History of Forks Timeline

During the late nineteenth century, settlers and small-time loggers cleared timber around the prairie, transforming the landscape for settlement and agriculture.

The federal government established the Olympic Forest Reserve in 1897. Although it was later reduced in size, the reserve became important to the region's long-term conservation history.

Logging continued on non-federal land in the early twentieth century, while protected federal lands increasingly shaped the surrounding region.

For much of the twentieth century, Forks' economy was fueled by the local timber industry, which provided employment and shaped the community's identity.

Logging activity slowed during the national recession of 1907, affecting the local timber economy.

Land from the gradually reduced forest reserve later contributed most of the area for Olympic National Monument, established in 1909, and for the Olympic National Forest.

Image source: Olympic National Park

Timber companies followed the earlier settlers and small-time loggers. Merrill & Ring was operating around the Pysht River by 1916.

A new road passable for automobiles opened between Lake Crescent and Forks in 1927, improving the town's connection with the Olympic Peninsula.

Rayonier #10, construction number 3348, was built for stock by Lima in 1930.

The automobile road from Lake Crescent to Forks was replaced by the Olympic Loop Highway, now U.S. Route 101, in 1931.

In 1945, Rayonier acquired locomotive #10 for its lumber operation near Forks.

Rayonier #10 was retired near the north end of Forks and placed in Tillicum Park in 1959.

The Olympic Connection was introduced in January 1995 to fill a 60-mile gap in transit service along the U.S. Route 101 corridor.

The scholarship committee awarded its first scholarship in 1964 to Robert Henry, who later became a dentist. Since then, it has awarded more than one million dollars in scholarships to Forks students.

The Forks High School carpentry class constructed a 3,200-square-foot building in 1989. It presents local timber-industry history, including the lives of earlier loggers and their tools.

The Forks Lions Club erected an attractive shelter over locomotive Rayonier #10 in 1999.

The 2010 census recorded 3,532 people, 1,264 households, and 849 families residing in Forks.

The 2020 census recorded a population of 3,335 in Forks.

In 2003, an executive on the economic development council described Forks as transitioning from a logging community to a tourist community.

Forks gained popularity as a key setting in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series, published from 2005 to 2008.

Image source: Twilight (novel series)

In December 2005, 74 visitors signed the Forks Visitor Center guest book. After the Twilight series was released, the number rose substantially to 2,540 visitors in December 2009.

In 2007, the Forks City Council passed a resolution celebrating Stephenie Meyer Day in honor of the Twilight novels and films. The event was set for September 13, the fictional birthday of Bella Swan.

Related Twilight film adaptations released from 2008 to 2012 further increased Forks' visibility and tourism appeal.

Image source: The Twilight Saga (film series)

Average annual tourism rose from 6,000 visitors before Twilight to 18,000 in 2008, the year of the first film, and nearly 73,000 by 2010.

In 2015, Twilight-related events were still driving tourism. Visitor numbers had peaked in 2010 and later settled at about 50 percent above their pre-Twilight level.