Auburn, Washington

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Auburn, Washington

Flag

Motto: "More Than You Imagined"

Coordinates: 47°18′8″N 122°12′53″W / 47.30222, -122.21472

Founded

Government

- Mayor

Pete Lewis

Area

- Total

23.37 sq mi (55.1 km²)

- Land

21.3 sq mi (55.1 km²)

- Water

0.0 sq mi (0.05 km²)

Elevation

82 ft (25 m)

Population (2006)

- Total

65,000

- Density

1,895.9/sq mi (732.1/km²/km²)

Time zone

PST (UTC-8)

- Summer (DST)

PDT (UTC-7)

98000-98099

53-03180^[1]

GNIS feature ID

1511974^[2]

Website: http://www.ci.auburn.wa.us/index.asp

Auburn and Green River Valley to the south of it, seen from Auburn's Centennial Park

Auburn is a city of 65,000 (2008)[1] located in the U.S. state of Washington, in King County with some spill-over into Pierce County. Though founded before either Seattle or Tacoma (Seattle metropolitan area) had suburbs, Auburn is now often thought of as a suburb of these two cities. Auburn is roughly bordered by the suburbs of Federal Way, Pacific, and Algona to the west, Sumner to the south, unincorporated King County to the east, and Kent to the north. The Muckleshoot Indian Reservation is nearby.

[edit] Geography

Auburn is located at 47°18′8″N, 122°12′53″W (47.302322, -122.214779)^[3]. The city is generally placed into these three areas. Lea Hill, Washington, West Hill, Lakeland Hills,and the ‘Valley’ The Valley neighborhoods include, historic downtown, North Auburn, Hazel Wood , the Terminal Park neighborhood, Game Farm, and the to the greater extent the general Muckleshoot area. In addition the city also boosts a remarkable view of Mt. Rainier, from almost any point within the city.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 55.1 km² (21.3 mi²). 55.1 km² (21.3 mi²) of it is land and 0.05% is water.

Two rivers, the White River and, to a greater extent, the Green River flow through Auburn.

Historically, the Stuck River ran through the settlement of Stuck, which is now a small pocket of unincorporated King County within southern Auburn. In 1906, the flow of the White River was diverted into the Stuck's channel near today's Game Farm Park. [2] References to the Stuck River still appear in some property legal descriptions [3] and place names, e.g. Stuck River Drive, within Auburn, but today it is essentially indistinguishable from the southern White River.

[edit] Transportation

Auburn has many large roads nearby and within city limits, including SR 167 commonly referred as the "Valley Freeway", and SR 18. Auburn also has it’s own Transit Center, Auburn Station, making it a central gateway key to access with Sound Transit to the entire Puget Sound area, and was up until the mid 60’s home to Northern Pacific's, (now Burlington Northern Santa Fe) central roundhouse. [4] Northern Santa Fe]] central roundhouse. In addition, the Auburn Municipal Airport [5]serves the general aviation community.

[edit] Parks

Auburn has an extensive system of parks, open space and urban trails comprised of 28 developed parks, over 23 miles (37 km) of trails (including Auburn's 4.5-mile (7.2 km) portion of the Inter-urban Trail for bikers, walkers, runners and skaters), and almost 247 acres (1.00 km²) of open space for passive and active recreation.

[edit] Auburn's Records and Averages

Weather averages for Auburn, Washington
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	64 (18)	71 (22)	81 (27)	86 (30)	92 (33)	100 (38)	99 (37)	99 (37)	96 (36)	86 (30)	74 (23)	69 (21)	100 (38)
Average high °F (°C)	47 (8)	51 (11)	55 (13)	61 (16)	67 (19)	72 (22)	77 (25)	78 (26)	72 (22)	62 (17)	52 (11)	46 (8)	62 (17)
Average low °F (°C)	35 (2)	36 (2)	39 (4)	42 (6)	47 (8)	52 (11)	55 (13)	55 (13)	51 (11)	44 (7)	39 (4)	35 (2)	44 (7)
Record low °F (°C)	-10 (-23)	-5 (-21)	10 (-12)	25 (-4)	27 (-3)	33 (1)	38 (3)	34 (1)	28 (-2)	24 (-4)	-1 (-18)	3 (-16)	-10 (-23)
Precipitation inches (mm)	5.3 (134.6)	4.5 (114.3)	4.1 (104.1)	2.9 (73.7)	2.1 (53.3)	1.7 (43.2)	0.9 (22.9)	1.2 (30.5)	1.8 (45.7)	3.4 (86.4)	6.1 (154.9)	5.8 (147.3)	37.1 (942.3)
Source: Weather.com ^[4] (May 16th 2008)

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 40314 people, 16,108 households, and 10,051 families residing in the city. The population density was 732.1/km² (1,895.9/mi²). There were 16,767 housing units at an average density of 304.5/km² (788.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 82.80% White, 2.42% African American, 2.54% Native American, 3.50% Asian, 0.51% Pacific Islander, 3.66% from other races, and 4.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.49% of the population.

There were 16,108 households out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.6% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,208, and the median income for a family was $45,426. Males had a median income of $36,977 versus $27,476 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,630. About 10.2% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.3% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Government

The city of Auburn is a government mayor-council form, the current Mayor is Pete Lewis, who is in his second term in office. He is a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition^[5], a bi-partisan group with a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets." The Coalition is co-chaired by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

[edit] Auburn's council members include

Nancy Backus
Gene Cerino
Virginia Haugen
Lynn Norman
Bill Peloza
Sue Singer
Rich Wagner

Auburn is the site for the Northwest headquarters of United States General Services Administration.

[edit] History

Auburn was originally incorporated as "Slaughter," named after William Slaughter, who died in an Indian skirmish in 1855. At the time, the main hotel in town was called the "Slaughter House." In 1893, a large group of settlers from Auburn, New York moved to Slaughter, and renamed the town to "Auburn." [6] Due to this history, when Auburn was building its second high school in the mid-1990s, there was a grass-roots effort to name the high school "Slaughter High School," but it was eventually decided that the name would be too politically incorrect, and the High School was named "Auburn Riverside High School," whose mascot is the Raven. There are several locations in Auburn on the National and State Registers of Historic Places, such as the Neely Mansion.

Neely Mansion, Spring of 2006

The city of Auburn, located 20 miles (32 km) south of Seattle, was home to some of the earliest settlers in King County. Nestled in a fertile river valley, Auburn has been both a farm community and a center of business and industry for more than 150 years. Auburn is located near the original confluence of the Green and White rivers, both of which contain runoff water from the Cascade Mountain range. The valley was originally the home of the Skopamish, Smalhkamish, and Stkamish Indian tribes. The first white men in the region were explorers and traders who arrived in the 1830s.

Settlers first came to the valley in the 1850s. On October 27, 1855, an Indian ambush killed nine people, including women and children. In November, a military unit led by Lieutenant William Slaughter camped near what is now present-day Auburn. On December 4, 1855, a group of Indians attacked, killing Lt. Slaughter and two other men.

A new treaty was written which provided the establishment of the Muckleshoot reservation, which is the only Indian reservation now within the boundaries of King County. The White River tribes collectively became known as the Muckleshoot tribe.

White settlers, the Neely and Ballard families began returning to the area. In 1891, the town of Slaughter incorporated. Although many older citizens considered the town's name as a memorial, many newer residents understandably felt uncomfortable with it. Within two years, the town was renamed Auburn, taken from the first line of Oliver Goldsmith's poem, The Deserted Village: "Sweet Auburn! Loveliest village of the plain."

Auburn had been a bustling center for hop farming until 1890 when the crops were destroyed by aphids. After that, the farms were mostly dairy farms and berry farms. Nevertheless, flooding was still a problem for Auburn farmers up until the Howard Hanson Dam was built in 1962. This dam on the Green River, along with the Mud Mountain Dam on the White River, provided controlled river management, which left the valley nearly flood-free.

Another impetus to Auburn's growth was the railroad. The Northern Pacific Railroad put a rail line through town in 1883, but it was the Seattle-Tacoma Interurban line that allowed easy access to both cities starting in 1902. The Interurban allowed farmers to get their product to the markets within hours after harvest. The railroad, along with better roads, caused many new companies to set up business in Auburn, among them the Borden Condensery (which made Borden's Condensed Milk) and the Northern Clay Company.

Auburn grew through the twentieth century like many American towns. The 1920s were prosperous for citizens, but the Great Depression of the 1930s left many in need. World War II brought great hardship to many local Japanese farmers when they were moved to internment camps and their land taken from them. At the same time, local boys were sent to fight in the Pacific, and some died in battle.

The postwar era was prosperous to Auburn, bringing more businesses and a community college to the city. In 1963, The Boeing Company built a large facility to mill sheet metal skin for jet airliners. As time went on, many farms disappeared as the land was converted to industrial use. In 1995, the Supermall of the Great Northwest was built in the valley, enticing consumers from all over the Puget Sound region.

Auburn has made the transition from small farms to large industries, but much of the city's history remains. A monument in the memory of Lieutenant Slaughter, erected in 1918, still stands in a local park. The Neely Mansion, built by the son of a pioneer in 1891, has been refurbished and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Auburn's downtown still maintains a "Main Street U.S.A" appearance.

Neely Mansion, Spring of 2006

[edit] Recreation and Entertainment

[edit] The SuperMall of the Great Northwest

The Supermall, built in the early 1990’s is often considered to be the largest outlet mall in South King county. Located between the 1-67 and 18 junction, the mall is strategically placed, for ease of access. Anchor tenants, that resign in the mall include

Surrounding the mall includes, a local Wall-Mart, and a Regal 17 Movie Theater, the Boeing plant of Auburn, the Safeway distribution center, and various other commercial businesses.

[edit] Muckleshoot Casino & Bingo

Muckleshoot Casino[7] & Bingo commonly know for it's slogan "The Biggest,and Best in the Northwest!" is a Indian run casino, that's on the Muckleshoot Reservation, in addition to being one of the largest Casino's in the Pacific Northwest, it is one of the few left in the state that allows smoking. All money made in the casino, directly benefits the Muckleshoot Tribal Community, providing Education, and low cost health Care for tribal residents.

[edit] Emerald Downs Racetrack

Washington’s only Class One thoroughbred racetrack. A magnificent 167-acre (0.68 km²) facility, this premiere track offers the finest in racing excitement for fans of all ages. The Northwest's best thoroughbreds can be found racing on the Auburn oval, while Mount Rainier provides a stunning backdrop. Emerald Downs' six-level stadium is focused on the finish line. [8]

[edit] White River Amphitheater

The White River Amphitheater is 20,000-seat venue, located right on the edge of Auburn city limits. The theater presents world-class acts against a spectacular backdrop of Mt. Rainier. Of the 20,000 capacity, approximately 9,600 seats are under the amphitheater roof. There is ample parking and diverse food and beverage service on The Plaza. The site also houses the River Lodge (a 6,000-square-foot (560 m²) lounge), the Bear and Wolf Houses (all ages cafes), and four separate restroom buildings. Free shuttle service is available to the amphitheater from the SuperMall Red Robin for every show. White River offers an outstanding VIP experience for companies and individuals looking to entertain friends, family and clients. The VIP Program includes exceptional seating and first class amenities.

[edit] White River Valley Museum

This award-winning museum’s exhibits tell the story of Auburn, from Native American history to the 1920s. They focus on the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, pioneer life, immigration from Europe and Japan, truck farming, railroading and the building of towns throughout the area. Visitors get to wander into a pioneer cabin, climb aboard a Northern Pacific caboose, and investigate the shops in 1924 downtown Auburn. [9]

[edit] Education

In addition to the Auburn School District, Green River Community College also resides in Auburn, atop Lea Hill.

Currently the district has 14 elementary schools, 4 middle schools and 4 high schools. Making 22 school's in all. The district's newest school is Arthur Jacobsen Elementary. The District is larger than the city itself, serving the neighboring towns of Algona and Pacific as well as some unincorporated areas around Auburn, and Kent.

Elementary Schools:

Alpac Elementary[10]
Arthur Jacobsen Elementary School [11]
Chinook Elementary[12]
Dick Scobee Elementary[13]
Evergreen Heights Elementary[14]
Gildo Rey Elementary[15]
Hazelwood Elementary[16]
Ilalko Elementary[17]
Lake View Elementary[18]
Lakeland Hills Elementary[19]
Lea Hill Elementary[20]
Pioneer Elementary[21]
Terminal Park Elementary[22]
Washington Elementary[23]

Middle Schools:

Cascade Middle School[24]
Mt. Baker Middle School[25]
Olympic Middle School[26]
Rainier Middle School[27]

High Schools:

Auburn Citizens for Schools[32] is a group of volunteer parents and community members who are interested in fostering quality education in the Auburn School District[33]. Its main objective is to promote and pass school levies and bonds.

[edit] Famous Past/Present Residents

Christine Gregoire grew up in Auburn, she attended both Cascade Middle School, and Auburn Senior High School. Gregoire is the current Washington State Governor.

Greg Haugen born and raised in Auburn, he grew up to become a professional boxer. Gained 4 championship belts and holds record for highest number in attendance for a single fight against Julio César Chávez

Commander Dick Scobee attended school and briefly lived in Auburn, originally attending North Auburn Elementary. After the Challenger accident, the school was renamed in his honor. (Commander Astronaut of the Space Shuttle Challenger.)

Blair Rasmussen professional basketball player, selected 1st round (15th overall) in the 1985 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets.

D. C. Simpson a comic artist who created the Ozy and Millieonline comics.

Several Rock bands receiving national attention and recognition have sprung from the Auburn area. Bands with members from Auburn include: The Mechanical Dolls, Four Counts Dirty, The Green Off the Box, Champion, Jude Dugan and others.