It was named by Mary F. White when she was appointed post master in 1906. She chose the Native American name, which means “mighty and strong ” instead of Springfield which was the name of the post office when it was established June 30, 1890.

Built in 1936, the Purdy Bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and Washington Heritage Register. The Purdy Bridge is a 550 foot continuous box girder. Constructed under the supervision of Pierce County engineers in 1936, it is one of a handful that were designed and built in Pierce and King Counties during the 1930’s. Although the hollow-box concrete girder was economical and used extensively throughout Europe, there are few American examples.