.
.
Although Kent was rather prosperous, in 1891, the devastation of the hop industry ruined all of that. An economic collapse of the country in 1893, made things even worse. Practically overnight, wealthy farmers became paupers. Thomas Alvord was even declared insolvent, and his belongings as well as his ranch were sold at a public auction. However, the community would recover.
In the post hops period, the first big success in Kent was the Pacific Coast Condensed Milk Company. In 1899, they had produced their first cases of condensed milk sometime later, the company had success as the Carnation Milk Company.
By the early 1900's, Kent had social organizations, newspapers, stores, churches, schools, and banks. This was everything necessary for a growing community. An interurban rail service arrived in the community in 1902. In 1906, when a major flood changed the course of the White River southwesterly through Pierce County, farmers got a break. Prior to this, the Green River and the White River merged, close to Auburn, and both rivers caused problems by the flooding that occurred every year. The farmers in now only had to contend with the Green River.
During this time frame, the farmers in Kent also played a crucial role in the history of Seattle. Whenever the farmers brought their produce into the city, they had problems with wholesale dealers who kept their prices high, thereby defrauding them. In 1907, the Pike Place Market opened as the result of this. This allowed the farmers to sell their vegetables and fruits directly to the consumers.
Much the same as other farming communities Kent grew rather rapidly in the first half of the 1900's. Kent came to be known the Lettuce Capital of the World during the 1920's. Dairy and egg farming also became very popular, and businesses such as the Ponssen Brothers' Kent poultry Farm and the Smith Brothers Dairy came into being.
The Issei, who were first generation Japanese farmers, could to lease farmland from American citizens. These e Issei in the Kent Valley supplied over 70% of the vegetables and fruits for Western Washington State and half the fresh milk that was consumed in Seattle by 1920.
Kent suffered whenever the Great Depression hit, although the community took things in stride. The community hosted a lettuce festival, in 1934, which attracted over 25,000 people to the town. Lettuce related floats paraded through the community, a lettuce queen was selected, and some 5,000 people enjoyed the largest salad in the world. Everybody had a great time.
However, Kent was chanced by WW II. As the result of Executive Order 9066, Japanese Americans, who had already seen increased discrimination during the 1930's, were forced to move. This executive order demanded that all second generation Japanese Americans as well as all Issei be relocated to internment camps.
From May 8 through May 11, 1942, whole families, some of whom had lived in the valley for over 30 years, were placed on trains out of the community. town. Because the second generation Japanese Americans were born in America, those who owned land were permitted to turn it over to the government for holding or sell it. The government redistributed some 1,600 acres of farmland to non-Japanese American farmers following the evacuation.
During the war, farming was still a top priority. However, with the loss of young men to battle and the removal of Japanese Americans, there came to be a shortage of labor. Schoolchildren were used to help with the farms, and women helped out in the defense industry.
Not many Japanese Americans came back to the valley after end of the war. This was partially because of the continuing racial prejudice that the white residents expressed against, after Pearl Harbor was attacked. In the meantime, changes to the water management on the Green River produced changes to the landscape. However, these changed weren't what the farmers were expecting.
Ever since the 1920's, the residents of the valley had the objective to dam the Green River high up in the mountains. Prior to the war, some studies had been conducted. However, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers didn't help to convince Congress to adopt a plan to develop a storage dam at Eagle Gorge, until 1950.
Initially, the farmers in the valley farmers could not have been happier, after having had to deal with annual flooding for many years. In 1962, the construction of Howard A. Hanson dam was completed, which, ever since, has prevented major flooding. However, industrial giants and developers came in and started changing the valley, rather than opening up of the land for farming.
The construction of the Valley Freeway, which, in 1957, was approved, only added to these changes. In 1966, I-5 was completed on the western rim of the valley. The City of Kent, started annexing as much property as possible to expand the tax base, after seeing the changes on the horizon. Between 1953 and 1960, the physical size of Kent increased to 12.7 square miles from one square mile.
The Boeing Aerospace Center, which was built in 1965, was the first major industry to relocate to Kent. In 1970, the Apollo Moon Buggie was constructed, where only a few years earlier lettuce was growing. The other industries that followed were primarily manufacturing plants or warehouses. However, high-tech companies started dominating by the 1980's.
Kent had transformed into an industrial hub from an agricultural community in only a few years. The tax base if Kent was increased by the numerous businesses. Kent has been able to spend a considerable amount of money on their park system, which has made it one of the largest in the nation. The community is also a regional leader in the arts as well as education.
.
Kent Tidbits
Although Kent was rather prosperous, in 1891, the devastation of the hop industry ruined all of that. An economic collapse of the country in 1893, made things even worse. Practically overnight, wealthy farmers became paupers. Thomas Alvord was even declared insolvent, and his belongings as well as his ranch were sold at a public auction. However, the community would recover.
In the post hops period, the first big success in Kent was the Pacific Coast Condensed Milk Company. In 1899, they had produced their first cases of condensed milk sometime later, the company had success as the Carnation Milk Company.
By the early 1900's, Kent had social organizations, newspapers, stores, churches, schools, and banks. This was everything necessary for a growing community. An interurban rail service arrived in the community in 1902. In 1906, when a major flood changed the course of the White River southwesterly through Pierce County, farmers got a break. Prior to this, the Green River and the White River merged, close to Auburn, and both rivers caused problems by the flooding that occurred every year. The farmers in now only had to contend with the Green River.
During this time frame, the farmers in Kent also played a crucial role in the history of Seattle. Whenever the farmers brought their produce into the city, they had problems with wholesale dealers who kept their prices high, thereby defrauding them. In 1907, the Pike Place Market opened as the result of this. This allowed the farmers to sell their vegetables and fruits directly to the consumers.
Much the same as other farming communities Kent grew rather rapidly in the first half of the 1900's. Kent came to be known the Lettuce Capital of the World during the 1920's. Dairy and egg farming also became very popular, and businesses such as the Ponssen Brothers' Kent poultry Farm and the Smith Brothers Dairy came into being.
The Issei, who were first generation Japanese farmers, could to lease farmland from American citizens. These e Issei in the Kent Valley supplied over 70% of the vegetables and fruits for Western Washington State and half the fresh milk that was consumed in Seattle by 1920.
Kent suffered whenever the Great Depression hit, although the community took things in stride. The community hosted a lettuce festival, in 1934, which attracted over 25,000 people to the town. Lettuce related floats paraded through the community, a lettuce queen was selected, and some 5,000 people enjoyed the largest salad in the world. Everybody had a great time.
However, Kent was chanced by WW II. As the result of Executive Order 9066, Japanese Americans, who had already seen increased discrimination during the 1930's, were forced to move. This executive order demanded that all second generation Japanese Americans as well as all Issei be relocated to internment camps.
From May 8 through May 11, 1942, whole families, some of whom had lived in the valley for over 30 years, were placed on trains out of the community. town. Because the second generation Japanese Americans were born in America, those who owned land were permitted to turn it over to the government for holding or sell it. The government redistributed some 1,600 acres of farmland to non-Japanese American farmers following the evacuation.
During the war, farming was still a top priority. However, with the loss of young men to battle and the removal of Japanese Americans, there came to be a shortage of labor. Schoolchildren were used to help with the farms, and women helped out in the defense industry.
Not many Japanese Americans came back to the valley after end of the war. This was partially because of the continuing racial prejudice that the white residents expressed against, after Pearl Harbor was attacked. In the meantime, changes to the water management on the Green River produced changes to the landscape. However, these changed weren't what the farmers were expecting.
Ever since the 1920's, the residents of the valley had the objective to dam the Green River high up in the mountains. Prior to the war, some studies had been conducted. However, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers didn't help to convince Congress to adopt a plan to develop a storage dam at Eagle Gorge, until 1950.
Initially, the farmers in the valley farmers could not have been happier, after having had to deal with annual flooding for many years. In 1962, the construction of Howard A. Hanson dam was completed, which, ever since, has prevented major flooding. However, industrial giants and developers came in and started changing the valley, rather than opening up of the land for farming.
The construction of the Valley Freeway, which, in 1957, was approved, only added to these changes. In 1966, I-5 was completed on the western rim of the valley. The City of Kent, started annexing as much property as possible to expand the tax base, after seeing the changes on the horizon. Between 1953 and 1960, the physical size of Kent increased to 12.7 square miles from one square mile.
The Boeing Aerospace Center, which was built in 1965, was the first major industry to relocate to Kent. In 1970, the Apollo Moon Buggie was constructed, where only a few years earlier lettuce was growing. The other industries that followed were primarily manufacturing plants or warehouses. However, high-tech companies started dominating by the 1980's.
Kent had transformed into an industrial hub from an agricultural community in only a few years. The tax base if Kent was increased by the numerous businesses. Kent has been able to spend a considerable amount of money on their park system, which has made it one of the largest in the nation. The community is also a regional leader in the arts as well as education.