Our Community
Aberdeen, Washington occupies the southern edge of the Olympic Peninsula, where the Chehalis and Wishkah rivers meet. Located on the southwestern shores of WA, this community, often called the “Gateway to the Olympic Peninsula”, incorporated in 1890. Aberdeen lies within Grays Harbor County bordering the cities of Cosmopolis and Hoquiam.
Census 2000 recorded the population in Aberdeen as 16,461. Aberdeen, the largest city in Grays Harbor County, has been the home of many notable residents throughout the years. Aberdeen was the birthplace of the late Kurt Cobain. Cobain found stardom as the leader of the alternative rock grunge band “Nirvana”. Other interesting people affiliated with Aberdeen include John Elway and Douglas Osheroff, a Nobel Prize winning physicist.
Aberdeen has a burgeoning economy and serves as the region’s economic center. While there is a variety of industries in Aberdeen, the timber industry remains the lifeblood of the region. Timber related employers include Grays Harbor Paper, Hoquiam Plywood, and Sierra Pacific Industries. Other major employers include Ocean Spray, Safe Harbor Technology, and Washington Crab Products. Aberdeen also lies within close proximity to the Port of Grays Harbor. This busy Port experiences a great deal of commercial traffic and is the future site of a modern biodiesel plant. Aberdeen’s business community emphasizes the city as the largest retail center on the WA coast (which has increased the tourism sector).
Aberdeen's numerous sites of historic interest include the “Hawaiian Chieftain” and “Lady Washington”. Both tall ship replicas host demonstrations and tours during their dock time at Grays Harbor Historical Seaport. The Aberdeen Museum features fascinating exhibits of 19th and 20th century artifacts, which educate the public while preserving the region’s heritage. Opened in 1890, the Timberland Library was the local book depository for nearly 100 years. Now housed in the Carnegie Building, the Timberland Library moved to its new location in 1908. Sprinkled throughout the city are more than forty historic murals. Aberdeen also has a walking tour of its stately old homes.
