Maytown is an unincorporated community in Thurston County, in the U.S. state of Washington.[1] The community is situated off I-5 and is east of Littlerock.
Maytown, Washington | |
|---|---|
  Maytown  Maytown | |
| Coordinates: 46°53′51″N 122°56′36″W / 46.89750°N 122.94333°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Thurston |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
Etymology
Folklore about the naming of the community mentions that a first settler named the town when he said, "It may become a town, and it may not, so I'll call it Maytown".[2]
History
Maytown was founded as a lumber town in 1911, and named after Maytown, Kentucky, the native home of the proprietor of a local sawmill.[1] A post office was in operation at Maytown from 1922 until 1928.[3][2]
Arts and culture
Maytown hosts an annual winter holiday event referred to as Christmas Island, a nativity display with an opening festival of fireworks, caroling, and food. Begun in Thurston County from a family tradition in 1941, it has been held continuously since its inception. The presentation has moved locations several times, including a stretch from the 1950s into the early 1970s at Olympia's Capitol Lake. Christmas Island shifted, in 2012, to Maytown's Assembly of God Church.[4][5]
Parks and recreation
The community is close to Millersylvania State Park. Other nearby recreational spots include Offutt Lake and the Scatter Creek Unit and Scatter Creek Wildlife Recreation Area.
The South Sound Speedway, a Figure 8 racetrack, is south of the area.