Enumclaw dates to 1885, and 13% of its homes were built before 1940
More historic than 52% of U.S. towns · #60 of 285 in Washington. What drives it
Its Register listings are the Louis and Ellen Olson House and the Trommald Building. Below: 1 old photo or paper, maps from 1908 on, and the census since 1900.
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1886.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Enumclaw’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Enumclaw is more historic than 52% of U.S. towns, #60 of 285 in Washington. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its age pulls it down.
B−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Enumclaw’s overall grade.
Few Washington towns list much on the Register (a typical Washington town has 0.1 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Enumclaw’s 1.6 sits near the middle of its state (63% of Washington towns have fewer) while its 2 listings outnumber those of 60% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from C+ to B. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±3.6 points). Two sources give 1885.
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Enumclaw’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
The name Enumclaw is derived from the Sahaptin word /inɨmɬá/, meaning "he who makes noise", from to /ínɨmn/, "to neigh, bray, sing", and /-ɬa/, "he who". Sometimes it is said that "Enumclaw" translates as "place of evil spirits", apparently referring to Enumclaw Mountain, located about 6 miles (9.7 km) to the north. According to legend the mountain's name was derived from an evil incident that occurred there, or to the occasional powerful windstorms from the east that affect the region. Native American mythology tells the story of two brothers – Enumclaw and Kapoonis – who were turned into thunder and lightning, respectively, by their father. The City of Enumclaw says the name means "thundering noise".
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Enumclaw. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1956Enumclaw sheet · 1:24,000
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Enumclaw.
Every building
Enumclaw, building by building, 1908–1914
Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.
National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.
People over time
Enumclaw, census by census
Grew from 483 people in 1900 to 12,543 in 2020, more than tenfold.
13 censuses, 1900–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Enumclaw’s Wikipedia page.
Places that used to be
Old corners, places now gone and burying grounds
Enumclaw’s post office has been open since 1886.
Hamlets and corners on the map
Crystalaire Mobile Home ParkMountain Meadows Manufactured Home CommunityMountain Villa Mobile Manor
Gone or out of use
Enumclaw Junior High Schoolschool
2cemeteries and burying grounds inside Enumclaw
Evergreen Memorial ParkHoly Cross
US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
Questions about Enumclaw’s history
What year was Enumclaw founded?
In 1885, according to Wikidata. Enumclaw’s post office opened in 1886, and the census of 1900 counted 483 people here.
How does Enumclaw rank for history?
Enumclaw is more historic than 52% of U.S. towns, #60 of 285 in Washington. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
What is on the National Register in Enumclaw?
Two places: the Louis and Ellen Olson House (listed 1984) and the Trommald Building (2000).
How old are the homes in Enumclaw?
13% of Enumclaw’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±3.6 points), against a typical 4.3% for a Washington town; the median home was built in 1986.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (1), the Library of Congress (1), Wikidata (2), the National Register of Historic Places (2), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
Date?
2015
