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 Skagit
County, Washington lies halfway between Seattle,
and Vancouver,
BC in Canada. Found in the northwest sector of the
state, the county borders reach from the Puget
Sound coastline, where whales still play, to the towering
peaks of the majestic Cascade
Mountains. The fertile valley stretching between the
two displays blankets of stunning tulip fields each spring.
Long-legged Great Blue Herons inhabit the western
shoreline of Skagit County, while Bald Eagles soar over its
eastern edges.
Encompassing almost one million acres of land, and home to
nearly 103,000 people (Census 2000 data), Skagit County is one
of the fastest growing areas in Washington
State. With a booming and diversified economy made up of
fishing, agriculture, wood products, tourism and
manufacturing, the county is also the hub for the state's
petroleum industry, due to its accessible ports and
refineries. The lovely Skagit
River runs through the region, providing excellent fishing
and white-water rafting for visiting tourists.
Washington State Routes 9 and 20, as well as Interstate 5,
provide quick and easy travel through the area and
connect it with the glittering city of Seattle, which
lies sixty miles from the border.
 Eighteen
distinctly different towns and villages comprise Skagit
County, with the thriving city of Mount
Vernon designated as the county seat. With a
population of over 26,000, Mount Vernon plays host to the
astounding Skagit
Valley Tulip Festival each April. Trumpeter swans
winter on the many lakes just outside the city limits.
The Highland
Games and Scottish Faire is a treat each summer, with
dance competitions and outstanding music. Mount Vernon
offers excellent medical care facilities, as well as the
finest in shopping and dining. The award-winning Skagit
Valley College found here serves three neighboring
counties, providing top-notch education.
The charming, small city of Burlington,
population 6,700, used to be known as 'The Hub City', due to
its crossroads of two major railways. From its origins as a
major logging center, today Burlington's economy is based on
agriculture, boat building, and manufacturing, with a new
130-acre industrial park in place. Its biggest claim to
fame is the build-up of its reputation as being a 'shopping
Mecca', drawing people from Seattle and Canada as well as
being the main retail center for Skagit County. Along
with several large and small shopping complexes, Cascade
Mall offers over seventy-five of the finest modern retail
shops housed in an enclosed mall.
The city of Sedro-Woolley,
population 8,600, is the 'Gateway to the Northern Cascades'.
The historic downtown provides a lovely Walking
Tour, showing off its beautifully painted murals and
relics left from the city's logging history. The nearby North
Cascades National Park offers entry into the stunning
glacial wilderness. Glittering waterfalls, deeply
cut gorges and towering peaks await the hardy hikers and
mountain climbers. The Mt.
Baker Ranger District offers a variety of activities, with
more than 8,000 acres of wilderness ready for snowmobiles and
snowshoes, cross-country skiers and campers. Nine-mile
long Baker Lake along with many winding rivers gives a
challenge to fishermen and boaters, with some of the best
salmon and trout fishing in the region.
Anacortes City lies on the other side of Skagit County, on
beautiful Fidalgo
Island in Puget Sound. One of the county's larger
cities, with a population of close to 15,000, Anacortes is
home to the Washington
State Ferry, from which all the San
Juan Islands may be explored. Whale watching emerges
as a fine-honed art here, as well as sport fishing and scuba
diving. The Waterfront Festival each May celebrates
island living, while the giant Anacortes
Art Festival draws patrons and artisans from far-off
destinations to enjoy the music, food and art along the scenic
coastline. The water is not Anacortes' only charm.
Three thousand acres of community forestland and eighteen city
parks grace the area, with twenty miles of prime hiking and
biking trails. A climb to the top of the island's Mount
Erie gives a spectacular 360-degree view of this enchanting
region.
Skagit County, Washington, so diversified in climate, terrain,
commerce and people, could take months of exploring before
discovering all its treasures. An exquisite gem of an
area, Skagit County holds a little bit of everything.
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