Among Snohomish County’s smallest cities is Stanwood. It boasts an arts and culture community balanced with tight-knit neighbors and a charming, well-cared-for historic downtown. The first European-Americans to settle in Stanwood were primarily Scandinavian, drawn to the Norwegian Lutheran church built in 1876—the first church of its kind to be built in the Pacific Northwest. Present-day Stanwood still shares that heritage on one of its “Welcome” signs, “Stanwood Home of Scandinavian Hospitality.”
Downtown Stanwood features several blocks of historic buildings dating back to the early 20th century, having been preserved by the city’s residents. The Stanwood-Camano Arts Guild is responsible for an annual spring art show and the Art by the Bay festival in the summer. Home to the Pilchuck Glass School, founded in 1971 by Dale Chihuly, the area is now known as a center for glass artwork.
In addition to downtown and Stanwood’s endearing neighborhoods, a commercial center opened in the mid-1990s and is home to businesses, restaurants, office buildings, and more. The development expanded to include multi-story condos and upscale apartments.