[3] The Enumclaw Plateau, on which the city resides, was formed by a volcanic mudflow (lahar) from Mount Rainier approximately 5,700 years ago.

[5] The name Enumclaw is derived from the Sahaptin word /inɨmɬá/, meaning "he who makes noise", from to /ínɨmn/, "to neigh, bray, sing", and /-ɬa/, "he who".

According to legend the mountain's name was derived from an evil incident that occurred there, or to the occasional powerful windstorms from the east that affect the region.

[7][8][9] Native American mythology tells the story of two brothers – Enumclaw and Kapoonis – who were turned into thunder and lightning, respectively, by their father.

In 1885, the Northern Pacific Railroad routed their transcontinental mainline through the site, accepting their offer of cleared, level land on which to build a siding.

On January 11, 1895, Mount Baldy, a small peak above the town, "erupted" with tremendous fire and smoke, although no losses or damage were reported, and the conflagration was minimized by residents.

When the hops crop failed due to pests and economic downturn, the residents turned to dairy farming, which has been a mainstay ever since.

In the 1950s Enumclaw Insurance Group greatly expanded its business and the home office became a major employer in the town.

[12] A Boeing aerospace engineer named Kenneth Pinyan from Gig Harbor died after receiving anal sex from a horse at the farm.

[14] The city is located in the midst of flat, level farmlands and dairy farms in the east Puget Sound lowlands.

The flat geography in the middle of mountainous territory is due to the ancient Osceola Mudflow from nearby Mount Rainier.

Enumclaw recorded the highest wind speeds for a community in the state during the November 2024 Northeast Pacific bomb cyclone, reaching 74 miles per hour (119 km/h).

[20] In contrast to other towns with big-box stores, Enumclaw has chosen a different path for its downtown that is filled with small local boutiques and non-chain restaurants and bistros.

Several companies, including Helac, Nor-Pac Seating, Nether Industries, and Hill AeroSystems, maintain major offices in the city.

[citation needed] The remoteness of Enumclaw has made the picturesque, quintessential place to work from home and enjoy a bit of county life with all the convivences With the median home valued at $753,000,[21] Enumclaw has gained many professionals, firefighters, police officers, downhill ski lovers as well as people who enjoy quick hiking access to Mt.

[citation needed] Enumclaw has celebrated its close ties with its ag community and has many farm road stands as well as a Farmers Market that runs Spring through Fall.

It is located along the Chinook Scenic Byway (SR 410), which provides seasonal access to the Yakima Valley and Eastern Washington.

[22] Enumclaw has four state parks in close proximity: Nolte, Flaming Geyser, Kanaskat Palmer, and Federation Forest.

[25] The Enumclaw City Council has continued to make policing a priority by increasing the departments budget, focusing on training and equipment.

In the year 2000, the center of population of Washington State was located in an unincorporated part of King County, just northeast of town.

The City of Enumclaw operates its own solid waste utility (garbage), water, stormwater and sewer departments.

The United States Postal Service operates the Enumclaw Post Office and a regional distribution center.

Enumclaw's Virginia Mason St. Elizabeth Hospital, is part of the Catholic Health Initiatives (a seven-hospital organization based in Tacoma).

[35] The Enumclaw Expo Center annually hosts the King County Fair and the Pacific Northwest Scottish Highland Games,[36] among a number of other exhibitions and festivals.