Here is a brief look at the two small towns most directly affected by Saturday's mudslide along State Route 530 in northern Snohomish County.
Darrington is located 74 miles northeast of Seattle, nestled in the Cascade foothills along the Sauk River. It s home to 1,405 people, but serves an additional 1,200 people in surrounding areas.
The valley was first settled by the Sauk-Suiattle tribe. The discovery of gold in the late 1800 s brought prospectors into the region, followed by loggers.
The city was incorporated in 1945.
The primary economy for Darrington is the timber industry, with a number of small timber and lumber companies calling Darrington home. Tourism and recreation is also part of the city s economy, with the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest nearby.
Darrington has one K-12 school with about 570 students.
The city has its own municipal airport and a trout farm.
The two main roads leading into town are State Route 530, which connects Darrington to Arlington, and Mountain Loop Highway, which runs along the Sauk River.
Former Price is Right host Bob Barker was born in Darrington.
Oso is a town of approximately 180 people located along State Route 530 and the North Fork Stillaguamish River, about 16 miles west of Darrington. The town is 3.62-square miles, or 2,316 acres in size.
Oso is the Spanish word for bear.
Sources: Town of Darrington, Destination Darrington, IMDB, City-Data.com, Google
