Auburn, Washington is a city of about 70,000 located in west central Washington State. It sits on two rivers, the White River and the Green River. Summers are very mild with an average temperature in the high 70s, and the winters are mild as well with averages in the 50s and about 12 inches of annual snowfall. Auburn prides itself on being a very friendly city, and anyone thinking of moving to Auburn will find a beautiful city with much to offer.
Economy:
The median household income for Auburn is almost the same as the state average. The cost of living in Auburn is higher than the national average. Unemployment is currently 8.9 percent. Auburn has worked hard to create jobs and attract new business to the city. In 2000 the unemployment rate for Auburn was 29 percent and now, it is only 8 percent. Boeing has a plant there, but the top employers are in the health care, education and construction businesses. Many people live in Auburn but work in either Seattle or Tacoma.
History:
Originally home to several small Indian tribes, settlers first arrived in the area in the 1850s. Some problems with Indian attacks made the area unsafe for awhile. When a treaty created the Muckleshoot Reservation, settlers began to make the area their home in greater numbers. The town incorporated in 1891 as Slaughter (named after Lieutenant William Slaughter) but quickly changed its name to Auburn. While the area first produced hops, these crops were destroyed in 1890 by aphids, and the area began to be known for its dairy and berry farms after that. The railroad arrived in 1883, but it was the creation of the Seattle-Tacoma interurban line that opened up the markets for the local farmers. The city did well until the Second World War, when local Japanese farmers were sent to internment camps and lost all their land. River flooding was also a problem for farmers, but that problem was finally solved in 1962 with the building of the Howard Hansom Dam. In 1963 Boeing built a plant there. Much farm area was lost to industry, but the city continues to prosper to this day.
Tourism:
The Muckleshoot Casino is the largest in the Pacific Northwest. The White River Valley Museum tells the story of the area from the time of the American Indian to the 1920s. Held in August, the Auburn Good Ol' Days festival celebrates the city history with music, food and festivities. Historic landmarks include the Auburn Masonic Temple built in 1922, the public library built in 1914 and the Olson Farm, built in 1897. There is also hiking, biking, camping, fishing and golf as well as winter sports in the area.