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Fair Temp: 63°F Hi: 61°F Lo: 41°F NW 8 MPH |
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About Covington
City of Covington Demographics
Population
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17,900 people with over 5,639 households
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Median age is 32.1 years
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% of population under 17 is 36.3%
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% of population over 55 is 9.5%
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Elevation
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420 feet
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Area
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6.75 square miles
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Household Information
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% of owner occupied is 89.9%
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Average household size is 3.09 persons
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Median household income is $77,200
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Median home value is $300,000
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Location
The City of Covington, rich in small town character and beautiful natural environment, is committed to enhancing both. Residents are proud of the family-oriented, safe, and pedestrian-friendly town that is rapidly emerging since incorporating in 1997. The downtown core, at the intersections of Hwy 18 and SR-516 (Kent-Kangley), features diverse retail and dining destinations. The city is increasing commercial development downtown, making this crossroads a regional draw for South King County. The Covington Aquatics Center offers a variety of activities for all ages. Each July, residents and visitors enjoy Covington Days' parade, carnival, booths and other attractions. In December, the Holiday Tree Lighting includes a visit from Santa.
Covington's Humble Beginning
Covington is a new city but the history and spirit of the Covington area extends back over 100 years. The original Covington area was called Jenkins Prairie and was used as an annual gathering place for the Indians. The name continues with Jenkins Creek, there is even a Jenkins Creek Elementary School.
1880's - The Northern Pacific Railroad commissioned a surveyor by the name of Covington to develop a railroad line between Auburn and Kanasket. Along the way a stop was named for him and a community was born.
1890 - The Covington Lumber Company was formed at the junction of Soos Creek and the Northern Pacific Railway just southwest of the Covington depot. A dam thirty feet high was built to create a logpond. Even back then the Game Department required that they put a fish ladder in for the salmon. The lumber mill could produce 6,000 board feet of lumber per hour and also housed a shingle factory. The company and mill town of Covington were located about four miles southwest of what is now QFC. An abundance of timber and water in the area soon lured other lumbermen to build in Covington. Charlie Meredith built a mill on Jenkins Creek just north of the whistle stop and the Award Lumber Company was located about three miles east of Auburn. One of the best known mills in the area was started by three partners and was named the Covington Creek Mill.
1900's - The area had a school, store, post office, loan office, feed mill and fire station. The cooperative store, Granger's Co-Op, was formed because of high prices and a feud with Kent merchants. A cemetery was started around the same time, Meridian Cemetery, and the land was purchased for $5 per acre. Phone service was introduced to Covington by this time as well. The cost was $12.00 per year for the "Farmers Party Line" and a refund was offered each year if there was little or no trouble on the lines.
1911 - A Covington telephone directory was printed.
After the trees were logged off, the "Soos Creek stump ranchers" arrived to work the land. They cleared the stumps and brush turning the area into valuable dairy pastures.
1937 - Covington had it's own school district number 138. It was housed in a building on the Kent-Black Diamond Road. On school days you could hear the school bell ring for miles. When the building burned down the bell was refurbished and donated to Covington Elementary School on Wax Road. It is still there today.
The area has continued to grow with neighborhoods of single housing units giving it a unique family atmosphere. An additional 5,000 family units are expected to be built in the area in the next 20 years. Covington was built by the type of hard working, caring people that we still have here today. And as history has continued to show, so has the strong community spirit.
As one community resident put it, "Covington... a touch of America". |
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