Buckley is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States, founded in 1882. The population was 5,114 at the 2020 census. Buckley lies on the White River below Mount Rainier and is known for hosting an annual festival named the Log Show.

History

  • 1856 Decisive battle of the Puget Sound War fought at Connell's Prairie, 6 miles (10 km) west of Buckley. It was significant because it boosted the morale of the settlers because it was such a great victory with no casualties to the regulars or volunteers.
  • 1875
  • Coal discovered at Wilkeson
  • Jeremiah 'Jerry' Stilley, first permanent non-Indian resident, settled West of town.
  • 1877 Railroad built from Tacoma to Wilkeson to transport coal.
  • 1882 Town named "Perkin's Prairie"
  • 1884 Northern Pacific built railroad spur track from Cascade Junction (between South Prairie and Buckley) to Perkin's Prairie. Town given name "White River Siding" by railroad men.
  • 1885 Town's first store erected by "Dad" Chamberlain.
  • 1887
  • Town renamed "Buckley" for J.M. Buckley, Northern Pacific Railway district superintendent.
  • First school established.
  • 1888 Town site platted by Alexander and Mary Wickersham. Lumber and shingle mills are established.
  • 1889
  • First post office established.
  • District Court appointed five men as trustees of the Town of Buckley.
  • First newspaper printed and published in Buckley - The Buckley Banner.
  • 1890: Town incorporated by electorate.
  • 1891: Land donated for Buckley cemetery.
  • 1892
  • May 5 Business District almost wiped out fire. Started on second story of the Buckley Lumber Store. Many brick buildings built after this fire still stand on Main Street.
  • June 17 New school built at present site of White River School District building on A Street.
  • First permanent church built.
  • World's Fair in Chicago, Illinois - Buckley Mills sell wood, shingles, and supplies to be used at the World's Fair Exhibit Buildings
  • First organized water system established.
  • 1893
  • February 24 Fire Department in Buckley was established.
  • 1898 Business district razed by fire. First high school classes held, building erected.
  • 1902
  • Addition built on schoolhouse.
  • First library established.
  • 1905 First high school graduation held.

thumb|right|Buckley High School, about 1912

  • 1907
  • Gravity water system built; water stored in reservoir still in use by town.
  • First general use of electricity.
  • 1909
  • School burned to ground.
  • Town established fire department to replace Columbia Hose Company, a private fire-fighting group.
  • 1910 New brick school built on A Street.
  • 1911
  • White River Power Plant completed.
  • Present town hall built.
  • 1912 Plank streets replaced by paving.
  • 1914 Wickersham elementary school built.
  • 1920 Large section of business district leveled by fire..
  • 1939
  • Rainier School officially opened.
  • Work commenced on Mud Mountain Dam on White River.
  • 1942 Mud Mountain Dam completed.
  • 1944 Buckley railroad logging ended with closure of Buckley Logging Company mill.
  • 1946 City limits extended to include Rainier School and farms south of town.
  • 1947
  • Last company-operated coal mining discontinued.
  • 1949 Buckley and Enumclaw school districts consolidated.
  • 1951 Rural Fire District No. 12 organized.
  • 1952
  • New fire station built.
  • Sewage disposal plant built.
  • 1953
  • Wickersham school annex built.
  • White River School District (Buckley-Enumclaw) de-consolidated.
  • 1956
  • New gymnasium built at high school.
  • 1957
  • Town established natural gas utility.
  • 1959 Northern Pacific railroad depot torn down.
  • 1974 Buckley Annual Log Show starts.
  • 2003 White River High School moved to a new location.

Geography

Buckley is located on the south side of the White River near the communities of Enumclaw, Bonney Lake, and Wilkeson. The White River forms the border between King and Pierce counties.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, is land and is water.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Buckley has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.

Demographics

thumb|left|Main St. Buckley, WA

thumb|Buckley City Hall