Bothell, Washington

There must have been something in the air near Lake Washington in the early 1870’s, for this period saw the settling of Bothell and Redmond in 1870, and Woodinville in 1871. Squak Slough was the new inland highway, the breech in nature’s armor.

Everywhere, the first order of business was to clear enough trees to build a cabin, and then clear trees as far as the horses and oxen were willing to go, and agriculture naturally followed. History notes that the Greenleaf and Wilson families were the first to build in current Bothell. Just think, the town could have been known as Greenleaf, or Wilson, but the honor went after all to Mr. David Bothell, who didn’t arrive until 1885.

Before that though, jobs arrived in town in 1876 with the advent of commercial logging funded by George Brackett, who harvested trees to the north of the slough. The railroad came through Bothell in 1888 and provided faster and more reliable transportation for people and cargo. Bothell was definitely a riverfront community of tenacious people with great vision and entrepreneurial mindset.

Even though there was enough population and commerce in Bothell to support incorporating in 1909, growth continued very slowly to 1950 when the town counted 1,019 residents. After that, annexations began and the population rapidly increased to 4,883 in 1970, 12,345 in 1990, and 33,505 in 2010.

Wider area events continued to affect Bothell’s development, and in 1913, roads connected Bothell with Seattle and Everett. This came non too soon, for even though after 1900 the Army Corps of Engineers started to dredge and straighten the Squak Slough (now Sammamish River), most commercial boat traffic ended when Lake Washington was lowered about 9 feet in 1916-17 when the Ballard Locks were opened for use.

Bothell’s most popular home design of the 1910 – 1930 period was known as the craftsman style, which was very often adopted all across the country. Then, following WWII, the ranch house architecture was in vogue. As you travel between Bothell’s many distinct neighborhoods, the houses will be noticeably different, reflecting design preferences of the era.

From 1960 to 1990, the town served as a bedroom community for commuters. However in the 1980’s, the office complex/light industrial area at North Creek began a long run of expansion that is today a key biotech, engineering, computer technology and telecommunications center. This ‘technology corridor’ now supports 20,000 jobs. Bothell’s convenient and strategic location near travel routes in all four directions was instrumental in its economic good fortune.

Bothell is now reconnecting to its pioneer roots in an effort to recognize and honor those people and events that shaped today’s town. The tremendous historical changes happening at Bothell Landing along the Sammamish River are a sight to behold and will be a legacy for generations to come.

At the same time there is a present to celebrate and a future to look forward to. Residents find their town friendly and inviting, with a wonderful balance of open spaces, civic pride, public events, and a homey, small business atmosphere.

There’s plenty to do at the Freedom Festival, Music in the Park, Arts and Crafts Fair, Riverfest, Summit Bike Ride, pumpkin carving at Country Village, and the Christmas tree lighting and Santa’s arrival. You can always take a college course at nearby UW Bothell or Cascadia Community College, or play some golf at the Wayne Public Course.

Sadly in 2010, Bothell lost Capt. Phil Harris, a beloved member of the northwest commercial fishing community. Phil, his sons, and his boat, the Cornelia Marie, were featured for years on the blockbuster Discovery Channel television series, Deadliest Catch. Tens of millions of viewers faithfully ventured out weekly with Capt. Phil and his other Captain comrades in search of crab in the deadly waters of Alaska’s Bering Sea. Phil was a match for everything Mother Nature could dish out at sea, and we will all miss his rough around the edges, but loving nature. You knew who Phil was, you could trust whatever he said, and most of all he loved his boys. Your valiant spirit will live on and be an inspiration to all of us, Phil.

Well as you can see, Bothell is very proud to still be a Norman Rockwell, small town America community. From a wide spot in the road to a 21st century town, we honor where we came from, take pride in our present, and look forward to building a legacy based future.