La Conner was first settled in May 1867 by Alonzo Low and was then known by its post office name, Swinomish. Its location on the Swinomish channel was an ideal safe harbor for ships. In 1869, J.S. Conner bought the settlement's trading post and in 1870 had the name changed to honor his wife, Louisa Ann Conner. The French-appearing "La" represented her first and middle initials. When Skagit County was created out of Whatcom County in 1883, La Conner was chosen as the county seat, but would only hold that designation until November 1884 when the seat was moved to Mount Vernon.
la conner was first settled in may 1867 by alonzo low and was then known by its post office name swinomish its location on the swinomish channel was an ideal safe harbor for ships in 1869 js conner bought the settlement's trading post and in 1870 had the name changed to honor his wife louisa ann conner the french-appearing "la" represented her first and middle initials when skagit county was created out of whatcom county in 1883 la conner was chosen as the county seat but would only hold that designation until november 1884 when the seat was moved to mount vernon