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Seattle Overview & History

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Early on mostly Indians settled Seattle. Midwesterners were the first Europeans to establish any kind of commerce in the area. They built a steam-powered sawmill in what is now called Pioneer Square. The downtown area of Seattle spread north and became the largest retail and financial are of the entire region. The downtown area remains a vibrant part of Seattle’s cultural and financial center. Unlike many big cities it has maintained it’s authentic heritage as many of the new building developments have honored history by adding to it, instead of taking away from it.

Arthur Denny (1822-1899 led the group of Midwesterners who settled Seattle. The group ended up settling on a small patch of land on an island south of downtown. The steam-powered sawmill helped secure the financial future of the settlement. Henry Yesler (1810-1892) was one of the key figures in the decision to build the sawmill. The decision to build the sawmill helped to bring prosperity to the young village.

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