Lake Stevens, Washington
Encyclopedia
Lake Stevens is a city in Snohomish County, Washington
, United States that surrounds the lake bearing the same name. It is southeast of Marysville
, north of the city of Snohomish
, and east of Everett
. The population as of the 2010 census was 28,069, with much of the growth due to annexation.
Believed to be named after Governor Isaac I. Stevens
, Lake Stevens was first settled in 1886 on a 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) homestead along the east shore. By 1890 the first town in the area, "Ferry", was established. Its name was later changed to "Hartford", and it served as the main link from the famed Monte Cristo timber and mining resources to the world.
In 1905 a railroad spur was built by the Rucker Brothers
Timber Company, linking Hartford with Lake Stevens. Two years later Rucker Mill was opened, located along and in the north cove of the lake (original pilings can still be seen in the old lake outflow area just south of the boat launch). In 1919, the mill, which became known as the "world's largest sawmill", burned and was partially rebuilt. When it burned a second time in 1925 the mill was dismantled and Lake Stevens lost the very industry which caused its founding. However, by then a flourishing town was established and continued under its own momentum.
From the 1920s to the 50's Lake Stevens was primarily a resort community, with many public and private resort beaches scattered around the shore. In 1960 Lake Stevens incorporated as a City with a population of 900. Soon, its popularity and natural beauty, combined with changing commuter habits, attracted more and more residents, changing its character to that of a suburban community. By 2000 the City had grown to a population of 6,361 in approximately 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²). The lake remains the focal point of the greater Lake Stevens community for recreation and as "a symbol of our need to provide for a sustainable existence that will protect our natural environment".
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has an area of 8.9 square miles (23.0 km²), all land.
The lake itself is the largest and deepest lake in Snohomish County, with an area of 1040 acre (4.2 km²) and an average depth of 64 feet (19.5 m). It is fed by Lundeen, Kokanee, and Stitch Creeks and drained by Catherine Creek, which ultimately flows to the Pilchuck River
. The small size of the surrounding watershed compared to the lake minimizes the effects of upstream pollution. This combined with an artificial aeration system allows for a generally good water quality. Much of the shoreline is heavily developed, so few wetlands exist adjacent to the lake. Recreational activities include boating, fishing, and swimming.
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,361 people, 2,139 households, and 1,683 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,951.8 people per square mile (1,142.3/km²). There were 2,234 housing units at an average density of 1,036.7 per square mile (401.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.31% White, 0.60% African American, 0.91% Native American, 1.10% Asian, 0.31% Pacific Islander, 0.90% from other races
, and 3.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.55% of the population.
There were 2,139 households out of which 49.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.5% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.3% were non-families. 15.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.30.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 33.9% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 36.3% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 5.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 101.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $65,231, and the median income for a family was $68,250. Males had a median income of $51,536 versus $30,239 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $22,943. About 3.8% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.
Lake Stevens government operates under the mayor-council system. The mayor
serves as the executive of the city, whereas the council serves as the legislative body of the city.
Voters elect a mayor and seven councilmembers to serve, each to four-year terms. All positions are non-partisan. Elections are staggered, meaning that not all positions are up for election in the same year. Elections for the Mayor and Positions 3, 4, and 5 are held in the same year (next cycle is 2011), whereas elections for Positions 1, 2, 6, and 7 are held two years after (2013, respectively).
In instances of vacation of a seat, the city council has the authority to fill the seat, including that of the Mayor. This most recently occurred in November 2009, when Position 1 became vacant in the final two months of that term, and was subsequently filled by the current office holder (who won that seat in the November 2009 election for the current term). Elections for appointed positions may be held for the unexpired portion of the term outside that position's normal election cycle. This occurred in the 2007 election cycle for Position #6.
The table shown below details the make up of Council since 1996:
More Information:
Additionally, two small annexations have taken place during this time. The Fire District Annexation, the 1.02 acres (4,127.8 m²) Station 82 property on the southwest corner of Chapel Hill Road and 99th Ave NE, occurred in October 2007 (Ordinance 745), and the Corniche Annexation, the 2.91 acres (11,776.4 m²) commercially-zoned vacant parcel on the southwest corner of Market Place and 91st Ave NE, occurred in March 2008 (Ordinance 768). Neither added to the city's population.
and PROVE alternative school), one mid-high school (Cavelero), two middle schools (Lake Stevens and North Lake) and six elementary schools (Mt. Pilchuck, Sunnycrest, Hillcrest, Glenwood, Skyline, and Highland).
episode titled "Give Him the Chair!", Roz informs Frasier that a caller from Lake Stevens spotted Martin's chair, which Frasier had inadvertently lost, flying overhead.
Actor Chris Pratt, who appeared in the movie "Wanted" lived and grew up in Lake Stevens.
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 that surrounds the lake bearing the same name. It is southeast of Marysville
Marysville, Washington
Marysville is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. The population was 60,020 at the 2010 census. Marysville is known as "The Strawberry City" due to the large number of strawberry farms that once surrounded the city in its earlier days. Over the past decade, and continuing...
, north of the city of Snohomish
Snohomish, Washington
Snohomish is a city in Snohomish County founded by the british, Washington, United States. The population was 9,098 at the 2010 census. The mayor of Snohomish is Karen Guzak, and the City Manager is Larry Bauman...
, and east of 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 population as of the 2010 census was 28,069, with much of the growth due to annexation.
History
Lake Stevens was officially incorporated on November 29, 1960.Believed to be named after Governor Isaac I. Stevens
Isaac Stevens
Isaac Ingalls Stevens was the first governor of Washington Territory, a United States Congressman, and a brigadier general in the Union Army during the American Civil War until his death at the Battle of Chantilly...
, Lake Stevens was first settled in 1886 on a 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) homestead along the east shore. By 1890 the first town in the area, "Ferry", was established. Its name was later changed to "Hartford", and it served as the main link from the famed Monte Cristo timber and mining resources to the world.
In 1905 a railroad spur was built by the Rucker Brothers
Rucker Brothers
Brothers Wyatt J. Rucker and Bethel J. Rucker were pioneering entrepreneurs who helped to found the city of Everett, Washington....
Timber Company, linking Hartford with Lake Stevens. Two years later Rucker Mill was opened, located along and in the north cove of the lake (original pilings can still be seen in the old lake outflow area just south of the boat launch). In 1919, the mill, which became known as the "world's largest sawmill", burned and was partially rebuilt. When it burned a second time in 1925 the mill was dismantled and Lake Stevens lost the very industry which caused its founding. However, by then a flourishing town was established and continued under its own momentum.
From the 1920s to the 50's Lake Stevens was primarily a resort community, with many public and private resort beaches scattered around the shore. In 1960 Lake Stevens incorporated as a City with a population of 900. Soon, its popularity and natural beauty, combined with changing commuter habits, attracted more and more residents, changing its character to that of a suburban community. By 2000 the City had grown to a population of 6,361 in approximately 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²). The lake remains the focal point of the greater Lake Stevens community for recreation and as "a symbol of our need to provide for a sustainable existence that will protect our natural environment".
Geography
Lake Stevens is located at 48°1′11"N 122°3′58"W (48.019782, -122.066089).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 city has an area of 8.9 square miles (23.0 km²), all land.
The lake itself is the largest and deepest lake in Snohomish County, with an area of 1040 acre (4.2 km²) and an average depth of 64 feet (19.5 m). It is fed by Lundeen, Kokanee, and Stitch Creeks and drained by Catherine Creek, which ultimately flows to the Pilchuck River
Pilchuck River
The Pilchuck River is a river in the U.S. state of Washington. The name is derived from Chinook Jargon pilpil and chuck , or "red water".-Course:...
. The small size of the surrounding watershed compared to the lake minimizes the effects of upstream pollution. This combined with an artificial aeration system allows for a generally good water quality. Much of the shoreline is heavily developed, so few wetlands exist adjacent to the lake. Recreational activities include boating, fishing, and swimming.
Demographics
NOTE: 2010 Census information will be posted here as soon as it becomes available. The 2000 Census information is detailed below:As of the census of 2000, there were 6,361 people, 2,139 households, and 1,683 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,951.8 people per square mile (1,142.3/km²). There were 2,234 housing units at an average density of 1,036.7 per square mile (401.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.31% White, 0.60% African American, 0.91% Native American, 1.10% Asian, 0.31% Pacific Islander, 0.90% from other races
Race (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 3.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.55% of the population.
There were 2,139 households out of which 49.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.5% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.3% were non-families. 15.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.30.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 33.9% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 36.3% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 5.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 101.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $65,231, and the median income for a family was $68,250. Males had a median income of $51,536 versus $30,239 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 city was $22,943. About 3.8% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.
City Government
Mayor and CouncilLake Stevens government operates under the mayor-council system. The mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
serves as the executive of the city, whereas the council serves as the legislative body of the city.
Voters elect a mayor and seven councilmembers to serve, each to four-year terms. All positions are non-partisan. Elections are staggered, meaning that not all positions are up for election in the same year. Elections for the Mayor and Positions 3, 4, and 5 are held in the same year (next cycle is 2011), whereas elections for Positions 1, 2, 6, and 7 are held two years after (2013, respectively).
In instances of vacation of a seat, the city council has the authority to fill the seat, including that of the Mayor. This most recently occurred in November 2009, when Position 1 became vacant in the final two months of that term, and was subsequently filled by the current office holder (who won that seat in the November 2009 election for the current term). Elections for appointed positions may be held for the unexpired portion of the term outside that position's normal election cycle. This occurred in the 2007 election cycle for Position #6.
The table shown below details the make up of Council since 1996:
| Served | Mayor | Position 1 | Position 2 | Position 3 | Position 4 | Position 5 | Position 6 | Position 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Jay Echols | Neal DooleyA - 1991 | Larry Wagner | Genevieve Moore | Lynn Walty | Glenn McLoughlin | ||
| 1997 | ||||||||
| 1998 | Jack Blackwell | Richard Maddalena | ||||||
| 1999 | ||||||||
| 2000 | Lynn WaltyD | Rich EstepB | Dan ReichenbergD | |||||
| 2001 | ||||||||
| 2002 | Larry WagnerD | |||||||
| 2003 | ||||||||
| 2004 | Steve BrooksD | Karen AlessiB | Vern LittleB | |||||
| 2005 | ||||||||
| 2006 | Walty / LittleA-Nov. | Heather ColemanB | Arnie ClarkE | Tom HartwellB | ||||
| 2007 | Vern LittleF | Suzanne QuigleyA-Jan, F | Clark / HolderA-Feb, F | |||||
| 2008 | John SpencerC, E | Mark SomersB | Kathy Holder | |||||
| 2009 | Coleman / DaughtryA-Nov. | |||||||
| 2010 | Kim DaughtryD | Marcus TageantD | ||||||
| 2011 | ||||||||
| 2012 | Todd WelchD | |||||||
| 2013 | ||||||||
| 2014 | ||||||||
| 2015 |
- TABLE KEY:
- A - Originally appointed to vacant seat (with month noted).
- B - Defeated incumbent in general election to win seat.
- C - Incumbent lost in primary. Defeated other candidate to win seat.
- D - Incumbent did not run for re-election. Defeated other candidate to win seat.
- E - Ran unopposed to win or hold seat.
- F - Defeated opponent in general election to hold seat.
-
- Color-coded year corresponds to election held in that year for said position. See section above regarding elections for unexpired terms (Position 6, for 2007 election cycle).
- Source: Snohomish County Elections
Non-elected Positions
Prominent (non-elected) positions for the city include: City Administrator, City Clerk, Police Chief, Planning Director, Public Works Director, and Community Programs Planner.
Boards and Commissions
The city has several boards and commissions whose role is to advise the Council on a variety of issues specific to that board or commission. Members of each board or commission are volunteers from the community, either as residents or property owners from within the Urban Growth Area. They are appointed by the Mayor with Council approval. The exception is with the Civil Service Commission, which all members, who must reside inside the city limits, are appointed by the Mayor exclusively. These boards and commissions include:
- Arts Commission
- Civil Service Commission
- Design Review Board (made up of members of the Planning Commission)
- Library Board
- Parks Board
- Planning Commission
- Zoning Board (made up of City Council members)
More Information:
Annexation and the Unincorporated "Urban Growth Area"
Since 2005, the population of the City of Lake Stevens has nearly quadrupled from 7,400 to 28,069 currently. This has been primarily due to an effort called "One Community Around the Lake" to bring the unincorporated areas within the Urban Growth Area into the city limits. The table shown below details these efforts:| Area Annexed | Method | Month & Year | Ordinance | Acres / Square Miles | Population | New City Population | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northlake | Direct Petition | January 2006 | 719 | 855 / 1.34 | 2,300 | 9,700 | 31.1% |
| Frontier Village | Direct Petition | December 2006 | 729 | 708 / 1.11 | 3,600 | 13,300 | 37.1% |
| Soper Hill | Direct Petition | May 2007 | 742 | 292 / 0.46 | 1,200 | 14,500 | 9.0% |
| Southwest | Election (56.38% FOR) | December 2009 | 801 | 2,374 / 3.71 | 10,874 | 25,674 | 73.5% |
Additionally, two small annexations have taken place during this time. The Fire District Annexation, the 1.02 acres (4,127.8 m²) Station 82 property on the southwest corner of Chapel Hill Road and 99th Ave NE, occurred in October 2007 (Ordinance 745), and the Corniche Annexation, the 2.91 acres (11,776.4 m²) commercially-zoned vacant parcel on the southwest corner of Market Place and 91st Ave NE, occurred in March 2008 (Ordinance 768). Neither added to the city's population.
School District
Lake Stevens consists of two high schools (Lake Stevens High SchoolLake Stevens High School
Lake Stevens High School is a high school located in Lake Stevens, in the Lake Stevens School District, of Washington state, in the United States. LSHS currently educates grades 10-12.-Academics:...
and PROVE alternative school), one mid-high school (Cavelero), two middle schools (Lake Stevens and North Lake) and six elementary schools (Mt. Pilchuck, Sunnycrest, Hillcrest, Glenwood, Skyline, and Highland).
Community Newspaper
The Lake Stevens Journal is the community newspaper and is circulated weekly.Parks, Trails, & Ballfields
Highlighted by the lake itself, Greater Lake Stevens is home to numerous parks, trails, and ballfields, including:- Bond Field
- Bonneville Field
- Catherine Creek Park
- Cavalero Park (off-leash dog park)
- Centennial Trail
- City Beach
- City Boat Launch
- Eagle Ridge Park
- Hartford Field
- Kid's Oasis Playground
- Lake Stevens Community Park
- Lochsloy Fields
- Lundeen Park
- North Cove Park
- Sunset Park
- Wyatt Park (Davies Beach)
In popular culture
In the FrasierFrasier
Frasier is an American sitcom that was broadcast on NBC for eleven seasons, from September 16, 1993, to May 13, 2004. The program was created and produced by David Angell, Peter Casey, and David Lee in association with Grammnet and Paramount Network Television.A spin-off of Cheers, Frasier stars...
episode titled "Give Him the Chair!", Roz informs Frasier that a caller from Lake Stevens spotted Martin's chair, which Frasier had inadvertently lost, flying overhead.
Actor Chris Pratt, who appeared in the movie "Wanted" lived and grew up in Lake Stevens.