NORTH NEIGHBORHOODS - 2

 Everett

 Mukilteo

 Snohomish

 Mill Creek

EVERETT

The county seat of Snohomish County lies thirty miles north of Seattle on Port Gardner Bay.

Imagine for a moment a bayside community that is rich in natural splendor, offering countless opportunities; a splendid community in which to live that has a strong and diverse economy, a commitment to education and families, and a deep respect for the environment.

The Everett area is that place. Nestled between the beautiful Cascade Mountain Range to the east, hundreds of forested islands and the oceanic wildlife of the Puget Sound to the west, the Snohomish River and easy-to-access lakes close at hand, Everett is consistently rated as one of the best places to live by the national media.

As the county seat, Everett is the center of economic development with an expanding high-technology industrial base, a deep-water port accessing the Pacific Ocean, an established, world-renowned manufacturing and retail core and state-of-the-art naval station. Opportunities abound in our city.

Everett is home to more than 96,000 citizens on 25,000 acres of land and 9,600 acres of water. Along with its strong economy - that provides more jobs than there are residents - the area boasts a wide range of family-centered entertainment, cultural, recreational and educational opportunities. The climate is relatively mild year-round, with seemingly endless outdoor recreational activities.

Industrialists from the east saw Everett's potential as a business hub more than a century ago and led its development as a lumber and mill town. Today, the area offers a high quality of life, a vital center for businesses of all types and an important deep-water port that provides access to overseas markets.

MUKILTEO

In 1855, 22 tribal nations signed a peace treaty with the territorial governor, Isaac Stevens, ceding tribal lands in exchange for payments and reservation land. A monument erected at Third Street and Lincoln Avenue commemorates the treaty. Three years after the treaty was signed, the first white settlers arrived; eventually, more settlers came because of Mukilteo's deep-water shoreline and railroad.

The city incorporated in 1947, and its north end is still called "Old Mukilteo." In 1991, Mukilteo annexed Harbour Pointe. Another historical icon is Mukilteo's 96-year-old Light Station, which stands on the east side of Possession Sound. The restored lighthouse -- now, with a gift shop -- was converted to electricity and operates all day, everyday.

Mukilteo, in south Snohomish County, is a transportation hub for the state ferry system and is closely tied to The Boeing Co., which has a plant in nearby Everett. One of the early designs for the 777 was for a 747-like plane with a distinctive hump on the fuselage. It was nicknamed "the Humpback of Mukilteo."

The city insists it's not going for a big-city feel. After all, the city's name means "good camping ground." The waterfront community has several history-related festivals, including the Lighthouse Festival, a mushroom show and the Christmas Tree lighting.

SNOHOMISH

With its tree-lined streets and fine heritage houses, Snohomish has slowly evolved from agriculture center into pretty bedroom community for Everett and King County commuters.

Originally named Cadyville, after 1850s homesteader E.T. Cady, Snohomish has taken pride in its past, restoring a 36-block Historic Business District on a slope overlooking the Snohomish River.

Shoppers like to point out the detailing on the Victorian-era buildings as they stroll between shops, checking on wares of more than 400 antique dealers.

MILL CREEK

The tree-lined neighborhood streets, nature paths and natural trails of Mill Creek sprawl over 3.5 square miles in southern Snohomish County.

The city began as a planned, gated community in the 1970s under the development of international corporations and investors who envisioned "Olympus," a 3,000-acre community divided into neighborhoods, a golf course and a community club. The city was incorporated in 1983, however, because residents wanted more than that out of their community -- such as a tax structure and a police force.

The community has grown slowly, and most residents continue to commute to Everett, Eastside and Seattle for work and to Lynnwood, Bothell and Edmonds for social events and activities.

Mill Creek hopes to jump-start its downtown area with the construction of the Mill Creek Town Center. The retail and office complex, which may include a new community center, will incorporate the natural landscape and streams.

NORTH NEIGHBORHOODS - 2