Wilburton, Washington facts for kids
Wilburton is a neighborhood in Bellevue, Washington, United States. It is located just east of downtown Bellevue. To its west are the Crossroads and Lake Hills neighborhoods. Wilburton began as an old logging camp. It became part of Bellevue in 1967. Today, about 3,790 people call Wilburton home.
Contents
The History of Wilburton
.jpg)
Wilburton has a long history tied to logging. People started cutting down trees here in the 1890s. A man named William Powell was one of the first loggers.
How Wilburton Got Its Name
The first sawmill was built in 1903. It was started by George England and Manley Wilbur. The name Wilburton comes from Manley Wilbur's last name. In 1904, the town of Wilburton was officially planned out.
Logging Operations and Town Life
In 1905, a company called Hewitt-Lea Lumber took over. They built a special train track. This track followed Kelsey Creek up to the Lake Hills area. In 1907, the town got its first train.
The Hewitt-Lea Lumber Company cut down trees between Lake Hills and Cougar Mountain. Their sawmill buildings were located near the Wilburton Trestle. A trestle is a bridge-like structure. More than 350 people lived in the town, supporting the mill.
Wilburton After Logging
The sawmill closed in 1919 because there were no more trees to cut. By the late 1920s, the mill and all logging buildings were gone. However, the town of Wilburton remained. Most of the old houses were taken down by the 1960s. New buildings like apartments and offices were built in their place.
Parks and Places in Wilburton
Wilburton is home to several important places. These include the International School. It also has Wilburton Hill Park. You can find the beautiful Bellevue Botanical Garden here too. The large 160-acre Kelsey Creek Park is also part of Wilburton.
