Editing Darrington, Washington (section)

==Infrastructure==

===Transportation===
[[File:State Route 530 westbound in downtown Darrington, WA.jpg|thumb|right|Looking westbound on [[Washington State Route 530|State Route 530]] as it leaves Darrington]]
Darrington is located along [[Washington State Route 530|State Route 530]], which travels {{convert|28|mi|km}} west towards Arlington and north to [[Washington State Route 20|State Route 20]] at [[Rockport, Washington|Rockport]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Broom |first=Jack |date=May 8, 2014 |title=530 slide bypass road opens to wider use |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/530-slide-bypass-road-opens-to-wider-use/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=February 27, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Bray |first1=Kari |last2=King |first2=Rikki |date=April 13, 2017 |title=Highway 530 reopens, but Darrington residents are wary |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/highway-530-reopens-but-darrington-residents-remain-wary/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=February 27, 2019}}</ref> The highway carries a [[Annual average daily traffic|daily average]] of approximately 3,300 vehicles west of the town and 2,300 vehicles north of the town towards the Sauk-Suiattle Reservation.<ref>{{cite report |year=2017 |title=2016 Annual Traffic Report |page=207 |url=https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/mapsdata/travel/pdf/Annual_Traffic_Report_2016.pdf |publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation |access-date=February 27, 2019 |archive-date=October 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026105850/https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/mapsdata/travel/pdf/Annual_Traffic_Report_2016.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Darrington has a third highway connection through the [[Mountain Loop Highway]], a backcountry [[scenic byway]] that runs {{convert|54|mi|km}} south through the Cascades and west to [[Granite Falls, Washington|Granite Falls]]. It is closed in the winter and is considered unsuitable for commercial traffic, in part due to a {{convert|14|mi|km|adj=mid}} dirt and gravel section.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sheets |first=Bill |date=April 6, 2014 |title=Alternate route to Darrington scenic, slow |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/alternate-route-to-darrington-scenic-slow/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=February 27, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=October 2, 2016 |title=Study to examine Mountain Loop Highway improvements |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/study-to-examine-mountain-loop-highway-improvements/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=February 27, 2019}}</ref>

The area is also served by [[Community Transit]], the main public transportation agency for most of Snohomish County. Route 230 connects Darrington to Oso, Arlington, and a [[transit center]] in [[Smokey Point, Washington|Smokey Point]] twice a day during [[peak period|rush hour]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Watanabe |first=Ben |date=April 23, 2023 |title=Want ride-hailing at bus prices in Arlington? Let Community Transit know |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/want-ride-hailing-at-bus-prices-in-arlington-let-community-transit-know/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=April 23, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=March 2023 |title=Route 230: Darrington–Smokey Point |url=https://www.communitytransit.org/route/230/table |publisher=[[Community Transit]] |accessdate=April 23, 2023}}</ref> The agency expanded its Zip Shuttle [[microtransit]] service to Darrington and the surrounding area in December 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hansen |first=Jordan |date=December 15, 2024 |title=Zip Shuttle expanding to Darrington, Arlington, Lake Stevens |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/zip-shuttle-expanding-to-darrington-arlington-lake-stevens/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=February 18, 2025}}</ref> The Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe operates a bus route serving Darrington, its reservation, and [[Concrete, Washington|Concrete]]. It has six daily round trips and launched in 2016 with grants from the state and federal governments.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=November 7, 2016 |title=Sauk-Suiattle Tribe's new bus goes to Concrete, Darrington |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/sauk-suiattle-tribes-new-bus-service-connects-rural-areas/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=February 27, 2019}}</ref>

The [[Whitehorse Trail]], a recreational trail for hikers, cyclists, and horseback riders, is being developed by the county government to connect Darrington with Arlington. It follows the [[Northern Pacific Railway|Northern Pacific's]] 1901 route, sold to the county in 1993.<ref>{{cite news |date=November 11, 1993 |title=Railroad land to add 27 miles to trail system |page=4 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=December 28, 2015 |title=Work to begin on another 9.5 miles of Whitehorse Trail |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/work-to-begin-on-another-9-5-miles-of-whitehorse-trail/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=February 27, 2019}}</ref> The town government operates a small airport, [[Darrington Municipal Airport]], which has a single paved runway suitable for [[general aviation]] and other activities.<ref>{{cite web |date=March 22, 2012 |title=Darrington Municipal Airport Economic Profile |url=https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/C5FAEEE2-C05A-4543-B5D0-ABB95F6D25EE/0/2012Darrington.pdf |publisher=[[Washington State Department of Transportation]] |access-date=February 27, 2019}}</ref>

===Utilities===

[[Electric power]] for Darrington residents and businesses is provided by the [[Snohomish County Public Utility District]] (PUD), a consumer-owned [[public utility]] that serves all of Snohomish County.<ref>{{cite web |title=Quick Facts |url=https://www.snopud.com/?p=1350 |publisher=[[Snohomish County Public Utility District]] |access-date=February 28, 2019}}</ref> The Hampton mill operates a small [[biomass]] [[cogeneration]] plant in Darrington that produces electricity from [[steam power]] by burning wood from the Hampton Lumber sawmill.<ref>{{cite web |title=Power Supply: Biomass |url=https://www.snopud.com/PowerSupply/Biomass.ashx?p=1157 |publisher=Snohomish County Public Utility District |access-date=March 1, 2019 |archive-date=October 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031134605/https://www.snopud.com/PowerSupply/Biomass.ashx?p=1157 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The 7 [[Megawatt|MW]] plant was installed in 2006 after an earlier proposal by the National Energy Systems Company (NESCO) for a similar plant that would have generated up to 20 MW was rejected.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Reese |first1=Phil |last2=Carlson |first2=Bill |date=May 15, 2007 |title=Experts ponder future of biomass industry |url=https://www.powermag.com/experts-ponder-future-of-biomass-industry/?printmode=1 |work=[[Power Magazine]] |access-date=March 1, 2019}}</ref> The NESCO proposal was withdrawn in 2004 over local concerns about air pollution and environmental degradation to the nearby National Forest lands.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fetters |first=Eric |date=July 30, 2004 |title=Darrington electric plant shelved |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/business/darrington-electric-plant-shelved/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=March 1, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Morris |first=Scott |date=March 14, 2004 |title=Feds join Darrington power plant battle |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/feds-join-darrington-power-plant-battle/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=March 1, 2019}}</ref> The town lacks [[natural gas]] service and relies on [[wood-burning stove]]s for building heat, some of which have been replaced by the [[Puget Sound Clean Air Agency]] due to their impact on [[air quality]].{{Sfnp|Darrington Comprehensive Plan|2015|pages=107–108}}<ref>{{cite news |last=Fiege |first=Gale |date=February 1, 2009 |title=Darrington cleans up its air, one wood stove at a time |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/darrington-cleans-up-its-air-one-wood-stove-at-a-time/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=March 10, 2019}}</ref>

[[Ziply Fiber]] is the only land-based provider of Internet and telephone service to Darrington, using a [[fiber-optic cable]] laid along State Route 530.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=March 10, 2015 |title=Permanent cables link Arlington, Darrington once again |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/permanent-cables-link-arlington-darrington-once-again/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=February 28, 2019}}</ref> The state government awarded a $16.5&nbsp;million grant in 2022 to improve broadband and fiber service in northern Snohomish County, including Darrington.<ref>{{cite news |last=Allison |first=Jacqueline |date=January 25, 2022 |title=$16M grant to speed up broadband to north Snohomish County |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/16m-grant-to-speed-up-broadband-to-north-snohomish-county/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=January 25, 2022}}</ref> The installation of new fiber-optic lines and connections to 4,000 households along the State Route 530 corridor is scheduled to be completed by 2025.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hansen |first=Jordan |date=June 27, 2024 |title=Notoriously slow internet gets a boost on Highway 530 corridor |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/notoriously-slow-internet-gets-a-boost-on-highway-530-corridor/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=July 1, 2024}}</ref> A non-profit internet provider was started by local residents in 2017 to address the lack of broadband service in the area.<ref>{{cite news |last=Day |first=Matt |date=August 17, 2017 |title=Darrington man sets up internet utility to bring broadband to rural area |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/darrington-man-sets-up-internet-utility-to-bring-broadband-to-area/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=February 14, 2024}}</ref>

The town government provides water from a pair of wells, and [[water treatment]], to 534 structures.{{Sfnp|Darrington Comprehensive Plan|2015|p=78}} Darrington is one of several small communities in Snohomish County without a municipal [[sewer system]], instead relying on [[septic tank]]s.{{Sfnp|Darrington Comprehensive Plan|2015|p=18}}<ref>{{cite report |date=June 10, 2015 |title=Snohomish County General Policy Plan |page=UT-5 |chapter=Utilities |chapter-url=https://snohomishcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8730/Utilities |publisher=Snohomish County |access-date=February 28, 2019}}</ref> The town government has considered installing a sewage system several times in the 1990s and 2000s, but those plans have stalled due to the $6.5 million cost (as estimated in 2000) and the land needed for a [[sewage treatment|treatment]] plant.<ref name="Times-Sewage"/> [[Municipal solid waste|Solid waste]] and [[single-stream recycling|recycling]] collection is contracted out by the town government to [[Waste Management (company)|Waste Management]].{{Sfnp|Darrington Comprehensive Plan|2015|pages=107–108}}

===Health care===

Darrington's nearest [[general hospital]] is the [[Cascade Valley Hospital]] in Arlington.<ref>{{cite news |date=November 30, 2013 |title=Interactive map of hospitals in King, Pierce, Snohomish counties |url=http://old.seattletimes.com/html/localpages/2022360954_interactive-map-hospitals-king-pierce-snohomish.html |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=February 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170127073938/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/localpages/2022360954_interactive-map-hospitals-king-pierce-snohomish.html |archive-date=January 27, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The town also has a medical clinic operated by [[Skagit Regional Health]] and staffed by a single doctor.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fiege |first=Gale |date=May 17, 2013 |title=Darrington's sole doctor is always in |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/darringtons-sole-doctor-is-always-in/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=February 28, 2019}}</ref> The clinic was established in 1958 and operated by Cascade Valley Hospital until it was absorbed into the Skagit system.<ref>{{cite web |title=Darrington Clinic Guild |url=http://www.cascadevalley.org/darrington-clinic-guild/ |publisher=[[Cascade Valley Hospital]] |access-date=February 28, 2019 |archive-date=March 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301140213/http://www.cascadevalley.org/darrington-clinic-guild/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The town has periodically gone for years without a doctor, notably substituting a [[registered nurse]] to provide the majority of medical care in the early 1970s.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 25, 1973 |title=Darrington's nurse-practitioner system may be solution for other small towns |pages=A10–A11 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> Darrington's lone [[pharmacy]] was established in 1917 and closed in 2023 after its owner was unable to sell the business.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hansen |first=Jordan |date=June 20, 2023 |title='The last thing I wanted': Darrington Pharmacy to close in July |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/the-last-thing-i-wanted-darrington-pharmacy-to-close-in-july/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=December 23, 2023}}</ref> The nearest pharmacy is in Arlington, a {{convert|56|mi|km|adj=mid}} round trip.<ref>{{cite news |last=de Lapparent Alvarez |first=Aina |date=December 21, 2023 |title=To fill prescriptions, Darrington residents drive 56 miles |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/to-fill-prescriptions-darrington-residents-drive-56-miles/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=December 23, 2023}}</ref>