The highway descends into fertile lowlands which as recently as the early 1900s were covered by a dense forest. Marysville dates back to 1877, when James P. Comeford established a trading post on Ebey Slough. By the 1940s, the city was sustained by mills, woodworking plants, and a boat factory, and was the center of supplies for the several Sound fishing resorts in the vicinity.

Marysville was also the distribution point for a rich farming and dairying district, part of which was reclaimed by draining the swamps and sloughs and by diking the Snohomish River. Farmers still utilize controlled flooding to replenish the soil by catching the river silt. Strawberries remain a leading crop, the soil and climate practically insuring a good yield and excellent quality. Annually, the Marysville Strawberry Festival attracts a crowd from the surrounding countryside and nearby towns.

Marysville is known as “The Strawberry City” due to the large number of strawberry farms that once surrounded the city in its earlier days. In recent years, Marysville has changed from a largely agricultural area to a growing residential, commercial, and industrial center. It ranks as the 29th largest city in the state, and fourth largest in the county.