North Bend, Washington

History

The Native Americans who inhabited the Snoqualmie Valley, led by Chief Patkanim, sided with settlers in the wars of the 1850s and, with the Treaty of Point Elliott, lost such title as settlers acknowledged. Some of the soldiers in those wars, such as the brothers and sisters Kellogg, established cabins near their blockhouses; however the first permanent settler in the valley was Jeremiah Borst, in 1858.

In 1865, Matts Peterson homesteaded the site that ultimately became North Bend. Deeply in debt, he sold the property to Borst and moved east of the mountains. Borst wrote to Will Taylor, who had left the area to go mining in California, and offered him the Peterson place in exchange for labor. Taylor returned and prospered as a farmer and operator of a trading post. He platted North Bend as Snoqualmie but because another nearby town had the same name, renamed it Mountain View. However, the Post Office Department objected to the name Mountain View, so it was renamed North Bend after its location near the north bend of the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River. North Bend was officially incorporated on March 12, 1909.

Geography

North Bend is located at 47°29′38″N 121°47′10″W (47.493831, -121.786247). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.31 square miles (11.16 km²), of which, 4.27 square miles (11.06 km²) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km²) is water.

North Bend is located in the foothills of the Cascade Range just 31 miles (50 km) east of Seattle in the upper valley of the Snoqualmie River. The nearest town, Snoqualmie, Washington, is located about 3 miles (4.8 km) to the northwest. Both towns lie near the center of the Mountains to Sound Greenway. The most prominent geological feature nearby, Mount Si looms over the town. To the south is Rattlesnake Ridge. Mount Si stands at 4,167 feet (1,270 m) and towers above the town, itself at around 440 ft (130 m). A 4-mile (6.4 km) trail zig zags up to the summit with a vertical climb of 3,500 feet (1,100 m).

North Bend annexed Tanner, Washington and the Stilson area July 6, 2009.

Climate

North Bend's climate is warm and generally dry during the summer when high temperatures tend to be in the 70s and 80s and mild to cold during the winter when high temperatures tend to be in the 30s and 40s. The all-time record high temperature is 105 °F (41 °C) set in 2009. The warmest month of the year is July with an average maximum temperature of 77 °F (25 °C), while the coldest month of the year is January with an average minimum temperature of 33 °F (1 °C). The annual average precipitation in North Bend is 59.1 inches (1,500 mm) with 12.8 inches (330 mm) of snowfall. Winter months tend to be wetter than summer months.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 5,731 people, 2,210 households, and 1,487 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,342.2 inhabitants per square mile (518.2/km²). There were 2,348 housing units at an average density of 549.9 per square mile (212.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.7% White, 0.5% African American, 0.9% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.5% from other races, and 3.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.4% of the population.

There were 2,210 households of which 39.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.7% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.10.

The median age in the city was 38.7 years. 26.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.6% were from 25 to 44; 29.4% were from 45 to 64; and 9.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.3% male and 50.7% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,746 people, 1,841 households, and 1,286 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,611.6 people per square mile (623.3/km²). There were 1,889 housing units at an average density of 641.4 per square mile (248.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.01% White, 0.70% African American, 1.03% Native American, 2.23% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 1.45% from other races, and 2.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.79% of the population.

There were 1,841 households out of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.1% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the city the population was 27.3% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 37.1% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $61,534, and the median income for a family was $69,402. Males had a median income of $57,333 versus $38,401 for females. The per capita income for the city was $28,229. About 2.1% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.

Historic McGrath Hotel

The McGrath Hotel is located on the site of the cabin of William Henry Taylor, who platted North Bend in 1889. In October 1921, Jack McGrath and his wife Caroline purchased the site of their future venture, McGrath's Café; construction was completed as a one story restaurant in 1922. In early 1926 the building was expanded two window bays westward, creating the hotel lobby (now the restaurant bar) and a second story was added to the entire structure to accommodate the hotel rooms of the new McGrath Hotel. After several years of deferred maintenance, the McGrath was purchased in 2000 by a local couple who spent two years rehabilitating the building. It is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The first floor currently houses a popular Brew Pub, Brickyard Brewing.

North Bend Theatre

On April 9, 1941 the North Bend Theatre opened its doors. It has continued operating as an independent movie theater since that day. In 1999, the theatre underwent a major renovation to make it more modern. In 2013, the theater was once more saved from extinction by a successful $100,000+ fundraiser to convert the theater from 35mm cellulose to 4K digital video. During this series of renovations every part of the building was improved without sacrificing the distinctive character of this 1941 Art Deco theater.

Valley Center Stage

Valley Center Stage is a community theater that promotes the performing arts in all its aspects. The theater has regular shows featuring classics and comedy. In addition, the theater offers opportunities to valley residents to participate in the theater's productions.

Snoqualmie Valley Historical Museum

The Snoqualmie Valley Historical Museum, operated by the Snoqualmie Valley Historical Society, has been sharing the history of the Snoqualmie Valley for over 50 years.

Transportation

North Bend is located 30 miles (48 km) east of Seattle on Interstate 90 freeway, which runs from Seattle to Boston. There is regular bus service provided by King County Metro Transit on route 208. Metro buses are outfitted with bike racks. There are a number of van pools to Redmond, Bellevue, Seattle, and Renton. Snoqualmie Valley Transportation provides door-to-door transportation for the public in North Bend, Snoqualmie, Preston, Fall City, Carnation, Duvall and Monroe.

North Bend has a fairly modest trail system. The Snoqualmie Valley Regional Trail stretches from Duvall, WA through Carnation, WA, Fall City, WA, Snoqualmie, WA, through North Bend, WA to Rattlesnake Lake. This 31.5-mile (50.7 km) trail connects to the John Wayne Pioneer Trail (which goes clear across Washington to the Idaho border) and to the City of Snoqualmie's extensive trail network. North Bend also has its own city trail system in downtown, the Si View neighborhood and along the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River in several places.

Economy

North Bend is for the largest part a bedroom community to Bellevue and Seattle. In addition, it does have a growing tourism economy centered around the Factory Outlet Shops and the Northwest Railway Museum's train activities. North Bend also has about 400 employees working for Nintendo North Bend.

Police

Law enforcement services in North Bend has changed hands several times. From 1973 until March 8, 2014 the city contracted with the King County Sheriff's Office for law enforcement services within city limits. At the time the contract ended it was KCSO's longest standing contract. Effective March 8, 2014 the city now contracts for law enforcement services with the City of Snoqualmie Police Department.

Landmarks

King County and the City of North Bend have designated the following landmarks: