2007 at a two-story building with 30,000 square feet (2,800 m ) of space. The museum launched

10148-423: The manufacturing of wood shingles as their main sources of income. Both towns established their own schools, post offices, saloons, general stores, churches, social clubs, and hotels. The two towns were separated by a 40-acre (16 ha) tract claimed by two settlers in 1891, preventing either town from fully absorbing the other. During the late 1890s, the claim dispute was settled and merchants began moving to

10266-459: The namesake Granite Falls. The falls has a 540-foot (160 m) fishway and a 280-foot (85 m) tunnel that were built in 1954, at the time the longest fish tunnel in the world. The area where the city was founded was called the "portage" by native tribes in the area, who used the flat area between the two rivers to portage their canoes when traveling. Iron Mountain, which sits at 1,240 feet (380 m) above sea level, lies east of downtown and

10384-649: The natural environment and recreational opportunities along the Mt. Loop Highway. Expanded housing development has brought an increased population of families who commute to Everett, Seattle, and the Eastside to work. In 2001, the Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America was given a 17-acre (7 ha) plot of land next to Kannagara Jinja (built by the Reverend of the shrine) in Granite Falls, which was built upon, combining

10502-521: The new Whitechuck bridge (approximately mile marker 44). From Whitechuck, the Mountain Loop Highway continues north along the Sauk River. On the opposite side of the river, the N. Sauk River Road (Forest Route 22) parallels the route of the Mountain Loop Highway. The loop enters Darrington , where Railroad Avenue splits from the highway to become a short bypass to the eastern end of the highway. The highway ends at SR 530 . The Mountain Loop Highway

10620-468: The northwest and near the Mountain Loop Highway. The school district had an enrollment of over 2,100 students in 2018 and employed 107 teachers and 80 other staff members. Granite Falls has two elementary schools (Mountain Way and Monte Cristo), Granite Falls Middle School, Granite Falls High School, and Crossroads High School, an alternative school program. Andrea Peterson of Monte Cristo Elementary School

10738-497: The population of Granite Falls was half what it was in 1925. Mills closed and people left to find work elsewhere. On April 26, 1933, a fire destroyed the Cascade Hotel in downtown Granite Falls and threatened other buildings. The historic hotel was rebuilt at the same site. At the end of World War II, things looked bleak. The opening of Miller Shingle in 1946 (now the country's largest specialty lumber mill) meant jobs both in

10856-407: The population. There were 4,281 households, out of which 42.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and

10974-519: The production of red cedar wood shingles at mills that closed during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Locally, Arlington was known as the "Shingle Capital of the World", although mills in Everett and Ballard produced more shingles at the time. Agriculture and dairy farming emerged as significant industries to Arlington during the early 20th century, with farms lining the floodplain of

11092-508: The river ends. The loop continues and intersects a private road that connects the highway to the Old Monte Cristo Townsite, which is located 4 miles east of Barlow Pass . At Barlow Pass, the Mountain Loop Highway goes north, and becomes unpaved Forest Route 20 or FR 20. Shortly after becoming unpaved, FR 20 starts to follow the Sauk River towards Darrington. FR 20 goes northward past Bedal, and it becomes paved again at

11210-484: The south by the Pilchuck River, and to the west by 174th Avenue Northeast. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 2.20 square miles (5.70 km ), of which, 2.18 square miles (5.65 km ) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km ) is water. It is situated where the South Fork of the Stillaguamish River leaves its narrow mountain valley, which includes

11328-478: The south, which are both stocked by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The city government owns eight parks and nature preserves , ranging from small neighborhood parks to city recreational areas. The largest is Frank Mason Park, which encompasses the 10-acre (4.0 ha) Lake Gardner and 32.4 acres (13.1 ha) of surrounding land that has been partially developed. The park has

11446-485: The state level, Arlington is part of the 10th legislative district along with Stanwood, southwestern Skagit County, and the entirety of Island County . Arlington is wholly part of the Snohomish County Council 's 1st district, which covers the northeastern areas of the county. During the 2020 U.S. presidential election , 53.8 percent of Arlington voters chose Republican Donald Trump , while 44.4 percent voted for Democrat Joe Biden , with 10,241 votes cast. During

11564-497: The surrounding area is named stiqayuʔ , meaning "wolf". American exploration of the area began in 1851, when prospector Samuel Hancock was led by Indian guides on a canoe up the Stillaguamish River. The area was opened to logging after the signing of the Treaty of Point Elliott in 1855 between the federal government and various Puget Sound peoples. The Stillaguamish, one of the signatory tribes, were ordered to travel to

11682-431: The towns of Marysville to the south and Silvana to the west, bringing entrepreneurs to the logging camps, informally named "The Forks". The area's first store was opened in 1888 by Nels K. Tvete and Nils C. Johnson, and was followed by a hotel with lodging and meals for loggers. Two settlements were established on the south side of the confluence in anticipation of the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway building

11800-442: The two places. A truck bypass around the north side of downtown Granite Falls opened in 2010 to serve several quarries to the northeast. A new high school campus was built near the bypass, along with a housing development with 327 homes in the late 2010s. A downtown revitalization project began in the 2000s with renovations to buildings and a small city park. A new civic center is planned along South Granite Avenue, including

11918-417: The unincorporated area of Smokey Point to the southwest. The economy of the Arlington area historically relied on timber and agriculture . In the early 21st century, it has transitioned to a service economy , with some aviation industry jobs near the municipal airport. The city is governed by a mayor–council government , electing a mayor and seven city councilmembers. The municipal government maintains

12036-400: The winter due to floods and reopens in the spring of the following year, but a flood in 2003 closed the highway. With other windstorms following in 2006 and 2007 , the highway had to be closed until 2008. The Mountain Loop Highway officially reopened on June 25, 2008, and the cities along the full loop ( Arlington , Granite Falls, and Darrington) had a large celebration. The entire highway

12154-514: The woods and at the mill. Construction booms through Snohomish and King counties also meant jobs at the gravel pits dotted around Granite Falls. The city later became a bedroom community for commuters working in Everett and Lake Stevens for large companies. Hard times would come again. In 1986, the United States Forest Service severely limited logging in old-growth forests under its protection in an effort to save

12272-566: Was platted in 1891 and incorporated as a fourth-class town on November 8, 1903. The Pilchuck River and Upper Stillaguamish basin was historically inhabited by the Skykomish people , who used the modern-day site of Granite Falls as a portage along with other Coast Salish tribes. Several Skykomish archaeological sites were discovered in the 1970s between modern-day Granite Falls and Lochsloy , with over 700 artifacts recovered from later excavation. The first permanent European settler

12390-454: Was 1,543.1 inhabitants per square mile (595.8/km ). There were 1,344 housing units at an average density of 616.5 per square mile (238.0/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 87.6% White, 0.7% African American, 1.2% Native American, 1.5% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 3.2% from other races, and 5.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.5% of the population. There were 1,222 households, of which 42.5% had children under

12508-406: Was 3,364 at the 2020 census . The city's population grew rapidly in the 1990s and 2000s due to new development and annexations. The town has had an ongoing drug crisis due to the presence of meth and opioids , which earned national coverage in the early 2000s. As of the 2010 census , there were 3,364 people, 1,222 households, and 831 families residing in the city. The population density

12626-459: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.31. In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 33.2% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 36.8% from 25 to 44, 15.6% from 45 to 64, and 6.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.1 males. The median income for

12744-550: Was Joseph Sous Enas from the Azores , who staked a homestead claim in 1883 on land south of the present city. He was joined by other homesteaders who took advantage of open land that had been cleared by an earlier wildfire , nicknamed "the Big Burn". A school district was established in 1886, initially using an abandoned cabin as a one-room schoolhouse until a permanent school was built in 1893. The discovery of gold and silver in

12862-528: Was absorbed by the larger Arlington, which was incorporated as a city in 1903. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the Arlington area was the site of major projects undertaken for employment under the direction of federal relief agencies, including construction of a municipal airport that would serve as a naval air station during World War II . Arlington began suburbanizing in the 1980s, growing by more than 450 percent by 2000 and annexing

12980-505: Was also constructed at the falls. By World War I, the once bustling mining towns of Monte Cristo and Silverton were no longer shipping out ore. The railroad, now owned by Northern Pacific , stopped running and the tracks were torn out in the early 1930s to make way for the Mountain Loop Highway. Granite Falls between the world wars was a lumber town; logging companies felled trees, sawmills created lumber and shingle mills created shingles. The Great Depression, however, took its toll. By 1935,

13098-511: Was designated by the Puget Sound Regional Council in 2019 and is planned to house manufacturing and other industrial uses. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city of Arlington has a total area of 9.26 square miles (23.98 km ), of which 9.25 square miles (23.96 km ) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km ) is water. The city is in the northwestern part of Snohomish County in Western Washington , and

13216-545: Was established on March 23, 1936. Before the highway was built, primitive and very rough wagon roads connected the Monte Cristo Townsite with the small towns of Darrington and Granite Falls . A narrow wagon road, known as Wilmans Trail or Pioneer Trail, or simply the Sauk wagon road, was built from Sauk City on the Skagit River to Monte Cristo in 1891. That same year, the surveyor M.Q. Barlow discovered

13334-417: Was located west of Granite Falls on 25 acres (10 ha) overlooking the Pilchuck River. The Shinto shrine was one of a few in the United States and was dedicated in 2001 after moving from Stockton, California . The Tsubaki Grand Shrine was open to the public and hosted several annual festivals and religious ceremonies, as well as aikido lessons. The shrine's head priest was Lawrence Koichi Barrish, among

13452-409: Was named "Arlington" after Lord Henry Arlington , member of the cabinet of King Charles II of England . Arlington and Haller City were platted within a month of each other in 1890, quickly developing a rivalry that would continue for several years. Arlington and Haller City grew rapidly in their first years, reaching a combined population of 500 by 1893, relying on agriculture, dairy farming and

13570-655: Was named the 2007 National Teacher of the Year . The first schoolhouse in Granite Falls opened in 1893 and was replaced by a new building at the site in 1910. A larger building opened in 1938 for Granite Falls High School , which later moved to a nearby building in 1964 and opened at its new campus in January 2008. The high school's athletic teams, nicknamed the Tigers, compete in the North Sound Conference;

13688-622: Was originally a dairy farm that was restored into wetland habitat in the 1990s and 2000s. Arlington is at the intersection of two major county trails used by cyclists, pedestrians, and horseback riders : the Centennial Trail , which runs 29 miles (47 km) from Bryant to Snohomish ; and the Whitehorse Trail , which will run 27 miles (43 km) east from Arlington to Darrington. Both trails use right of way acquired by Snohomish County after they were abandoned by

13806-512: Was part of the Cascade Valley system, which was absorbed into Skagit Regional Health in 2016. Arlington, Washington Arlington is a city in northern Snohomish County, Washington , United States, part of the Seattle metropolitan area . The city lies on the Stillaguamish River in the western foothills of the Cascade Range , adjacent to the city of Marysville . It is approximately 10 miles (16 km) north of Everett ,

13924-423: Was proposed as the county seat of the secessionist Freedom County in the 1990s and 2000s, but the proposal was struck down by state courts. Public art has been mandated for public construction projects in Arlington since a 2007 ordinance setting 1 percent of the budget for new artworks. The Arlington Arts Council, a volunteer organization established in 2004, has acquired 30 sculptures and murals that form

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