Marysville
In 1878, Marysville covered only 1,280 acres of land.
Founders James P. Comeford and his wife, Maria, eyed the land while living on the Tulalip Indian Reservation for the six years prior to 1878. The couple then paid $450 for the land and built a home, a store and a dock there before opening their trading post, according to the Marysville Historical Society.
James P. Comeford incorporated the community in 1891 and platted nine blocks -- from the Tulalip reservation to Liberty Street -- in 1895.
By the 1920s, Marysville was known as "The Strawberry City" because of an excess in strawberries, raspberries and blueberries growing in the region. The abundance of berries led to the origin of the annual Strawberry Festival and Grand Parade.
But plump berries weren't the only lures.
Marysville's motto is: "Where quality of life is our way of life."
Marysville is not a hurried city. It is full of family parks with playgrounds and picnic areas -- ideal for Saturday afternoons and lazy Sundays.
Third Street -- its popular downtown thoroughfare -- is lined with gift shops, boutiques and local eateries.
The Snohomish River Delta skims portions of the city's border, granting a swimming beach, views of calm waters and aquatic life and other recreation, such as fishing, boating, kayaking and canoeing -- all within about 20 miles of the city.
The city's neighboring community is the Tulalip Tribes, which operates the Tulalip Tribes Casino. The tribes also schedule cultural ceremonies.