Lynnwood was officially incorporated on April 20, 1959, from a larger unincorporated area called Alderwood Manor. The area was originally platted, developed, and sold as one-acre lots designed for raising chickens. Even today you can see many of the original 80 year old homes that were the chicken ranches.
The initial center of the incorporated city was the intersection of State Highway 99 and State Highway 524 (196th SW). When Interstate 5 was built, the exit onto 44th Avenue West became the main Lynnwood exit. At that time, the city zoned the area East of 48th W, south of 194th SW, and west of the new freeway for commercial development, and the current city center area was born, with the construction of the Fred Meyer store, a new hotel called the Landmark on 200th and 44th, and other commercial developments. This effect moved the center of Lynnwood east.
With the planned construction of I-405 bringing more people by the city, developers built the Alderwood Mall, effectively moving the main commercial area even farther east.
Today, Alderwood Mall continues to expand. New additions to it in 2005 included a Borders book and music store, a Pottery Barn, and a large Loew's theatre. A new convention center at 196th St. SW and 37th Ave. W is hoped to bring more business to the area.
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