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SUBJECTS › GOVERNANCE › SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICTS › Brief History of Special Districts in Washington
Updated 05/03
Brief History of Special Districts in Washington

Brief History of Special Districts in Washington

Contents

General History of Washington Special District Development

The creation of special districts in Washington was shaped by historic events which affected the country as a whole. These included reform movements seeking public control of private monopolies, westward expansion and the development of agricultural lands, catastrophic flood damage, federal legislation, suburbanization, and the pursuit of revenue sources for special projects.

First Special Districts

  • The Washington Territorial Legislature divided counties into school districts and authorized counties to create road districts to assess a tax for road maintenance and improvements.
  • Diking benefit districts were authorized in 1888 to help the farmers in Skagit County.
  • The first state legislature, in 1889, provided for road districts, school districts, drainage and ditch improvements, and following California's example, Washington land owners were given the authority to form irrigation districts to help farmers raise money to build and improve irrigation works.

1889-1939 Highlights

  • Metropolitan park districts were authorized in 1907 to enable Tacoma to fund a zoo.
  • Port districts were authorized in 1911 See Port History, Washington State Port Association.
  • Authority to create public utility districts was finally achieved at the 1930 general election. See PUD History, Washington PUD Association.
  • The Flood Control District Act was passed after catastrophic floods of 1933 which authorized the formation of flood control districts to build permanent flood control works.
  • Fire prevention districts were authorized in 1933 for in class A and first class counties.
  • Regional libraries were authorized in 1935.
  • Washington enacted a soil conservation district law in 1939 after the passage of the 1935 federal Soil Conservation Act. See Conservation District History, National Association of Conservation Districts.
  • Housing authorities were also authorized in 1939 after the passage of the Wagner-Steagell National Housing Act of 1937.

1940-1959 Highlights

  • Districts authorized: Airport, cemetery, rural county library, health, hospital, sewer districts, and park and recreation districts.
  • Mosquito Control Districts were authorized in 1957.
  • Metropolitan municipal corporations were authorized in 1957. Metros were formed in King and Snohomish counties neither of which operate today.

1960-2003 Highlights

Much of the legislation enabling special purpose districts in the last twenty years has focused on methods for financing the building and operation facilities such as stadiums and ball parks, convention centers, a regional transit system, and most recently a monorail.