Darrington, Washington
Encyclopedia
Darrington is a town in Snohomish County, Washington
, United States. The population was 1,347 at the 2010 census.
Tribes in the drainage of the Sauk, Suiattle and Whitechuck rivers abundant in salmon and other fish. In 1870 a group of surveyors working for the Northern Pacific railroad came to the area to chart a pass over the Cascade Mountains to the Wenatchee Valley. Although a suitable route was found, the railroad chose a route further south. Gold was discovered at Monte Cristo in the summer of 1889 and prospectors began to flood into the Cascade Mountains. A road was punched in to Monte Cristo
from Sauk City on the Skagit River
. The location of where Darrington is now became a half-way point on the road, then a Boomtown
called "Starve Out".
At one point called "The Portage", the town was renamed Barrington in 1895 following a community meeting. The U.S. Postal Department mistakenly changed the first letter to a "D", resulting in the current name.
The Northern Pacific railroad branch from Arlington
reached Darrington on June 1, 1901. This opened up the possibilities for timber harvesting. Several sawmills
started up in the area and with them small towns and communities. Over the years most of the small mills have closed or merged with the mill in town, Hampton Lumber Mill which is the largest employer in Darrington. The Northern Pacific railroad was abandoned in 1991 and the tracks were pulled in 1994 to begin construction for the Whitehorse Rails to Trails.
Darrington was officially incorporated on October 15, 1945 and this was the same year that the first Town Hall was built. The new Town Hall housed the City clerk and Mayor
, Fire department, library and community center with a dance floor
. The following year the community came together to raise money for a new fire truck. This fundraiser was named the Timberbowl and the tradition lasted for several decades.
Timber harvesting is still a very important part of the Darrington economy. Many people come out to enjoy the camping and trails of Darrington's surrounding wilderness areas, Boulder River Wilderness
, Henry M Jackson Wilderness and the Glacier Peak Wilderness
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.0 square miles (2.5 km²), all of it land. Thus, Darrington is a small community; many of the people know each other. The town is surrounded by mountains, the highest of these mountains is Whitehorse with an elevation of 6,852 feet to the southwest. The elevation of the town is only at 554 feet and there are three roads that give you access through the North Cascades
from Darrington. To the south is the Mountain Loop Highway
, a Forest Service Scenic By way which connects to Granite Falls
at 56 miles. SR 530 takes you north from Darrington along the Sauk River
to Rockport
. The closest town to Darrington is Arlington
which is a 27-mile drive west on SR 530 paralleling the Stillaguamish River
and Whitehorse Rails to Trails. Back before the "new" SR 530 connected Darrington to the valley below, it was an all day trip to drive to Everett
. The term "Going Down Below" is still widely used among the community meaning going out of town.
, and 2.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.23% of the population.
There were 473 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.1% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the town the age distribution of the population shows 27.1% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $32,813, and the median income for a family was $44,063. Males had a median income of $36,429 versus $25,625 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,384. About 4.7% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.9% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.
The mascot for the school is the Darrington Loggers, named after the industry on which the town was built. Darrington has consistently fielded highly competitive teams for both boys' and girls' sports. The sports available to Darrington students include football
, basketball
, baseball
, volleyball
, tennis
, and wrestling
. The sports in Darrington are coached by both teachers who are on staff at the school and by local townspeople. When hiring coaches, employees of the school district are given priority over non-employees. In 1981, the Darrington Loggers won the State B Championship for baseball. The team was led by coach Nancy Snyder.
Darrington Elementary School has approximately 264 students. 49.6% of the students receive free or reduced-price meals. Special education students make up 18.3%. There are 20 classroom teachers, and the average years of teacher experience is 20. In addition, 80% of the teachers at Darrington Elementary hold a master's degree. Joyce Jones is currently the mayor.
from the CBS
show The Price Is Right
. A scene from the 2001 film Along Came A Spider
was filmed on Highway 530 between Darrington and Arlington, Washington
. A made for TV movie called High Ice was filmed on Darrington's local Whitehorse Mountain
. The fictional town Hope, Washington in the book Homespun Christmas is based on Darrington. A scene from the 1983 film WarGames
was filmed near Darrington, and during one scene, when David Lightman (Matthew Broderick
) is in a phone booth and says he is in Colorado, the mountain in the background is Whitehorse Mountain. The vampire novel "Fledgling" by Octavia Butler takes place near Darrington.
Snohomish County, Washington
Snohomish County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. It is named after the Snohomish tribe. Since 2000, the county's population has grown from 606,024 to 713,335 residents , making it one of the fastest-growing in the state, ranking third in overall population after King and...
, United States. The population was 1,347 at the 2010 census.
History
The upper Stillaguamish valley where Darrington is located was once settled by the local Sauk-SuiattleSauk-Suiattle
Sauk-Suiattle, or Sah-Ku-Me-Hu, is a Native American tribe in western Washington state in the United States. The tribe originally lived along the banks of the Sauk, Suiattle, Cascade, Stillaguamish, and Skagit Rivers. The Sauk-Suiattle Indian Reservation is in this area, centered near Darrington,...
Tribes in the drainage of the Sauk, Suiattle and Whitechuck rivers abundant in salmon and other fish. In 1870 a group of surveyors working for the Northern Pacific railroad came to the area to chart a pass over the Cascade Mountains to the Wenatchee Valley. Although a suitable route was found, the railroad chose a route further south. Gold was discovered at Monte Cristo in the summer of 1889 and prospectors began to flood into the Cascade Mountains. A road was punched in to Monte Cristo
Monte Cristo
-Places:* Montecristo, an Italian island in the Tuscan Archipelago* Montecristo, Bolívar, Colombia* Monte Cristo Peak, a mountain peak in Washington State, United States* Monte Cristo, Washington, a ghost town in Washington State...
from Sauk City on the Skagit River
Skagit River
The Skagit River is a river in southwestern British Columbia in Canada and northwestern Washington in the United States, approximately 150 mi long...
. The location of where Darrington is now became a half-way point on the road, then a Boomtown
Boomtown
A boomtown is a community that experiences sudden and rapid population and economic growth. The growth is normally attributed to the nearby discovery of a precious resource such as gold, silver, or oil, although the term can also be applied to communities growing very rapidly for different reasons,...
called "Starve Out".
At one point called "The Portage", the town was renamed Barrington in 1895 following a community meeting. The U.S. Postal Department mistakenly changed the first letter to a "D", resulting in the current name.
The Northern Pacific railroad branch from Arlington
Arlington, Washington
Arlington is a city in northern Snohomish County, Washington, United States, bordered by the city of Marysville to the south. The population was 17,926 at the 2010 census.-History:...
reached Darrington on June 1, 1901. This opened up the possibilities for timber harvesting. Several sawmills
Sawmills
Sawmills may refer to:* A sawmill, a facility where logs are cut to length* Sawmills Studio, a famous UK music recording studio* Sawmills, North Carolina...
started up in the area and with them small towns and communities. Over the years most of the small mills have closed or merged with the mill in town, Hampton Lumber Mill which is the largest employer in Darrington. The Northern Pacific railroad was abandoned in 1991 and the tracks were pulled in 1994 to begin construction for the Whitehorse Rails to Trails.
Darrington was officially incorporated on October 15, 1945 and this was the same year that the first Town Hall was built. The new Town Hall housed the City clerk and Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
, Fire department, library and community center with a dance floor
Dance floor
Dance floor may refer to:* Sprung floor, a floor to enhance performance and reduce injuries* Performance surface or marley floor, flooring suitable for dance or sport* Dance pad, a flat electronic game controller used for input in dance games...
. The following year the community came together to raise money for a new fire truck. This fundraiser was named the Timberbowl and the tradition lasted for several decades.
Timber harvesting is still a very important part of the Darrington economy. Many people come out to enjoy the camping and trails of Darrington's surrounding wilderness areas, Boulder River Wilderness
Boulder River Wilderness
Boulder River Wilderness is a wilderness area within the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in the western Cascade Range of Washington state.-Topography:...
, Henry M Jackson Wilderness and the Glacier Peak Wilderness
Glacier Peak Wilderness
The Glacier Peak Wilderness, created by the US Forest Service in 1960 by efforts of the , four years before the 1964 wilderness legislation of the Congress, is located within portions of Chelan County, Snohomish County, and Skagit Counties in the North Cascades of Washington...
.
Geography
Darrington is located at 48°15′8"N 121°36′14"W (48.252260, -121.603876).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 1.0 square miles (2.5 km²), all of it land. Thus, Darrington is a small community; many of the people know each other. The town is surrounded by mountains, the highest of these mountains is Whitehorse with an elevation of 6,852 feet to the southwest. The elevation of the town is only at 554 feet and there are three roads that give you access through the North Cascades
North Cascades
The North Cascades are a section of the Cascade Range of western North America. They span the border between the Canadian province of British Columbia and the U.S. state of Washington and are officially named in Canada as the Cascade Mountains...
from Darrington. To the south is the Mountain Loop Highway
Mountain Loop Highway
The Mountain Loop Highway is a highway in the U.S. state of Washington. It traverses the western section of the Cascade Range within Snohomish County. The name suggests it forms a full loop, but it only is a small portion of a loop, which is completed using State Routes 92, 9, and 530...
, a Forest Service Scenic By way which connects to Granite Falls
Granite Falls, Washington
Granite Falls is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. The population was 3,364 at the 2010 census.-History:Before the arrival of European settlers, the area that is now Granite Falls was used by Native Americans to portage their canoes between fishing grounds.The first permanent...
at 56 miles. SR 530 takes you north from Darrington along the Sauk River
Sauk River (Washington)
The Sauk River is a tributary of the Skagit River, approximately long, in northwestern Washington in the United States. It drains an area of the high Cascade Range in the watershed of Puget Sound north of Seattle. The river is a popular destination for fly fishing...
to Rockport
Rockport, Washington
Rockport is a census-designated place in Skagit County, Washington, United States. The population was 109 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Mount Vernon–Anacortes, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. The closest town to Darrington is Arlington
Arlington, Washington
Arlington is a city in northern Snohomish County, Washington, United States, bordered by the city of Marysville to the south. The population was 17,926 at the 2010 census.-History:...
which is a 27-mile drive west on SR 530 paralleling the Stillaguamish River
Stillaguamish River
The Stillaguamish River is a river in northwest Washington in the United States. It is mainly composed of two forks, the longer North Fork Stillaguamish and the South Fork Stillaguamish. The two forks join near Arlington. From there the Stillaguamish River proper flows for to Puget Sound...
and Whitehorse Rails to Trails. Back before the "new" SR 530 connected Darrington to the valley below, it was an all day trip to drive to Everett
Everett, Washington
Everett is the county seat of and the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Named for Everett Colby, son of founder Charles L. Colby, it lies north of Seattle. The city had a total population of 103,019 at the 2010 census, making it the 6th largest in the state and...
. The term "Going Down Below" is still widely used among the community meaning going out of town.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,136 people, 473 households, and 292 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,171.9 people per square mile (452.2/km²). There were 505 housing units at an average density of 520.9 per square mile (201.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.98% White, 1.67% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.26% from other racesRace (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.23% of the population.
There were 473 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.1% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the town the age distribution of the population shows 27.1% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $32,813, and the median income for a family was $44,063. Males had a median income of $36,429 versus $25,625 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $17,384. About 4.7% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.9% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The Darrington School District educates approximately 570 children each year on a single K-12 campus. The Parent Teacher Student Association is very involved in the local schools. School assemblies are held several times a year where students are awarded for academic achievements as well as constructive behavior. There is also a drama club for the high school and middle school. They do two performances a year.The mascot for the school is the Darrington Loggers, named after the industry on which the town was built. Darrington has consistently fielded highly competitive teams for both boys' and girls' sports. The sports available to Darrington students include football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
, tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, and wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
. The sports in Darrington are coached by both teachers who are on staff at the school and by local townspeople. When hiring coaches, employees of the school district are given priority over non-employees. In 1981, the Darrington Loggers won the State B Championship for baseball. The team was led by coach Nancy Snyder.
Darrington Elementary School has approximately 264 students. 49.6% of the students receive free or reduced-price meals. Special education students make up 18.3%. There are 20 classroom teachers, and the average years of teacher experience is 20. In addition, 80% of the teachers at Darrington Elementary hold a master's degree. Joyce Jones is currently the mayor.
Trivia
Darrington is the original hometown of American television gameshow host Bob BarkerBob Barker
Robert William "Bob" Barker is a former American television game show host. He is best known for hosting CBS's The Price Is Right from 1972 to 2007, making it the longest-running daytime game show in North American television history, and for hosting Truth or Consequences from 1956 to 1975.Born...
from the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
show The Price Is Right
The Price Is Right
The Price Is Right is a television game show franchise originally produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman, and created by Bob Stewart, and is currently produced and owned by FremantleMedia. The franchise centers on television game shows, but also includes merchandise such as video games, printed...
. A scene from the 2001 film Along Came A Spider
Along Came a Spider (film)
Along Came a Spider is a 2001 American mystery film directed by Lee Tamahori. The screenplay by Marc Moss was adapted from the 1993 novel of the same title by James Patterson, but many of the key plot elements of the book were eliminated...
was filmed on Highway 530 between Darrington and Arlington, Washington
Arlington, Washington
Arlington is a city in northern Snohomish County, Washington, United States, bordered by the city of Marysville to the south. The population was 17,926 at the 2010 census.-History:...
. A made for TV movie called High Ice was filmed on Darrington's local Whitehorse Mountain
Whitehorse Mountain (Washington)
Whitehorse Mountain is a peak near the western edge of the North Cascades in Washington state. It is located just southwest of the Sauk River Valley town of Darrington, near the northern boundary of Boulder River Wilderness in Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest...
. The fictional town Hope, Washington in the book Homespun Christmas is based on Darrington. A scene from the 1983 film WarGames
WarGames
WarGames is a 1983 American Cold War suspense/science-fiction film written by Lawrence Lasker and Walter F. Parkes and directed by John Badham. The film stars Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy....
was filmed near Darrington, and during one scene, when David Lightman (Matthew Broderick
Matthew Broderick
Matthew Broderick is an American film and stage actor who, among other roles, played the title character in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Adult Simba in The Lion King film series, and Leo Bloom in the film and Broadway productions of The Producers.He has won two Tony Awards, one in 1983 for his...
) is in a phone booth and says he is in Colorado, the mountain in the background is Whitehorse Mountain. The vampire novel "Fledgling" by Octavia Butler takes place near Darrington.
Recreation
The area surrounding Darrington houses tremendous recreational opportunities. Hiking, fishing, rafting and rock climbing are some of the activities that take place nearby.External links
- http://town.darrington.wa.us Official site
- History of Darrington at HistoryLinkHistoryLinkHistoryLink is a website that is an encyclopedia of Washington State history. The site has more than 4,500 stories. There are 500 biographies and more than 14,000 images....