Editing Wilkeson, Washington (section)

==History==
[[Image:Wilkeson, Washington.jpg|left|thumb|Downtown Wilkeson]]
[[File:Wilkeson, WA - Holy Trinity Orthodox Church 07.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Holy Trinity Orthodox Church]], built 1900, is a legacy of the many Eastern Europeans who came to work in the mines and quarries around Wilkeson.]]
Settlers searching for coal arrived in the area that became Wilkeson in the 1870s.{{r|hatcher}} By 1877, a [[Northern Pacific Railway]] line transported coal to Tacoma. Northern Pacific Railway president [[Henry Villard]] hired geologist [[Bailey Willis]] to direct field explorations of the coal fields around Wilkeson.<ref name="haines">{{cite book | last=Haines | first=Aubrey | title=Mountain fever: historic conquests of Rainier | publisher=University of Washington Press | publication-place=Seattle | year=1999 | isbn=0-295-97847-3 | oclc=41619403 | pages=58–59}}</ref> Much of the property of Wilkeson was purchased by Northern Pacific Railway, with the remaining part of town known as Hope. In 1885, [[coke oven]]s were built by the [[Wilkeson Coke Ovens|Wilkeson Coal and Coke Company]]. In addition to coal, Wilkeson shipped timber and sandstone across Washington.{{r|hatcher}}

Wilkeson was officially incorporated on July 18, 1909. The town is named for Samuel Wilkeson, father of journalist and pioneer settler [[Frank Wilkeson]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Frank Wilkeson biography | website=2020 Skagit River Journal home | date=June 6, 2011 | url=http://www.skagitriverjournal.com/WA/Library/Wilkeson/Wilkeson01-Bio.html | access-date=January 5, 2022}}</ref>

At its peak, Wilkeson had a newspaper, cigar factory, two electric plants, two theaters, two bakeries, and a bottling plant. Much of the town burned down in 1910 and 1912 fires. By 1937, coke production in Wilkeson had ended.{{r|hatcher}}

Although it was known as a [[ghost town]] for a time, people began moving to Wilkeson in the late 20th century, many who commute to [[Enumclaw]], [[Bellevue, Washington|Bellevue]], and [[Seattle]] for work. Town improvements are paid for by a 160-acre tree farm managed by the town. Its new sewage treatment plant includes 900 feet of sewer lines replaced by volunteers.{{r|hatcher}} During this time, town management and activities were marked by a tension between a preservationist faction and an environmentalist faction.{{r|hatcher}}