On May 29, 1907, the City of Ballard ceases to exist when it is annexed to Seattle, adding a new neighborhood to the northwest as well as 17,000 people to Seattle's population.
The vote to annex had passed by 996 to 874 on November 6, 1906, following Ballard's increasing difficulties in keeping its services abreast of a growing population. Particularly problematic was the water supply.
On the day the City ceased to exist, the Ballard City Hall was draped in black crepe, and the flag on the city flag pole hung at half mast.
Ballard had incorporated in 1890.
Sources:
Walt Crowley, National Trust Guide Seattle (New York: Preservation Press, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1998); Myra Phelps, Public Works in Seattle: A Narrative History The Engineering Department 1875-1975 (Seattle: Seattle Engineering Department, 1978), 222; Passport to Ballard: The Centennial Story ed. by Kay Reinartz (Seattle: Ballard News Tribune, 1988), 64; Jeannie Yandel, "What Are Seattle's Urban Legends (And Are They True)?" KUOW website accessed March 5, 2015 (http://kuow.org/post/what-are-seattles-urban-legends-and-are-they-true).
Note: This essay was corrected on March 5, 2015, to delete the assertion (oft-repeated, but with no support in the record) that a dead horse was found in a Ballard reservoir.
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