Auburn Overview

Auburn is centrally located in the growing and thriving Green River Valley between Seattle and Tacoma. Auburn's location, abundant land and many amenities provide a unique opportunity for business and industry. The City of Auburn was incorporated in 1891 and has a total land area of 22.73 square miles. The city boasts a noted wetland that is home to herons.

Auburn's location provides access to a wide variety of outdoor activities such as golf, hiking, skiing, boating and water sports. Scenic Mount Rainier National Park is a 60-minute drive from Auburn. Crystal Mountain Ski Resort and The Summit at Snoqualmie are less than one hour away. Residents enjoy a full range of recreational programs for all ages. The Auburn area is graced with 26 parks, four golf courses, a large swimming pool, and a system of trails for jogging, horseback riding, bicycling and roller blading.

Quality of life is key to both businesses and families locating in Auburn. Auburn is a smart place to do business, a good place to raise a family, and an excellent place to call home. It's a city that takes pride in its history and anticipates its future.

For hundreds of years, this valley was covered with rich vegetation, swamps and dense forests. It was a place where people's lives were continually challenged by unpredictable floods, and where Native Americans fished and led rich lives. The story of the White River Valley, the First People, those who settled here, the development of a little town called Slaughter, and the coming of the railroad and commerce, are all reflected in the historic buildings and sites which remain today. Auburn has a deep sense of pride and identity that makes it a town easily called home.

From these earliest times, residents created homes and settlements out of the natural abundance of the Northwest, leaving a lasting legacy for us all to enjoy. The metamorphosis of a small railroad town into a well-developed industrial center is an interesting story, told by our own White River Valley Museum. While Auburn's physical appearance and character has greatly changed over the years, many important historic and cultural resources associated with its development remain as part of our present, as the town embraces the challenges of this century and beyond.