Index () in modern-day Index. At the village were several longhouses, including a large potlatch house. was the base camp for people traveling into the Cascades for hunting and gathering.

The first non-native settlers in the area were prospectors who placed individual mineral rights for claims in the Cascades, beginning with a gold rush in 1874 along Silver Creek near what later became the community of Galena. His wife Persis named their site "Index" for nearby Mount Index (later renamed Baring Mountain), itself named for its resemblance to an index finger. Mount Persis and Gunn's Peaks were also named for the family. Mines in the area yielded gold, silver, copper, and galena among other minerals, which spurred further settlement around the North Fork Skykomish River. The Gunns' hotel was expanded two years later to accommodate an increasing number of prospectors who arrived on the Great Northern and traveled onward towards Galena and Mineral City. The plat reserved for the main street, which had been surfaced with gravel due to frequent flooding from the Skykomish River and was sought for use for a branch railroad to Galena. The Copper Bell and Sunset mines were opened in 1898 and brought the town to its peak population of 1,000 in 1900.

Early 20th century

thumb|right|Panoramic view of Index, photographed in 1912 by Lee Pickett

Amos Gunn sold his properties in Index in 1899 shortly after the death of his wife Persis. The town continued to grow with the arrival of social clubs, a schoolhouse, and its first newspaper, the Index Miner (later the Index News), in 1899. In November 1902, a second major fire destroyed several buildings in the town, including the assay office, and killed one person. Plans to build a hydroelectric dam and a pulp mill at sites along both forks of the Skykomish River were proposed but never began construction. The Great Northern's local trains, nicknamed the "Dinkies", made daily stops in every Skykomish Valley settlement and provided Index with passenger and postal service until they were discontinued in 1925 after the highway opened. The Stevens Pass Highway was rebuilt by the state government in 1933 and bypassed Index, which reduced tourist traffic to the town and caused several businesses to close.

The town's major industries saw reduced business during the early years of the Great Depression, which resulted in the shutdown of lumber mills and mines in the area. The granite quarry closed permanently after a fire destroyed its warehouse in May 1932; it was not rebuilt due to the decreased demand for granite. A Civilian Conservation Corps camp was established east of Index in 1934 to provide jobs for unemployed men and improve lands owned by the United States Forest Service in the Cascades. hundreds of firefighters from the United States Forest Service and local fire departments in the region prevented the fire from causing further damage before it retreated into the forests. The Sunset Mine, the last remaining copper mine in the area, had financial issues and was taken over by its workers after a dispute over unpaid wages; it was shut down in 1942 by a federal order to halt mining of non-essential materials during World War II. A natural hot springs near the town continued to draw tourists and was developed into a major resort named the Garland Mineral Springs; during World War II, it was converted into a Coast Guard training camp. After Index's high school closed in 1942, students were moved to Sultan Senior High School. The other school buildings were condemned by the state fire marshal in 1952 and replaced three years later by a new consolidated school. From 1962 to 1964, Great Northern rebuilt its railroad through Index on an embankment with a wider curve that cut off several streets and split the town into two halves. The original railroad depot in the town was also demolished and the lone grade crossing was made steeper, creating a blind hill.

The town has been frequented by rock climbers since routes on the Index Town Wall, a set of granite cliffs that face the Skykomish River, were mapped in the 1950s and developed in the early 1970s by enthusiasts from Seattle. A replacement of Index's wooden water main and reservoir system, which are supplied by a mountain spring, began in 1967 and was completed a decade later by the town government using federal and state grants. The Bush House, a historic hotel that opened in 1898 and closed in the 1930s, It was among the few active businesses in Index along with a general store and tavern; the town had become a destination for retirees and vacationers by the 1970s and had few permanent residents. The Red Men Hall, traditionally a meeting place for the local chapter of the Independent Order of Red Men, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

On December 26, 1980, heavy rainfall caused the North Fork Skykomish River to flood Index and the surrounding area with up to of water. The flood washed away seven homes, a portion of Avenue A, and the town's water main, with damage estimated at $691,000 (equivalent to $ in dollars) by local officials. Buildings and roads were later rebuilt by residents, while a temporary riprap was installed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The town government had previously requested aid to repair an existing riprap along Avenue A that had been damaged in a 1975 flood as well as remove a log jam that had formed in the river upstream from Index. The Army Corps of Engineers constructed a new, riprap along Avenue A in April 1981 but denied responsibility for the flood damage, which it described as a "natural occurrence".

Transition to recreation economy

thumb|right|The Bush House, which reopened in 1975, with the Town Wall in the background

The town recovered from the 1980 flood and had organized emergency medical services and a new historical society within a few years. A total of 19 business licenses were issued by the town government, mostly to cottage industries and home businesses, in 1984. The reopening of the Bush Hotel was credited with the increase in local businesses, but the nearest gas station and medical clinics remained further west on U.S. Route 2. After Burlington Northern Railroad proposed the use of herbicide 2,4-D along their tracks through the town, local residents protested by blocking access until the railroad agreed to not spray near Index. A total of 11 residents were randomly selected by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services for urine testing, which found the herbicide was not present in their bodies. The town council adopted a resolution to support the Nuclear Freeze campaign, which proposed a halt to development of new nuclear weapons, in 1983 amid rumors that some nuclear warheads would be transported on the railroad through Index.

The Index Town Wall was the site of a drilling experiment in 1984 for a local company that planned to supply a new machine to an Australian diamond mine. The experiment created a tunnel that ran deep into the granite face of the Town Wall; the tunnel was later repurposed by the University of Washington for physics experiments. The use of the Town Wall for the experiment and the expedited environmental review process for the project was criticized by The Mountaineers and other outdoor recreation groups. The Skykomish River around Index began to attract rafting excursions and operators in the 1980s, which led to conflicts with local residents due to increased traffic and litter as well as the use of town facilities without payment. In 1986, the town government approved a plan to build a paid boat ramp and parking facilities for rafting companies as part of a compromise to address the traffic and litter issues.

From 1980 to 1990, the town's population declined by 5.4percent despite a boom in the number of new vacation homes built in Index and the surrounding area. Most permanent residents continued to commute out of Index to job centers in western Snohomish and King counties. The town's lone road crossing over the Skykomish River, a one-lane timber bridge, was replaced in September 1999 by a modern concrete bridge. The $4million project (equivalent to $ in dollars) was primarily funded by the county and federal governments and had been initially opposed by local residents. Index's population had declined to approximately 150 by 1997, but the town government began planning infrastructure projects that would accommodate future population growth, including the replacement of septic tanks with a modern sewage system and a wastewater treatment plant. A new hiking trail to Lake Serene was constructed by the United States Forest Service with a large parking lot and other amenities in anticipation of high demand. It was named Forks of the Sky State Park and the Town Wall was donated to expand the park in 2010. A nearby portion of the Mount Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest was designated as the Wild Sky Wilderness by the federal government in 2008 to protect over of alpine habitat for wildlife. The Skykomish River flooded portions of Index on November 6, 2006, and caused $7million in recorded damage locally, including washouts on portions of Index–Galena Road that were not fully repaired until 2023. Additional recreation areas around the town were developed in the 2000s through a nonprofit conservation group that was organized in response to a 2006 proposal to begin clearcutting for timber harvesting on Heybrook Ridge. The group raised $600,000 to acquire the land and partnered with the county government to develop Heybrook Ridge County Park, which opened in 2017.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, in a partnership with the Tulalip Tribes, published plans in 2021 to construct a fish hatchery near Sunset Falls. The hatchery aims to increase the population of native steelhead trout in the Skykomish River, which had been stocked with imported trout from the Columbia River basin.

Geography

thumb|right|The [[North Fork Skykomish River in Index]]

Index lies in the western foothills of the Cascade Mountains on the north side of the North Fork Skykomish River, just above its confluence with the main channel of the Skykomish River. The town is in southeastern Snohomish County, approximately east of Gold Bar and west of Stevens Pass. It is connected to nearby areas by U.S. Route 2, a major highway that runs south of the town and travels west to Everett and east across the Cascades.

The town has a total area of , all of it land, according to the United States Census Bureau. Index and its outlying unincorporated areas are surrounded by the Mount Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest and other protected lands; the Wild Sky Wilderness area is east of the town. The southern boundary is the North Fork Skykomish River, while the northern border is defined by the Index Town Walls and Forks of the Sky State Park. The Town Walls are a series of granite cliffs in Forks of the Sky State Park that rise above the valley and are popular with rock climbers. The cliffs are also home to nests for peregrine falcons, which necessitate occasional closures to climbing for protection.

Index sits at an elevation of , The area southeast of Index includes several waterfalls on the South Fork Skykomish River. Sunset Falls is south of Index and comprises a drop in a granite chute. Eagle Falls is southeast of the town and is the site of frequent rescues due to its popularity and fast-moving rapids.

The Index area has a moderate summer climate with approximately 213 frost-free days and average annual precipitation of . The area north of the town is designated a "high risk" area for wildfires, while other areas are within the 100-year flood zone for the Skykomish River. Index and neighboring areas were placed under mandatory evacuation orders on September 10, 2022, due to the nearby Bolt Creek Fire. The order was modified two days later to allow residents to return to their homes, but U.S. Route2 remained closed to most travel for several days. The fire burned approximately and was contained in late October.

Economy

thumb|right|A granite quarry near Index, 1911

The area had several granite quarries that were used to supply building materials for the Washington State Capitol Building and the base of the Smith Tower in Seattle. Since the 20th century, the local economy has transitioned from resource extraction industries to tourism, particularly outdoor recreation in the summer months. Index's residents are a mix of retirees, commuters to other areas, and those who work in cottage industries and businesses that cater to tourists. Paradise Sound maintained a recording studio where albums were recorded by Alice in Chains and The Walkabouts.

As of the 2023 American Community Survey estimates, the most common employers for Index residents are in the retail sector, followed by construction and educational services. Approximately 62 residents are employed outside of the town; the most common commuting destinations are Seattle (17.7%), Monroe (14.5%), and Everett (11.3%). The mean one-way commute for the town's workers was 39.3minutes; 81percent of commuters drove alone to their place of employment.

Index has a permanent population of 155 residents as of the 2020 census, many of whom are retirees or work locally. The town's population had peaked at 1,000 residents near 1900 and declined since, remaining relatively unchanged since 1960.

Of the 72 households in Index, 41.7% were married couples living together and 9.7% were cohabitating but unmarried. Households with a male householder with no spouse or partner were 27.8% of the population, while households with a female householder with no spouse or partner were 20.8% of the population. Out of all households, 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 41.7% had residents who were 65 years of age or older.

There were 80 households, of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.3% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 1.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.0% were non-families. 41.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 3.02. The mayor and five-member town council are elected to four-year terms by residents who are eligible to vote. Index's government has three employed positions: a clerk for day-to-day management, a maintenance person, and a water distribution manager to oversee the water supply. The town contracts with the county government to provide additional services such as fire and building inspections and land use planning. while Sky Valley Fire is contracted for firefighting and protection in a partnership with the volunteer firefighter district.

The town had the highest voter turnout of any municipality in Snohomish County from 2013 to 2023, with 60percent of residents returning a ballot in the 2023 general election. At the federal level, Index is part of the 8th congressional district, which encompasses the eastern portions of the Snohomish, King, and Pierce counties as well as the entirety of Chelan and Kittitas counties. It was part of the 1st congressional district until 2022, when the 8th district was extended into Snohomish County. At the state level, the town is part of the 12th legislative district, which also crosses the Cascade Mountains and includes Skykomish, part of Snoqualmie, and all of Chelan County except for Wenatchee. Index was previously part of the 39th legislative district until it was moved into the cross-mountain district as part of a redistricting compromise in 2022. The town also lies within the Snohomish County Council's 5th district, which includes the Skykomish Valley, Snohomish, and Lake Stevens.

Culture

thumb|right|A performance during the Index Arts Festival in 2025

The town's museum, the Index-Pickett Historical Museum, opened in June 1986 and is maintained by the Index Historical Society. The museum is named for Dorothy Pickett, a local schoolteacher and wife of Great Northern Railway photographer Lee Pickett. It was originally located in a toolshed the Picketts used until the museum was moved to their former home. Another historic building in Index, the Bush House, was opened as a hotel in 1898 and closed multiple times throughout its history, leading to its listing as an endangered landmark by the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation in 2009. A major renovation began in 2012 and the Bush House reopened for use as a hotel and event venue in 2017; a new restaurant at the hotel was opened in June 2023.

The Index Arts Festival was founded in 2004 and is held annually at Doolittle Pioneer Park during the first weekend in August. It includes exhibitions, outdoor musical performances, poetry, and live demonstrations of specialty arts. The Index area has been used for several film and television productions, including the 1987 film Harry and the Hendersons and 2016 film Captain Fantastic.

Religion

The town is home to the Aquarian Tabernacle Church, a Wicca church that was established in Seattle and moved to Index in 1979. The Aquarian Tabernacle also organizes Wiccan holiday events at nearby state parks that draw more than 200 worshippers. The town is also home to a Protestant Christian church.

Parks and recreation

thumb|right|Rock climbers on the Index Town Wall

Index lies along the Cascade Loop Scenic Byway and is west of Stevens Pass, which has a ski area and other winter activities. The Index Town Wall, a set of granite cliffs that face the town, is among the most popular crags in Washington and draws climbers from the Puget Sound region. Most of the area was acquired by private climbing organizations, who collected $250,000 in pledges, and donated in 2010 to the state government for inclusion in Forks of the Sky State Park. The Lower Town Wall was acquired by the Washington Climbers Coalition in 2010 to prevent it from being sold to a quarry operator; it was added to the state park later that year. Non-profit climbing groups have purchased parcels near the Town Wall for recreation and conservation, including donations to expand the state park. The river includes sections that are rated from Class III to V on the international scale. The river is also used for fishing, particularly for steelhead trout, and has swimming areas around waterfalls east of the town. Doolittle Pioneer Park was opened in 1976 for the national bicentennial and displays a rock-cutting saw from the former granite quarry near Index.

The surrounding area also includes several hiking trails maintained by the United States Forest Service and the Snohomish County Parks & Recreation Department. An outdoor shooting range on national forest property near Index was opened in 1947 and operated until 2004, including for several decades without a valid special use permit from the Forest Service. The range was permanently closed due to lead contamination. Heybrook Ridge County Park, which has several trails and a historic fire lookout, opened in 2017 after nine years of development by the county government. The land was acquired in a public–private partnership with a volunteer conservation group in 2008 to prevent the area from being clearcut. Another trail in the county park, Erinswood Trail, opened at the bottom of the ridge in 2021 with full accessibility for wheelchairs. It has a single combined elementary–middle school with an enrollment of 23 students and three full-time teachers . The school district was established in 1892 and built its first schoolhouse in 1899 for a class of 40 students; the schoolhouse was replaced in 1908 by the Index School, a larger building with four classrooms.

The town is part of the Sno-Isle Libraries system, which operates a twice-monthly bookmobile service to Index. Index's original public library was established in 1913 and was one of several small-town libraries to receive a donation of used books from the Seattle Public Library system. It was later dissolved due to low patronage and the collection was donated to a nearby resort.

Infrastructure

Transportation

thumb|right|The Wes Smith Bridge, opened in 1999, connects Index to [[U.S. Route 2 in Washington|U.S. Route 2]]

Index is located northeast of U.S. Route 2 (US2), which connects Everett to the Skykomish Valley and Stevens Pass. The town is connected to US2 by Index–Galena Road, The road was reopened in November 2023 after a three-year repair project that relocated sections to higher ground and added new culverts and bridges. The project cost $29 million to complete and was mostly funded by the federal government.

The town's bridge over the North Fork Skykomish River is the Smith Bridge, a tied-arch bridge that carries two lanes of 5th Street to Index–Galena Road. It opened in September 1999 and was the first tied-arch bridge in Snohomish County, with a height of . The Smith Bridge replaced the earlier Index Bridge No. 122, a timber bridge that was constructed in 1918 and only carried one lane of traffic. the relocated bridge was also closed entirely for several days in October 1998 to prepare for flood control measures, leaving Index with only a winding gravel road to connect to the rest of the world.

Index is part of the public transportation benefit area for Community Transit, the countywide bus and paratransit system. The agency introduced daily bus service to the town from Sultan in October 1981 with onward connections to Skykomish. The bus route was later removed, leaving Index with no regular service. The PUD's plan to build an inflatable dam near Sunset Falls east of Index was abandoned in 2018 due to opposition from environmentalists and local residents, who sought a wild and scenic designation for the river. Another plan by the PUD to harness geothermal energy northeast of Index at Garland Mineral Springs was shelved in 2012 after test drills found bedrock instead of more favorable underground conditions. Natural gas for the town's residents and businesses is provided by Puget Sound Energy, a private company that serves most of the Seattle metropolitan area.

The town's main water source is a spring that draws from groundwater and is collected by wells and stored in an underground vault. The drinking water is not treated or filtered due to its minimal contact with human contamination and is regularly monitored for safety. In the 1980s, the town government considered a proposal to collect and sell bottled water from its municipal source. The water supply has 129 connections, including 119 residential customers.

Index has limited telecommunications service that is primarily provided by satellite and mobile broadband companies. Ziply Fiber provides landline telephone and internet service to customers in the town.

References

  • Index Historical Society