Hazel is an unincorporated community in Snohomish County, in the U.S. state of Washington.
Location and Geography
Hazel is located in the North Fork Stillaguamish River valley, at coordinates 48°16′38″N 121°48′32″W. It lies within Snohomish County in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.
History
Prior to European settlement, the Stillaguamish people had a village site located opposite the site of the old town, on the banks of the north fork of the Stillaguamish River. The site contained two large winter houses, with an estimated 150–200 inhabitants.
A post office called Hazel was established in 1903 and remained in operation until 1927. According to Edmond S. Meany's Origin of Washington Geographic Names (1923), the community was named after the daughter of a first settler.
The community's history was shaped by the natural resources of the upper North Fork Stillaguamish Valley, periodic river flooding, and was later affected by the 2014 Oso mudslide.
Status
Hazel is an unincorporated community, meaning it has no municipal government and is administered directly by Snohomish County.
Note on Hazel Washington (person): The name "Hazel Washington" also refers to a separate individual — Hazel Washington (August 14, 1906 – October 13, 1991), an African American actress, hairdresser, and fashion entrepreneur. She appeared in films such as Imitation of Life (1934), Willard (1971), and Ben (1972), and co-owned a leather goods and fashion business called Hazel, Inc. in Beverly Hills with actress Rosalind Russell. She also wrote a weekly column for the Chicago Defender titled "This is Hollywood."
