The city of Aberdeen was founded in 1884 and by the early 1900s was one of the most populous cities in the state of Washington, along with its neighboring city of Hoquiam. The timber industry put the city on the worldwide map, and Grays Harbor County was quickly recognized as the Lumber Capital of the World. As locals are well aware, Aberdeen is also built on swampland, which makes it prone to flooding. To combat this in the early days, the entire city (docks, buildings, and sidewalks) was built out of the wood that made the city famous. Because of this, the town soon took on the nickname "Plank Island". In 1903, a fire engulfed Aberdeen. Having been built on wood, the young city was effectively destroyed. The following years witnessed a speedy rebuilding (this time using bricks and concrete) as well as a continued boom for the city. However, the fire, having taken the wooden sidewalks and storefronts with it, also took the "Plank Island" name. Dark years which included the notorious "Floater Fleet" gave way to the nicknames "The Hellhole of the Pacific" and "The Port of Missing Men."