Tacoma and the northern pacific: cities were often built up around railroads and seaports. Tacoma grew specifically in the 1880's. The economic slump in the 1890's was especially hard on Tacoma. This opened the way for Tacoma's rival, Seattle to become the biggest city in the state.
Seattle's population was less than 1,200. Seattle had a 30ft wide strip along the waterfront to begin building a train station, the Northern Pacific decided to grant Tacoma with a train station, instead of Seattle. Seattle,