Concrete in Skagit County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)

Concrete Historic Byway

Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, June 16, 2017

1. Concrete Historic Byway Marker

Inscription.

Concrete Historic Byway. . , Welcome to Main Street, Concrete, former route of State Highway 20. After many years of local political campaigning. Including many celebrations here at Playground Park, the highway was finally opened over scenic Washington Pass in 1972: the highest elevation highway connecting Western and Eastern Washington. Ironically, the new highway route also bypassed downtown Concrete, leaving it to a quieter future., Playground Park was cleared in 1910, when the first concrete school was built, and over the years it has been used for the nationally favored pastime of baseball. With a large population of young single men employed in logging, mill and cement work. Concrete's "Nighthawks" Town Team became a top team in the county's early ball leagues. , The field is backed by the 1923 Concrete High School Building. Also dating from 1923, the wooden Gymnasium was funded by a large bequest from a local mill worker. On this site, to the right, a Grade School (built of concrete in 1910 and expanded in 1938) was damaged by fire in 2008 and demolished in 2009. The first wooden school building, constructed in 1908 in the downtown area, was moved to a new location in the 1930's, and is now the Town Hall and Sheriff's Office at 45672 Main. , Only a few wooden buildings from this era (other than residences) have survived fires and demolition. These include: the Concrete Assembly of God Church (originally an I.O.O.F. Lodge Hall) directly across the street; the Mount Baker Presbyterian Church at 45705 Main, built in 1908; and St. Catherine's Catholic Church at 45603 Limestone, completed in 1913. The Community Bible Church, a cement block building built in the mid 1950's, is also located on Limestone Avenue in the same neighborhood. , Incorporated in 1909, the Town of Concrete boomed to an estimated peak population of 1700 people by 1912, with employment provided by two cement plants and a shingle mill. Loggers from the many other mills and logging camps in the Upper Skagit showed up at thriving downtown businesses for weekend entertainment."

Welcome to Main Street, Concrete, former route of State Highway 20. After many years of local political campaigning. Including many celebrations here at Playground Park, the highway was finally opened over scenic Washington Pass in 1972: the highest elevation highway connecting Western and Eastern Washington. Ironically, the new highway route also bypassed downtown Concrete, leaving it to a quieter future.

Playground Park was cleared in 1910, when the first concrete school was built, and over the years it has been used for the nationally favored pastime of baseball. With a large population of young single men employed in logging, mill and cement work. Concrete's "Nighthawks" Town Team became a top team in the county's early ball leagues.

The field is backed by the 1923 Concrete High School Building. Also dating from 1923, the wooden Gymnasium was funded by a large bequest from a local mill worker. On this site, to the right, a Grade School (built of concrete in 1910 and expanded in 1938) was damaged by fire in 2008 and demolished in 2009. The first wooden school building, constructed in 1908 in the downtown area,

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was moved to a new location in the 1930's, and is now the Town Hall and Sheriff's Office at 45672 Main.

Only a few wooden buildings from this era (other than residences) have survived fires and demolition. These include: the Concrete Assembly of God Church (originally an I.O.O.F. Lodge Hall) directly across the street; the Mount Baker Presbyterian Church at 45705 Main, built in 1908; and St. Catherine's Catholic Church at 45603 Limestone, completed in 1913. The Community Bible Church, a cement block building built in the mid 1950's, is also located on Limestone Avenue in the same neighborhood.

Incorporated in 1909, the Town of Concrete boomed to an estimated peak population of 1700 people by 1912, with employment provided by two cement plants and a shingle mill. Loggers from the many other mills and logging camps in the Upper Skagit showed up at thriving downtown businesses for weekend entertainment."

Erected 2009.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Parks & Recreational Areas • Roads & Vehicles • Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1910.

Location. 48° 32.34′ N, 121° 45′ W.

St Catherine Catholic Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, June 16, 2017

2. St Catherine Catholic Church

Constructed in 1913, one of the few wooden buildings from the early days of the town and mentioned in the historic marker.

Marker is in Concrete, Washington, in Skagit County. It is at the intersection of Main Street and E Ave, on the right when traveling west on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 45734 Main St, Concrete WA 98237, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Washington’s Puget Sound Region.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast,

in the Pacific Northwest,

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the Cascade Range,

in the Inside Passage,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 4 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Concrete Bank Building (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Concrete Historic Byway (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Historic Clinker Club (approx. 0.3 miles away); Safety Follows Wisdom (approx. 0.3 miles away).

Credits. This page was last revised on June 23, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 21, 2026, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. This page has been viewed 8 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 21, 2026, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.