Centralia (nee Centerville) was officially established in 1875 by George Washington, the son of a freed slave. In 1881 he designated a broad public square as the focal point of the new town.

That square, known today as George Washington Park, is the site of the town’s public library, several commemorative memorials, and many public events.

Incorporated in 1892, Centralia grew rapidly as a rail center due to its central location between the ports of Vancouver and Tacoma and commercial districts of Seattle and Portland. The town, also a central locus of a web of rivers and roads, soon became known as the “Hub City.” The original railway center, located to the north of the current downtown area and train depot, was a roundhouse, with tracks going off to the north and south, east and west. It was this that added the imagery to the Hub City moniker.

In its heyday, 44 passenger trains stopped each day at Centralia Union Depot, bringing visitors as well as workers to the area, all of whom brought nonstop business to Tower Avenue. In the early part of the 20th Century there were 14 hotels, 24 taverns, and numerous theaters located downtown. Since that time the city has faced numerous challenges— a major fire (the city center moved slightly to the south in 1905); the Great Depression and Recession; the construction of Interstate 5 (the original state highway runs through downtown on Tower Avenue); the popularity of shopping malls; the decline of the timber and mining industries, both of which supplied many jobs to the area; and more recently, a global pandemic. In all situations, the resilience of local entrepreneurs and a loyal community have pulled together to ensure that Centralia continues to realize the dream of its founder, honor its history, and strive to be the most enviable and livable small city in the State of Washington.