Named after T. C. Van Eaton, who platted its townsite in 1888. It was once surrounded by dense virgin forests and situated on the lines of the Tacoma Eastern Railroad. The town became one of Washington’s most important lumber-producing and log-shipping centers.

By the 1940s the largest portion of the merchantable timber had been cut. The development of farming in the valley to the west provided Eatonville with an income, which compensated a little for the loss in revenue from timber.

Today, Eatonville lumber companies have been closed for decades but the community has transformed into a residential community for south Puget Sound and an entryway to major outdoor recreational areas.