Place names are historical tales of the past.  When settlers came to the surrounding valleys and mountains renaming these places, made this new place more familiar, created a sense of agreed locations and seems a great opportunity to name something after your name.  Keep in mind the mountains, waterways and other surroundings all had prior names given to them by the local tribes that were passed down generation to generation, the mountains, valleys and rivers they called home.

Origin of Darrington Town Names:

Alvord Street – Named after pioneer Lester Alvord

Andron – Originally called Dannehar, this was the site of a triangular railroad junction known as a ‘wye’. When the owner of Dannehar Logging Company was found dead of mysterious circumstances at his Tacoma Mill.  The cause of his death was listed as suicide. This, as circumstances suggest, is highly unlikely, his hands were chained behind him to a pier where he drowned as high water rose. After his death the railroad wye name was subsequently changed to Andron, a name chosen by the new owners, Anderson and McFarland. There are records that suggest ANDRON was derived from a combination of their names.  Another possibility it that the place name originated from the Greek word Andron, a symbol of wealth, where three doors brought in services and goods.

Darrington Mill Boat Launch – Named so because of the association with the various mills located there. Darrington has a long history as a logging and mill town with several companies occupying this site. It started out as the Three Rivers Mill, transitioned to Summit Timber, and is currently Hampton Mill.

Darrington Street – The original main street through town.  As the town grew it became referred to as Darrington Street.

DOT City Park – Named after Dorthy, “Dot” Larson who donated the land for this city park.

Emens Street – Named after pioneer prospector Stacey B. Emens

Nels Bruseth Memorial Garden – Named after pioneer forest ranger and lookout extraordinaire Nels Bruseth.  Nels and his wife Beate shared a love of gardening when living at their home in Darrington, their vast gardens extended from their residence all the way across Emens Avenue to the east.  After Nels passed away in 1957 the gardens east of Emens Avenue was dedicated as a memorial garden for this legendary man.  Later the Sauk Prairie Road was rerouted through the southern end of the gardens.

Old City Hall – This was Darrington’s first City Hall, now home to River Time Brewing.  Darrington’s tallest building, a two story structure, was built in 1945 after the town incorporated. The Firehall occupied the ground level with the jail & courtroom in the basement. Upstairs was the domain of the city clerk & mayor plus a community hall with a dance floor.

Old School Park – Some of the original Darrington schools were located on this site. When larger, more modern classrooms were necessary they were built at a new location to the south. This centrally located swath of land was set aside for a city park.

Randall Street – Named after pioneers James and Clara Randall.  The Randalls invested in land holdings north of town which they eventually platted and sold.

Riddle Street – Named after Darrington’s second medical doctor, N. C. Riddle.  Dr. Riddle faithfully served the community until into his senior years.  His efficient services leave behind a legacy of cherished memories to this day.

Sauk Avenue – Named after the first indigenous settlers, the Sauk-Suiattle Tribe.  The Tribe lived along the drainages of the Suiattle, Sauk and Cascade Rivers. It is their heritage that loans us many of our regional names.

Seeman Street – Named after O.C. Seeman.  Mr. Seeman provided Darrington with the first functional water system which carried water directly to homes.

Origin of Darrington Area Names

Barlow Pass – Barlow Pass is just west of Monte Cristo on the divide between the Sauk and South Fork Stillaguamish Rivers. In 1891 Fred Anderson and F.M. Headlee discovered the pass while prospecting along the Sauk River. It was surveyed by John Quincey Barlow and later became the new westerly route to the city of Everett.

Big Creek – It was bigger than…the other creek. The other Creek was called Tenas, meaning ‘small’ in Chinook jargon. Big Creek runs just west of Tenas Creek and is quite a bit larger. Both creeks are tributaries of the Suiattle River.

Big Four Mountain – One story is that Big Four Mountain was named after the numeral 4 that appears during snow melt and can be seen on the south side of the mountain. But as there are 4 prominent ridges, the source name may be more obvious.

Black Creek – Tributary of the South Fork Stillagumish River, named for it’s dark colored water.

Black Mountain – Black Mountain was named by a group of surveyors consisting of Thomas Gerdins, Sam Strom and A. Dubor. The name appeared on records officially by 1896. It towers in the Monte Cristo District at an elevation of 7,192 feet.

Buckeye Creek – Named by Charles Burns who hailed from Ohio, “the Buckeye State”

Cadet Peak & Cadet Creek – An early survey party called the U.S. Cadets, came to the area and named both Cadet Peak and Cadet Creek where they had encamped.

Camp Lake & Camp Creek – Named after another early camp. Camp Lake is a small lake drained by Camp Creek. These simply names were applied to both lake and creek by Nels Bruseth and Chauncey Bullen in 1917 as it was frequently used as a getaway spot.

Chocolate Creek & Chocolate Glacier – Chocolate Glacier on Glacier Peak is aptly named for its deep brown color obtained from centuries of scouring Glacier Peak’s erosional debris. Chocolate Creek drains into the Suiattle River and in early summer the rich mahogany hues can seen downstream.  Many who wander here mistakenly attribute the unusual color to the mis-management of forest activities. Chocolate Glacier has been turning the Suiattle River brown before the first human set foot in the upper valley.

Conrad Creek – Named after Jimmy Conrad. Jimmy was a native American that was allotted a claim near the mouth of a stream in 1911. Nels Bruseth named this stream in honor of him.

Cub Lake – When you’re not a big bear you’re a cub. This lake is uphill and just 600’ west of Big Bear. It is unique because it has a drainage from the northeast and southeast corners. Although Cub Lake is the smaller of the pair its northeast outlet feeds Big Bear Lake.

Curry Gap – Named after prospector, Mr. Curry.  Mr. Curry worked at the mines of Goat Lake, but the lady he was courting lived clear over in Skykomish, quite a distance away. Mr. Curry made frequent weekend trips to go calling and this motivated him to find a short cut and he did. The  locals liked to call it “Curry Gap”. Another fun anecdote attributed to Nels Bruseth.

Dans Creek – Named after pioneer Dan Smyre.

Delcampo Peak – Named after Delcampo Mine, Monte Cristo. Elevation 5,780’.

Devils Thumb – Named by prospectors, resembling a fist with raised thumb. Elevation 5,442’ to the top of the thumb.

Dicks Creek – Named after Dick Smith. Dicks Creek is one of the outlets of Myrtle Lake on Mt. Higgins. It is named after Dick Smith a local Indian that had his favorite camp near the mouth of the creek as it flowed into the North Forth Stillaguamish River.

Eight Mile Creek – Eight Mile Creek marked the eighth mile on the 13 mile tramway from the Bornite Mine to Darrington. A new road was built at Clear Creek and it is now 6 miles to Eight Mile Creek; Nels Bruseth.

Elliott Creek – Named after a Goat Lake prospector.

Falls Creek – Falls Creek is a tributary of Sauk River named for its several waterfalls. Before white settlers invaded the area, it was known as “Cheet Aligvas” meaning “Close Throbbing Heart” referring to the falls nearest the river; Nels Bruseth.

Fire Creek – The first fire lookout in northwest Washington was built near Darrington on Gold Hill.  During the very first year a devastating fire was spotted burning near the upper White Chuck River, at a tributary which the fire guards later named Fire Creek.

Foggy Peak – Named after the constant lingering fog and mist around its peak.

Fortson – Named after Georgia-born Seattle attorney, George Hayley Fortson, who purchased the mill in 1914.

French Creek, French Peak & French Point – Named after homesteader, Mr. French, that settled there.

Goat Creek – Named after a large population of mountain goats residing there.

Goat Lake – Named by prospectors after the numerous mountain goats dwelling there. The Tribal name given was Sweetleehachu

Gold Hill / Mountain – Gold Hill, east of Darrington was previously called “Deer Mountain” and also “Tel Kaiaks” the native term which translates into something like ‘coming down to water’. During the prospecting days of upper Stillaguamish Valley, Gold Hill had over 100 mining claims just between 1895 to 1900 and received the optimistic name of Gold Mountain. It was also the site of the first fire lookout built in northwest Washington.

Goodman Lake & Goodman Creek – Named after A.E. Goodman, homesteader on Sauk River below White Chuck River.

Horse Creek – Once known as Eastern Fork Buck Creek but later renamed by the local Indians to “Horse Creek” because of an accidental entrapment of several horses within a small area where the animals nearly died of starvation. Horse Creek is a tributary of Buck Creek in the Suiattle Watershed; Hugh A. Ritter, 08-02-1939.

Illabot Mountain, Illabot Lake & Illabot Creek – Illabot was a name given to Illabot Mountain, Illabot Creek and Illabot Lake by the Sauk-Suiattle people. Illabot translates into “painted”, Hugh A Ritter in his 1939 report suggests that the name was first given to the lake at its inlet where the water was a very vivid green color. Because of these vivid hues, white settlers implied that Illabot referred to the whole area. The Illabot area is north of Darrington and the creek is a tributary of the Sauk River.

Image Lake – Referring to its mirror-like appearance in an alpine setting.

Indian Pass – Indian Pass is located on the divide between the North Fork Sauk and the White Chuck watersheds. This was the route the Sauk-Suiattle tribes would travel when they visited with the neighboring tribes of the Wenatchee Valley. The authentic name “Indian Pass” was given to this historically well traveled route.

Indigo Lake – Named for its deep blue color.

Johnson Mountain – Named after prospector Mackinaw Johnson.

Lake Byrne – Named after Mr Byrne, a member of the survey party.

Moose Creek – Named after placer mine claims there.

Mt. Higgins – Named after pioneer Walter Higgins who homesteaded in the Hazel area close to the North Fork Stillaguamish River. He named both Mt. Higgins and Higgins Creek which flows down from Mt. Higgins into Deer Creek. Mt. Higgins has several prominent peaks, the highest of which is 5,202’.

Neiderprum Trail – Built by Mat Neiderprum in the early 1900’s to access his limestone claims up on Whitehorse Mountain.

Sloan Peak & Sloan Creek – Named after prospector, Jim Sloan, foreman for Penn Mining of Goat Lake.