For thousands of years, the river valleys in what is now Auburn were inhabited by Native American bands—including the Smulkamish, Skopamish, and Stkamish—who fished, hunted, and foraged along the Green and White rivers. These bands are the ancestors of today’s Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, which was formalized following the Point Elliott Treaty of 1855.
European-American settlement began in the 1850s, leading to the Puget Sound War between local tribes and early settlers. In 1887, Levi Farnsworth platted the town and named it "Slaughter" in honor of Lieutenant William Slaughter, a U.S. Army officer killed in a skirmish nearby in 1855. The town was incorporated in 1891. However, residents soon grew tired of the morbid name (which famously resulted in a local establishment being named the "Slaughter House"). In 1893, the state legislature officially changed the name to Auburn, inspired by the opening lines of Oliver Goldsmith's poem *The Deserted Village*: "Sweet Auburn, loveliest village of the plain."
In its early years, Auburn was an agricultural powerhouse, particularly famous for its hops, dairy, and berry farms. The introduction of the railroad transformed the city into a vital regional transportation hub. By the mid-20th century, the city transitioned from farming to industry. The opening of a massive Boeing manufacturing facility in 1966 catalyzed rapid economic and population growth. Today, Auburn continues to evolve, featuring a diverse population, expansive retail centers, and significant economic contributions from Muckleshoot tribal enterprises.
