Index: A Historical Perspective chronicles the founding and development of Index, Washington, a rugged pioneer settlement nestled deep within the North Fork Skykomish River valley of the Cascade Mountains. The narrative highlights how the dramatic surrounding topography—including the sheer granite walls of nearby Mount Index and the dense, steep timberlands—dictated the town's early economy, which relied heavily on precarious logging operations and hard-rock mining. By documenting the specific riverside encampments, isolated granite quarries, and mountain railroad spurs that defined the area, the book directly links the daily survival of early residents to their formidable natural environment. Ultimately, the work preserves the physical and geographic history of a remote wilderness enclave that was carved out of some of the most challenging terrain in the inland Pacific Northwest.

History, Index (Wash.) History, Washington (State) Index