To many Washingtonians, Aberdeen will always be known as the hometown of Kurt Cobain. But for those who dig deeper into local history, it’s so much more. Aberdeen has an extremely colorful past; it was once known as the grittiest town on the West Coast. And if you ask some of the locals to this day, they’ll tell you some of the older buildings are haunted.

This region has always been rich in resources like wildlife, timber, and fish, and it supported a number of Native American communities before Captain Robert Gray found the harbor in May of 1792.

John Nathan Cobb / Wikipedia Samuel Benn, a pioneer visionary, officially founded the city in 1884. He saw tremendous potential for a lumber yard and a salmon cannery.

Aberdeen soon became the largest and best-known city in Grays Harbor.

Jasperdo / Flickr The sawmill and the cannery were very successful, and people flocked to the city.

But the booming economy wasn’t all that was happening here—Aberdeen was considered one of the grittiest towns on the West Coast by the early 1900s.

Jasperdo / Flickr Gambling establishments and brothels peppered the community, and crime skyrocketed. The Red Light District, which was centered mainly along State Street and F Street, was strictly off limits to women and children in the early-mid 1900s.

And then, of course, there was the resident serial killer, Billy Gohl.

Billy’s Bar and Grill / Facebook Billy, a German-American bartender, allegedly robbed and murdered a huge number of sailors and migrants in the area. He was eventually arrested and spent his final years in an asylum. His final victim number is still unknown.

Billy Gohl is currently immortalized at Billy’s Bar & Grill, which is located in the former Crowther-Wooding Building.

Billy’s Bar and Grill / Facebook In fact, some claim Billy haunts the building—there have been numerous reports of paranormal activity from both employees and patrons.

Aberdeen still has above-average crime rates to this day, although they have gone down in recent years.

J. Stephen Conn / Flickr Still, the city has a lot of charm, and it attracts plenty of visitors each year, especially the Kurt Cobain Memorial Park and the Lady Washington ship.

Looking at this place now, it’s hard to imagine a time when a deranged serial killer roamed the streets and gambling and brothels were all around town.

Jasperdo / Flickr Hopefully, the city’s future is bright.

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John Nathan Cobb / Wikipedia

Samuel Benn, a pioneer visionary, officially founded the city in 1884. He saw tremendous potential for a lumber yard and a salmon cannery.

Jasperdo / Flickr

The sawmill and the cannery were very successful, and people flocked to the city.

Gambling establishments and brothels peppered the community, and crime skyrocketed. The Red Light District, which was centered mainly along State Street and F Street, was strictly off limits to women and children in the early-mid 1900s.

Billy’s Bar and Grill / Facebook

Billy, a German-American bartender, allegedly robbed and murdered a huge number of sailors and migrants in the area. He was eventually arrested and spent his final years in an asylum. His final victim number is still unknown.

In fact, some claim Billy haunts the building—there have been numerous reports of paranormal activity from both employees and patrons.

J. Stephen Conn / Flickr

Still, the city has a lot of charm, and it attracts plenty of visitors each year, especially the Kurt Cobain Memorial Park and the Lady Washington ship.

Hopefully, the city’s future is bright.

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Address: Aberdeen, WA, USA