Alderton School
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Alderton School | |
 The former Alderton School in Alderton, Washington. | |
   | |
| Location | 9512 Orting Hwy., E., Alderton, Washington |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 47°10′12″N 122°13′43″W / 47.17000°N 122.22861°W |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Architectural style | Hipped roof vernacular |
| MPS | Rural Public Schools of Washington State MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 87001171[1] |
| Added to NRHP | July 15, 1987 |
The Alderton School was built in 1915, the two-story brick schoolhouse and brick gymnasium reflect the second period of rural school development in the county. The buildings are among the few extant properties associated with the development of Alderton, and one of only two rural school buildings remaining in Central Pierce County.[2]
Pierce County was settled in the 19th century by families attracted by the area's vast forests, rich mineral deposits, fertile farmland, and saltwater harbors. In Alderton, the economy was dominated by extractive industries—principally logging and farming.[2] Extractive economies lead to the creation of widely scattered rural communities near the resources. They are often inaccessible to urban areas. While Tacoma had a diversified economy based on heavy industry, trade, and transportation, the sparsely settled rural areas dominated by a single economic mainstay.[2]
