How about a sunny dale? That’s what some long-time residents still call Burien. But let’s dive deeper into the story of Burien.
Burien sits south of Seattle on Puget Sound. It is a suburban city in King County. This city wasn’t always the bustling place it is today. Burien has grown significantly since its incorporation.
European settlement started around 1864. George Ouellet bought land here. He was a French-Canadian. He arrived in Washington Territory earlier. The Ouellet family later moved to the White River Valley.
Now, about that sunny dale. As the tale goes, Mike Kelly, an early settler, emerged from the trees. He declared it a sunny dale. That name stuck for a while.
Then came Gottlieb Burian. He and his wife Emma arrived in Sunnydale in 1884. They were German immigrants. They owned two taverns in downtown Seattle. Sunnydale was a tiny community then. It lacked roads and commercial buildings. Trails were the main way to get around. Burian built a cabin by Lake Burien. He is credited with forming the town. Over the years, the name was misspelled as Burien. A real estate office opened. It drew new residents to Burien.
In the early 1900s, Seattle visitors arrived via the Mosquito Fleet. They came to Three Tree Point. They enjoyed sunbathing and swimming.
A railway arrived in 1915. It ran from Burien to White Center to Seattle. The residents fondly called the small train the Toonerville Trolley. However, caterpillars squished on the tracks made them slippery in summer. Ice made the tracks treacherous in winter. The Toonerville Trolley was soon removed.
Incorporation wasn’t easy. Several attempts failed. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, citizens wanted a more responsive government. They worried about the airport runway expansion. This was a big issue for the community. They also felt multi-family housing was out of control. They lacked a local voice to address their concerns. Finally, Burien incorporated on February 28, 1993. Voters approved it.
Later, there was talk of annexing North Highline. Some supported it. Others protested. The city assessed annexing North Highline in 2004. It would have doubled Burien’s size. A portion of North Highline was annexed in 2010.
Downtown Burien has seen development. The Town Square development finished in 2017. It features retail space, condos, apartments, and a senior living center. There is also a King County Library branch with underground parking. City Hall is on the library’s top floor. Town Square Park has a spray park and a rain garden.
Burien is a growing city. It has a diverse population. It offers a mix of urban and natural attractions. Burien’s story reflects its journey from a sunny dale to a vibrant city.