Other Building History Resources

In addition to the Everett Public Library, Snohomish County, the City of Everett, and various non-profit groups provide records and information useful for building history researchers.

City of Everett

For Everett properties, Water Department records provide valuable information on building dates and often the first occupant or builder. Records contain the original water hookup dates, which typically correspond to the building’s earliest occupancy. Permits on file also provide dates, names, and information on structural changes, remodels, additions, and sewer hookups.

These records are accessible online in the City of Everett’s Digital Records Center. Use the address search to locate a specific property, or the interactive maps to explore your neighborhood.

Snohomish County

The Snohomish County Assessor, Auditor, and Historic Preservation Office are useful for building researchers. The Assessor and Auditor’s Offices have copies of many county maps, which are also available at the Everett Public Library. 

To look up information on a property using the Assessor's resources, visit their website. On the lefthand side of the page, use the blue box labeled Property Summary Search to see what current information the Assessor makes available. Using the Property Summary Search, you can find the parcel number for any standing structure in the County that has an address. Copy the parcel number, and scroll to the bottom of the home page of the Assessor's office site to find their Historical Records portal (this looks like a green circle with a mobile phone in it). This database will give you the digitized pages from the archived Assessor's books. These records are the most reliable way to find historic photos of buildings identified by address.

If you are researching a property that is vacant land, you currently will not be able to search it by address on the Assessor's site, but those records do exist in the Historical Records portal. You will need to use a separate site to locate the parcel number to access them. Visit the Assessor SCOPI Map site, locate the desired parcel using the address search icon in the menu bar or move the map to the desired location if the address is unknown, click the outline of the parcel, and look at the left column for parcel number and owner information. If you need assistance using these resources, please contact Northwest Room staff.

Tracking a deed—also called a chain of title or a title search—verifies owners, transfer dates, and information about additions and purchase prices. Snohomish County Assessor’s records are searchable online by address. Records include basic information about ownership, structural data, valuation, and an estimated build date. The build date is frequently incorrect prior to World War II and must be confirmed with other resources. If the property is within the City of Everett, this can be done using the Digital Records Center mentioned above to find the earliest water hookup records.

At the Snohomish County Auditor’s Office, you can track properties and ownership information with deeds, mortgages, and land patents, until you come to the original recording of the property.

Original plats showing property lines, dates, neighborhoods, and property owners can be found in the Snohomish County Auditor’s Office.

Call 425-388-3433 for questions or assistance regarding these resources.

The Snohomish County Historic Preservation Office maintains records on county properties that are listed in local, state, and national registers.

Other Resources

The League of Snohomish County Heritage Organizations maintains a list of local historic preservation, museum, and heritage groups in Snohomish County. Some member organizations have collections relating to the history of specific county communities, including photographs, manuscripts, maps, artifacts, and oral histories.

Historic Everett sponsors programs and promotes historic preservation in Everett.