Incorporated in 1994, Newcastle is a relatively new city with a storied past. Before Washington became a state, Newcastle was one of the most successful coal mining towns in northwestern Washington. Nearly 11 million tons of coal was extracted from the area between 1869 and 1963. Coal from Newcastle helped fuel the growth of the entire Puget Sound region. Thirty years after the end of the coal mining era, a movement began toward local government and control. In April 1993, proponents succeeded in passing a ballot measure to establish 4.4 square miles of unincorporated King County into the City of Newport Hills. The city officially incorporated Sept. 30, 1994, as Newport Hills, and after a November 1994 vote, the city's name was changed to Newcastle.