Editing Darrington, Washington (section)

===Tourism economy and modern Darrington===
[[File:Darrington Street and Emens Avenue, Darrington, WA.jpg|thumb|right|Darrington Street in downtown Darrington]]

The town government sought to diversify Darrington's economy and focus on [[tourism industry|tourism]] as an alternate industry, creating new festivals and promoting its existing [[bluegrass festival]] and [[rodeo]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Dietrich |first=Bill |date=August 6, 1991 |title=Lumbering towns now take light steps |page=A1 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19910806/1298451/lumbering-towns-now-take-light-steps----communities-loggers-move-slowly-toward-uncertain-future-without-mainstay-industry |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=March 10, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Times-Bloom">{{cite news |last=Pryne |first=Eric |date=June 1, 1993 |title=A plan blooms in Darrington |page=A1 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19930601/1704305/a-plan-blooms-in-darrington----timber-towns-new-wildflower-festival-part-of-survival-bid |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=February 28, 2019}}</ref> It adopted strong [[land use]] controls to preserve its rural character in the 1970s, which prevented new development until 2002.<ref>{{cite news |last=Whitely |first=Peyton |date=August 16, 2003 |title=Buyers scarce for controversial Darrington houses |page=H16 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20030416/develop16n0/buyers-scarce-for-controversial-darrington-houses |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=February 28, 2019}}</ref> Darrington subsequently developed into a [[bedroom community]] for commuters working in Everett and [[Marysville, Washington|Marysville]].<ref name="Times-Sewage">{{cite news |last=Burkitt |first=Janet |date=July 17, 2000 |title=Lure of past clouds town's future |page=B1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> Opposition from residents forced the town government to drop plans for a 400-bed minimum-security prison work camp in 1990.<ref name="PI-1990"/>

The town government unsuccessfully campaigned for a [[NASCAR]] racetrack and regional [[swimming]] center in the early 2000s, aiming to become an all-year destination for the county.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brooks |first=Diane |date=October 22, 2003 |title=Idea for regional swim center surfaces again in Darrington |page=H8 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Heffter |first=April 7, 2004 |title=Marysville-Arlington area drives for a NASCAR track |page=H20 |url=http://old.seattletimes.com/html/snohomishcountynews/2001896759_nascar07n.html |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=March 11, 2019}}</ref> Several major floods in the late 1990s and early 2000s damaged properties along the rivers; in 2003, a flood [[Washout (erosion)|washed out]] part of the Mountain Loop Highway.<ref>{{cite news |last=Whitely |first=Peyton |date=April 21, 2004 |title=River taking a neighborhood |page=H23 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> The highway was not restored until 2008, costing Darrington approximately $750,000 in tourist revenue and forcing several businesses to close.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hodges |first=Jane |date=June 2, 2004 |title=Area's small businesses feeling pinch |page=H23 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Gilmore |first=Susan |date=June 27, 2008 |title=Darrington, Granite Falls to celebrate reopening of Mountain Loop Highway |page=B1 |url=http://old.seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2008020289_highway27m.html |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=March 10, 2019}}</ref> Darrington's main lumber mill laid off 67 workers in 2011, citing the effects of the [[Great Recession]] and declining demand.<ref>{{cite news |date=October 14, 2011 |title=Arlington, Darrington companies announce layoffs coming in December |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/business/arlington-darrington-companies-announce-layoffs-coming-in-december/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=March 11, 2019}}</ref> The town government, running on a small budget of $1.6&nbsp;million, accepted several grants from the state to upgrade its water system and repair streets during the recession.<ref name="Herald-Budget">{{cite news |last=Fiege |first=Gale |date=December 7, 2010 |title=Darrington's modest budget covers town's needs |url=http://heraldnet.com/article/20101207/NEWS01/712079895/1043/COMM0605 |work=The Everett Herald |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216073014/http://heraldnet.com/article/20101207/NEWS01/712079895/1043/COMM0605 |archive-date=December 16, 2010 |access-date=March 11, 2019}}</ref>

On March 22, 2014, a [[2014 Oso mudslide|major mudslide]] on a hillside near [[Oso, Washington|Oso]], {{convert|12|mi|km}} west of Darrington, destroyed dozens of homes and a section of State Route 530, cutting off direct road access between Arlington and Darrington for two months.<ref>{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Kirk |date=July 23, 2014 |title=Washington Mudslide Report Cites Rain, but Doesn't Give Cause or Assign Blame |page=A13 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/23/us/washington-mudslide-report-cites-rain-but-doesnt-give-cause-or-assign-blame.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=March 10, 2019}}</ref> It killed 43 people, becoming the [[List of landslides|deadliest landslide]] in U.S. history and the deadliest natural disaster in state history since the [[1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Doughton |first=Sandi |author-link=Sandi Doughton |date=December 22, 2015 |title=New analysis shows Oso landslide was no fluke |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/science/new-analysis-shows-oso-landslide-was-no-fluke/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=March 11, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Burns |first=Frances |date=April 16, 2014 |title=Medical examiner: 39 now confirmed dead in Washington State mudslide |url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2014/04/16/Medical-examiner-39-now-confirmed-dead-in-Washington-State-mudslide/3311397677335/ |publisher=United Press International |access-date=March 11, 2019}}</ref> Darrington was one of the main staging areas for disaster response workers and supplies; the community center was used as an [[emergency shelter]] for victims and the [[rodeo]] grounds became an animal shelter and housing for workers.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lacitis |first=Erik |date=March 26, 2014 |title=A small town's embrace: In Darrington, 'we help people out' |page=A1 |url=http://old.seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2023225246_mudslidedarringtonxml.html |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=March 11, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Catchpole |first=Dan |date=March 30, 2014 |title=Grit and heart keep Darrington going |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/grit-and-heart-keep-darrington-going/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=March 11, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=King |first=Rikki |date=June 20, 2015 |title=In Darrington, a slide reunion means laughter, tears |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/in-darrington-a-slide-reunion-means-laughter-tears/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=March 11, 2019}}</ref>

State Route 530 was partially reopened by early June and a permanent replacement was opened in September.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=June 20, 2014 |title=Highway 530 open to two-way traffic at mudslide site |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/highway-530-open-to-two-way-traffic-at-mudslide-site/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=March 11, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=King |first=Rikki |date=September 27, 2014 |title=43 trees mark lives lost along Highway 530 in Oso |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/43-trees-mark-lives-lost-along-highway-530-in-oso/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=March 11, 2019}}</ref> The increased costs to local businesses resulting from the long detour via [[Washington State Route 20|State Route 20]] were mitigated with low-interest loans from the [[Small Business Administration]] and recovery funds, including $9.5 million in private donations.<ref>{{cite news |last=Catchpole |first=Dan |date=April 25, 2014 |title=For Darrington, disaster is a blow it can little afford |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/for-darrington-disaster-is-a-blow-it-can-little-afford/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=March 11, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Cornwell |first=Paige |date=March 18, 2015 |title=Oso landslide donations: Where the millions went |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/millions-in-donations-help-ease-burden-in-oso-slide-communities/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=March 12, 2019}}</ref> The tourism industry in Darrington also received a state-funded advertising campaign, keeping revenue and visitation for local events at pre-slide levels.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=June 19, 2014 |title=Ads to boost tourism in Stillaguamish Valley begin airing |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/business/ads-to-boost-tourism-in-stillaguamish-valley-begin-airing/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=March 11, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=July 30, 2014 |title=Darrington businesses are ready to be 'mobbed' |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/darrington-businesses-are-ready-to-be-mobbed-2/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=March 11, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Broom |first=Jack |date=March 17, 2015 |title=In Darrington, 'recovery is a marathon, not a sprint' |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/in-darrington-recovery-is-a-marathon-not-a-sprint/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=March 12, 2019}}</ref> The state government, together with the [[Economic Alliance Snohomish County]] and [[Washington State University]], drafted a $65 million economic recovery plan that was put into effect in 2016.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=December 2, 2015 |title=Officials to present Oso mudslide economic recovery plan |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/officials-to-present-oso-mudslide-economic-recovery-plan/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=March 11, 2019}}</ref>