The Duwamish community 's transition towards a rail-centered economy began on March 7 , 1877 , with the first run on a new rail line between Steele 's Landing on the Duwamish and coal mines in Renton . In 1878 the line was extended on pilings to Seattle . That same year the line was extended to Newcastle ( east of Lake Washington ) and it was later extended to other coal sites in south King County . In 1884 the rail line got connected to the Northern Pacific line to the south , and by 1889 transcontinental service came to Georgetown . With an abundance of flat land that Seattle lacked , Georgetown became the site of the rail yard servicing the new freight traffic . The freight hub in Georgetown fostered the development of industries capitalizing on its access to resources and rail-to-market , including breweries , lumber mills , brickyards , and foundries . Reconstruction of Seattle after the fire of 1889 and its rapid growth in the following decade boosted demand for building materials supplied by Georgetown . With fill provided by waste from an early regrade attempt on Beacon Hill , the industrial area grew northward across the former tideflats
fire of 1889
Great Seattle Fire
Georgetown, Seattle