Annexed Cities

South Park

Although the land in what is now South Park was first settled in the 1850s, the town was not platted until 1889. A post office opened in 1892, and South Park officially incorporated in 1902. The town was bounded by the Duwamish River on the east and north, 1st Avenue South on the west, and Roxbury Street on the south.

Trolley

The Grant Street Electric Railway provided trolley service to Seattle, with trains crossing a wooden drawbridge over the Duwamish. Most local industry centered on nearby Georgetown, so South Park retained a more rural character, home to many Japanese and Italian farmers who sold their produce at the Pike Place Market. Newell's Mill was the largest industry in town.

The lack of a safe water supply was the biggest issue facing the town. The town council explored the possibility of getting its water from Georgetown (which had mains that ran through South Park) or from nearby farms, but none of these plans turned out to be viable. An independent water company's supply ended up being contaminated by sewage. The continuing water woes, along with difficulty in securing electrical service, were large factors in the decision to petition for annexation. As the town continued to grow, it was clear these problems would only become more acute.

Annexation petition

South Park citizens voted 131 to 59 for annexation to Seattle on March 23, 1907. On May 3 of that year, South Park's 0.87 square miles and 1500 residents became part of the City of Seattle.

Brickyard	Complaint about Italian gardeners	South Park School
Power company letter	Cushman family	Shinto shrine

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