Snohomish has a downtown district that is renowned for its collection of antique shops and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

[6] An archaeological site near the confluence of the Snohomish and Pilchuck Rivers has indications of human habitation that began as early as 8,000 years before present.

[7][10] The road, proposed in the wake of the Pig War, was intended to be built far enough inland to be safe from British naval attacks.

[citation needed] The confluence of the Snohomish and Pilchuck rivers, located near Kwehtlamanish, was sought by several American settlers from Steilacoom who arrived in 1859 to file homestead claims.

Edson F. Cady and Heil Barnes, representing carpenter Emory C. Ferguson, settled near the proposed ferry landing, while Egbert H. Tucker filed a claim for a plot on the other side of the Snohomish River.

[18] The city was connected to Everett by an interurban railway that ceased operations in 1921 after a trestle was damaged during a major flood.

[19] An airport, named Harvey Airfield, was built south of downtown Snohomish by a local family and remains privately operated.

A plan presented in 1965 to demolish the south side of First Street and remodel existing buildings was opposed by residents and ultimately not realized due to a lack of funding.

[7][20] Several abandoned buildings on the south side were demolished for a riverfront park, while the city began annexing areas to the north of downtown Snohomish.

In 1975 a severe flood struck the area, damaging over 300 homes and killing 3,500 head of livestock, but the community rallied to support those who were affected.

Sidewalks were rebuilt and public restrooms added, while the city hall and police station were moved away from First Street.

[21] The river valley was formed approximately 14,000 years before present by the outflow of a glacial lake during the Vashon Glaciation event.

The city also has an urban growth area that extends north towards U.S. Route 2 and south of the Snohomish River to include Harvey Airfield.

The district encompasses parts of Snohomish and King counties between Arlington and Bellevue that generally lie east of Interstate 5.

[34][35] At the state level, the city is part of the 44th legislative district, which also includes Mill Creek, southeastern Everett, and unincorporated areas.

[38] The city government has nine developed parks with 167 acres (68 ha) of space reserved for public recreation, nature preserves, or other uses.

These parks include playgrounds, walking trails, picnic areas, boat launches, and sports fields.

[39] The city also owns the local Boys and Girls Club and senior center, leasing them out to their respective organizations.

[39]: 9  The Snohomish area is also home to several county parks and privately owned recreational spaces that are primarily used for organized youth sports, such as soccer and baseball.

[39][40] Snohomish is the southern terminus of the Centennial Trail, an intercity multi-use path for pedestrians, cyclists, and equestrians.

[41] The trail is maintained by the county government and is planned to be extended south from Snohomish to Woodinville, where it would connect with the Eastrail network.

The St. Michael Catholic Church founded its parish school in 2007, becoming the sixth in Snohomish County operated under the Archdiocese of Seattle.

[61] Snohomish hosts an annual summer festival called Kla Ha Ya Days, which attracts up to 25,000 visitors and began in 1913.

[7] A permanent library building funded by Andrew Carnegie opened in 1910 and was expanded in 1968 with the construction of an annex that doubled its size.

[69][70] The building closed again in 2017 to undergo a $2.7 million renovation, which included demolition of the 1968 annex and restoration of an original crystal chandelier.

[74][75] The Snohomish Soccer Dome also hosts practices for the Washington Wolfpack, an Arena Football League team that plays in Everett.

[125][126] The city government contracts with Republic Services for collection and disposal of curbside garbage, recycling, and yard waste.

[128] The city government manages tap water service within Snohomish, which is delivered through a 35-mile (56 km) system of pipes.

[129] The city government operated its own water treatment plant on the Pilchuck River near Granite Falls until 2017, when it was determined to be too costly to maintain and upgrade to meet modern fish passage standards.

[133] A plan to replace the combined overflow system was approved in 2014 following interventions by the Washington State Department of Ecology.