Editing Lake Stevens, Washington

{{short description|City in Washington, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Lake Stevens
|settlement_type          = [[City (Washington)|City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = "One community, around the lake"
<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Lake Stevens northeast shore.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Northeast shore of lake on which the city is located
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = 
<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = Snohomish_County_Washington_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Lake_Stevens_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Lake Stevens, Washington
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Washington|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Snohomish County, Washington|Snohomish]]
<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = [[Mayor–council government|Mayor–council]]
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Brett Gailey
|established_title1       = Founded
|established_date1        = 1889
|established_title2       = [[Municipal incorporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date2        = November 29, 1960
<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_53.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=March 20, 2024}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 24.09
|area_land_km2            = 23.74
|area_water_km2           = 0.35
|area_total_sq_mi         = 9.30
|area_land_sq_mi          = 9.17
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.14
<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
|population_est           = 40521
|pop_est_as_of            = 2023
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="Census-Estimate2023">{{cite web |date=May 2024 |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places of 20,000 or More, Ranked by July 1, 2023 Population: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2023/cities/totals/SUB-IP-EST2023-ANNRNK.xlsx  |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=January 26, 2025}}</ref>
|population_total         = 35630
|population_density_km2   = 1500.9
|population_density_sq_mi = 3887.2
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific (PST)]]
|utc_offset               = −8
|timezone_DST             = PDT
|utc_offset_DST           = −7
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_m              = 66
|elevation_ft             = 217
|coordinates              = {{coord|48|1|11|N|122|3|58|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code              = 98258
|area_code                = [[Area code 425|425]] 
|area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 53-37900
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 1512695<ref name="GR3">{{cite gnis |id=1512695 |name=Lake Stevens |entrydate=September 10, 1979 |access-date=May 17, 2020}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|lakestevenswa.gov}}
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Lake Stevens''' is a city in [[Snohomish County, Washington|Snohomish County]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], United States, that is named for the lake it surrounds. It is located {{convert|6|mi|km}} east of [[Everett, Washington|Everett]] and borders the cities of [[Marysville, Washington|Marysville]] to the northwest and [[Snohomish, Washington|Snohomish]] to the south. The city's population was 35,630 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].

The lake was named in 1859 for territorial governor [[Isaac Stevens]] and was originally home to the [[Skykomish people|Skykomish]] in the [[Pilchuck River]] basin. The first modern settlement on Lake Stevens was founded at the northeastern corner of the lake in 1889. It was later sold to the [[Rucker Brothers]], who opened a [[sawmill]] in 1907 that spurred early growth in the area, but closed in 1925 after the second of two major fires. The Lake Stevens area then became a [[resort town|resort community]] before developing into a [[commuter town]] in the 1960s and 1970s.

Lake Stevens was [[Municipal incorporation|incorporated]] as a city in 1960, following an exodus of businesses from the downtown area to a new [[shopping center]]. The city has since grown through [[annexation]]s to encompass most of the lake, including the original shopping center, and quadrupled in population from 2000 to 2010. A revitalized downtown area is planned alongside new civic buildings in the 2020s.

==History==

Lake Stevens was named in 1859 for territorial governor [[Isaac Stevens]] and was originally listed as "Stevens Lake" on early maps.<ref>{{cite book |last=Phillips |first=James W. |year=1971 |title=Washington State Place Names |page=[https://archive.org/details/washingtonstatep00phil/page/138 138] |publisher=[[University of Washington Press]] |isbn=0-295-95158-3 |oclc=1052713900 |url=https://archive.org/details/washingtonstatep00phil |url-access=registration |via=[[The Internet Archive]] |access-date=November 18, 2019}}</ref> The area around the lake was used for [[berry]] gathering by the indigenous [[Skykomish people|Skykomish]], who also used most of the [[Pilchuck River]] basin for hunting.<ref name="Hollenbeck">{{cite book|last1=Hollenbeck |first1=Jan L. |last2=Moss |first2=Madonna |year=1987 |title=A Cultural Resource Overview: Prehistory, Ethnography and History: Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest |page=167 |publisher=[[United States Forest Service]] |oclc=892024380 |url=https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/005998596 |via=[[HathiTrust]] |access-date=April 30, 2020}}</ref> The first [[Homestead Acts|homesteads]] around the lake were established by emigrants in the 1880s, beginning with Joseph William Davison's {{convert|160|acre|km2|adj=on}} claim along the east shore filed in 1886.<ref name="PI-Centennial">{{cite news |last=Twekesbury |first=Don |date=May 15, 1989 |title=Lake Stevens tackles ambitious birthday projects |page=B1 |work=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]}}</ref> A two-[[city block|block]] townsite at the northeast end of the lake named "Outing" was claimed on October 8, 1889, by Charles A. Missimer and [[plat]]ted the following year.<ref name="HistoryLink">{{cite web |last=Blake |first=Warner |date=December 8, 2017 |title=Lake Stevens — Thumbnail History |url=http://www.historylink.org/File/20491 |work=[[HistoryLink]] |access-date=February 14, 2019}}</ref> The construction of the [[Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway]] along the eastern side of the Pilchuck River Valley in 1889 spurred the creation of more settlements in the area. Among them were Machias in 1890, which was followed by Hartford (originally named "Ferry"), later a major junction for the [[Everett and Monte Cristo Railway]] completed in 1892.<ref>{{cite book |last=Whitfield |first=William M. |year=1926 |title=History of Snohomish County, Washington |pages=614, 617 |publisher=Pioneer Historical Publishing Company |location=Chicago |oclc=8437390 |url=https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/102122401 |via=HathiTrust |access-date=April 30, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Hastie |editor1-first=Thomas P. |editor2-last=Batey |editor2-first=David |editor3-last=Sisson |editor3-first=E.A. |editor4-last=Graham |editor4-first=Albert L. |title=An Illustrated History of Skagit and Snohomish Counties |year=1906 |page=[https://archive.org/details/illustratedhisto00inte/page/372 372] |chapter=Chapter VI: Cities and Towns |publisher=Interstate Publishing Company |location=Chicago |lccn=06030900 |oclc=11299996 |url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedhisto00inte |via=The Internet Archive |access-date=May 13, 2020}}</ref>

[[File:Lake Stevens, WA - North Cove Park 04.jpg|thumb|right|North Cove Park, near the former site of the Rucker Brothers sawmill]]

Outing was later vacated and sold between various investors before the townsite was acquired in 1905 by the [[Rucker Brothers]], who planned to build a [[sawmill]] after a previous venture by [[Jacob Falconer]] had failed.<ref name="PI-1998">{{cite news |last=Schubert |first=Ruth |date=September 5, 1998 |title=Struggling to hold on to the small-town feel |page=D1 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref> The Rucker Brothers constructed a railroad spur from Hartford and redirected the flow of Cassidy Creek, the main outlet of the lake, to prepare land for their [[wood shingle|shingle]] mill, which opened in 1907.<ref name="HistoryLink"/> A plat for the town of Lake Stevens was filed by the Rucker Brothers on February 8, 1908, including a business district and residences to accommodate the mill's 250 workers.{{sfnp|Whitfield|1926|pages=616–617}} The sawmill, one of the largest in the United States, was partially destroyed in a 1919 fire and later rebuilt.<ref name="Herald-Incorp">{{cite news |date=November 23, 2019 |title=Looking back: Lake Stevens votes to become a city |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/looking-back-lake-stevens-votes-to-become-a-city/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=April 30, 2020}}</ref> It was permanently closed after a second fire in 1925 and dismantled, causing many residents to leave the area.<ref name="HistoryLink"/> One of the remnants from the old mill was a locomotive that sunk in the early 1910s and was rediscovered in 1995 by a [[U.S. Navy]] training team, following a request from the local [[historical society]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Barrios |first=Joseph |date=July 24, 1995 |title=Lake Stevens' locomotive legend a reality |page=B1 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19950724&slug=2133047 |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=May 6, 2020}}</ref>

By the mid-1920s, the entire shoreline of Lake Stevens had been divided into small lots and tracts for summer homes and resorts.{{sfnp|Whitfield|1926|pages=616–617}} Following the demise of the Rucker mill, Lake Stevens was primarily a [[resort town|resort community]] that drew 3,000 visitors on busy days to fish, swim, and [[water skiing|water-ski]] on the lake.<ref name="Times-Museum">{{cite news |last=Whitely |first=Peyton |date=August 20, 2003 |title=Museum collection keeps close track of small city's history |page=H3 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=20030820&slug=museum20n |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=May 13, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Cameron-256">{{cite book |last1=Cameron |first1=David A. |last2=LeWarne |first2=Charles P. |last3=May |first3=M. Allan |last4=O'Donnell |first4=Jack C. |last5=O'Donnell |first5=Lawrence E. |year=2005 |title=Snohomish County: An Illustrated History |page=256 |publisher=Kelcema Books LLC |location=Index, Washington |isbn=978-0-9766700-0-1 |oclc=62728798}}</ref> While the major lakeside resorts were successful, the Lake Stevens area saw little residential and commercial development for several decades as the downtown area stagnated.<ref name="Times-Ghost">{{cite news |last=Whitely |first=Peyton |date=September 15, 2004 |title=Book recalls time before downtown was "ghost town" |page=H16 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=20040915&slug=mitchell15n |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=May 13, 2020}}</ref> The first [[Hewitt Avenue Trestle]] was completed in 1939, providing an elevated highway over the [[Snohomish River]] floodplain between Everett and Cavalero Hill, with onward connections to areas around Lake Stevens.{{sfnp|Cameron|LeWarne|May|O'Donnell|2005|p=253}}

Suburban development around Lake Stevens began in the 1950s, shortly after plans were announced to build a large [[shopping center]] named Frontier Village at the intersection of two state highways west of the lake (later [[Washington State Route 9|State Route 9]] and [[Washington State Route 204|State Route 204]]). Business owners in downtown Lake Stevens proposed [[Municipal incorporation|incorporation]] in 1958 to prevent retailers from relocating to the new shopping center, offering local control of policing and street maintenance with no increase in taxes.<ref name="HL-Incorp">{{cite web |last=Blake |first=Warner |date=December 8, 2017 |title=Town of Lake Stevens incorporates on November 21, 1960. |url=https://www.historylink.org/File/20492 |work=HistoryLink |access-date=May 14, 2020}}</ref> On November 19, 1960, Lake Stevens voted 299–40 in favor of incorporating as a city, which was certified by the state government on November 29. The town boundaries were set around downtown and included an estimated 900 residents.<ref name="Herald-Incorp"/><ref name="LSJ-25Years">{{cite news |last=Shoudy |first=Ad |date=July 24, 1985 |title=City celebrates first twenty-five years |pages=8–9 |work=Lake Stevens Journal |url=http://lsj.stparchive.com/Archive/LSJ/LSJ07241985P08.php |via=Lake Stevens Historical Museum |access-date=May 14, 2020 |archive-date=March 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220330044146/http://lsj.stparchive.com/Archive/LSJ/LSJ07241985P08.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> The city government purchased a former [[post office]] building for use as a [[city hall]], which included a [[jail]] that was never used due to a change in state laws.<ref name="HL-Incorp"/><ref name="LSJ-25Years"/>

The development of resorts around Lake Stevens also caused water quality to deteriorate, necessitating the creation of a voluntary drainage district in 1932 to manage runoff and pollution. It was replaced in 1963 by an independent [[sewer district]], which mandated vegetation buffers for homes and later installed a large [[aeration]] system to slow the growth of [[algae]] in the lake.<ref name="HistoryLink"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Whitely |first=Peyton |date=July 14, 2004 |title=Lake aerator ready, but isn't needed yet |page=H26 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=20040714&slug=aeration14n |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=May 13, 2020}}</ref> Frontier Village opened in 1960 and later expanded as State Route 9 and State Route 204 were improved through the area. A new highway bypassing downtown, [[Washington State Route 92|State Route 92]], opened at the end of the decade.<ref name="HistoryLink"/> The area around Frontier Village was developed into a suburban [[commuter town]] in the 1970s and 1980s with the construction of several residential [[subdivision (land)|subdivisions]].<ref name="Times-2007">{{cite news |last=Siderius |first=Christina |date=March 25, 2007 |title=Lake Stevens: City looks big but feels like a small town |page=E5 |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/real-estate/lake-stevens-city-looks-big-but-feels-like-a-small-town/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=May 8, 2020}}</ref><ref name="HazardPlan">{{cite report |date=September 2015 |title=Snohomish County Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Update, Volume 2: Planning Partner Annexes |page=8{{hyphen}}2 |url=https://snohomishcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/14608 |publisher=Snohomish County |access-date=May 1, 2020}}</ref> [[Hewlett-Packard]] won approval from the county government to build a {{convert|125|acre|ha|adj=mid}} manufacturing plant northwest of Lake Stevens in 1983, despite opposition from local residents looking to preserve the area's rural character.<ref>{{cite news |last=Underwood |first=Doug |date=April 5, 1981 |title=SORE point: Hewlett-Packard rezoning faces challenge |page=D5 |work=The She Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Bergsman |first=Jerry |date=February 6, 1985 |title=Hewlett-Packard begins move to new home |page=H1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>

By the late 1990s, the city had over 5,700 residents and was among the fastest-growing cities in the state. The unincorporated areas to the west of the lake also grew to over 20,000 people, adding [[multi-family housing]] to its existing inventory of single-family neighborhoods, and rejected an attempt to build a second shopping center and commercial complex on Cavalero Hill.<ref name="PI-1998"/><ref name="HazardPlan"/> Lake Stevens unsuccessfully attempted to [[annexation|annex]] the western neighborhoods in 1993, but adopted plans to create "one community around the lake" and revitalize its downtown.<ref name="PI-1998"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Logg |first=Cathy |date=December 2, 2005 |title=Lake Stevens attempts maximum annexations |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/lake-stevens-attempts-maximum-annexations/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 14, 2020}}</ref> The first major annexations were completed in 2006, adding {{convert|1,563|acre|ha}} around Frontier Village and the north end of the lake.<ref>{{cite news |last=Holtz |first=Jackson |date=December 22, 2006 |title=City takes over control of lake |work=The Everett Herald}}</ref> From 2000 to 2010, the city quadrupled in population to nearly 30,000 people and added {{convert|5|sqmi|sqkm}}.<ref name="Herald-Growing">{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=August 15, 2014 |title=Rapid expansion has caused growing pains for Lake Stevens |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/rapid-expansion-has-caused-growing-pains-for-lake-stevens/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 5, 2020}}</ref> The largest annexation, consisting of {{convert|9|sqmi|sqkm}} in the southwest corner of the Lake Stevens [[urban growth boundary|urban growth area]], was completed in December 2009 and added more than 10,000 residents.<ref name="Herald-SW2009">{{cite news |last=Sheets |first=Bill |date=December 29, 2009 |title=Lake Stevens to add more than 10,000 through annexation |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/lake-stevens-to-add-more-than-10000-through-annexation/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 5, 2020}}</ref> Further annexations of areas to the southeast of the lake are planned to complete the full encirclement of Lake Stevens.<ref name="Herald-Annexations">{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=October 21, 2016 |title=Annexations would add thousands of people to Lake Stevens |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/annexations-would-add-thousands-of-people-to-lake-stevens/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=October 18, 2019}}</ref>

The city government adopted plans in 2018 to redevelop downtown Lake Stevens with denser housing and commercial use, including [[mixed-use development|mixed-use buildings]] and walkable streets.<ref name="Herald-Downtown">{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=July 14, 2018 |title=Plan paints picture of change for downtown Lake Stevens |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/plan-paints-picture-of-change-for-downtown-lake-stevens/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 5, 2020}}</ref> The former [[city hall]] in downtown was demolished in 2017 as part of an expansion for North Cove Park, with city services temporarily relocated at an adjacent building until a permanent replacement is built.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=December 5, 2016 |title=Demolition time: Lake Stevens readies for new City Hall |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/demolition-time-lake-stevens-readies-for-new-city-hall/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 5, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Herald-LibraryBond">{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=December 29, 2017 |title=Voters again will consider a Lake Stevens library bond |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/lake-stevens-library-bond-going-back-in-front-of-voters/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 5, 2020}}</ref> The police station was relocated to an abandoned fire station and will open a new headquarters building on Chapel Hill in the 2020s.<ref name="Herald-Downtown"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Davey |first=Stephanie |date=September 30, 2019 |title=Lake Stevens police may soon have a new station |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/lake-stevens-police-may-soon-have-a-new-station/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 5, 2020}}</ref> An earlier plan to combine city services, the police station, and a new [[library]] at a [[civic campus]] on Chapel Hill fell through after the failure of a library bond measure.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=May 12, 2015 |title=Plan for new Lake Stevens civic center resurfaces |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/plan-for-new-lake-stevens-civic-center-resurfaces/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 5, 2020}}</ref> The {{convert|3|acre|ha|adj=mid}} property had been acquired in 2016 and is planned to be rezoned for commercial use.<ref>{{cite news |last=Haun |first=Riley |date=November 25, 2022 |title=On site once planned for city hall, Lake Stevens OK's commercial rezone |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/on-site-once-planned-for-city-hall-lake-stevens-oks-commercial-rezone/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=May 2, 2023}}</ref>

==Geography==

Lake Stevens is located {{convert|35|mi|km}} northeast of [[Seattle]] and {{convert|6|mi|km}} northeast of [[Everett, Washington|Everett]], between the cities of [[Marysville, Washington|Marysville]] and [[Snohomish, Washington|Snohomish]].<ref name="Times-Hwy9">{{cite news |last=Lindblom |first=Mike |date=September 3, 2019 |title=Washington's unofficial freeway: Highway 9 in Lake Stevens strains under a suburban boom |page=A1 |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/washingtons-unofficial-freeway-highway-9-in-lake-stevens-strains-under-a-suburban-boom/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=April 30, 2020}}</ref><ref name="SnoCo-Lake">{{cite web |title=Lake Stevens |url=https://snohomishcountywa.gov/5393/Stevens |publisher=Snohomish County Public Works |access-date=April 30, 2020}}</ref> The city's boundaries are generally defined to the north by State Route 92, to the east by the [[Centennial Trail (Snohomish County)|Centennial Trail]], to the south by 28th Street Southeast, and to the west by State Route 204.<ref name="CityMap">{{cite map |date=November 2017 |title=City of Lake Stevens Address and Street Map |url=https://www.lakestevenswa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6002/Streets-Address-Map-2017 |publisher=City of Lake Stevens |access-date=October 18, 2019}}</ref> According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|9.30|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|9.17|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.14|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020"/> The eponymous lake is not part of the city, but is part of the unincorporated [[urban growth boundary|urban growth area]] that also covers several neighborhoods on the southeast side of the lake.<ref name="CityMap"/> The urban growth area has been sought for annexations in the early 21st century.<ref name="Herald-Annexations"/><ref name="Times-Lake2021">{{cite news |last=Davey |first=Stephanie |date=January 5, 2021 |title=Thousands of residents — and the lake — could join Lake Stevens |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/thousands-of-residents-and-the-lake-could-join-lake-stevens/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=January 6, 2021}}</ref>

The city lies on a plateau between the [[Snohomish River]] delta, which separates it from Everett and [[Ebey Island]] to the west, and the foothills of the [[Cascade Mountains]].<ref name="Comp">{{cite web |date=September 2015 |title=Chapter 1: Introduction |page=2 |url=https://www.lakestevenswa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1977/2015-CHAP-1_INTRO_9-22-15 |work=City of Lake Stevens 2015–2035 Comprehensive Plan |publisher=City of Lake Stevens |access-date=May 11, 2020}}</ref> It surrounds the north and east sides of Lake Stevens, the largest and deepest lake in Snohomish County, with an area of {{convert|1040|acre|ha|abbr=on}} and an average depth of {{convert|64|ft|m}}.<ref name="SnoCo-Lake"/><ref name="Lake2003">{{cite web |date=March 2003 |title=State of the Lakes Report: Lake Stevens |pages=2–4 |url=https://snohomishcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/34835/2003-Lake-Stevens-State-of-the-Lakes-Report-PDF |publisher=Snohomish County Public Works |access-date=May 14, 2020}}</ref> The lake has {{convert|7.1|mi|km}} of shoreline and is fed by Lundeen Creek, Mitchell (Kokanee) Creek, and Stitch Creek. It drains into Catherine Creek, which then flows to the [[Pilchuck River]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Lake Stevens At A Glance |url=https://www.lakestevenswa.gov/408/The-Lake |publisher=City of Lake Stevens |access-date=August 20, 2019}}</ref> The lake's relatively small watershed, at {{convert|4371|acre|ha}}, minimizes the effect of upstream pollution but reduces flow to remove pollutants.<ref name="Lake2003"/> Lake Stevens installed aeration system in the 1990s to control the release of [[phosphorus]] from lake sediments, which caused unwanted algae growth.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lake Stevens Lake Water Quality Restoration History |url=https://snohomishcountywa.gov/3628/Lake-Stevens-Water-Quality |publisher=Snohomish County Public Works |access-date=May 14, 2020}}</ref> Most of the shoreline is heavily developed, with little remaining native vegetation, and Lake Stevens is used for recreational fishing, swimming, boating, and skiing.<ref name="Lake2003"/>

Lake Stevens has two major commercial centers: downtown and Frontier Village. Downtown Lake Stevens is located on the northeastern arm of the lake and has been undergoing redevelopment since the 1990s.<ref>{{cite news |last=Goffredo |first=Theresa |date=June 2, 2001 |title=A downtown is taking shape in Lake Stevens |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/business/a-downtown-is-taking-shape-in-lake-stevens/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=October 19, 2019}}</ref> Frontier Village is located west of the lake at the intersection of State Route 9 and State Route 204 and is a traditional suburban shopping center with strip malls and [[big box store]]s.<ref name="Herald-Frontier">{{cite news |last=Fetters |first=Eric |date=June 27, 2004 |title=Expanding Frontier |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/business/expanding-frontier/ |work=The Everett Herald Business Journal |access-date=October 19, 2019}}</ref> The city government also has several designated neighborhoods and planning areas: [[Cavalero, Washington|Cavalero Hill]], Frontier Village, the Hartford Industrial Area, and Machias.<ref>{{cite web |date=September 2015 |title=Chapter 2: Land Use |pages=10–11 |url=https://www.lakestevenswa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5985/2017-CHAP-2_LAND-USE_CLEAN-1-24-18 |work=City of Lake Stevens 2015–2035 Comprehensive Plan |publisher=City of Lake Stevens |access-date=May 14, 2020}}</ref>

==Economy==

{{As of|2018}}, Lake Stevens has an estimated workforce population of 23,393 people, of which 15,084 are employed. The largest sectors of employment are manufacturing (18%), followed by educational and health services (17%), retail (13%), and professional services (11%).<ref name="ACS">{{cite web |year=2019 |title=Selected Economic Characteristics: Lake Stevens, Washington |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=DP03&g=1600000US5337900&tid=ACSDP5Y2018.DP03&hidePreview=true |work=[[American Community Survey]] |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=May 8, 2020}}</ref> The majority of workers in the city commute to other areas for employment, including 20 percent to Everett, 13 percent to Seattle, and 4 percent to [[Bellevue, Washington|Bellevue]]. Approximately 6.3 percent of Lake Stevens residents work within the city limits.<ref name="LSEA">{{cite web |date=January 7, 2011 |title=Lake Stevens Economic Assessment |pages=22–24 |url=https://www.lakestevenswa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/315/Lake-Stevens-Economic-Assessment-Report_06 |publisher=City of Lake Stevens |access-date=May 8, 2020}}</ref><ref name="OnTheMap">{{cite web |title=Work Destination Report&nbsp;— Where Workers are Employed Who Live in the Selection Area&nbsp;— by Places (Cities, CDPs, etc.) |url=https://onthemap.ces.census.gov/ |publisher=United States Census Bureau |via=OnTheMap |access-date=May 8, 2020}}</ref> Over 81 percent of workers commute in [[single-occupancy vehicle|single-occupant]] vehicles, while 2 percent take [[public transportation]] and less than 10 percent use [[carpool]]s.<ref name="ACS"/>

The city had 1,553 registered businesses with 4,202 total jobs, according to 2012 estimates by the U.S. Census and [[Puget Sound Regional Council]].<ref name="USCB-Profile">{{cite web |title=Profile: Lake Stevens, Washington |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US5337900 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=May 8, 2020}}</ref><ref name="PSRC-Employment">{{cite web |title=2012 Covered Employment Estimates |url=https://www.psrc.org/covered-employment-estimates |publisher=[[Puget Sound Regional Council]] |access-date=May 8, 2020}}</ref> The largest provider of jobs in Lake Stevens came from businesses in the services sector, at 1,595, followed by education (991) and retail (696).<ref name="PSRC-Employment"/> The city's largest employer is the [[Lake Stevens School District]], followed by aerospace manufacturer Cobalt Enterprises, which is headquartered in the Hartford industrial area and expanded its facilities in 2016.<ref>{{cite web |title=Profile: Lake Stevens, Washington |url=https://www.economicalliancesc.org/lake-stevens/ |publisher=[[Economic Alliance Snohomish County]] |access-date=May 8, 2020 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Catchpole |first=Dan |date=May 4, 2017 |title=Aerospace suppliers spending huge sums to boost capacity |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/aerospace-suppliers-spending-huge-sums-to-boost-capacity/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 8, 2020}}</ref> Over 20 percent of people with jobs based in Lake Stevens live within city limits, while the rest commute from nearby cities in northern Snohomish County.<ref name="OnTheMap"/>

[[Hewlett-Packard]] opened a large manufacturing facility on Soper Hill northwest of Lake Stevens in 1985 for its test and measurement division, following a planning dispute with the county government. The test and measurement division was later spun off into [[Agilent]] and shared its Lake Stevens facility with [[Solectron]]. The {{convert|270,000|sqft|sqm|adj=mid}} plant had 1,000 employees at its peak, but was closed in 2002 after several rounds of layoffs.<ref>{{cite news |date=September 2002 |title=Agilent to close Lake Stevens campus, lay off 40 |url=http://www.heraldbusinessjournal.com/archive/sep02/agilent-sep02.htm |work=The Everett Herald Business Journal |access-date=April 28, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Corliss |first=Bryan |date=December 18, 2001 |title=Solectron plant to close |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/solectron-plant-to-close/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=April 28, 2020}}</ref> The {{convert|133|acre|ha|adj=mid}} site was later redeveloped into a suburban housing complex in the mid-2000s.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fetters |first=Eric |date=October 17, 2003 |title=Former Agilent site to be redeveloped |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/business/former-agilent-site-to-be-redeveloped/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=April 28, 2020}}</ref>

Lake Stevens is home to a large retail district anchored by Frontier Village, a shopping center located at the intersection of State Route 9 and State Route 204. It was developed beginning in the 1960s and now encompasses more than {{convert|208,000|sqft|sqm}} of retail space, spread across several [[strip mall]]s.<ref name="Herald-Frontier"/> A [[Costco]] store opened in December 2022 at the intersection of State Route 9 and 20th Street Southeast with a {{convert|160,000|sqft|sqm|adj=mid}} building, a gas station with 30 pumps, and 800 parking stalls. A development agreement was approved by the city government in December 2019 after a year of planning and several lawsuits from residents over impacts to the environment and traffic conditions.<ref>{{cite news |last=Haun |first=Riley |date=December 4, 2022 |title=The wait is over as Costco opens in Lake Stevens |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/the-wait-is-over-as-costco-opens-in-lake-stevens/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=December 6, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Davey |first=Stephanie |date=December 11, 2019 |title=Lake Stevens City Council approves Costco agreement |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/lake-stevens-city-council-approves-costco-agreement/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 8, 2020}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1950= 2586
|1960= 1538
|1970= 1283
|1980= 1660
|1990= 3380
|2000= 6361
|2010= 28069
|2020= 35630
|estyear= 2023
|estimate= 40521
|estref= <ref name="Census-Estimate2023"/>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web |title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 26, 2013}}</ref>
}}

Lake Stevens is the sixth-largest city in Snohomish County, with a population of 35,630 as of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Herald-Census2020">{{cite news |last=Thompson |first=Joseph |date=August 13, 2021 |title=2020 Census: Snohomish County grows by more than 114,000 |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/2020-census-snohomish-county-grows-by-more-than-114000/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=January 26, 2025}}</ref> The city has been the fastest-growing in the county since 2000, with its population increasing by 18 percent from 2010 to 2018 through new residential development in the southwest and annexation of other areas.<ref name="Herald-Growth">{{cite news |last1=Haglund |first1=Noah |last2=Bray |first2=Kari |date=May 28, 2017 |title=Explosive growth encircles once-idyllic Lake Stevens |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/lake-stevens-going-through-yet-another-growth-spurt/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 5, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Davey |first=Stephanie |date=November 1, 2019 |title=City Council members face off in Lake Stevens mayoral race |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/city-council-members-face-off-in-lake-stevens-mayoral-race/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 5, 2020}}</ref> The city was originally the 11th largest in the county, but jumped to fifth by annexing 10,000 people in December 2009.<ref name="Herald-SW2009"/>

===2010 census===

As of the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]], there were 28,069 people, 9,810 households, and 7,250 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|3160.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 10,414 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1172.7|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|racial makeup]] of the city was 85.1% White, 1.7% African American, 0.9% Native American, 3.6% Asian, 0.4% Pacific Islander, 3.2% from other races, and 5.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.6% of the population.<ref name="Census-QuickFacts">{{cite web |title=QuickFacts: Lake Stevens, Washington |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/lakestevenscitywashington |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=May 14, 2020}}</ref>

There were 9,810 households, of which 45.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 26.1% were non-families. 19.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.26.<ref name="Census-QuickFacts"/>

The median age in the city was 32.5 years. 29.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 32.2% were from 25 to 44; 23% were from 45 to 64; and 6.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.9% male and 50.1% female.<ref name="Census-QuickFacts"/>

===2000 census===

As of the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]], there were 6,361 people, 2,139 households, and 1,683 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,951.8 people per square mile (1,142.3/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 2,234 housing units at an average density of 1,036.7 per square mile (401.2/km<sup>2</sup>). The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|racial makeup]] of the city was 92.31% White, 0.60% African American, 0.91% Native American, 1.10% Asian, 0.31% Pacific Islander, 0.90% from other races, and 3.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.55% of the population.<ref name="Census2000">{{cite web |year=2000 |title=Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: Lake Stevens city, Washington |url=https://www.psrc.org/sites/default/files/lakestevens.pdf |publisher=United States Census Bureau |via=Puget Sound Regional Council |access-date=May 14, 2020}}</ref>

There were 2,139 households, out of which 49.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.5% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.3% were non-families. 15.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.30.<ref name="Census2000"/>

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 33.9% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 36.3% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 5.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males.<ref name="Census2000"/>

The median income for a household in the city was $65,231, and the median income for a family was $68,250. Males had a median income of $51,536 versus $30,239 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $22,943. About 3.8% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="Census2000"/>

==Government and politics==

Lake Stevens is a non-charter [[City government in Washington (state)|code city]] with a [[Mayor–council government|mayor–council]] system of government.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chapter 2.04: Noncharter Code City |url=https://www.codepublishing.com/WA/LakeStevens/html/LakeStevens02/LakeStevens0204.html |work=Lake Stevens Municipal Code |publisher=City of Lake Stevens |via=Code Publishing Company |access-date=April 30, 2020}}</ref> The [[city council]] serves as the legislative body of the city government and has seven members who are elected [[at-large]] to four-year terms in staggered elections.<ref name="Audit">{{cite web |date=February 4, 2019 |title=Accountability Audit Report: City of Lake Stevens (2017) |page=6 |url=https://portal.sao.wa.gov/ReportSearch/Home/ViewReportFile?arn=1023172&isFinding=false&sp=false |publisher=[[Washington State Auditor]] |access-date=April 30, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Budget"/>{{rp|34}} The council holds regular meetings twice a month at the Lake Stevens School District administrative headquarters and a work session during other weeks as needed.<ref>{{cite web |title=City Council |url=https://www.lakestevenswa.gov/319/City-Council |publisher=City of Lake Stevens |access-date=April 30, 2020}}</ref><ref name="AboutGovernment">{{cite web |title=Lake Stevens City Government |url=http://www.ci.lake-stevens.wa.us/citygov.htm |publisher=City of Lake Stevens |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214134649/http://www.ci.lake-stevens.wa.us/citygov.htm |archive-date=February 14, 2008 |access-date=April 30, 2020}}</ref> The [[mayor]] is a full-time position that is also elected by Lake Stevens residents and serves as the executive of the city government during a four-year term.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cornfield |first=Jerry |date=October 20, 2021 |title=Lake Stevens' first full-time mayor will make $80,000 a year |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/lake-stevens-first-full-time-mayor-will-make-80000-a-year/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=March 12, 2021}}</ref> Former city councilmember Brett Gailey, who was also employed by the [[Everett Police Department]], was elected as mayor in 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last=Haglund |first=Noah |date=November 6, 2019 |title=Edmonds, Lake Stevens and Sultan usher in changes at the top |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/edmonds-lake-stevens-and-sultan-usher-in-changes-at-the-top/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=January 13, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Bryan |first=Zachariah |date=May 4, 2020 |title=Everett settles cop's discrimination lawsuit for $549,000 |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/everett-settles-cops-discrimination-lawsuit-for-549000/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 4, 2020}}</ref>

The city government has budgeted expenditures of $50.4&nbsp;million and revenues of $43.4&nbsp;million in 2020, largely funded by [[sales tax|sales]], [[property tax|property]], and [[utility tax|utility]] taxes.<ref name="Budget">{{cite web |date=November 1, 2019 |title=City of Lake Stevens 2020 Adopted Budget |page=13 |url=https://www.lakestevenswa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8113/City-of-Lake-Stevens-2020-Budget-Book |publisher=City of Lake Stevens |access-date=May 1, 2020}}</ref> It has 85 employees organized into departments of [[economic development]], [[finance]], [[human resources]], [[parks and recreation]], [[urban planning|planning]], [[police department|policing]], and [[public works]].<ref name="Audit"/><ref name="Budget"/>{{rp|23}} Lake Stevens has several non-elected executive positions, including the city administrator, city clerk, police chief, planning director, public works director, and community programs planner.<ref name="AboutGovernment"/> Several regional agencies provide other services, such as [[fire protection]], [[library]] access, and water management.<ref name="AboutGovernment"/>

In addition to elected and executive positions, Lake Stevens has seven [[advisory board|boards and commissions]] that advise the city council on a variety of specific issues. They are composed of volunteer citizens who are appointed to set terms by the mayor with the approval of the city council.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=September 3, 2014 |title=Lake Stevens sets up city salary commission |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/lake-stevens-sets-up-city-salary-commission/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 5, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=May 7, 2017 |title=Lake Stevens forms group to focus on rights, needs of veterans |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/lake-stevens-forms-group-to-focus-on-rights-needs-of-veterans/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 5, 2020}}</ref> The boards and commissions are tasked with managing arts, civil service and police, the public library, parks and recreation, planning, city salaries, and veterans' rights.<ref name="AboutGovernment"/><ref>{{cite web |date=February 2020 |title=Title 2: Administration and Personnel |pages=35–47 |url=https://www.codepublishing.com/WA/LakeStevens/html/pdfs/LakeStevens02.pdf |work=Lake Stevens Municipal Code |publisher=City of Lake Stevens |via=Code Publishing Company |access-date=May 5, 2020}}</ref>

At the federal level, Lake Stevens is part of the [[Washington's 1st congressional district|1st congressional district]], which is represented by Democrat [[Suzan DelBene]] and stretches from [[Arlington, Washington|Arlington]] to [[Bellevue, Washington|Bellevue]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Cornfield |first=Jerry |date=October 24, 2022 |title=Incumbents DelBene, Larsen say country is heading in right direction |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/incumbents-delbene-larsen-say-country-is-heading-in-right-direction/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=January 15, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite map |author=Census Bureau Geography Division |year=2023 |title=118th Congress of the United States: Washington – Congressional District 1 |scale=1:118,000 |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/cong_dist/cd118/cd_based/ST53/CD118_WA01.pdf |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=January 15, 2024}}</ref> The city was part of the [[Washington's 2nd congressional district|2nd congressional district]] until a redistricting in 2012 that split most of Northwestern Washington.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cornfield |first=Jerry |date=January 3, 2012 |title=Stymied by redistricting, Liias scraps run for Congress |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/stymied-by-redistricting-liias-scraps-run-for-congress/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 5, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Cornfield |first=Jerry |date=July 28, 2018 |title=DelBene faces four challengers looking to change dynamic in DC |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/delbene-faces-four-challengers-looking-to-change-dynamic-in-dc/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 5, 2020}}</ref> At the state level, Lake Stevens shares the [[Washington's 39th legislative district|39th legislative district]] with [[Darrington, Washington|Darrington]], [[Granite Falls, Washington|Granite Falls]], and eastern [[Skagit County, Washington|Skagit County]].<ref>{{cite map |author=Washington State Redistricting Commission |date=July 15, 2022 |title=Legislative District 39 |page=40 |work=District Maps Booklet 2022 |url=https://leg.wa.gov/LIC/Documents/Maps/Redistricting%20Map%20Booklet_2022.pdf |publisher=Washington State Legislative Information Center |accessdate=January 15, 2024}}</ref> It was part of the [[Washington's 44th legislative district|44th legislative district]] until 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cornfield |first=Jerry |date=December 3, 2021 |title=State Supreme Court declines to draw new redistricting plan |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/state-supreme-court-declines-to-draw-new-redistricting-plan/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=January 15, 2024}}</ref> The city lies in the [[Snohomish County Council]]'s 5th district, which also includes Snohomish and the [[Skykomish Valley]].<ref>{{cite map |date=May 12, 2022 |title=Snohomish County: County Council Districts |url=https://snohomishcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/99589/County-Council-Districts-PDF |publisher=Snohomish County Elections |accessdate=January 15, 2024}}</ref>

==Culture==

The city's annual summer festival, Aquafest, is held at North Cove Park in downtown Lake Stevens over a three-day weekend in late July. It was founded in 1960 and includes a boat parade, [[carnival]] rides, a [[car show]], and a [[circus]]. The 2018 festival was attended by 30,000 people.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Andrea |date=July 27, 2019 |title=Aquafest is three-day party on the Lake Stevens waterfront |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/aquafest-is-three-day-party-on-the-lake-stevens-waterfront/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=April 30, 2020}}</ref> An annual [[Ironman 70.3]] [[triathlon]] was added to Aquafest in the 2000s and features a {{convert|70.3|mi|km|adj=mid}} course with swimming, cycling, and running segments.<ref name="Fiege">{{cite news |last=Fiege |first=Gale |date=August 15, 2014 |title=Lake is just the jumping off point for fun in Lake Stevens |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/life/lake-is-just-the-jumping-off-point-for-fun-in-lake-stevens/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=March 25, 2019}}</ref> The triathlon also serves as a qualifier for the [[Ironman World Championship]].<ref>{{cite news |date=July 7, 2008 |title=Aussies duel at Lake Stevens Ironman triathlon |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/sports/aussies-duel-at-lake-stevens-ironman-triathlon/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Cane |first=Mike |date=July 21, 2006 |title=Committed to the triathlon challenge |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/sports/committed-to-the-triathlon-challenge/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 11, 2020}}</ref>

===Parks and recreation===
[[File:Lake Stevens WA panorama from Wyatt Park.jpg|thumb|right|[[Cascade Mountains]] seen from Davies Beach]]

Lake Stevens has {{convert|195|acre|ha}} of parks and open space managed by the city government, Snohomish County, and the [[Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Mattingly-Arthur |first=Megan |date=February 10, 2016 |title=Natural beauty of Lake Stevens |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/advertising/natural-beauty-of-lake-stevens/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=April 30, 2020}}</ref> The city government owns {{convert|158|acre|ha}} and has nine parks that are categorized as community parks, neighborhood parks, mini-parks, and other facilities.<ref name="Comp-Parks">{{cite web |date=September 2015 |title=Chapter 5: Parks, Recreation and Open Space Element |pages=4–5 |url=https://www.lakestevenswa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5986/2017-CHAP-5_PARKS_Clean_1-24-18 |work=City of Lake Stevens 2015–2035 Comprehensive Plan |publisher=City of Lake Stevens |access-date=May 12, 2020}}</ref> In addition to public facilities, the Lake Stevens area has {{convert|139|acre|ha}} of private parks and open spaces that are owned by [[homeowner association]]s and other entities.<ref name="Comp-Parks"/>

The largest city-owned park is Eagle Ridge Community Park, located on {{convert|28|acre|ha}} near the northwest shore of the lake, but largely undeveloped.<ref>{{cite web |date=April 2018 |title=Eagle Ridge Park |url=https://www.lakestevenswa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5787/EagleRidge20180417 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019115310/https://www.lakestevenswa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5787/EagleRidge20180417 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 19, 2021 |publisher=City of Lake Stevens |access-date=May 12, 2020 }}</ref> The county government owns three community parks in the Lake Stevens area. Cavalero Community Park opened in 2009 and consists of two fenced [[dog park]]s, an open field, and a planned [[skate park]] on {{convert|32|acre|ha}}.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=December 9, 2016 |title='Worth the wait': Lake Stevens skate park could open by August |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/plans-for-skate-park-in-lake-stevens-finalized/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 12, 2020}}</ref> Lake Stevens Community Park is located east of downtown and includes several [[soccer]] and [[baseball]] fields on {{convert|43|acre|ha}} of former timber land.<ref name="Comp-Parks"/>{{rp|7–8}}<ref>{{cite web |date=April 2018 |title=Lake Stevens Community Park |url=https://www.lakestevenswa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5788/Lake-Stevens-Community-Park20180417 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019123930/https://www.lakestevenswa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5788/Lake-Stevens-Community-Park20180417 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 19, 2021 |publisher=City of Lake Stevens |access-date=May 12, 2020 }}</ref> Davies Beach (formerly Willard Wyatt Park) lies at the foot of Chapel Hill on the western lakeshore and includes a beach, [[boat launch]], and a [[boathouse]] for rowing teams.<ref>{{cite news |last=Banel |first=Feliks |date=February 21, 2020 |title=All Over The Map: Family responds to name being removed from Lake Stevens park |url=https://mynorthwest.com/1728103/all-over-the-map-wyatt-park-lake-stevens-renaming/? |work=MyNorthwest.com |access-date=April 30, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Sanders |first=Julia-Grace |date=May 2, 2019 |title=New Lake Stevens boathouse honors one of the 'Boys' of 1936 |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/lake-stevens-boathouse-honors-joe-rantzs-enterprising-legacy/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 12, 2020}}</ref>

Several city parks are located along the shore of Lake Stevens, providing beaches with swimming areas and fishing docks.<ref name="Comp-Parks"/>{{rp|11–14}} Lundeen Park is the largest of the city's beaches and was developed out of a former resort that opened in 1908.<ref name="HistoryLink"/> It also offers [[paddleboard]] and [[kayak]] rentals, a [[visitors center]], and a [[concession stand]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=June 28, 2016 |title=Changes at Lake Stevens park include paddlesport rentals |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/changes-at-lake-stevens-park-include-paddlesport-rentals/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 12, 2020}}</ref> At the northeast end of the lake is North Cove Park, a downtown park that is planned to be developed into an urban gathering space.<ref name="Herald-Downtown"/> A [[disc golf]] course was opened in 2000 at Catherine Creek Park, a small park with hiking trails and natural areas.<ref name="Fiege"/><ref name="Comp-Parks"/>{{rp|10}}

The county government also owns [[Snohomish County Centennial Trail|Centennial Trail]], an inter-city hiking, bicycling, and equestrian [[rail trail]]. It travels {{convert|30|mi|km}} between [[Arlington, Washington|Arlington]] and [[Snohomish, Washington|Snohomish]], passing through the east side of Lake Stevens.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fiege |first=Gale |date=August 9, 2013 |title=People traveling Centennial Trail, end to end, for 1st time |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/people-traveling-centennial-trail-end-to-end-for-1st-time/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 12, 2020}}</ref> The city has several short trails that are owned by the Lake Stevens School District and private housing subdivisions, along with informal trails along a [[Electric power transmission|transmission line]] corridor.<ref name="Comp-Parks"/>{{rp|19}} Lake Stevens plans to develop and connect these routes into a full network, including the Bayview Trail on the transmission line in collaboration with the City of Marysville.<ref>{{cite news |last=Watanabe |first=Ben |date=February 14, 2022 |title=Transportation package could bring $600M to Snohomish County |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/transportation-package-could-bring-600m-to-snohomish-county/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=May 2, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Watanabe |first=Ben |date=April 30, 2023 |title=Lake Stevens, Marysville seek Bayview Trail design input |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/lake-stevens-marysville-seek-bayview-trail-design-input/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=May 2, 2023}}</ref> The city government also manages a [[community center]] near the city hall and library. Several local [[rowing club]]s use Lake Stevens, including the in-city Lake Stevens Rowing Club that was founded in 1997.<ref name="Comp-Parks"/>{{rp|21–24}}<ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=January 19, 2017 |title=Lake Stevens Rowing Club brings together people of all ages |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/lake-stevens-rowing-club-brings-together-people-of-all-ages/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 12, 2020}}</ref>

===Historical preservation===
[[File:Lake Stevens,WA museum 01.jpg|thumb|right|The Lake Stevens Historical Museum, opened in 1989]]

The local [[historical society]] operated a [[museum]] adjacent to the city library that opened in 1989 and included exhibits with fixtures from historic buildings and a collection of documents and photographs.<ref name="Times-Museum"/> The museum grounds also included the Grimm House, a historic house that is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. The house was constructed in 1903 for a mill worker and moved to the museum grounds in 1996, later undergoing extensive renovations before opening for public tours in 2004.<ref>{{cite news |last=Thompson |first=Evan |date=October 6, 2019 |title=This Lake Stevens house is a relic of a time long gone |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/life/this-lake-stevens-house-is-a-relic-of-a-time-long-gone/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 13, 2020}}</ref> The museum was closed and demolished in June 2017 as part of the North Cove Park redevelopment, which also included moving the Grimm House to a new location adjacent to a future museum site.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=February 9, 2018 |title=Vote on Tuesday could be crucial for Lake Stevens project |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/vote-on-tuesday-could-be-crucial-for-lake-stevens-project/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 13, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Herald-Transformed">{{cite news |last=Breda |first=Isabella |date=June 26, 2021 |title=History will live on in a transformed Lake Stevens downtown |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/history-will-live-on-in-a-transformed-lake-stevens-downtown/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=June 27, 2021}}</ref>

==Notable people==

* [[Travis Bracht]], singer<ref>{{cite news |last=O'Donnell |first=Jack |date=July 30, 2014 |title=Seems Like Yesterday |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/seems-like-yesterday-119/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=June 6, 2020}}</ref>
* [[Jacob Eason]], professional American football player<ref>{{cite news |last=Vorel |first=Mike |date=April 25, 2020 |title=After falling to Indianapolis Colts in fourth round of NFL draft, former UW QB Jacob Eason vows to prove critics wrong |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/uw-husky-football/former-uw-huskies-qb-jacob-eason-falls-to-indianapolis-colts-in-fourth-round-of-nfl-draft/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=April 25, 2020}}</ref>
* [[Cory Kennedy (skateboarder)|Cory Kennedy]], professional skateboarder<ref>{{cite news |last1=Clarridge |first1=Christine |last2=Lacitis |first2=Erik |date=September 1, 2017 |title=Local pro skateboarder Cory Kennedy arrested after Vashon Island crash kills beloved videographer |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/crime/pro-skateboarder-cory-kennedy-in-jail-after-vashon-island-crash-kills-beloved-videographer/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=February 13, 2019}}</ref>
*[[Kathryn Holloway (volleyball)|Kathryn Holloway]], Paralympic volleyball player<ref>{{cite web |title=Katie Holloway |url=https://www.teamusa.org/Athletes/HO/Katie-Holloway.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425063916/http://www.teamusa.org/Athletes/HO/Katie-Holloway.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 25, 2012 |work=Team USA |publisher=[[United States Olympic Committee]] |access-date=March 12, 2021}}</ref>
* [[Chris Pratt]], actor<ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=September 25, 2014 |title=Chris Pratt's star rises, but Lake Stevens roots keep him grounded |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/life/chris-pratts-star-rises-but-lake-stevens-roots-keep-him-grounded/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=February 13, 2019}}</ref>
* [[Karla Wilson]], politician<ref>{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Andrea |date=January 31, 2023 |title=Former state Rep. Karla Wilson, 88, remembered as 'smart, energetic' |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/former-state-rep-karla-wilson-88-remembered-as-smart-energetic/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=February 2, 2023}}</ref>

==Education==

The [[Lake Stevens School District]] operates a system of public schools within the city and surrounding areas, including a portion of southeastern Marysville.<ref>{{cite map |date=December 21, 2017 |title=Snohomish County School Districts Map |url=http://www.snoco.org/docs/scd/PDF/PDS_CFP/Snohomish%20County%20School%20District.pdf |publisher=Snohomish County |access-date=October 19, 2019 |archive-date=October 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023065755/http://www.snoco.org/docs/scd/PDF/PDS_CFP/Snohomish%20County%20School%20District.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> The school district had an enrollment of approximately 8,838 students in 2016, with 436 total teachers and 239 other staff.<ref>{{cite web |title=Public School District Directory Information: Lake Stevens School District |url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_detail.asp?Search=2&ID2=5304200 |publisher=[[National Center for Education Statistics]] |access-date=October 19, 2019}}</ref> It has one high school, [[Lake Stevens High School]], which opened at its current campus in 1979 and was approved for renovation work in 2016.<ref>{{cite news |last=Frey |first=Lorna |date=September 26, 1979 |title=What high school students are saying about life at the new Viking High |page=1 |work=Lake Stevens Journal |url=http://lsj.stparchive.com/Archive/LSJ/LSJ09261979P01.php |via=Lake Stevens Historical Museum |access-date=April 28, 2020 |archive-date=November 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116085229/http://lsj.stparchive.com/Archive/LSJ/LSJ09261979P01.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> The renovation cost $116&nbsp;million and began construction in June 2018, opening its first phase in November 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last=Davey |first=Stephanie |date=February 29, 2020 |title=Lake Stevens now has a Snapchat-worthy high school |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/lake-stevens-now-has-a-snapchat-worthy-high-school/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 5, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Davey |first=Stephanie |date=March 22, 2019 |title=Lake Stevens High School remodeling delayed and over budget |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/lake-stevens-high-school-remodel-delayed-over-budget/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=October 19, 2019}}</ref> The school district also has one mid-high school for grades 8–9, two [[middle school]]s, and seven [[elementary school]]s. The newest elementary school, Stevens Creek, opened in 2018 alongside an adjacent early learning center.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=March 5, 2017 |title=Opening day for new Lake Stevens elementary delayed a year |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/opening-day-for-new-stevens-creek-elementary-pushed-back-a-full-year/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=October 19, 2019}}</ref>

The city's nearest post-secondary educational institutions are [[Everett Community College]] and [[Edmonds College]].<ref>{{cite web |title=College Navigator: ZIP Code 98258 |url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?s=all&zc=98258&zd=25&of=3 |publisher=National Center for Education Statistics |access-date=May 5, 2020}}</ref> During the late 2000s, Lake Stevens was a leading candidate for a proposed [[University of Washington North Sound|branch campus]] of the [[University of Washington]] (UW). The city government presented a {{convert|98|acre|ha|adj=mid}} site on the southwest side of Cavalero Hill that was among the four finalists in 2007, but attracted controversy from neighbors for using land promised for a county park.<ref>{{cite news |last=Thompson |first=Lynn |date=November 7, 2007 |title=Each of 4 finalist sites has promise, problems |page=I14 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Cornfield |first=Jerry |date=November 5, 2007 |title=Lake Stevens UW site loses ground |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/lake-stevens-uw-site-loses-ground/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 7, 2020}}</ref> The Lake Stevens proposal scored the lowest in a survey of the finalists and the project was abandoned entirely in 2008 due to a state budget shortfall.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cornfield |first=Jerry |date=January 24, 2008 |title=Lake Stevens officials make case for UW campus |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/lake-stevens-officials-make-case-for-uw-campus/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 7, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Long |first=Katherine |date=May 23, 2011 |title=Steps taken toward creating WSU branch campus in Everett |url=http://old.seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2015129940_wsu24m.html |work=The Seattle Times |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202073035/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2015129940_wsu24m.html |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |access-date=May 7, 2020}}</ref>

===Library===
[[File:Lake Stevens, WA - library on a snowy day.jpg|thumb|right|The former Lake Stevens library, managed by [[Sno-Isle Libraries]] and open from 1985 to 2021]]

The first [[public library]] in Lake Stevens opened in 1946 at the home of a local resident and moved into a former [[post office]] three years later.<ref>{{cite web |last=Parker |first=Jackie |date=April 6, 2021 |title=Lake Stevens Library Through History |url=https://www.sno-isle.org/blogs/post/lake-stevens-library-through-history/ |publisher=[[Sno-Isle Libraries]] |accessdate=December 23, 2023}}</ref> The city government moved the library to a former pharmacy in 1985 and contracted with [[Sno-Isle Libraries]], an inter-county system that later annexed Lake Stevens in 2008.<ref name="Herald-Growing"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Stevick |first=Eric |date=June 6, 2008 |title=Lake Stevens Library reopens after flood |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/lake-stevens-library-reopens-after-flood/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 5, 2020}}</ref> The {{convert|2,400|sqft|sqm|adj=mid}} downtown library building was the smallest in the Sno-Isle system and was determined to be unable to support the community's needs, necessitating plans for a replacement in the 2010s.<ref name="Herald-Growing"/>

Sno-Isle proposed a larger library with {{convert|20,000|sqft|sqm}} of space as part of a [[civic campus]] on Chapel Hill near Frontier Village, which would cost $17&nbsp;million and be financed by a [[bond issue]] paid through property taxes.<ref name="Herald-LibraryBond"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=October 31, 2016 |title=Two measures for new Lake Stevens library on Feb. 14 ballot |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/two-measures-for-new-lake-stevens-library-on-feb-14-ballot/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 5, 2020}}</ref> The bond was approved by voters in the February 2017 election, but fell 749 votes short of meeting the [[voter turnout|turnout]] requirement to pass.<ref name="Herald-Library17">{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=March 1, 2017 |title=After election, Lake Stevens Library awaits next chapter |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/lake-stevens-library-awaits-its-next-chapter/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 5, 2020}}</ref> A second attempt in February 2018 was also rejected after failing to meet the 60 percent threshold for bonds.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=February 18, 2018 |title=Bond for new Lake Stevens library falling short of required votes |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/bond-for-new-lake-stevens-library-falling-short-of-required-votes/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 5, 2020}}</ref>

The library was demolished in June 2021 as part of renovations to North Cove Park and was replaced with a temporary library at Lundeen Park.<ref name="Herald-Transformed"/><ref>{{cite news |date=June 25, 2021 |title=Sno-Isle Libraries prepares for heat with libraries as 'cooling centers' |url=https://www.northcountyoutlook.com/communities/sno-isle-libraries-prepares-for-heat-with-libraries-as-cooling-centers/article_334d4c92-d5fb-11eb-82fb-a7da7086ae73.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627073833/https://www.northcountyoutlook.com/communities/sno-isle-libraries-prepares-for-heat-with-libraries-as-cooling-centers/article_334d4c92-d5fb-11eb-82fb-a7da7086ae73.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=June 27, 2021 |work=[[North County Outlook]] |access-date=June 27, 2021}}</ref> Sno-Isle moved into a former police station in August after it was renovated into a new facility with fewer amenities.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 30, 2021 |title=Lake Stevens Library opens doors to its latest home |url=https://www.sno-isle.org/news/lake-stevens-library-opens-doors-to-its-latest-home/ |publisher=Sno-Isle Libraries |accessdate=May 2, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=July 30, 2021 |title=Temporary Lake Stevens Library to open this summer |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/temporary-lake-stevens-library-to-open-this-summer/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=May 2, 2023}}</ref> In January 2022, the city government proposed leaving the Sno-Isle system and using levy funds for the proposed civic campus as well as a privatized library system.<ref>{{cite news |last=Breda |first=Isabella |date=January 22, 2022 |title=Lake Stevens proposes cutting ties with Sno-Isle Libraries |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/lake-stevens-proposes-cutting-ties-with-sno-isle-libraries/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=January 24, 2022}}</ref> A few days later, the proposal was withdrawn and Sno-Isle announced that it would continue to pursue plans for a permanent library building with $3.1&nbsp;million in state grants.<ref>{{cite news |last=Breda |first=Isabella |date=January 25, 2022 |title=Lake Stevens ditches plan to cut ties with Sno-Isle Libraries |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/lake-stevens-ditches-plan-to-cut-ties-with-sno-isle-libraries/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=June 19, 2022}}</ref> Site clearing at a site on Chapel Hill for the new library began in March 2023;<ref>{{cite news |last=Gates |first=Sophia |date=March 24, 2023 |title=Site clearing begins for new Lake Stevens library |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/site-clearing-begins-for-new-lake-stevens-library/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=May 2, 2023}}</ref> the two-story library building, which will incorporate [[mass timber]] construction and include {{convert|15,000|sqft|sqm}} of space, is scheduled to begin construction in 2025.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hinchliffe |first=Emma |date=February 12, 2024 |title=Mass timber library set for Lake Stevens |url=https://www.djc.com/news/ae/12162050.html |work=[[Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce]] |url-access=subscription |accessdate=February 12, 2024}}</ref>

==Infrastructure==

===Transportation===
[[File:Hewitt Avenue Trestle, looking westbound from 20th Street (2020).jpg|thumb|right|Looking west from Lake Stevens at the [[Hewitt Avenue Trestle]], which carries [[U.S. Route 2 in Washington|U.S. Route 2]] towards [[Everett, Washington|Everett]]]]

Lake Stevens is traversed by three state highways that connect the area to other parts of Snohomish County: [[Washington State Route 9|State Route 9]], running north–south through the west of the city and continuing to [[Snohomish, Washington|Snohomish]] and [[Arlington, Washington|Arlington]];<ref name="Times-Hwy9"/> [[Washington State Route 92|State Route 92]], which continues northeast to [[Granite Falls, Washington|Granite Falls]]; and [[Washington State Route 204|State Route 204]], which connects Frontier Village to [[U.S. Route 2 in Washington|U.S. Route 2]] (US&nbsp;2).<ref name="CityMap"/><ref>{{cite WSDOT map |year=2014 |inset=Puget Sound |accessdate=October 18, 2019}}</ref> The intersection of State Route 9 and State Route 204 and several roads around Frontier Village were replaced by a series of four [[roundabout]]s in 2023 after a proposed interchange was scrapped.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hansen |first=Jordan |date=September 2, 2023 |title=Blessing or baffling? Lake Stevens' new roundabout maze divides drivers |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/blessing-or-baffling-lake-stevens-new-roundabout-maze-divides-drivers/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=September 3, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Giordano |first=Lizz |date=February 25, 2019 |title=Maybe 4 roundabouts can fix this nightmare intersection |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/maybe-4-roundabouts-can-fix-this-nightmare-intersection/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 8, 2020}}</ref> The [[Hewitt Avenue Trestle]], which carries US&nbsp;2 to Everett, is a four-lane freeway that is frequently congested and is planned to be rebuilt to fix capacity issues.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cornfield |first=Jerry |date=March 3, 2018 |title=Taming the traffic-troubled U.S. 2 trestle |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/taming-the-traffic-troubled-u-s-2-trestle/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 8, 2020}}</ref>

The city is also served by [[Community Transit]], which operates bus routes between cities in Snohomish County. The agency provides all-day bus service from Lake Stevens to Everett, Granite Falls, [[Lynnwood, Washington|Lynnwood]], Marysville, and Snohomish.<ref>{{cite news |last=Haglund |first=Noah |date=August 27, 2016 |title=Community Transit's new bus routes to serve Highway 9 corridor |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/community-transits-new-bus-routes-to-serve-highway-9-corridor/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 8, 2020}}</ref> The city has a small [[park and ride]] that opened in 2004 and is served by local routes as well as an express route to [[Lynnwood City Center station]] during peak hours on weekdays.<ref>{{cite news |last=Schwarzen |first=Christopher |date=December 15, 2004 |title=New way to downtown Seattle |page=H15 |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/new-way-to-downtown-seattle/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=May 8, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=July 22, 2024 |title=New bus routes for Seattle commuters |url=https://www.communitytransit.org/news-and-events/article-detail/2024/07/22/new-bus-routes-for-seattle-commuters |publisher=Community Transit |accessdate=November 8, 2024}}</ref> Community Transit also operates the Zip Shuttle [[microtransit]] service, which expanded to Lake Stevens 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>

===Utilities===

The city's [[electric power]] and [[water purification|tap water]] are provided by the [[Snohomish County Public Utility District]] (PUD), a consumer-owned [[public utility]] that serves all of Snohomish County.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 2018 |title=Quick Facts for Snohomish County PUD |url=https://www.snopud.com/Site/Content/Documents/custpubs/MiniQF_1018.pdf |publisher=[[Snohomish County Public Utility District]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129142056/https://www.snopud.com/Site/Content/Documents/custpubs/MiniQF_1018.pdf |archive-date=November 29, 2018 |access-date=May 1, 2020}}</ref> The PUD sources its water from the City of Everett system at [[Spada Lake]] and Lake Chaplain, which is delivered to Lake Stevens and Granite Falls.<ref>{{cite news |last=Malakoff |first=Morris |date=February 25, 2008 |title=Dry season no threat to local H2O supply |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/uncategorized/dry-season-no-threat-to-local-h20-supply/ |work=[[The Enterprise (Washington)|The Enterprise]] |access-date=May 1, 2020}}</ref> The city is also bisected by a pair of north–south [[Electric power transmission|electrical transmission lines]] operated by the [[Bonneville Power Administration]] that travel towards [[British Columbia]].<ref>{{cite map |date=February 2, 2013 |title=BPA Transmission Lines and Facilities |url=https://www.bpa.gov/news/pubs/maps/BPA%20Transmission%20Lines%20and%20Facilities.pdf |publisher=[[Bonneville Power Administration]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428051716/https://www.bpa.gov/news/pubs/maps/BPA%20Transmission%20Lines%20and%20Facilities.pdf |archive-date=April 28, 2017 |access-date=May 8, 2020}}</ref> [[Natural gas]] for Lake Stevens residents and businesses is provided by [[Puget Sound Energy]].<ref>{{cite web |title=PSE locations |url=https://www.pse.com/Customer-Service/pse-locations-2 |publisher=[[Puget Sound Energy]] |access-date=May 8, 2020}}</ref>

The city government contracts with [[Republic Services]] and [[Waste Management (company)|Waste Management]] to provide curbside collection and disposal of [[municipal solid waste|garbage]], [[single-stream recycling|recycling]], and [[yard waste]] for different areas of Lake Stevens.<ref>{{cite web |title=Public Utilities |url=https://www.lakestevenswa.gov/120/Public-Utilities |publisher=City of Lake Stevens |access-date=May 8, 2020}}</ref> The Lake Stevens Sewer District, established in 1957, operates the city's sewer system and is planned to merge with the city government in 2032.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=July 23, 2017 |title=City of Lake Stevens, sewer district plan to merge |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/city-of-lake-stevens-sewer-district-plan-to-merge/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=March 27, 2020}}</ref> The sewer district built a [[sewage treatment plant|treatment plant]] in 2013 at a cost of $100 million, and the debt payments on the project have caused disputes with the city.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Haglund |first1=Noah |last2=Davey |first2=Stephanie |date=September 18, 2019 |title=Sewer dispute spills into public in Lake Stevens |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/sewer-dispute-spills-into-public-in-lake-stevens/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=March 27, 2020}}</ref>

===Healthcare===

Lake Stevens has two [[urgent care center]]s that also provide medical services: a branch of [[The Everett Clinic]] (part of UnitedHealth [[Optum]]); and a {{convert|4,000|sqft|sqm|adj=mid}} [[MultiCare Health System|MultiCare]] Indigo Urgent Care Clinic that opened in 2017.<ref>{{cite news |last=Salyer |first=Sharon |date=February 29, 2016 |title=DaVita HealthCare Partners completes Everett Clinic purchase |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/davita-healthcare-partners-completes-everett-clinic-purchase/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 8, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Davis |first=Jim |date=July 28, 2017 |title=Everett Clinic, two others open new health-care clinics |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/business/everett-clinic-two-others-open-new-health-care-clinics/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=May 8, 2020}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{official website|http://lakestevenswa.gov/}}

{{Snohomish County, Washington}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Cities in Snohomish County, Washington]]
[[Category:Cities in the Seattle metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Lakes of Washington (state)|Stevens]]