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A subsidiary of U.S. Tobacco, which was headed by a businessman from Seattle named Wally Updycke, purchased the Stimson land, for the sole purpose of constructing a winery on the property, in 1973. In 1975 ground was broken for the Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery, and the $6 million winery in 1976. This was the first winery in Woodinville but it decidedly wouldn't be the last. These days, there are numerous tasting rooms and wineries that are scattered throughout the community of Woodinville. In 1994, the Redhook Ale Brewery was completed and close to the Chateau Ste. Michelle, simply for a change of pace. Most recently distilleries have also opened in Woodinville, and in 2009, Soft Tail Spirits was the first to open.
Woodinville started expanding more quickly during the late 1970's. Subdivisions were replacing the horse ranches. During the 1980's, this growth exploded. The commercial in Woodinville also increased quickly east and north. Next to NE 175th Street, there was considerable development. Video stores as well as fast food restaurants opened, and on NE 175th Street, the Woodinville Towne Center opened in 1986, which replaced the old rodeo grounds that had been the home of the Woodinville Rodeo between 1949 and 1961. With this rural community now becoming a suburban community, it was obvious that Woodinville needed to incorporate.
Although there was some discussion about the incorporation of Woodinville during the 1970's, there were considerably more serious efforts in the 1970's, to establish a new county from of the easternmost half of King County, and have the county seat be Woodinville. This effort was headed up by a man named Ray Freeman, who many residents consider his Mr. Woodinville. Mr. Freeman believed that there was neglect in King County through the representation of the eastern residents that made a new county a requirement. Mr. Freeman also proposed that Cascade County be established.
In the 1970's, five times Mr. Freeman and his backers sought introduce a bill in the State Legislature of to put the question of establishing Cascade County to a vote. However, the all of the bills in many different committees and never got to the full legislature. There wouldn't be a Cascade County, and the focus switched to the incorporation of Woodinville during the 1980's. In 1981, the first effort never made it past the Boundary Review Board in King County that stated that Woodinville didn't have a sufficiently large tax base to support municipal operations.
In 1985, the efforts to incorporate got more serious, when the community Bothell wanted to annex some property that many residents considered to be a portion of Woodinville. This time the response of the Boundary Review Board was considerably more favorable, and later in 1986, the question to incorporate was placed on the ballot. Out of over 4,200 votes that were cast, the measure failed by only 33 votes. Supporters again tried, but this effort was derailed by a man named Thomas McBride, who applied to the County Council to have his Hollywood Hill's 400-acre farm not be a part of the proposed community. Mr. McBride explained that he didn't oppose incorporation itself, but that he simply did not want his farm to be a part of the community. Mr. McBride lost, and in 1989, another vote for the incorporation of Woodinville was held. However, this vote also failed by a margin that was even closer. Out of the 7,000 votes that were cast, the measure failed by a mere 14 votes.
However, an advisory committee for King County advisory recommended that a 256-cell jail be constructed close to Cottage Lake. Immediately the incorporation of Woodinville was more attractive, because the incorporation of Woodinville would prevent King County from constructing a jail in the community. In 1992, the incorporation of Woodinville was once again put on the ballot. The region that was proposed for the incorporation was much smaller than previous proposals had been. As opposed to the 23 square miles in 1981 and the 16.5 square proposed in 1966 and 1989, only 5.7 square miles were proposed for incorporation. Out of over 1,600 votes that were cast, this time the incorporation effort passed, by 52 votes. The year 1993 finally brought the incorporation of Woodinville as a city. This effort was celebrated with a Basset Bash dog show as well as its yearly All Fools Parade.
These days, Woodinville is an upscale suburb of Seattle, that has an ever increasing population, which was up 19% between 2000 and 2010 with a population of some 10,938 people. However, the total area remained at 5.7 square miles since its incorporation in 1993. This is a rather affluent city. In 2009, the approximate median income for a household in Woodinville was $86,925, as compared to $56,548 for Washington State, and $67,468 for King County. The home values in Woodinville are also above the state and county norms, although they haven't escaped from the housing market in the new downtown area.
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Woodinville Tidbits
A subsidiary of U.S. Tobacco, which was headed by a businessman from Seattle named Wally Updycke, purchased the Stimson land, for the sole purpose of constructing a winery on the property, in 1973. In 1975 ground was broken for the Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery, and the $6 million winery in 1976. This was the first winery in Woodinville but it decidedly wouldn't be the last. These days, there are numerous tasting rooms and wineries that are scattered throughout the community of Woodinville. In 1994, the Redhook Ale Brewery was completed and close to the Chateau Ste. Michelle, simply for a change of pace. Most recently distilleries have also opened in Woodinville, and in 2009, Soft Tail Spirits was the first to open.
Woodinville started expanding more quickly during the late 1970's. Subdivisions were replacing the horse ranches. During the 1980's, this growth exploded. The commercial in Woodinville also increased quickly east and north. Next to NE 175th Street, there was considerable development. Video stores as well as fast food restaurants opened, and on NE 175th Street, the Woodinville Towne Center opened in 1986, which replaced the old rodeo grounds that had been the home of the Woodinville Rodeo between 1949 and 1961. With this rural community now becoming a suburban community, it was obvious that Woodinville needed to incorporate.
Although there was some discussion about the incorporation of Woodinville during the 1970's, there were considerably more serious efforts in the 1970's, to establish a new county from of the easternmost half of King County, and have the county seat be Woodinville. This effort was headed up by a man named Ray Freeman, who many residents consider his Mr. Woodinville. Mr. Freeman believed that there was neglect in King County through the representation of the eastern residents that made a new county a requirement. Mr. Freeman also proposed that Cascade County be established.
In the 1970's, five times Mr. Freeman and his backers sought introduce a bill in the State Legislature of to put the question of establishing Cascade County to a vote. However, the all of the bills in many different committees and never got to the full legislature. There wouldn't be a Cascade County, and the focus switched to the incorporation of Woodinville during the 1980's. In 1981, the first effort never made it past the Boundary Review Board in King County that stated that Woodinville didn't have a sufficiently large tax base to support municipal operations.
In 1985, the efforts to incorporate got more serious, when the community Bothell wanted to annex some property that many residents considered to be a portion of Woodinville. This time the response of the Boundary Review Board was considerably more favorable, and later in 1986, the question to incorporate was placed on the ballot. Out of over 4,200 votes that were cast, the measure failed by only 33 votes. Supporters again tried, but this effort was derailed by a man named Thomas McBride, who applied to the County Council to have his Hollywood Hill's 400-acre farm not be a part of the proposed community. Mr. McBride explained that he didn't oppose incorporation itself, but that he simply did not want his farm to be a part of the community. Mr. McBride lost, and in 1989, another vote for the incorporation of Woodinville was held. However, this vote also failed by a margin that was even closer. Out of the 7,000 votes that were cast, the measure failed by a mere 14 votes.
However, an advisory committee for King County advisory recommended that a 256-cell jail be constructed close to Cottage Lake. Immediately the incorporation of Woodinville was more attractive, because the incorporation of Woodinville would prevent King County from constructing a jail in the community. In 1992, the incorporation of Woodinville was once again put on the ballot. The region that was proposed for the incorporation was much smaller than previous proposals had been. As opposed to the 23 square miles in 1981 and the 16.5 square proposed in 1966 and 1989, only 5.7 square miles were proposed for incorporation. Out of over 1,600 votes that were cast, this time the incorporation effort passed, by 52 votes. The year 1993 finally brought the incorporation of Woodinville as a city. This effort was celebrated with a Basset Bash dog show as well as its yearly All Fools Parade.
These days, Woodinville is an upscale suburb of Seattle, that has an ever increasing population, which was up 19% between 2000 and 2010 with a population of some 10,938 people. However, the total area remained at 5.7 square miles since its incorporation in 1993. This is a rather affluent city. In 2009, the approximate median income for a household in Woodinville was $86,925, as compared to $56,548 for Washington State, and $67,468 for King County. The home values in Woodinville are also above the state and county norms, although they haven't escaped from the housing market in the new downtown area.