History Burien, Washington

settlement in burien area dates 1864, when george ouellet (1831–1899), french-canadian born in sainte-marie-de-beauce, quebec, purchased first of several land patents homestead sites directly federal land office. ouellet had first arrived in washington territory @ port madison on bainbridge island, off of kitsap peninsula, in 1858. 3 years after purchasing homestead in burien area, married 14-year-old elizabeth cushner, born in washington territory, , started family. several years later, ouellet family moved white river valley, near auburn.

a popular local tale recounts settler named mike kelly gave community first name after emerged trees , said, sunny dale. today, few long-time residents still refer burien area sunnydale.

in 1884, gottlieb burian (1837–1902) , wife emma (wurm) burian (1840–1905), german immigrants hussinetz, lower silesia, owned 2 taverns in downtown seattle, arrived in sunnydale. tiny community without improved roads or commercial buildings, reached trails. burian built cabin on southeast corner of lake burien , reportedly formed community town bearing name (misspelled on years). real estate office built , attracted large numbers of new residents burien.

in 1900s, visitors seattle came mosquito fleet 3 tree point, west of town sunbathe , swim.

in 1915, lake burien railway completed. ran on today ambaum boulevard burien white center seattle. small passenger train ran tracks , affectionately named residents, toonerville trolley. however, in summer, squished caterpillars made track slippery, , in winter, tracks iced over. toonerville trolley removed.

incorporation

several proposals incorporate greater burien area, unincorporated portion of king county, attempted failed. in late 1980s , 1990s, citizens felt needed more responsive government address looming threat of port of seattle s airport runway expansion (known third runway ) @ seattle-tacoma international airport west, effort again made incorporate city. citizens felt multi-family apartments , dwellings had proliferated out of control in burien , other unincorporated areas of king county, , had no local voice in government, other king county council, hear concerns.

the city of burien incorporated on february 28, 1993 after voter approval.

north highline annexation

three tree point in burien @ sunset.

late in 2004, city assessed possibility of annexing north highline (which includes white center , boulevard park), 1 of largest urban unincorporated areas of king county, double size of burien. many citizens spoke against annexation , created picket signs , petitions protest against it. other citizens welcomed expansion, felt parts of so-called north highline area should have been part of original burien incorporation, , area in question part of larger highline area. (the highline area includes cities of burien, seatac, des moines, federal way , unincorporated area called north highline. )

in may 2008, burien city council proposed annexation of southern portion of north highline, comprising 14,000 residents. in late summer of 2008, city of burien prepared submit annexation proposal king county s boundary review board. however, after city of seattle protested burien s proposal, burien opted withdraw annexation plan , resubmit after new countywide planning policies went effect.

in october 2008, burien city council voted resubmit annexation plan county boundary review board. however, cities of burien , seattle, along king county , other stakeholders, first participated , completed mediation ensure interests of parties involved met. affected stakeholders have agreed preliminary annexation framework stipulated how annexation play-out between cities of burien , seattle , king county. however, seattle city council voted against agreement february. not known if seattle has future plans annexation of part of north highline area.

on april 16, 2009, boundary review board of king county approved burien s proposal annexation of southern portion of north highline area.

in may 2009, both king county , city of burien passed resolutions place annexation vote on august 18th primary ballot. annexation area voted on consisted of southern north highline , had area of 1,600 acres (6.5 km) , approximately 14,000 citizens. ballot issue approved majority of southern north highline residents, , on april 1, 2010, southern north highline became part of burien.

after annexation vote, special census conducted, , determined newly annexed area had 14,292 residents. resulted in new population total of 49,858, making burien 23rd largest city in washington state.

the boundary review board approved second proposal burien annex northern north highline (also known area y) in february 2012, rejected area y residents in november 2012.