City of Issaquah history

When the railroad arrived in 1887, coal mining began in earnest, and the little valley community experienced rapid growth.

Gilman was incorporated in April 1892.

In 1893 a deed with a consideration of $175.00 was executed by Ingebright Wold to sell that plot of land to David W. Davis.

1899 when the name Gilman was changed to Issaquah through State Legislative action.

The Northwest Milk Condensing Co. (later Darigold) opened in 1909, and soon Issaquah became one of the largest suppliers of milk to Seattle.

Memorial Field, which had been developed in 1918 by the volunteer fire department became home to the Issaquah Round-up, the annual rodeo.

In 1928, the City offices had been moved to a new city hall building on Mill Street (now Sunset Way) right next to the railroad tracks.

When the Great Depression began in 1929, it hit the logging industry hard.

Whatever building was there became the Gilman Town Hall and continued to be town property until 1931 when it was sold by the Town of Issaquah to Paul Bliach for $210.00.

The opening of the Lake Washington Bridge in 1940 brought more people to the Eastside.

Highway 10 (now Gilman Boulevard) opened in 1941, and Issaquah saw a minor growth spurt when work at the sawmills was needed for the war effort.

In 1958, Issaquah’s train depot closed, but a few years later, work began on Interstate-90, connecting the town with Seattle to the west, and with points elsewhere to the east.

The City Council adopted Ordinance 1094 on January 3, 1972, changing the classification of the City to a Non-charter, Optional Municipal Code City (which was also approved by the State of Washington).