As Seattle experienced remarkable growth—expanding from about 43,000 people in 1890 to 237,000 by 1910—the city addressed conflicts over public spaces and pressing safety, public health, and infrastructure issues. City government, often at the behest of community members, developed projects to improve residents’ quality of life. The city council expanded the public library and made its first foray into planning with the Olmsted Brothers’ park system, which was successfully implemented. Improvements like these, particularly the municipal water system, motivated a slew of small towns to vote for annexation into Seattle, and led to an expansion of municipal government.
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1: FOUNDATIONS 1869-1896
CHAPTER 2: BOOMTOWN 1897-1910
CHAPTER 3: GROWING UP: 1910-1929
CHAPTER 4: NAVIGATING THE GREAT DEPRESSION: 1930-1941
CHAPTER 5: WARTIME: 1942-1945
CHAPTER 6: BECOMING A GLOBAL CITY: 1946-1962
CHAPTER 7: ACTIVISM AND ENGAGEMENT: 1963-1990
CHAPTER 8: BOOMTOWN REDUX: 1991-2019