Kate Kershner

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Covington — Thumbnail History (historylink.org) Covington is a small municipality located in King County, about 20 miles southeast of Seattle. Originally a stop on a railroad line connecting Kanasket to Auburn, Covington began to grow in the early twentieth century as lumber mills sprang up around Jenkins and Soos creeks. After the timber trade died out, dairy and berry farming became more popular in the area with improved irrigation practices. In the late 1990s, Covington residents made a push for incorporation to seize some control of their development away from King County. Formally incorporated in 1997, Covington still struggles to balance growth and its former rural identity.
Normandy Park — Thumbnail History (historylink.org) The town of Normandy Park is located in King County, on the shores of Puget Sound between the cities of Des Moines and Burien. Native American tribes traveled to the area to gather clams on the area beaches and fish for salmon. A few families established themselves in the region late in the nineteenth century, but it wasn’t until the 1920s that the Seattle-Tacoma Land Company began selling lots to develop the city of Normandy Park – so named due to the French Norman architecture of the new homes. Population grew steadily after the Depression ended, and Normandy Park established a reputation for prosperity and exclusivity, due to the private beach access afforded only to certain residents. Normandy Park had bumpy political maneuverings in the 1980s and 1990s, and in 2012, city layoffs that resulted in a property tax levy for residents. The city’s population had reached 6,335 by 2010.

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Fort Vancouver had been founded as a Hudson’s Bay Company post as early as 1825 and was still partually occupied by them. The U.S. Army post originally occupied space which was leased from the Company. It was first called Columbia Barracks and on July 13, 1853 it became known as Fort Vancouver. The name of the post was changed to Vancouver Barracks on April 5, 1879. (Frazer, p. 176-177.).

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HistoryLink.org HistoryLink.org is the continually evolving online encyclopedia of Washington state history. We provide a free, authoritative, and easily accessible reference for the benefit of all. With a few noted exceptions, all articles on this site are original works prepared exclusively for HistoryLink.org by staff historians, contract writers, volunteers, and consulting experts.