La Conner

Park the car and walk across the orange Rainbow Bridge that connects La Conner to the Swinomish Indian Reservation for a picturesque view of the historic town, which sits on a channel near the mouth of the Skagit River.

The bridge itself is an often-photographed icon—orange because when it was built in 1957, residents decided to skip the formal gray paint that would normally cover the brightly colored rust undercoating.

Maybe those residents’ eye for color helped make La Conner what is considered by many to be the cultural and art center of Skagit County.

The town of close to 1,000 people is home to many visual and literary artists, including novelist Tom Robbins (“Even Cowgirls Get the Blues,” “B is For Beer”).

Not far from the town’s waterfront is the Museum of Northwest Art, at 121 First St., which specializes in showcasing the artwork of Northwest artists. Another popular destination is the La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum, 703 S. Second St., which features a rotating exhibit of handmade quilts, displayed in the historic Gaches Mansion.

Art-focused town events include an Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition in the spring, a Quilt Walk in the fall, the Arts Alive! festival in November and a biennial Skagit River Poetry Festival (the next is in 2012).

La Conner is a small town, and it’s the kind of place where people park the car and walk the streets as they enjoy several blocks of antique stores, boutiques, gift shops and restaurants.

Surrounded by fertile farmland, La Conner is just a little isolated from other towns in Skagit County. Those fertile acres on the delta were once largely planted with oats. But the fields today that separate La Conner from Mount Vernon are best known for the colorful daffodils and tulips that draw thousands of visitors during the month-long Skagit Valley Tulip Festival each April.

La Conner’s history is also an important feature. Founded in the 1860s and incorporated in 1890, the town boasts three museums, including the Skagit County Historical Museum, 501 S. Fourth St.

DEMOGRAPHICS AND CITY FACTS
Population: 761 in 2000, an estimated 885 in 2008
Persons younger than 5: 4.2%
Persons 65 and older: 21.4%
High school graduates: 91.1%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 34.9%
Home ownership rate: 55.1%

Sources: U.S. Census, Washington State Office of Financial Management, Forecasting Division

PARKS,/strong>
Pioneer Park
John Hammer Park
Gilkey Square
Old Fire Hall Park