<p>In 1854, Washington's legislature made counties responsible for caring for all poor, sick and homeless people whose relatives could not support them. Counties could build workhouses or poor farms and contract out the care of sick and indigent adults. Starting in 1877, King County operated a County Poor Farm on the Duwamish River, where destitute people lived and worked.
This photo, taken around 1907, shows the King County Poor House (left) and Poor Farm south of downtown Seattle.</p>
<p>Handwritten on sleeve: County Poor Farm.

Caption by MOHAI staff.</p>
<ul><li>Subjects (LCTGM): Almshouses--Washington (State)--Seattle; Farms--Washington (State)--Seattle; Houses--Washington (State)--Seattle; Barns--Washington (State)--Seattle; Fences--Washington (State)--Seattle</li></ul>
<div class="fn value">
Webster &amp; Stevens</div>
circa 1907 <div style="display: none;">date QS:P571,+1907-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902</div>
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/digital/collection/imlsmohai/search">Museum of History and Industry</a>