The Story of Concrete, WA: From Cement City to North Cascades Gateway

Concrete, Washington

Two rival cement plants on opposite sides of a river sparked a town merger in 1909. For nearly 60 years, Concrete churned out tons of Portland cement until dust clouds shut it down.

Today, this quiet Skagit County town serves as your entry point to the North Cascades.

Here’s the boom and bust story, plus what remains to explore.

The Limestone Discovery That Started It All

Amasa Everett found a hidden treasure on his land near Baker River in 1885. His property contained large deposits of limestone and clay sitting next to each other.

These minerals are the basic ingredients for cement. Everett took samples to New York where investors quickly saw their value.

His discovery changed the area’s economy, which soon moved away from logging and embraced mining and cement making.

This single mineral find would support the town’s economy for more than 60 years.

Washington Portland Cement Company Arrives

The Washington Portland Cement Company formed on June 1, 1905. With New York money backing it, this was the first cement plant in Washington State.

Great Northern Railway workers arrived in September 1905. They built side tracks and poured the foundation for the large plant. The railway was vital for shipping cement to cities across the region.

The company office became the center of town. The first bags of cement left the factory in May 1906.

A Rival Plant Emerges Across The River

John Carman Eden built the Superior Portland Cement Company on July 22, 1908. This second plant was on the west bank of Baker River in the town of Baker.

Workers started clearing the site in 1906, turning forest into factory. The plant hired 50 men when it opened.

Superior shipped its first cement to Seattle on August 5, 1908. The railroad ran behind stores on Main Street before turning toward the plant.

Two cement factories now ran the small community.

Two Towns Merge Into One

Leaders from Baker and Cement City suggested joining their towns in early 1909. Both places shared the same industry and faced similar problems.

People discussed many names for the combined town. They picked “Concrete,” after the product that brought jobs to the valley.

The towns officially became one on May 8, 1909, when county officials filed papers with the state. Joining forces created a stronger tax base and better services for everyone.

Voters strongly supported the merger, 149 to 2.

The Cement Plants Consolidate

Superior Portland Cement Company bought its rival Washington Portland Cement Company in 1919. This business deal happened right after World War I as the economy was changing.

The new owners shut down the east side plant and moved the equipment across the river. This made operations more efficient and cut costs.

The merger strengthened cement making in Concrete. One larger plant could produce more cement with better quality control.

By combining resources, the cement works became stronger in the regional building materials market.

Women Join The Workforce During World War I

Superior Portland Cement hired women for the first time in 1918. The company needed workers as men joined the army during World War I.

Women mostly fixed the cloth bags used to package cement. These cotton sacks needed regular mending to remain usable for shipping.

This change broke the pattern of only men working in the factory. Women showed they could handle important jobs in the production process.

Their work helped keep the plant running during a critical time for both the company and the country.

The Aerial Tramway That Moved Limestone

A mile-long aerial tramway carried limestone from hillside quarries to the plant. This system moved heavy buckets of stone on cables high above town.

The tramway crossed directly over Main Street. At first, chunks of limestone sometimes fell onto the street below, creating dangers for people and cars.

The company later put up safety nets under sections crossing public areas. This protected townspeople while allowing the tramway to keep working.

This tramway ran until the 1960s and became a familiar sight in Concrete.

The Plants At Peak Production

Cement making reached its height between the 1920s and 1950s. The plants employed between 160 and 200 workers during busy times.

Daily output grew to about 5,200 barrels of cement. Workers ran huge kilns that heated the limestone-clay mix to 2,700 degrees to create “clinker,” which was ground into cement powder.

The cement industry became the backbone of the town’s economy. Nearly every family had someone working at the plant.

Workers faced tough conditions, including heat, dust, and hard physical labor.

The End Of Cement Production

By the 1960s, cement dust covered trees for miles around Concrete. White powder settled on everything, making the highway approach look ghostly.

People started reporting health problems possibly linked to dust exposure, and the old plant struggled to meet new air quality rules. Adding dust-catching equipment would cost too much for the aging facility.

Cement production eventually stopped for good in 1968 after more than 60 years.

The Gateway to the North Cascades

These days, Concrete has swapped cement dust for something : it’s become the perfect jumping-off point for North Cascades National Park.

The town sits right at the park’s doorstep, so you can easily explore some of Washington’s most stunning wilderness.

Highway 20 runs straight through town and takes you deep into glacier country, including 300 glaciers, ancient forests, and waterfalls around every bend.

Baker Lake and Lake Shannon are just down the road, maybe 20 minutes away. People love fishing there, or just paddling around in a kayak on a hot day.

Mount Sauk rises up behind town, and if you’re up for it, you can hike to the top in a few hours.

Visiting Concrete

You’ll find Concrete along Highway 20 in Skagit County, about 100 miles northeast of Seattle. The Concrete Heritage Museum at 7380 Thompson Avenue opens weekends from May through September, 12-4 PM, with free admission.

Silo Park on Main Street offers views of the historic cement silos. The self-guided Historic Walking Tour starts at the Town Center and includes 20 concrete buildings from the early 1900s.

The Henry Thompson Bridge, built in 1916-1918, provides excellent photo opportunities. Visit during the annual Concrete Ghost Walk in October or the Fly-In at Mears Field in July.

Read More from WhenInYourState.com:

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