Des Moines History Timeline 1970s

The Gables General Store
Des Moines School Student Body About 1915
The Daring - One of the 'Mosquito Fleet' serving Des Moines
Nathan E. Munger - Civil War Veteran
Des Moines Historical Society Museum logo

Des Moines History Timeline 1970s

1700-1849 | 1850-1869 | 1870 | 1880 | 1890 | 1900 | 1910 | 1920 | 1930 | 1940 | 1950 | 1960 | 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2020

1970

  • April 1 - The 1970 Federal Census counted 3,951 residents in Des Moines.
  • May 10 — The Des Moines Marina officially opened on Puget Sound. Constructed with city financing obtained in 1966, the marina provided public moorage, boat-launch facilities, and recreational access to the waterfront. The project became the city's most prominent landmark and a major recreational and economic asset for the Des Moines community.

1971

  • January 4 - Des Moines Ordinance 290 annexed Wesley Gardens south of 216th Street and west of 11th Avenue South.

1973

  • January 1 - Metro Transit began operation as King County's first countywide public transit system. Following voter approval on September 19, 1972, the Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle (Metro) assumed operation of both the failing Seattle Transit System and the privately owned Metropolitan Transit Corporation, creating a unified regional bus network serving Seattle, Des Moines, Federal Way, and the rest of King County.
  • October 23 - Des Moines Ordinance 343 annexed the Midgate Apartments.

1974

  • January 4 - Des Moines Ordinance 356 annexed the north Midway area.

1975

  • Timber, Tides, and Tales published by Melanie Draper. It was the first history book of the Des Moines area. It was cosponsored by the Library League and American Revolution Bicentennial Planning Commission. Des Moines was designated a Bicentennial Community on April 18, 1975.
  • October 10 - Des Moines Ordinance 374 annexed an area along & near South 230th Street.

1976

  • Port of Seattle's began their Airport Noise Abatement program to buy out and insulate homes and schools adversely impacted by noise. The snail pace of this program pushed its completion date into the next millennia.

1977

  • The first Affair D'Elegance (Classic Auto show) held in Zenith at the home of Gordon and Claudia Apker.

1978

  • August 21 - The Greater Des Moines-Zenith Historical Society (now the Des Moines Historical Society) is formed and merged with the Des Moines-Zenith Improvement Club.

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