Editing Stanwood, Washington

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Stanwood
| native_name        = 
| native_name_lang   = 
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| named_for          = [[Clara Stanwood Pearson]]
| nickname           = Twin City<ref name="Times-1949"/>
| motto              = 
| image_skyline      = Welcome sign in Stanwood, WA (23349070612).jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Welcome sign in eastern Stanwood
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = Seal of Stanwood, Washington.png
| image_map          = Snohomish County Washington Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Stanwood Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Stanwood, Washington
| 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_type    = [[Mayor–council government|Mayor–council]]
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Sid Roberts
| established_title1 = [[Municipal incorporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date1  = October 19, 1903
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_53.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 7.62
| area_land_km2      = 7.59
| area_water_km2     = 0.03
| area_total_sq_mi   = 2.94
| area_land_sq_mi    = 2.93
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.01
| population_total   = 7705
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_est     = 8804
| pop_est_as_of      = 2022
| pop_est_footnotes  = <ref name="Census-Estimate2022">{{cite web |date=May 2023 |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Washington: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=March 22, 2024}}</ref>
| population_footnotes = <ref name="Census-Profile">{{cite web |title=Profile: Stanwood city, Washington |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Stanwood_city,_Washington?g=160XX00US5367455 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=March 22, 2024}}</ref>
| population_density_km2 = 1015.15
| population_density_sq_mi = 2629.69
| timezone           = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific (PST)]]
| utc_offset         = -8
| timezone_DST       = PDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -7
| elevation_m        = 2
| elevation_ft       = 7
| coordinates        = {{coord|48|14|32|N|122|21|4|W|region:US-WA|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 98292
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
| area_code          = [[Area code 360|360]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 53-67455
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 1512690<ref name="GR3">{{cite gnis |id=1512690 |name=Stanwood, Washington |access-date=April 24, 2017}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|https://stanwoodwa.org/|stanwoodwa.org}}
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Stanwood''' is a city in [[Snohomish County, Washington|Snohomish County]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], United States. The city is located {{convert|50|mi|km}} north of [[Seattle]], at the mouth of the [[Stillaguamish River]] near [[Camano Island]]. As of the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]], its population is 7,705.

The Stanwood area has been home to the [[Stillaguamish people]] for thousands of years, who originally had a village at the present site of Stanwood. The modern city of Stanwood was later founded in 1866 as '''Centerville''', adopting its current name in 1877 after the arrival of [[postmaster]] Daniel O. Pearson. It was [[plat]]ted in 1888 and [[municipal incorporation|incorporated]] as a city in 1903. The city was bypassed by the [[Great Northern Railway (U.S.)|Great Northern Railway]], which built a depot {{convert|1|mi|km|1|spell=in}} east that grew into its own separate town, incorporated in 1922 as '''East Stanwood'''. The two Stanwoods were civic rivals for several decades, until their governments were consolidated after a 1960 referendum was approved by voters.

The city was historically home to several food processing plants, which were its largest employers, and was mainly populated by [[Scandinavian Americans|Scandinavians]]. Since the 1990s, Stanwood has grown into a [[bedroom community]] for [[Seattle]] and [[Everett, Washington|Everett]] and has [[annexation|annexed]] uphill areas that were developed into suburban [[subdivision (land)|subdivisions]]. Stanwood is primarily served by [[Washington State Route 532|State Route 532]], which connects Camano Island to [[Interstate 5 in Washington|Interstate 5]], and also has a [[Stanwood station|train station]] that opened in 2009.

==History==
[[File:Stanwood WA Main St.jpg|thumb|left|Looking west on 271st Street Northwest, formerly the [[main street]] of East Stanwood]]

The [[Stillaguamish people|Stillaguamish]], a [[Coast Salish]] tribe, have inhabited the area around the Stillaguamish River delta for several thousand years.<ref name="Hunt" /> At the time of the [[Point Elliott Treaty]] in 1855 there was a Stillaguamish village at the mouth of the river consisting of three large [[potlatch]] houses with an estimated population of 250 people.<ref name="Lane1973">{{cite book |last=Lane |first=Barbara Savadkin |year=1973 |title=Anthropological Report on the Identity, Treaty Status, and Fisheries of the Stillaguamish Indians |pages=24–26 |publisher=[[United States Department of the Interior]] |oclc=4993109 |url=https://www.msaj.com/_files/ugd/aad22c_6a17b7ff7fa946d595f6ab4cc7a70c9c.pdf |via=Law Offices of Morisset, Schlosser, Jozwiak & Somerville |accessdate=October 18, 2023}}</ref> There were several other villages around the delta that totaled approximately 800 people,<ref name="Lane1973"/><ref>{{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 |publisher=[[United States Forest Service]] |page=153 |oclc=892024380 |url=https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/005998596 |via=[[HathiTrust]] |access-date=March 15, 2018}}</ref> as well as graveyards that were later destroyed by settlers.<ref name="Lane1973"/> The area at the mouth of the river is known as {{Langx|lut|sdᶻəlgʷas|label=none}},<ref name="Lushootseed">{{Cite web |title=sdaʔdaʔ gʷəɬ dibəɬ dxʷləšucid ʔaciɬtalbixʷ – Puget Sound Geographical names |url=https://tulaliplushootseed.com/places/ |website=Tulalip Lushootseed |date=January 16, 2017 |publisher=Tulalip Tribes |accessdate=October 16, 2023}}</ref> meaning ''[[strait]]'' or ''[[Slough (hydrology)|slough]]'' in [[Lushootseed]].<ref name="Hunt" />

The area's first American expedition was led by George O. and G. L. Wilson, who were led by [[Snohomish people|Snohomish]] guides on a canoe expedition up the Stillaguamish River in 1851 and reported on its economic potential.<ref name="Lane1973"/><ref name="Times-1957">{{cite news |last=McDonald |first=Lucile |author-link=Lucile Saunders McDonald |date=December 8, 1957 |title=Two of Stillaguamish River's 3 Mouths Threatened by Siltation |page=5 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> The first permanent American settlement at the mouth of the Stillaguamish River was Centerville, a [[trading post]] established in 1866 by Robert Fulton on the south side of the river.<ref name="Hunt">{{cite book |last1=Hunt |first1=Herbert |url=https://archive.org/details/washingtonwestc00kaylgoog |title=Washington, West of the Cascades: Historical and Descriptive |last2=Kaylor |first2=Floyd C. |publisher=[[S. J. Clarke Publishing Company]] |year=1917 |location=Chicago |pages=[https://archive.org/details/washingtonwestc00kaylgoog/page/n577 395]–398, 534 |oclc=10086413 |access-date=April 24, 2017 |via=Internet Archive}}</ref> Centerville gained a [[post office]] in 1870, and the settlement was moved to the north side of the river three years later.<ref name="IllustHistory">{{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 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/illustratedhisto00inte/page/349 349]–354 |chapter=Chapter VI: Cities and Towns |publisher=Interstate Publishing Company |location=Chicago |year=1906 |lccn=06030900 |oclc=11299996 |url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedhisto00inte |via=[[The Internet Archive]] |access-date=July 1, 2018}}</ref> The post office was renamed to Stanwood in 1877 by its sixth postmaster Daniel O. Pearson, after his wife [[Clara Stanwood Pearson|Clara]]'s maiden name;<ref>{{cite book |last=Meany |first=Edmond S. |title=Origin of Washington geographic names |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015027074981;view=1up;seq=303 |year=1923 |publisher=University of Washington Press |location=Seattle |page=287}}</ref><ref name="Engle">{{cite journal |last=Engle |first=Flora A. P. |title=The Story of the Mercer Expeditions |date=October 1915 |volume=6 |number=4 |pages=227–228, 234–236 |journal=[[Washington Historical Quarterly]] |jstor=40474463}}</ref> Pearson also ran a general store and built a new steamboat [[wharf]] on the Stillaguamish River shortly after arriving.<ref name="HistoryLink">{{cite web |last=Prasse |first=Karen |date=April 5, 2008 |title=Stanwood — Thumbnail History |url=http://www.historylink.org/File/8557 |work=[[HistoryLink]] |access-date=July 1, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=April 4, 1935 |title=Stanwood Was Wilderness When Pearson Began in '77 |page=3 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> Pearson had arrived from [[Lowell, Massachusetts]], in 1866; two of his sisters were among the original "[[Mercer Girls]]".<ref name="Engle" />

The surrounding area was cleared by loggers and managed using a series of [[levee]]s along the Stillaguamish River before being opened for settlement by farmers and ranchers.<ref name="HistoryLink"/> The establishment of a Norwegian [[Lutheran]] church in 1876, the first to be built in the Pacific Northwest, brought the area's first wave of Scandinavian immigrants.<ref name="Hunt"/> The townsite's [[plat]] was filed by W. R. Stockbridge in 1888,<ref name="HistoryLink"/>{{r|Whitfield1926|p=500}} ahead of a failed attempt to petition the county commission for [[municipal incorporation|incorporation]] as a city.<ref name="HL-Incorporation">{{cite web |last=Prasse |first=Karen |date=November 23, 2010 |title=Stanwood votes to incorporate on September 29, 1903. |url=http://www.historylink.org/File/9637 |work=HistoryLink |access-date=July 3, 2018}}</ref> Stanwood suffered from a major fire on June 2, 1892, which destroyed the church and thirteen buildings and caused damages of approximately $26,100 ({{Inflation|US-GDP|26100|1892|fmt=eq|r=-3}} dollars);{{inflation-fn|US-GDP}} several businesses and the town's [[liquor]] supply were saved by volunteers from the town's [[International Organisation of Good Templars|Good Templars]] lodge, who had been at a regular meeting.<ref name="Hunt"/><ref>{{cite news |date=June 3, 1892 |title=The Stanwood Fire: Successful Efforts in Saving the Town—Losses Amount to $26,100 |page=5 |work=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21504776/stanwood_fire/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=July 2, 2018}}</ref> By the end of the decade, the town had rebuilt its main street and gained a weekly newspaper, [[cannery]], [[horse racing track]], [[creamery]], and a [[wood shingle|shingle]] mill.<ref name="IllustHistory"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Johnsrud |first=Byron |date=January 2, 1972 |title=Stanwood has come a long way from old Centerville |pages=8–9 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> Stanwood was officially incorporated on October 19, 1903, a month after the town's men voted 74–16 in favor of becoming a city.<ref name="HazardPlan">{{cite report |date=September 2015 |title=Snohomish County Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Update, Volume 2: Planning Partner Annexes |page=12{{hyphen}}1 |url=https://snohomishcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/14608 |publisher=Snohomish County |access-date=April 24, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Times-1954">{{cite news |last=Meyers |first=Georg N. |date=April 3, 1954 |title=Stanwood, East Stanwood Contemplate Union |page=18 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> Stanwood's businesses relocated a block away from the riverfront in the 1920s and 1930s after the main flow of the Stillaguamish River shifted to another [[slough (hydrology)|slough]]. The change in the river rendered the wharf too shallow for [[steamboat]]s and damaged dikes after several major floods.<ref name="Times-1957"/><ref>{{cite news |date=December 14, 1921 |title=New Flood Sweeps Stanwood |page=1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>

The [[Seattle and Montana Railroad]] (later absorbed into the [[Great Northern Railway (U.S.)|Great Northern Railway]]) was constructed through the Stanwood area in 1891, but bypassed the town
{{convert|1|mi|km|1|spell=in}} to the east, where it built a [[train depot|depot]] on ground that was less prone to flooding.<ref name="HistoryLink"/><ref name="HL-Incorporation"/> Several businesses relocated to the area around the depot, including a bank and Washington state's first [[cooperative]] general store.<ref name="Times-1954"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Conover |first=C. T. |date=October 24, 1954 |title=Just Cogitating: Norwegian Organizations Have Flourished |page=6 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> Merchants in the old town boycotted the railroad and acquired a steamboat, the ''City of Stanwood'', in 1893; the ship was lost after catching fire on [[Port Susan]] the following year.<ref>{{cite book |last=Essex |first=Alice |year=1971 |title=The Stanwood Story, Volume I |pages=16–17 |publisher=Stanwood Camano News |oclc=36113496 }}</ref>

A short railroad, known as the [[H and H Railroad|Hall and Hall Railway]], was constructed in 1904 between the depot and downtown Stanwood and would operate until 1938.<ref name="Times-1949">{{cite news |date=October 30, 1949 |title=Twin Cities: Stanwood and East Stanwood |page=1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref name="WPA">{{cite book |author=[[Federal Writers' Project]] |origyear=1941 |year=2014 |title=The WPA Guide to Washington: The Evergreen State |pages=476–477 |series=[[American Guide Series]] |publisher=[[Trinity University Press]] |location=San Antonio |isbn=978-1-59534-245-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=07PpCAAAQBAJ |via=Google Books }}</ref> The community around the depot was platted in 1906 as "East Stanwood", but initially relied on a [[chamber of commerce|commercial club]] to govern in lieu of a formal town government.<ref name="HistoryLink"/><ref name="Times-1954"/> East Stanwood was incorporated on February 7, 1922, after a series of civic disputes highlighted the need for a city government.<ref name="HL-Incorporation"/> East Stanwood was eventually bisected by the [[Pacific Highway (U.S.)|Pacific Highway]] in the 1920s and connected to Stanwood and [[Camano Island]] by paved roads constructed a decade earlier.<ref name="HL-Incorporation"/><ref name="Times-1954"/>

The "Twin City" maintained separate government facilities, schools, banks, sawmills, creameries, and [[frozen food]] plants.<ref name="Times-1954"/><ref name="Times-1990">{{cite news |last1=Duncan |first1=Don |last2=Shaw |first2=Linda |date=June 13, 1990 |title=Holding onto down-home ways: Stanwood unites east, west sides |page=F1 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19900613/1076956/holding-onto-down-home-ways----stanwood-unites-east-west-sides |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=July 3, 2018}}</ref> The school systems for the two cities were merged in 1944, ending a decades-long [[high school football|football]] rivalry between the two high schools.<ref name="HistoryLink"/><ref name="Times-1990"/> By the early 1950s, the competitiveness between merchants and citizens of both Stanwoods had softened and groups cooperated on events and various initiatives.<ref name="Times-1954"/> A formal merger of the two cities was proposed in 1954 and placed on the April 30 ballot; Stanwood voted in favor of the merger, but it failed to reach a majority in East Stanwood.<ref name="HL-Incorporation"/><ref>{{cite news |date=May 1, 1954 |title=East Stanwood Voters Turn Down Merger |page=2 |work=The Seattle Times |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> The high cost of a modern [[sewage treatment]] system, required by the state government before further expansion could occur, spurred leaders in both cities to place a second consolidation referendum before voters on March 8, 1960.<ref name="HL-Incorporation"/> The referendum was passed by an overwhelming majority of voters in both cities and the merged government immediately approved a $520,000 sewer installation contract.<ref name="HistoryLink"/><ref>{{cite book |last=Essex |first=Alice |year=1998 |title=The Stanwood Story, Volume III |pages=53–65 |publisher=Stanwood Camano News |oclc=40399950 }}</ref>

Development of a new suburban commercial center east of the city began in the 1980s, centered around the relocated Stanwood High School campus.<ref name="EconomicPlan">{{cite book |date=June 2015 |title=City of Stanwood Comprehensive Plan |chapter=Section IV: Economic Development Element |pages=7–11, 21–22 |chapter-url=http://www.ci.stanwood.wa.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/community_development/page/2216/4_econ_devel_elem_final_clean_copy_pdf_060215.pdf |publisher=City of Stanwood |access-date=July 3, 2018 |archive-date=February 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216010839/http://www.ci.stanwood.wa.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/community_development/page/2216/4_econ_devel_elem_final_clean_copy_pdf_060215.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=McDermott |first=Terry |date=September 23, 1997 |title=Trouble invades the 'safe' town of Stanwood |page=B1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> A {{convert|55|acre|ha|adj=mid}} farm at the intersection of State Route 532 and 72nd Avenue Northwest was redeveloped into a $50 million shopping and entertainment center. The commercial center opened in 1995 and has 50 businesses, 10 restaurants, [[office building]]s, a [[movie theater]], and an [[Amusement arcade|arcade]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Reardon |first=Kate |date=April 10, 2002 |title=Stanwood Village expansion planned |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/business/stanwood-village-expansion-planned/ |work=The Everett Herald Business Journal |access-date=July 3, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Wolcott |first=John |date=April 2001 |title=Community leaders: Baron's 'village' a boon for Stanwood |url=http://snohomishcountybusinessjournal.com/archive/apr01/solbaronsider-apr01.htm |work=The Everett Herald Business Journal |access-date=July 3, 2018}}</ref> The development was later expanded to include multi-story [[Condominium (living space)|condominium]]s and upscale apartments with ground-floor retail space.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fetters |first=Eric |date=July 26, 2005 |title=Stanwood to get upscale apartments |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/business/stanwood-to-get-upscale-apartments/ |work=The Everett Herald Business Journal |access-date=July 3, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Wolcott |first=John |date=February 7, 2006 |title=Stanwood condo finished |work=The Everett Herald}}</ref> The area surrounding the center was developed into suburban [[subdivision (land)|subdivisions]], contributing to a doubling of the city's population to nearly 4,000 people by 2000.<ref name="HistoryLink"/> The subdivisions were [[annexation|annexed]] by the city government in the early 2000s, despite testimony from citizens against further growth.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kelly |first=Brian |date=November 6, 2001 |title=Stanwood council OK's controversial Cedarhome annex |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/stanwood-council-oks-controversial-cedarhome-annex/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=July 3, 2018}}</ref> In 2005, the city rejected a bid by [[Wal-Mart]] to build a store in Stanwood after public outcry from supporters of downtown businesses.<ref>{{cite news |last=Morris |first=Scott |date=December 12, 2005 |title=Homes replace store in plan |url=http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/05/12/12/100loc_awalmart001.cfm |work=The Everett Herald |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051218140327/http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/05/12/12/100loc_awalmart001.cfm |archive-date=December 18, 2005 |access-date=July 3, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Morris |first=Scott |date=March 26, 2005 |title=Store foes: Downtown would suffer |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/store-foes-downtown-would-suffer/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=July 3, 2018}}</ref>

The high school campus was replaced with a new building in 2021 that cost $147.5&nbsp;million to construct.<ref name="Herald-HS2021">{{cite news |last=Davey |first=Stephanie |date=January 26, 2021 |title=A brand-new Stanwood High School opens to empty halls |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/a-brand-new-stanwood-high-school-opens-to-empty-halls/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=January 28, 2021}}</ref> An adjacent {{convert|22|acre|ha|adj=mid}} site is planned to be developed into a large residential complex with 444 apartments and 72 townhomes. The complex is also planned to incorporate retail, amenity spaces, and expanded wetlands.<ref>{{cite news |last=Miller |first=Brian |date=December 2, 2022 |title=516 Stanwood units planned in major mixed-use project |url=https://www.djc.com/news/re/12153038.html |work=[[Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce]] |url-access=subscription |accessdate=December 2, 2022}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Flooded Stillaguamish lowlands near Stanwood (23089606779).jpg|thumb|right|A section of the [[Stillaguamish River]] delta south of downtown Stanwood during a flood in 2015]]

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city of Stanwood has a total area of {{convert|2.84|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|2.82|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.02|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Census-Gazetteer">{{cite web |title=2018 U.S. Gazetteer Files |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2018_Gazetteer/2018_gaz_place_53.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=February 16, 2020}}</ref> The city is at the northwestern corner of [[Snohomish County, Washington|Snohomish County]],<ref name="HazardPlan"/> and is considered part of the [[Seattle metropolitan area]].<ref>{{cite map |date=March 2013 |title=Snohomish County Urban Growth Areas and Incorporated Cities |url=http://www.snoco.org/docs/scd/PDF/PDS_UGA/County_11x17.pdf |publisher=Snohomish County |access-date=March 11, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Select Stanwood |url=http://www.ci.stanwood.wa.us/business/page/select-stanwood |publisher=City of Stanwood |access-date=July 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706220144/http://www.ci.stanwood.wa.us/business/page/select-stanwood |archive-date=July 6, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It is {{convert|13|mi|km}} west of its nearest neighboring town, [[Arlington, Washington|Arlington]], and {{convert|20|mi|km}} north of [[Everett, Washington|Everett]], the [[county seat]].<ref name="Times-1997TCF"/><ref name="FloodStudy">{{cite report |year=2005 |title=Snohomish County, Washington Flood Insurance Study |pages=16–17 |url=https://snohomishcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7138 |publisher=Snohomish County |access-date=July 1, 2017}}</ref> The city is also {{convert|50|mi|km}} north of [[Seattle]] and {{convert|17|mi|km}} south of [[Mount Vernon, Washington|Mount Vernon]].<ref name="NFSC-Profile">{{cite web |title=Community Profiles: Stanwood |url=https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/research/divisions/cb/ecosystem/humandim/communityprofiles/Washington/Stanwood_WA.pdf |publisher=[[Northwest Fisheries Science Center]] |access-date=April 24, 2017}}</ref><ref name="PI-1999">{{cite news |last=Denn |first=Rebekah |date=January 2, 1999 |title=Close-knit community becoming social hub |page=D1 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref>

Stanwood's [[city limit]]s are generally defined to the south by the Stillaguamish River; to the west by 104th Drive Northwest; to the north by 276th Street Northwest and 290th Street Northwest; and to the east by 68th Avenue Northwest.<ref>{{cite map |date=June 2016 |title=Stanwood Streets and Parcels |url=http://www.ci.stanwood.wa.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/community_development/page/729/stanwood_street_map_of_stanwood06202016.pdf |publisher=City of Stanwood |access-date=July 1, 2017 |archive-date=February 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216005918/http://www.ci.stanwood.wa.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/community_development/page/729/stanwood_street_map_of_stanwood06202016.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Approximately 59 percent of land within Stanwood city limits is used for housing, while 10 percent is [[zoning|zoned]] for commercial use and 7 percent for industrial uses.<ref name="SewerPlan">{{cite web |author=RH2 Engineering |date=February 2015 |title=City of Stanwood Comprehensive Sewer Plan |page=3{{hyphen}}4 |url=http://www.ci.stanwood.wa.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/community_development/page/2906/sta_2015_cssp.pdf |publisher=City of Stanwood |access-date=July 7, 2018 |archive-date=July 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707201446/http://www.ci.stanwood.wa.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/community_development/page/2906/sta_2015_cssp.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[urban growth boundary|urban growth area]] of Stanwood consists of an additional {{convert|425|acre}} outside city limits, including the unincorporated area of [[Northwest Stanwood, Washington|Northwest Stanwood]].<ref name="StormwaterPlan2">{{cite report |year=2014 |title=City of Stanwood Stormwater Comprehensive Plan Appendix C |chapter=Chapter 2: Planning Area Stormwater Characteristics |chapter-url=http://www.ci.stanwood.wa.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/public_works/page/3355/appx_c_-_stanwood_storm_comp_plan_ch._2.pdf |publisher=City of Stanwood |access-date=July 1, 2017 |archive-date=August 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820162821/http://www.ci.stanwood.wa.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/public_works/page/3355/appx_c_-_stanwood_storm_comp_plan_ch._2.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{rp|2{{hyphen}}2}}

The city is located at the [[river mouth|mouth]] of the [[Stillaguamish River]], where it flows into [[Port Susan]], an arm of the [[Puget Sound]], and [[Skagit Bay]], the mouth of the [[Skagit River]].<ref name="HazardPlan"/> To the west is [[Davis Slough]], which separates Stanwood from [[Camano Island]]<ref>{{cite report |last1=Ness |first1=Arnold O. |last2=Richins |first2=C. G. |last3=Roberts |first3=Ray Carlton |date=August 1956 |title=Soil Survey of Island County, Washington |page=26 |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture [[Soil Conservation Service]] |oclc=965548334 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n3yP0yieexQC |via=Google Books |access-date=July 1, 2017}}</ref> and forms the border between Snohomish and [[Island County, Washington|Island]] counties.<ref>{{cite web |title=RCW 36.04.310: Snohomish county |url=http://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=36.04.310 |work=[[Revised Code of Washington]] |publisher=[[Washington State Legislature]] |access-date=July 1, 2017}}</ref> Elevations in Stanwood range from {{convert|2|ft|m}} above [[sea level]] near the Stillaguamish River to {{convert|190|ft|m}} in the northeastern hills.<ref name="FloodStudy"/> The city is home to five creeks and [[drainage basin]]s that flow into the Stillaguamish River and Puget Sound: Church Creek, Douglas Creek, Irvine Slough, the Skagit River, and the Stillaguamish River.<ref name="StormwaterPlan2"/>{{rp|2{{hyphen}}14}} The Stanwood area was formed during the [[Pleistocene glaciation]] and was further shaped through the rise and fall of the sea level as well as [[sediment]]ary deposits from the Skagit and Stillaguamish rivers.<ref name="ComprehensivePlan">{{cite web |title=City of Stanwood Comprehensive Plan |date=June 2015 |url=http://www.ci.stanwood.wa.us/cd/page/comprehensive-plan-0 |publisher=City of Stanwood |access-date=July 1, 2017 |archive-date=January 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113033927/http://www.ci.stanwood.wa.us/cd/page/comprehensive-plan-0 |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{rp|NF{{hyphen}}9}}

Much of downtown Stanwood is located in a [[100-year flood]] zone and is at risk of flooding from the Stillaguamish River, as well as the Skagit River.<ref name="FloodStudy"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=October 18, 2014 |title=Worried about flood risks, Stanwood is heading for the hills |url=http://www.heraldnet.com/news/worried-about-flood-risks-stanwood-is-heading-for-the-hills/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=July 1, 2017}}</ref> Much of the Stillaguamish delta was [[land reclamation|reclaimed]] using a series of [[levee]]s and [[ditch|dikes]] that were built in the 1870s and improved by the [[Works Progress Administration]] in the 1930s and the city government in the 1990s.<ref>{{cite web |last=Prasse |first=Karen |date=April 6, 2008 |title=Work on Stillaguamish Slough dike north of Stanwood commences during the summer of 1871. |url=http://www.historylink.org/File/8575 |work=HistoryLink |access-date=July 2, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Darwin |first=D. H. |date=May 10, 1912 |title=Site of Stanwood is Reclaimed From Sea |page=19 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Heffter |first=Emily |date=March 2, 2005 |title=Trying to keep waters at bay |page=H14 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20050302/stanwood02n/trying-to-keep-waters-at-bay |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=July 3, 2018}}</ref> Some of the failure-prone dikes were later removed in the 2010s to restore habitat areas for native wildlife.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=July 11, 2017 |title=Project on Leque Island in Stanwood all for salmon, wildlife |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/project-on-leque-island-in-stanwood-all-for-salmon-wildlife/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=July 2, 2018}}</ref> Several civic buildings have also been relocated uphill from the downtown area to prevent floods from hampering the city's vital functions.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=January 21, 2015 |title=Stanwood city leaders debate site of future library |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/stanwood-city-leaders-debate-site-of-future-library/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=July 2, 2018}}</ref> In 2020, the city government began construction of flood controls to redirect stormwater into the Stillaguamish River rather than the sloughs to prevent flooding. The project is expected to cost $11 million and take 10 years to complete over six phases.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sanders |first=Julia-Grace |date=August 24, 2020 |title=10-year, $11M project to end Stanwood flooding begins Monday |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/10-year-project-to-end-downtown-inundation-to-begin-monday/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=August 24, 2020}}</ref>

==Economy==

{{As of|2015}}, Stanwood has an estimated [[workforce]] population of 4,644 and an unemployment rate of 4.1 percent.<ref name="ACS">{{cite web |date=September 15, 2016 |title=Selected Economic Characteristics: Stanwood, Washington |url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_5YR/DP03/1600000US5367455 |work=[[American Community Survey]] |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213100104/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_5YR/DP03/1600000US5367455 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The most common occupations for Stanwood residents are in the education and health care sector, which employs 24.1 percent, followed by manufacturing (17.5%), retail (13.3%), and entertainment and food services (11.2%).<ref name="ACS"/> Only 14 percent of employed residents work within Stanwood city limits, while the rest commute to other cities for work. The most common commuting destinations for Stanwood residents include Everett, with 15 percent of traffic, Seattle (8.5%), Mount Vernon (5%), Arlington (4.6%), and [[Marysville, Washington|Marysville]] (4.5%).<ref>{{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/ |work=OnTheMap |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 3, 2018}}</ref> The average one-way commute for the city's workers was approximately 27.5 minutes; 83.5 percent of commuters drove alone to their workplace, while 7.4 percent [[carpool]]ed and 2.8 percent used [[public transit]].<ref name="ACS"/>

The city's largest employers are the [[Stanwood-Camano School District]] and the Josephine Sunset Home, which provide approximately 550 and 303 jobs, respectively.<ref name="Budget">{{cite web |date=December 2016 |title=City of Stanwood 2017–2018 Budget Summary |pages=12, 24–25 |url=http://www.ci.stanwood.wa.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/finance/page/102/final_2017-2018_budget_summary.pdf |publisher=City of Stanwood |access-date=July 3, 2018 |archive-date=July 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704063544/http://www.ci.stanwood.wa.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/finance/page/102/final_2017-2018_budget_summary.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> One of the city's other large employers was the Twin City Foods [[frozen food]] processing plant, which packaged frozen vegetables and fruits until it ceased operations in 2017.<ref>{{cite news |last=Blake |first=Judith |date=July 27, 1994 |title=Peas in our time: Before this popular green vegetable rolls onto your plate it follows an amazing high-tech processing adventure |page=F1 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19940727/1922347/peas-in-our-time----before-this-popular-green-vegetable-rolls-onto-your-plate-it-follows-an-amazing-high-tech-processing-adventure |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=July 3, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Davis |first=Jim |date=June 22, 2017 |title=Twin City Foods to close Stanwood plant; 85 jobs affected |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/business/twin-city-foods-to-close-stanwood-plant-85-jobs-affected/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=July 3, 2018}}</ref> The original plant was destroyed in an accidental fire on April 28, 1996, causing $50 million in damage and leaving 111 full-time workers unemployed until a new plant opened the following July.<ref name="Times-1997TCF">{{cite news |last=Clutter |first=Stephen |date=April 28, 1997 |title=From disaster's ashes, Stanwood plants a miracle |page=B1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Wolcott |first=John |date=June 29, 1997 |title=Twin City rises from ashes in Stanwood |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/1997/06/30/focus29.html |work=[[Puget Sound Business Journal]] |access-date=July 6, 2018}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 544
|1920= 704
|1930= 715
|1940= 600
|1950= 710
|1960= 646
|1970= 1347
|1980= 1646
|1990= 1961
|2000= 3923
|2010= 6231
|2020= 7705
|estyear=2022
|estimate=8804
|estref=<ref name="Census-Estimate2022"/>
|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>
}}

Stanwood is among the smallest cities in Snohomish County, with a population of 7,705 people as of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census-Profile"/><ref>{{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=March 22, 2024}}</ref> By 2035, the city and its surrounding [[urban growth boundary|urban growth area]] is expected to have a population of 11,085.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 2016 |title=Growth Targets |page=2 |url=https://snohomishcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8737/Appendix-D-Tables1-and-2 |publisher=Snohomish County |access-date=July 6, 2018}}</ref> The greater Stanwood area, which includes Camano Island and other nearby communities, has a total population of 33,000 people.<ref>{{cite web |title=Community Overview: Stanwood |url=https://www.economicalliancesc.org/stanwood/ |publisher=[[Economic Alliance Snohomish County]] |access-date=July 3, 2018}}</ref>

Stanwood was noted for its historically large [[Scandinavian Americans|Scandinavian]] population, particularly [[Norwegian Americans|Norwegians]], who settled in the region in the early 20th century.<ref>{{cite news |date=November 18, 1962 |title=Land Below the Sound |page=11 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> As late as 1949, over 60 percent of Stanwood residents were of Norwegian, Swedish, or Danish descent.<ref name="Times-1949"/> By 2000, however, only 17.6 percent of residents identified themselves as having Scandinavian ancestry.<ref name="Census2000">{{cite web |year=2000 |title=Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: Stanwood city, Washington |url=https://www.psrc.org/sites/default/files/stanwood.pdf |publisher=United States Census Bureau |via=[[Puget Sound Regional Council]] |access-date=July 6, 2018}}</ref>

===2010 census===

As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 6,231 people, 2,388 households, and 1,541 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2209.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 2,584 housing units at an average density of {{convert|916.3|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|racial makeup]] of the city was 89.7% White, 1.0% African American, 0.8% Native American, 1.7% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 2.6% from other races, and 3.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino persons of any race were 7.0% of the population.<ref name="Census-QuickFacts">{{cite web |title=QuickFacts: Stanwood, Washington |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/stanwoodcitywashington |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=May 26, 2020}}</ref>

There were 2,388 households, of which 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.5% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.18.<ref name="Census-QuickFacts"/>

The median age in the city was 35.9 years. 28.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.2% were from 25 to 44; 21.3% were from 45 to 64; and 15.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.3% male and 52.7% female.<ref name="Census-QuickFacts"/>

===2000 census===

As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], there were 3,923 people, 1,402 households, and 957 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,995.4 people per square mile (768.9/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 1,508 housing units at an average density of 767.0 per square mile (295.6/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the city was 91.56% White, 0.59% African American, 0.94% Native American, 1.10% Asian, 0.23% Pacific Islander, 2.52% from other races, and 3.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino persons of any race were 4.97% of the population.<ref name="Census2000"/>

There were 1,402 households, out of which 42.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.22.<ref name="Census2000"/>

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 31.5% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 14.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.2 males.<ref name="Census2000"/>

The median income for a household in the city was $44,512, and the median income for a family was $52,996. Males had a median income of $40,457 versus $26,738 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $16,775. About 9.0% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 8.9% of those under age 18 and 23.4% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="Census2000"/>

==Government and politics==
[[File:Stanwood City Hall (23431375236).jpg|thumb|left|Stanwood's [[city hall]], built in 1939]]

Stanwood is a non-charter [[City government in Washington (state)|code city]] that operates under a [[mayor–council government]].<ref name="Code">{{cite web |title=Stanwood Municipal Code |url=http://www.codepublishing.com/WA/Stanwood/?Stanwood01/Stanwood0120.html&?f |publisher=City of Stanwood |via=Code Publishing Inc. |access-date=July 3, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=O'Hagan |first=Jeremiah |date=January 7, 2014 |title=What makes Stanwood tick? |url=https://www.goskagit.com/scnews/news/what-makes-stanwood-tick/article_8a2acea6-7b0a-548f-91de-0cff3fe7eddb.html |work=Stanwood Camano News |access-date=July 7, 2018}}</ref> The city council's seven members and the mayor are elected to four-year terms in [[Non-partisan democracy|non-partisan]] elections.<ref name="HazardPlan"/> City councilmember Sid Roberts was elected mayor in 2021, replacing interim mayor Elizabeth Callaghan.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wendel |first=Peggy |date=November 30, 2021 |title=Sid Roberts sworn in as Stanwood's new mayor |url=https://www.goskagit.com/scnews/news/sid-roberts-sworn-in-as-stanwoods-new-mayor/article_1f1bb2c1-ae55-5fb2-a5a2-08ff4299e52d.html |work=Stanwood Camano News |access-date=February 4, 2022}}</ref> The council conducts regular meetings twice per month at the [[Stanwood-Camano School District]] administrative offices.<ref name="Code"/> The [[city hall]] was built in 1939 and renovated in the 1960s and 2013, but remains too small to host city council meetings.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=September 28, 2014 |title=Floodplain issues complicate Stanwood City Hall update |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/floodplain-issues-complicate-stanwood-city-hall-update/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=July 7, 2018}}</ref> The city has long-term plans to relocate the city hall out of the downtown flood zone to a property near Church Creek Park.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=February 7, 2017 |title=Stanwood plans to move City Hall, police station to higher ground |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/stanwood-plans-to-move-city-hall-police-station-to-higher-ground/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=July 7, 2018}}</ref>

The city government employs 28 people full-time and operates on a [[wikt:biannual|biennial]] budget with annual expenses of $16.2 million.<ref name="Budget"/> The budget funds various departments run by the government, including water utilities, [[parks and recreation]], [[development planning]], and clerks. Stanwood also outsources its [[police|policing]] services to the [[Snohomish County Sheriff's Office|county sheriff's office]] and its fire and emergency services to the North County Regional Fire Authority.<ref name="Budget"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=August 28, 2015 |title=Stanwood voters to decide on new tax to fund police, fire contracts |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/stanwood-voters-to-decide-on-new-tax-to-fund-police-fire-contracts/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=July 3, 2018}}</ref> The sheriff's office provides several deputies and officers, while the vehicles and uniforms are marked with the city logo.<ref>{{citation |last=Stevick |first=Eric |date=December 2, 2014 |title=Stanwood police headquarters to close for remodel |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/stanwood-police-headquarters-to-close-for-remodel/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=July 3, 2018}}</ref>

At the federal level, Stanwood is part of the [[Washington's 2nd congressional district|2nd congressional district]], which is represented by Democrat [[Rick Larsen]].<ref>{{cite map |author=Census Bureau Geography Division |year=2023 |title=118th Congress of the United States: Washington – Congressional District 2 |scale=1:295,000 |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/cong_dist/cd118/cd_based/ST53/CD118_WA02.pdf |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=January 15, 2024}}</ref><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> At the state level, Stanwood is part of the [[Washington's 10th legislative district|10th legislative district]] along with Arlington, southwestern Skagit County, and the entirety of [[Island County, Washington|Island County]].<ref>{{cite map |author=Washington State Redistricting Commission |date=July 15, 2022 |title=Legislative District 10 |page=11 |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><ref>{{cite news |last=Allison |first=Jacqueline |date=October 30, 2022 |title=Myriad mailers: Spending in key 10th District races tops $2 million |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/myriad-mailers-spending-in-key-10th-district-races-tops-2-million/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=January 15, 2024}}</ref> Stanwood is wholly part of the [[Snohomish County Council]]'s 1st district, which covers northern areas of the county.<ref>{{cite web |title=District 1 Cities |url=https://snohomishcountywa.gov/794/District-1-Cities |publisher=Snohomish County Elections |accessdate=January 15, 2024}}</ref>

==Culture==

===Arts and events===

Stanwood's arts community is centered around the Stanwood–Camano Arts Guild, which organizes an annual spring art show and the Art by the Bay festival in the summer.<ref>{{cite news |last=Goffredo |first=Theresa |date=June 5, 2008 |title=Location to shine a new light on Stanwood-Camano spring art show |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/life/location-to-shine-a-new-light-on-stanwood-camano-spring-art-show/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=July 6, 2018}}</ref> The guild also programs [[public art]] at local businesses and public venues.<ref>{{cite news |date=March 28, 2018 |title=A clubhouse where artists thrive |url=https://www.goskagit.com/scnews/news/a-clubhouse-where-artists-thrive/article_2906cc53-6362-52e8-8cce-73861e28c575.html |work=Stanwood Camano News |access-date=July 6, 2018}}</ref> Stanwood is also a center for [[glass art]]work due to its proximity to the [[Pilchuck Glass School]], founded in 1971 by a group of [[glassblowing]] artists led by [[Dale Chihuly]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Hackett |first=Regina |date=December 29, 1995 |title=Show offers all too brief history of Pilchuck glass |page=16 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Wright |first=Diane |date=July 13, 2005 |title=Rustic roots still nurture splendor in the glass |page=H16 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20050713/pilchuck13n/rustic-roots-still-nurture-splendor-in-the-glass |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=July 6, 2018}}</ref>

Stanwood also hosts several annual festivals and events that are organized by community groups and the city government.<ref>{{cite web |title=Annual Events |url=http://www.ci.stanwood.wa.us/visitors/page/annual-events |publisher=City of Stanwood |access-date=July 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705125503/http://www.ci.stanwood.wa.us/visitors/page/annual-events |archive-date=July 5, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Herald-Events">{{cite news |last=Fiege |first=Gale |date=February 13, 2014 |title=Best places to visit in Stanwood and Camano Island |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/life/best-places-to-visit-in-stanwood-and-camano-island/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=July 6, 2018}}</ref> In February, the area hosts a glass [[Treasure hunt (game)|treasure hunt]] and a [[birding]] festival to coincide with the migration of [[snow goose|snow geese]] and other winter flocks.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=February 21, 2017 |title=This year's Snow Goose Festival is canceled, but geese remain |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/this-years-snow-goose-festival-is-canceled-but-geese-remain/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=July 6, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Benbow |first=Mike |date=February 19, 2016 |title=Stanwood festival is all about — you guessed it! — birds |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/life/stanwood-festival-is-all-about-you-guessed-it-birds/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=July 6, 2018}}</ref> During the summer months, the city organizes weekend concerts at various venues around downtown and hosts a [[farmers' market]] on Fridays from June to October.<ref>{{cite news |last=Salyer |first=Sharon |date=July 5, 2018 |title=Stanwood's free outdoor concert series returns Saturday |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/life/stanwoods-free-outdoor-concert-series-returns-saturday/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=July 6, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Wendel |first=Peggy |date=May 8, 2018 |title=Port Susan Farmers Market picks fresh new manager |url=https://www.goskagit.com/scnews/news/port-susan-farmers-market-picks-fresh-new-manager/article_40f1e28a-52dd-11e8-9637-97d8469a050c.html |work=Stanwood Camano News |access-date=July 6, 2018}}</ref> Stanwood's two late summer festivals, the Community Fair and Harvest Jubilee, are focused around the region's agricultural tradition. The Community Fair, held since 1932 in early August and billed as the "Best Lil' Fair in the West", draws 12,000 visitors annually and features [[4-H]] presentations, livestock exhibitions, a [[parade]], and carnival rides.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=July 29, 2015 |title=Stanwood-Camano fair expands activities for children |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/stanwood-camano-fair-expands-activities-for-children/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=July 6, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=August 4, 2016 |title=Music, food and more at Stanwood-Camano Fair this weekend |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/music-food-and-more-at-stanwood-camano-fair-this-weekend/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=July 6, 2018}}</ref> The Harvest Jubilee, held since 2007 in late September, includes fine art exhibitions, produce contests, and self-guided tours of local farms.<ref name="Herald-Events"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Fiege |first=Gale |date=September 15, 2009 |title=Harvest Jubilee keeps growing |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/prep-girls-soccer-glacier-peak-2-meadowdale-1/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=July 6, 2018}}</ref>

===Parks and recreation===

Stanwood has eight public parks that have a combined {{convert|86|acre|ha}} of public open and preserved space. The parks range from nature sanctuaries to neighborhood parks, playgrounds, sports fields, and [[boat launch]]es. The city's largest park is Heritage Park, located in downtown and covering {{convert|44|acre}}; it is shared with the school district and includes sports fields, walking trails, picnic areas, a [[dog park]], and a [[skate park]].<ref name="ParksPlan">{{cite web |date=March 2018 |title=City of Stanwood Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan |pages=22–28 |url=https://stanwoodwa.org/DocumentCenter/View/4932/2018-03-PROS-Plan-Resolution |publisher=City of Stanwood |access-date=November 19, 2021}}</ref> Stanwood's nearest regional parks are [[Kayak Point County Park]], which also includes an adjacent [[golf course]], and [[Wenberg County Park]] on [[Lake Goodwin]].<ref name="ParksPlan"/>

In 2014, the city began development of new multi-million dollar parks at the former Hamilton lumber mill and Ovenell dairy farm, both located along the Stillaguamish River near downtown.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=March 26, 2016 |title=Stanwood seeks input on new Stillaguamish riverfront park |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/stanwood-seeks-input-on-new-stillaguamish-riverfront-park/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=July 6, 2018}}</ref> The Hamilton site includes an iconic [[smokestack]] that is decorated during the holiday season and will be incorporated into the new park, which will include a [[boat launch]] and public dock.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=May 30, 2015 |title=Stanwood smokestack lighting tradition to continue |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/stanwood-smokestack-lighting-tradition-to-continue/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=July 7, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Hamilton-Ovenell">{{cite web |date=June 23, 2016 |title=Ovenell Park & Hamilton Landing Master Plan |page=24 |url=http://www.ci.stanwood.wa.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/parks_and_recreation/page/3506/stanwood_riverfront_parks_master_plan_final_06-23-16.pdf |publisher=City of Stanwood |access-date=July 7, 2018 |archive-date=July 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707230625/http://www.ci.stanwood.wa.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/parks_and_recreation/page/3506/stanwood_riverfront_parks_master_plan_final_06-23-16.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> The {{convert|15|acre|ha|adj=mid}} Ovenell site was cleared of its historic [[barn]] in 2017 and will include a boat launch, natural habitats, and a [[demonstration farm]] when fully completed in the 2020s.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=August 18, 2017 |title=Historic Stanwood barn burned down to make way for park |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/historic-stanwood-barn-burned-down-to-make-way-for-park/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=July 7, 2018}}</ref>

===Media===
[[File:Stanwood Library (23161738740).jpg|thumb|right|The Stanwood Community Library, operated by the [[Sno-Isle Libraries]] system]]

Stanwood has one [[weekly newspaper]], the ''[[Stanwood Camano News]]'', which originated in 1903 as the ''Stanwood Tidings'' and later ran under the name of the ''Twin City News''.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 25, 1964 |title=George B. Astel Dies In California |page=20 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Garateix |first=Marilyn |date=June 29, 1988 |title=The News: Weekly papers hold history for small towns |page=H1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> The newspaper was acquired by the [[Pioneer News Group]], publishers of the Mount Vernon-based ''[[Skagit Valley Herald]]'', in 2015. At the time, the ''News'' had a weekly circulation of 2,200.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 10, 2015 |title=Pioneer buys Stanwood Camano News |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/business/pioneer-buys-stanwood-camano-news/ |work=The Everett Herald Business Journal |access-date=July 7, 2018}}</ref>

Stanwood's [[public library]] is operated by the countywide [[Sno-Isle Libraries]] system and is housed in a {{convert|5,400|sqft|sqm|adj=mid}} building. The city's first library was built in 1922 and replaced in 1970 with the modern building, which was expanded in 1986.<ref>{{cite news |last=Whitely |first=Peyton |date=May 7, 2003 |title='69 library may wind up in history section |page=H30 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Aweeka |first=Charles |date=March 19, 1986 |title=Town's support gave library room to grow |page=H1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=O'Hagan |first=Jeremiah |date=November 5, 2013 |title=Stanwood Library celebrates centennial, 1913–2013 |url=https://www.goskagit.com/scnews/news/stanwood-library-celebrates-centennial/article_c8f334c8-4e69-56eb-b2fe-653d06b2758e.html |work=Stanwood Camano News |access-date=July 7, 2018}}</ref>

===Historic buildings===

The twin downtowns of Stanwood and East Stanwood have several blocks of historic buildings that date back to the early 20th century and were preserved by the city's residents.<ref name="PI-1999"/><ref>{{cite news |date=March 25, 2018 |title=Historic brick buildings alive and well |url=http://www.sahs-fncc.org/?p=1239 |publisher=Stanwood Area Historical Society |access-date=July 6, 2018}}</ref> A portion of the eastern downtown was nearly destroyed in a [[two-alarm fire]] on August 27, 1997, which burned through three shops.<ref>{{cite news |last=Clutter |first=Stephen |date=August 28, 1997 |title=Stanwood fire imperiled block of historic area |page=B1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>

Stanwood has two buildings listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] (NRHP), which evaluates historic sites under private ownership.<ref name="Herald-NRHP">{{cite news |date=July 5, 2012 |title=Designated historic sites in Snohomish County |url=http://www.heraldnet.com/news/designated-historic-sites-in-snohomish-county/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=July 6, 2018}}</ref> The [[D. O. Pearson House]], was built in 1890 as the home of the founding Pearson family and was listed in 1973. It was acquired by the Stanwood Area Historical Society in 1975 and now serves as a pioneer museum.<ref>{{cite news |year=2002 |title=D. O. Pearson House History |url=http://www.sahs-fncc.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Echoes21PearsonHouseHist.pdf |work=Stanwood Area Echoes |issue=21 |publisher=Stanwood Area Historical Society |access-date=July 6, 2018}}</ref> The city's other NRHP listing, the three-story [[Stanwood IOOF Public Hall]], was built in 1903 for use by various [[fraternal organization]]s (including the [[International Order of Odd Fellows]]) until it was acquired by the historical society in 1996.<ref>{{cite news |last=Winters |first=Chris |date=January 7, 2014 |title=Water takes a toll on the Floyd in Stanwood |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/water-takes-a-toll-on-the-floyd-in-stanwood/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=July 6, 2018}}</ref> The IOOF building was reopened in 2003 as the Floyd Norgaard Cultural Center and now serves as a museum, community center, and events venue.<ref>{{cite news |last=Whitely |first=Peyton |date=September 17, 2003 |title=Stanwood's 'big place' making comeback |page=H24 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20030917/norgaard17n/stanwoods-big-place-making-comeback |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=July 6, 2018}}</ref>

===Notable people===

* [[Nels Bruseth]], forest ranger, painter, and naturalist<ref>{{cite news |date=March 26, 1957 |title=Death Takes Nels Bruseth, Darrington |page=41 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>
* [[Bundle of Hiss]], grunge band<ref>{{cite news |last=Lindblad |first=Peter |date=April 20, 2010 |title=Tad recalls the pre-Nirvana days it was the toast of Seattle's grunge scene |url=http://www.goldminemag.com/articles/tad-recalls-the-pre-nirvana-days-it-was-the-toast-of-seattles-grunge-scene |work=[[Goldmine (magazine)|Goldmine]] |access-date=July 6, 2018}}</ref>
* [[Fanny Cory]], cartoonist and illustrator<ref>{{cite news |last=Arney |first=Sarah |date=October 11, 2017 |title=Honoring the matriarch: Fanny Cory |url=https://www.goskagit.com/scnews/news/honoring-the-matriarch-fanny-cory/article_d74f10c5-1def-5681-8cad-ec81ee17c3cb.html |work=Stanwood Camano News |access-date=July 3, 2018}}</ref>
* [[Sarah Jones (rower)|Sarah Jones]], Olympic rower<ref>{{cite news |date=July 8, 2004 |title=Nine area rowers, three coaches chosen for Olympics |url=http://old.seattletimes.com/html/sports/2001974308_row08.html |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=March 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331004651/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/sports/2001974308_row08.html |archive-date=March 31, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[T. J. Oshie]], professional hockey player<ref>{{cite news |date=March 22, 2009 |title=T.J. Oshie's meteoric rise to the NHL |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/sports/t-j-oshies-meteoric-rise-to-the-nhl/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=July 3, 2018}}</ref>
* [[Eugene H. Peterson]], clergyman and author<ref>{{cite news |last=Lackey |first=Tom |date=July 26, 2002 |title=Montana Bible scholar's translation lauded |url=https://billingsgazette.com/lifestyles/montana-bible-scholar-s-translation-lauded/article_b8376437-e69d-5655-89f8-4e126da97331.html |work=[[Billings Gazette]] |agency=Associated Press |access-date=July 6, 2018}}</ref>
* [[Ted Richards (American football)|Ted Richards]], American football player<ref>{{cite web |title=Ted Richards |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RichTe20.htm |website=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]] |access-date=July 6, 2018}}</ref>
* [[Zakarias Martin Toftezen]], first Norwegian settler on the Puget Sound<ref>{{cite news |date=May 18, 1939 |title=Norway's Prince Will Honor Whidby Pioneer of 1849 |page=29 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>
* [[Zoë Marieh Urness]], photographer<ref>{{cite news |last=Killelea |first=Eric |date=July 3, 2017 |title=Art in the Time of Protest |url=https://www.sfreporter.com/arts/2017/07/03/art-in-the-time-of-protest/ |work=[[Santa Fe Reporter]] |access-date=July 3, 2018}}</ref>
* [[Francesca Woodman]], photographer<ref>{{cite news |last=MacMillian |first=Kyle |date=December 14, 2006 |title=Francesca Woodman's haunting vision |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2006/12/14/francesca-woodmans-haunting-vision/ |work=[[The Denver Post]] |url-access=subscription |access-date=July 3, 2018}}</ref>

==Education==

Public schools in Stanwood are operated by the [[Stanwood-Camano School District]], which covers the city and neighboring communities, including Camano Island, [[Lake Ketchum, Washington|Lake Ketchum]], and [[Warm Beach, Washington|Warm Beach]].<ref>{{cite map |title=Stanwood School District Proposed Board of Director Districts |year=2008 |url=http://www.stanwood.wednet.edu/docman/board-of-directors/board-misc/2440-import-director-districts/file.html |publisher=[[Stanwood-Camano School District]] |access-date=July 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150917053709/http://www.stanwood.wednet.edu/docman/board-of-directors/board-misc/2440-import-director-districts/file.html |archive-date=September 17, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The district had an enrollment of approximately 4,554 students in 2014 and has eleven total schools, including [[Stanwood High School|one high school]], two middle schools, and four elementary schools located in Stanwood.<ref>{{cite web |title=Public School District Directory Information: Stanwood-Camano School District |url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_detail.asp?Search=2&ID2=5308340 |publisher=[[National Center for Education Statistics]] |access-date=July 2, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Contact Information & District Map |url=http://www.stanwood.wednet.edu/about-scsd-401-mainmenu-19/schoolscontact-mainmenu-100.html |publisher=Stanwood-Camano School District |access-date=July 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701010853/http://www.stanwood.wednet.edu/about-scsd-401-mainmenu-19/schoolscontact-mainmenu-100.html |archive-date=July 1, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The old high school, opened in 1971, was replaced in 2021 by a new, three-story building on the existing campus to accommodate the area's growing population.<ref name="Herald-HS2021"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=May 23, 2018 |title=Work begins on new Stanwood high school |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/work-begins-on-new-stanwood-high-school/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=July 3, 2018}}</ref>

Stanwood's nearest post-secondary education institutions are [[Skagit Valley College]], located in [[Mount Vernon, Washington|Mount Vernon]], and [[Everett Community College]], located in northern Everett.<ref>{{cite web |title=College Navigator: Results for 98292 |url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?s=WA&zc=98292&zd=20&of=3 |publisher=National Center for Education Statistics |access-date=July 2, 2017}}</ref> In 2006, the city offered {{convert|480|acre|ha}} near [[Interstate 5 in Washington|Interstate 5]] to the state government for a potential four-year university campus.<ref>{{cite news |last=Thompson |first=Lynn |date=August 29, 2007 |title=Cities hunger for higher education |page=H14 |url=http://old.seattletimes.com/html/snohomishcountynews/2003857598_uwnorth29n0.html |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=July 6, 2018}}</ref> The university project was eventually awarded to [[UW North Sound|other bids]] in Everett before being cancelled entirely in 2008.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Morris |first1=Scott |last2=Stevick |first2=Eric |date=May 22, 2006 |title=Stanwood wants to be college town |url=http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/06/05/22/100loc_a1stanwood001.cfm |work=The Everett Herald |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060614151056/http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/06/05/22/100loc_a1stanwood001.cfm |archive-date=June 14, 2006 |access-date=July 3, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Long |first=Katherine |date=May 24, 2011 |title=WSU branch campus one step closer for Everett |page=A1 |url=http://old.seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2015129940_wsu24m.html |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=July 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202073035/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2015129940_wsu24m.html |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Infrastructure==

===Transportation===
[[File:Stanwood Station platform (23349062722).jpg|thumb|left|Stanwood's [[Stanwood station|Amtrak station]], opened in 2009 and served by [[Amtrak Cascades|''Cascades'']]]]

Stanwood is located on [[Washington State Route 532|State Route 532]], an east–west highway connecting [[Camano Island]] to [[Interstate 5 (Washington)|Interstate 5]] east of Stanwood.<ref>{{cite map |year=2014 |title=Washington State Highways, 2014–2015 |url=https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/2D10703F-9ADF-4A95-A14E-2A36FEAF1C20/0/Statewide2014NoHillshade.pdf |section=C3 |publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation |access-date=July 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221194441/https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/2D10703F-9ADF-4A95-A14E-2A36FEAF1C20/0/Statewide2014NoHillshade.pdf |archive-date=February 21, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The city is also served by two other major highways: Pioneer Highway, historically part of [[Washington State Route 530|State Route 530]] and the [[Pacific Highway (U.S.)|Pacific Highway]] ([[U.S. Route 99]]),<ref>{{cite news |date=June 4, 1992 |title=Portion of 530 will be called Pioneer Highway |page=E2 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19920604/1495501/portion-of-530-will-be-called-pioneer-highway |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=July 2, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite map |title=Highway Map, State of Washington |year=1938 |scale=1:1,360,009 |publisher=[[Thomas Guide|Thomas Brothers]] |url=http://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~248506~5515937 |via=[[David Rumsey Historical Map Collection]] |access-date=July 2, 2017}}</ref> which continues north to [[Conway, Washington|Conway]] and east towards [[Silvana, Washington|Silvana]] and [[Arlington, Washington|Arlington]];<ref>{{cite magazine |date=July 1917 |title=The Pacific Highway |page=22 |magazine=[[Western Motor]] |volume=IX |issue=2 |publisher=Western Motor Car |location=Seattle |oclc=17372812 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i-NKAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA52 |via=Google Books |access-date=July 2, 2017}}</ref> and Marine Drive, which continues south to [[Florence, Washington|Florence]], [[Warm Beach, Washington|Warm Beach]], the [[Tulalip Indian Reservation]], and [[Marysville, Washington|Marysville]].<ref name="TransportationPlan">{{cite report |date=March 2015 |title=City of Stanwood Transportation Plan |url=http://www.ci.stanwood.wa.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/community_development/page/2216/6_tran_plan_final_060215.pdf |publisher=City of Stanwood |access-date=July 2, 2017 |archive-date=July 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702093658/http://www.ci.stanwood.wa.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/community_development/page/2216/6_tran_plan_final_060215.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{rp|7}}<ref>{{cite report |date=October 1983 |title=Marine Drive Corridor Improvements Final Environmental Impact Statement |page=5 |publisher=Snohomish County Department of Public Works |oclc=746938531 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i5c2AQAAMAAJ |via=Google Books |access-date=July 2, 2017}}</ref> Due to significant traffic congestion on State Route 532, the city government studied a local bypass route on the west side of Stanwood in 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last=Watanabe |first=Ben |date=September 6, 2021 |title=Could a bypass clear highway traffic in downtown Stanwood? |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/stanwood-eyeing-bypass-for-downtown-highway-congestion/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=March 4, 2025}}</ref>

Public transportation in Stanwood is provided by [[Community Transit]] and [[Island Transit (Washington)|Island Transit]], the transit authorities of Snohomish and Island counties, respectively. Community Transit runs local bus service from Stanwood to [[Warm Beach, Washington|Warm Beach]], [[North Lakewood, Washington|North Lakewood]], and [[Smokey Point, Washington|Smokey Point]]. On weekdays, it also runs express buses to [[Lynnwood City Center station]], the northern terminus of the [[Link light rail]] system, and peak-only service to the [[Boeing Everett Factory]] from a [[park-and-ride]] near Interstate 5.<ref>{{cite map |date=September 2024 |title=Community Transit System Map |url=https://www.communitytransit.org/docs/default-source/mappdfs/systemmappdfs/mapsystem.pdf |publisher=Community Transit |access-date=November 8, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Spain |first=Monica |date=September 11, 2024 |title=New routes and easy connections start Sept. 14 |url=https://www.communitytransit.org/news-and-events/article-detail/2024/09/11/it's-almost-time!-new-routes-and-easy-connections-start-sept.-14 |accessdate=November 8, 2024}}</ref> Island Transit provides service to [[Camano Island]] on two routes, as well as commuter service to [[Mount Vernon, Washington|Mount Vernon]] and [[Everett, Washington|Everett]].<ref name="TransportationPlan"/>{{rp|20–21}} A separate service, named Snow Goose Transit, debuted in 2022 and provides minibus service in Stanwood and parts of Camano Island. It is operated by a local [[retirement home]] and was funded by the [[Washington State Department of Transportation]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Wendel |first=Peggy |date=December 21, 2021 |title=Snow Goose Transit starting new bus service |url=https://www.goskagit.com/scnews/news/snow-goose-transit-starting-new-bus-service/article_f65a7a4c-5c36-5f6d-abaf-c554b2dc175f.html |work=Stanwood Camano News |accessdate=January 22, 2021}}</ref>

Stanwood is served by a north–south railroad owned by [[BNSF Railway]], which operates [[freight rail|freight]] and [[passenger rail]] service to the city. [[Amtrak]]'s [[Amtrak Cascades|''Cascades'']] provides daily passenger rail service at [[Stanwood station]] in downtown Stanwood, continuing south to Seattle and north to [[Vancouver]], British Columbia.<ref name="TransportationPlan"/>{{rp|19}} The train station opened on November 21, 2009, restoring passenger rail service that had been discontinued in 1971.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fiege |first=Gale |date=November 20, 2009 |title=Stanwood welcomes return of the train |work=The Everett Herald |url=http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20091120/NEWS01/711209862 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903044321/http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20091120/NEWS01/711209862 |archive-date=September 3, 2014 |access-date=July 2, 2017}}</ref>

===Utilities===

[[Electric power]] in Stanwood is provided by the [[Snohomish County Public Utility District]] (PUD), a consumer-owned [[public utility]] that serves all of Snohomish County and neighboring Camano Island.<ref>{{cite web |title=Quick Facts |url=https://www.snopud.com/?p=1350 |publisher=[[Snohomish County Public Utility District]] |access-date=July 6, 2018}}</ref> [[Cascade Natural Gas]] provides [[natural gas]] service to the city's residents and businesses, as part of its service area in northwestern Washington.<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Service Areas |url=https://www.cngc.com/utility-navigation/about-us/our-service-areas |publisher=[[Cascade Natural Gas]] |access-date=July 6, 2018}}</ref> Stanwood has two major [[broadband internet]] providers: [[Frontier Communications|Frontier]] and [[Wave Broadband]]; the latter also offers cable television.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stanwood Utilities |url=http://www.ci.stanwood.wa.us/community/page/stanwood-utilities |publisher=City of Stanwood |access-date=July 6, 2018}}</ref>

The city government provides [[tap water|water]] and [[water treatment]] to residents and businesses within a {{convert|10|sqmi|sqkm|adj=mid}} service area that includes the entire city and some surrounding unincorporated areas.<ref>{{cite web |title=Water Service Area |url=http://www.ci.stanwood.wa.us/publicworks/page/water-service-area |publisher=City of Stanwood |access-date=July 7, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=December 27, 2015 |title=Stanwood water, sewer rates to increase |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/stanwood-water-sewer-rates-to-increase/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=July 7, 2018}}</ref> The city's water supply is sourced primarily from several [[water well|wells]] that draw from an underground [[aquifer]].<ref>{{cite web |year=2012 |title=City of Stanwood Water Quality Report For the Year 2012 |url=http://www.ci.stanwood.wa.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/public_works/page/565/2012_ccr_standard.pdf |publisher=City of Stanwood |access-date=July 7, 2018}}</ref> [[Wastewater]] and [[stormwater]] are collected and treated at two [[sewage treatment plant|treatment plants]], built in 1963 and 2004.<ref name="SewerPlan"/>{{rp|2{{hyphen}}1}} [[municipal solid waste|Solid waste]] and [[single-stream recycling|recycling]] collection within Stanwood is contracted by the city government to [[Waste Management (company)|Waste Management]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Waste Management |url=http://www.ci.stanwood.wa.us/publicworks/page/waste-management |publisher=City of Stanwood |access-date=July 7, 2018}}</ref>

===Health care===

Stanwood'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=July 6, 2018 |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 city has two medical clinics operated by [[The Everett Clinic]] and [[Skagit Valley Hospital]].<ref>{{cite news |date=June 20, 2017 |title=Health Roundup: Psychiatric hospital opens in Marysville; yoga, aerobics at Camano Center |url=https://www.goskagit.com/scnews/news/health-roundup-psychiatric-hospital-opens-in-marysville-yoga-aerobics-at/article_f1c7d17f-95a3-5844-8782-fbe996ef5378.html |work=Stanwood Camano News |access-date=July 7, 2018}}</ref> The Stanwood General Hospital operated until 1943, and a replacement was planned in the late 1950s, but never built.<ref>{{harvp|Essex|1998|p=55}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist |refs=
<ref name="Whitfield1926">{{cite book |editor-last=Whitfield |editor-first=William |date=1926 |title=History of Snohomish County |volume=I |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/whitfield_history_of_snohomish_county_volume_I/page/n488/ |publisher=Pioneer Historical Publishing Company |location=Seattle |chapter=The Stillaguamish Valley: The Lower Valley, The Two Stanwoods |pages=482–513}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://stanwoodwa.org/ Official city website]
* [http://www.sahs-fncc.org/ Stanwood Area Historical Society]

{{Geographic location
|Northwest = [[Skagit Bay]]
|North     = [[Conway, Washington|Conway]]
|Northeast = [[Lake McMurray, Washington|Lake McMurray]]
|West      = [[Camano Island]]
|Center    = Stanwood
|South     = [[Warm Beach, Washington|Warm Beach]]
|Southwest = [[Port Susan]]
|Southeast = [[Silvana, Washington|Silvana]]
|East      = [[Arlington, Washington|Arlington]]
|}}
{{Snohomish County, Washington}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1866 establishments in Washington Territory]]
[[Category:Cities in Snohomish County, Washington]]
[[Category:Cities in the Seattle metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Cities in Washington (state)]]