Snoqualmie

Snoqualmie is a city located in King County, Washington, United States. It lies along Interstate 90 in the Snoqualmie Valley, about 25 miles east of Seattle and west of North Bend. The city is named after the Snoqualmie people, a Lushootseed-speaking Coast Salish group historically living in the area. Snoqualmie sits along the Snoqualmie River near Snoqualmie Falls, a 268-foot waterfall that is a major local landmark and tourist draw.

The area was inhabited for thousands of years by the Snoqualmie and neighboring peoples before European-American settlement in the 19th century. Early industry centered on timber and agriculture; a railroad town grew around passenger and freight service, and hydroelectric development on the nearby river contributed to the region's growth. The Snoqualmie Falls Powerhouse, built in the late 1890s, helped feed the growing Seattle metropolitan area and remained a centerpiece of the community's development. The Northwest Railway Museum preserves railroad history in Snoqualmie, including historic depots and equipment.

Today Snoqualmie is a residential community with a small-town center that serves as a gateway to outdoor recreation in the Cascades. Major attractions include Snoqualmie Falls, the historic downtown, the Salish Lodge and Resort, and the Northwest Railway Museum. The city participates in the Snoqualmie Valley School District and maintains services through a city government with police, fire and public works departments. The surrounding region features Mount Si, a prominent nearby peak, and scenic trails in the North Bend and Snoqualmie Pass area.