Located in the western part of the state of Washington and a city in Kind County, Auburn sits in the White River Valley which is situated northeast of Tacoma. The city was laid out in 1887 by the early local settler named W.A Slaughter, who was then killed in conflict with the area Indians. The local residents disliked the name Slaughter and then started a petition in the legislature to change the name and in 1893, the name Auburn was designated after the city in New York. The city was developed and cultivated as an agricultural trade center and also as a division point for the Northern Pacific Railway. Manufacturing of aircraft parts was an important economic activity and the city also served as the center for the Federal Aviation Administration air traffic control.