Duvall, WA: making the most of small town charm with access to big city amenities
January 2023: During our road trip to the outskirts of the Seattle metro area, we stopped by the town of Duvall which is a lovely small town with a vibrant downtown.
Duvall – A Brief history
Historically, the area that was to become Duvall (population 8,034*) was the home of the Snoqualmie and other ancestral Tulaip Native American tribes. Following their relocation as part of the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliott, the area was then homesteaded by veterans of the Civil War, including brothers Francis and James DuVall, loggers who settled in present day Duval in 1871.
Around 1909, the Milwaukee Railroad moved an existing village of Cherry Valley to Duvall in order to continue the construction of a railroad line along the Snoqualmie River. The newly relocated town was briefly named Cosgrove. By 1911, a local paper called Duvall Citizen began publishing local news to the many residents who by this time had access to a train depot, drug store, movie house, schoolhouse and several hotels. Duvall was incorporated as a town in 1913.
The population of Duvall has been steadily increasing over the past 30 years, influenced by the sustained economic vitality of the eastern side of the Seattle metro area economy.
Downtown vibe / walkability
The downtown area of Duval is located along State Route 203, which becomes Main Street through town. We visited on a Saturday morning in late January. Our first stop was at Big Rock Park, which in fact is a tiny but pretty park on the Edge of the local Safeway grocery store.
The main street businesses are many and varied. We did not have the chance to stop into any of them, but were impressed by the variety and aesthetics of the restaurants, coffee shops, shopping and many other businesses along Main Street. Most of these downtown eating/drinking businesses are located in renovated old buildings, giving them a unique and pleasing vibe.
- Rustic Cabin Coffee – Google Maps
- C. C. Espresso & Ice Creamery – Google Maps
- Grateful Bread Cafe – Google Maps
- Valley House Brewing Co. – Google Maps
- Duvall Distillery – Google Maps
- Duvall Tavern – Google Maps
- Duvall Grill and Tap Room – Google Maps
- Red Pepper Pizzeria & Pasta Duvall – Google Maps
There are also a couple of self-guided walking tours!
A deeper dive
Duval’s online presence is well-represented. Their city government webpage includes a community page that links to a wide variety of organizations and clubs that support history, music, arts & festivals, children and civic clubs, Parks and recreation, the arts, and many more. The Chamber of Commerce has a Visiting Duvall & Exploring Nearby webpage with several year-round (and often low-cost or free!) suggestions.
I liked the profile video linked below which describes the history of the region, as well as the attention to detail to help make Duval a great place for the community.
Duval is part of the Snoqualmie River Valley. Their Visitor Website provides more opportunities to explore!
