A brush with history
Probably the most famous Europeans to come to the Yakima area were those with the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The explorers reached the valley in 1805, and found it to be full of wildlife and blessed with rich soil, suitable for farming. This information brought homesteaders, and settlement began.
In 1865, Yakima County was created, and Yakima is the county seat. However, the Northern Pacific Railroad, which was expected to build a depot in the new community, bypassed the settlement. Undeterred, settlers moved more than 100 buildings, using teams of horses pulling the buildings on rollers to the site of the new depot. The transplanted city was incorporated as North Yakima in 1886, and in 1918, the city became simply Yakima, while the original site was renamed Union Gap.
The Yakima Valley Museum features exhibits that chronicle the history of the region and its people. Organizations like this can benefit by working with brochure printers who can create colorful Brochures to explain the materials on display.
Yakima today
The Yakima Valley is still noted for its agriculture, and it grows apples and hops used in brewing beer, and vineyards produce delicious wines. There are now over 50 wineries in operation in the valley, and together they cover approximately 11,000 acres.
The city has undergone a number of changes in the last 20 years. After losing a mall and three department stores, Yakima’s downtown declined in popularity as shopping shifted to Union Gap. While some people were troubled by this, others saw it as an opportunity to redevelop the downtown.
From about 2000-2012, the Downtown Futures Initiative spearheaded this redevelopment. The downtown core was renovated with improvements including banner poles, fountains, pedestrian-friendly lighting, trees, and hanging baskets put in place to complement new sidewalks inlaid with pavers. The downtown may have lost big box stores, but it has gained more intimate shopping and entertainment opportunities.
As new shops open, they have an opportunity to reach out to customers using marketing tools such as professional Letterheads, which can be created by Stationery printers. New Letterheads can allow them to present themselves and information about themselves in an attractive way. Companies can also supply their employees with Business Cards by working with a business card printing company. In this way, all the employees become spokespeople for the organization.
A project that may symbolize the city’s resurgence is the upcoming renovation of the Hotel Tieton, which was built in 1910. After sitting vacant from some years, it has been bought by a developer who plans to spend $2 million to create a mixed-used project here, featuring restaurant space, retail spaces, and housing. Projects like this can benefit if developers work with a banner printing company, which can create eye-catching materials to celebrate and publicize any event.
Events
Yakima residents enjoy parties, and can get together downtown to celebrate New Year’s Eve, Cinco de Mayo, the Fresh Hop Ale Fest, and the Yakima Summer Kickoff Party. There’s even a farmers’ market held weekly. Events of all kinds can benefit if organizers work with flyer printing company to create handouts, so attendees have a list of participants.Get a Free Quote for Business Cards Get a Free Quote for Stationery Get a Free Quote for Brochures Get a Free Quote for Letterheads