Get an ADT-Monitored Home Security System in Gold Bar, Washington

Gold Bar is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. It is located on the Skykomish River in the company of Sultan and Index, connected by U.S. Route 2. The population was 2,403 at the 2020 census.

The area around modern-day Gold Bar was occupied by the Skykomish, a branch of the Snohomish people, prior to the arrival of American settlers. The Skykomish had a permanent village close Gold Bar that was named ‘xaitɬd. Gold Bar started as a prospectors camp in 1869, named by a miner who found traces of gold on a river gravel bar. After Gold Bar became a construction camp for the Great Northern Railway, anti-Chinese sentiment was inflamed by a shooting fray started by disreputable camp followers. To save the lives of the threatened Chinese, construction engineer Eduard Bauer slipped them out of camp in hastily build up coffins. Gold Bar was officially incorporated upon September 16, 1910. The 1940 population was 307.

In 2012, the city supervision considered disincorporation to avoid bankruptcy due to low sales tax revenue and high expenses recognized to filling public records requests and suit lawsuits from an activist. The city council voted neighboring disincorporation and placed a property tax levy upon the ballot, which was rejected by voters in November 2012.