King County References in General
King County was created in 1852 from Thurston County. King County almost got named Brown County. Just before Washington Territory was created, the Oregon Territorial Legislature named two new counties - Pierce and King in "Northern Oregon" to honor the new U.S. President, Franklin Pierce and his vice-president-elect, William R. King. In 1986, it was designated as being named for civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The first settlements in the county area were in September of 1851 in the Duwamish Valley area of what is now Seattle. Luther Collins, Henry Van Aselt and Jacob Maple were major settlers during this time. A few months later, in November, another settlement at Alki Point was started by David Denny and Leader Terry.
History of King County - Chapter 13 on Coal - Bagley's book also included an extensive chapter on King County's coal mining history, reproduced here in its entirety.
www.seattlehistory.org Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI)
Women in King County history http://www.metrokc.gov/exec/whm/kchist.htm
References for communities in King County
Issaquah chapter from History Of King County, Washington by Clarence B. Bagley The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago--Seattle 1929, Now In Public Domain