A Brief History of Bothell

1870 – The area now known as Bothell was originally a swampy forested land. The first inhabitants were known as the Simump Indians, they referred to the land as “squak” which simply means swampy lowland. Bothell started as a logging camp and steamboat stop on the squak slough (now known as the Sammamish River)

1884 – 1884 brought the first merchant to set up a business. His name was E.W. Allen, soon after opening thought he sold it to a man named Gerhard Ericksen. Several other merchants followed suit by starting their own businesses and making their living by selling much needed textiles and hardware to the surrounding residents. Other elements of a permanent community were established such as a newspaper in 1903 and a bank in 1908.

1889 – In the spring of 1889, David C. Bothell and his wife Mary Ann, filed the first plat in what was to become the city of Bothell. They platted 80 acres. The town was incorporated on April 14 1909 some 20 years after.

Lumber and Shingle production fueled the early economy. The Bothell Shingle Co. produced 125,000 shingles a day in good conditions. Cedar came in on a 7 mile water flume to the busy mills. A funny little fact not known to many is that locals would hitch a ride on incoming logs that were headed for town traveling at a mere 3-4 miles per hour.

1908 – in 1908 fires ran rampant throughout the town, a major fire that started in the Bothell Hotel burned down five buildings on main street. Bothell’s worst fire however decimated 11 buildings. We Bothell Folks pride ourselves on being quick thinkers, so soon after the first fire department was started. A motorized hose cart was purchased in 1916. And several of the structure burned to the ground in that 1911 fire still stand on main street to this day.

1917 – in this year Lake Washington was lowered nine feet to install the Lake Union locks. This unfortunately brought the end of practical use of the slough. By then though rail and road transportation made overland shipping simpler and faster.

1950 – Although farming began to replace the logging trade in Bothell and city streets were paved, the population was still only 1000 residents, by my understanding a very small amount in any time period.