Located in a fertile basin carved by ancient glaciers, Redmond, Washington, boasts a rich history tapestry stretching back thousands of years. Long before the first European settlers arrived, the Sammamish Valley was a haven for Native Americans, relying on the bountiful salmon in the Squak Slough, nowadays known as the Sammamish River, for sustenance. This land, which might have once been known as Salmonberg due to the abundance of fish, eventually welcomed pioneers like Warren Wentworth Perrigo and Captain Luke McRedmond in the early 1870s, setting the stage for settlement and community development.
The challenge of clearing massive trees using the rudimentary tools of the era led to the first economic boom in Redmond through logging. As sawmills sprang up, the town quickly became a bustling hub for loggers and their families. The early days were marked by steamboats navigating the Sammamish River, serving as the primary means of transportation and facilitating trade and commerce. With the advent of the Seattle Lake Shore & Eastern Railway in 1888, Redmond's timber became even more marketable, fueling further growth and infrastructure like the Redmond Trading Company and several brick buildings that would lay the cornerstone for the town's development.
Redmond's economic focus shifted as the logging era gave way to agriculture in the 1920s. Farmers took to the cleared lands, transforming them into productive farms and pastures for dairy cattle, chickens, and minks. Despite the economic hardships of the Great Depression, Redmond's community spirit shone brightly, leading to the creation of the Redmond Bike Derby in 1939. This testament to the town's resilience would evolve into Derby Days, an annual festival celebrating the community's enduring strength and unity.
The years following World War II marked a gradual growth facilitated by the construction of major roadways and bridges, enhancing connectivity and attracting new residents. This growth set the stage for an eventual technological boom, with companies like Microsoft and Nintendo of America choosing Redmond as their home base in the 1980s. The arrival of these tech giants spurred a population surge and transformed Redmond into a hub of high-tech industry and innovation, significantly diversifying the city's economy and cultural fabric.
Today, Redmond is a vibrant city proudly displaying its history alongside modern advancements. From its origins as a fertile hunting and fishing ground for Native Americans to its current status as a center for technological progress, Redmond has continually embraced change while maintaining a strong sense of community and pioneer spirit. The city's residents look forward to the future, building upon a foundation of diverse traditions, innovation, and communal pride that has defined Redmond for generations.
Source: redmondhistoricalsociety.org
Header Image Source: redmondhistoricalsociety.org
