Renton |
| |
Address
1055 S. Grady Way
Renton, WA 98055
|
Phone
425.430.6400 |
| Visit Website |
|
|
Just over 100 years ago, Renton was just an open space along the trail from Seattle. Framed by densely wooded hills, and with the Black and Cedar river running through it, the land had long been home to the Duwamish Indians.
One of the first settlers was Henry Tobin. In 1853, Henry Tobin and his wife, Diana, built their first home on a donation claim on the banks of the Cedar and Black Rivers. After Tobin's death in 1857, Diana married Erasmus Smithers. Smithers platted the town of Renton on part of the land that he and his wife owned. [The Donation Land Claim Act of 1850 allowed settlers coming into the Oregon Territory to claim 160 acres acres by surveying the property, submitting a description to the government, and living on the land for a period of four years.]
In 1873, Smithers, with the financial backing of Captain William Renton, organized the Renton Coal Company. Captain Renton, a wealthy businessman, was one of the founders of the first sawmill. Along with his partner Talbot, Renton was responsible for the construction of the first railroad used in the territory.
The Town was incorporated on September 6, 1901, having been declared a part of the Washington Territory after the Oregon Territory was divided in 1853. The first mayor was Dr. Beach, who believed strongly that the town should own their water supply. The first town offices were opened in Tonkin's General Store, located where Tonkin's Park is today.
The first schoolhouse was built inside the city limits, and was the first to be erected in King County. In 1871 a dozen children lived in Renton; five years later there were 87. Between 1920 and 1930 changes continued to take place in Renton as it slowly evolved from a fledgling town to an urban center.
The U.S.Junk Company opened in 1927, and several moves and name changes later, continues to do business as McLendon's Hardware today. Coal mining and other early industry, like Pacific Car and Foundry (PACCAR), continued to be an important part of the city's economy through the 1930s. After the 1930s, the Boeing Company stepped up its World War II production, which was a big turning point for the city.
In 1941, Renton's population was 4,488, but the building of the Renton-Boeing plant for the production of the famous B-29s brought thousands to the city seeking employment with the Boeing Airplane Company. The result was the Renton Housing Authority was formed to build homes for the newly employed people.
After the war, the majority of these people continued to make their homes in Renton, and have been absorbed into other industries in Renton and nearby Seattle. Unlike other war industrial areas that lost considerable percentages of their population immediately following the end of the war, Renton's population remained constant.
Currently a community of over 53,000 residents, Renton is still home to the Boeing Commercial Airplane Group and to PACCAR, both known and recognized worldwide as manufacturers of the finest products in their field.
|
