Kenmore
Ask an old-timer in Kenmore about the city’s colorful past, they might mention how it was a haven for illicit stills during Prohibition. Or they might talk about how Kenmore was home to at least one nudist colony during the 1930s. Or, they might share with you how one neighborhood in the city was originally populated by relocated residents in a federal workers program.
The workers were given land and lumber to build their homes in the neighborhood between 55th and 61st Avenues Northeast, and Northeast 193rd Street to the county line. Descendents of those original 40 families still live there today.
A younger resident of the city could tell you that Kenmore officially became a city in 1998. They would also point out that Kenmore is home to Kenmore Air Harbor, the largest seaplane base in the country. And they would certainly point out that Bastyr University, a twenty-eight-year pioneer in natural medicine and a world-recognized academic center for natural health sciences, is also located in the city.
Like many cities in the Puget Sound region—especially those with waterfront views—local real estate values continue to climb. However, business owners and residents alike truly savor the small town feel of Kenmore. They like Kenmore’s quirky past. And they like Kenmore’s quirky present. Even as city leadership continues to talk of developing a new community center, a new library, and a new City Hall it’s likely that a certain amount of quirkiness will remain.