In 1856, the members of the Puyallup Indian Tribe were the first permanent residents of Fife. They revised the Medicine Creek Indian Treaty and occupied the reservation which stretched roughly from Puyallup to Browns Point.
Fife quickly became Potlatch Headquarters for the Puyallup, Nisqually and Squaxin Indian Tribes. This meant it also was the trading post for supplies and some of the biggest pow-wows north of the Puyallup River.
The name Fife was chosen in 1883 by the early settlers in honor of Colonel W. H. Fife who settled some of the Indian treaties and engineered the first water system in Tacoma.
The fertile farm lands of Fife attracted many nationalities including Italians, Swiss, Scandinavian and Japanese. Many of these families and descendents still remain in our community and are a very important part of Fife culture.
Fife was incorporated as a city in February 1957.
Once known for its farm fields, the Century Ballroom and the Poodle Dog Restaurant, Fife is now a dynamic commercial and industrial city that also specializes in hospitality, tourism and gaming services – its motto: “Fife means business”. The city also works hard to promote productive industries while retaining the rural charm that attract its residents. With easy access to I-5, SeaTac Airport and the Port of Tacoma, Fife is the natural choice for manufacturing, retail and distribution businesses. Yet the Poodle Dog still serves many generations of loyal customers and remains a favorite spot for travelers.
Interstate-5 makes Fife a convenient and central location for tourists to visit the Puget Sound's scenic attractions. With over 15 hotels and 22 restaurants to fit every budget and need, Fife is a popular place for business travel, for vacations, for meetings or for conventions. Fife is a central hub for travelers. Whether you're planning on taking a trip to the North Olympics, Seattle, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Saint Helens or a day trip to Victoria, a day trip is easy to do to any of these locations from Fife – as the friendly folks there say, with all it and the surrounding areas have to offer, “Stay and Play in Fife.” Just beyond Fife’s I-5 corridor you'll find rural homes, stretches of farmland and views of Mount Rainier. There are a number of new housing developments being constructed to accommodate a growing population seeking a mix of country and city.
Local amenities include a swim center which features a modern saltwater-based system, a community center and a growing number of local parks. A new local history museum has opened and will eventually feature a restored historic wooden caboose from the early 1900s. The new Pacific National Soccer Park in Fife is under development and will serve as a regional sports facility for state and national youth soccer tournaments.
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