November 2007 59
Figure 8 Sequim’s Post Office in the 1930s,
located between Burdick’s Green Grocer and
the Drug Store (Courtesy Tim Boardman).
Agriculture became more diversified toward the end
Sources:
of the 20
th
century, and now the Sequim-Dungeness
Valley is best known for its lavender, strawberries,
Boardman, Tim, and Helbock, Richard W., “Washing-
raspberries, blueberries, turf, herbs, and flowers.
ton Post Offices,” La Posta Publications, Lake
Oswego, Oregon: 1986.
In the 1950s and early 60s, civic boosters promoted Helbock, Richard W., “United States Post Offices
Sequim as the “healthiest climate in the world,” and
Volume I – The West,” La Posta Publications,
the town received another growth spurt, with a popu-
Lake Oswego, Oregon: 1998.
lation of 1,164 in 1960. In spite of new residents
Helbock, Richard W. and Gary Anderson, “United
moving in, though, 830 farm families were still served
States Doanes: A Catalog of Doane Cancellations,
by R.F.D. routes in 1960, reflecting the strong rural
2d Ed, ” Page 311. La Posta Publications,
Scappoose, Oregon: 2002.
character of what is still called the Sequim Prairie
Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe -
http://www.elwha.org/
Lands. In 1973, Sequim was formally reclassified from
Culture-History.htm
a town to a city, and experienced yet another growth
Masters, Chester, “Sequim’s Third Name Mystery,”
spurt from retirees in the ’70s, growing to 3,013 by The Oregon Country Postal History Journal,
1980. But even to this date, the general character of Vol.26:3, Winter 2006/07.
the town remains rural, with an estimated population
Meany, Edmond S. “Origin of Washington Geographic
of only 5,688 in 2006.
Names,” Seattle: University of Washington, 1923.
Preston, Ralph, “Post Route Map of the State of Or-
Today, the area has become an even stronger magnet
egon and Territory of Washington, published by
for retirees. With its relatively dry, “rainshadow” lo- order of Postmaster General Walter Q. Gresham,
cale, a scarce commodity west of the Cascades, 1883.” Early Washington Atlas, Western Guide
Sequim has become an increasingly attractive retire-
Publishers, Corvallis, Oregon: 1974.
ment destination. Located little more than two hours
Ramsey, Guy Reed, “Postmarked Washington:
from Seattle, Sequim is projected to grow to 28,000
Jefferson, Clallam, & Mason Counties,” The De-
by 2025. For now, thanks to statewide land use laws,
pot, Burtonsville, Maryland: 2002.
much of the land remains agricultural. Old, gray
Russell, Jervis, “Jimmy Come Lately: History of
Clallam County,” Clallam County Historical So-
weatherboard barns still stand among broad fields of
ciety, Port Angeles, Washington: 1971.
lavendar as gracious reminders of Sequim’s past.
Robinson, June, “Sequim History,” Appendix C-
(To be continued. Part 2 will discuss Sequim’s Doane
Sequim, Washington Parks Plan, City of Sequim,
marking: “Sequin”.)
Washington: 2005,
http://www.ci.Sequim,wa.us/
planning/ParksPlan/Appendix.
Special Thanks to the people who contributed infor-
mation and assistance for this article: Cliff Brehan
and Chester Masters of Sequim, Tim Boardman, Kirk
Andrews-Vice Pres. PNW Postal History Society, and
the Clallam Co. Historical Society.
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