Lyman is nine miles east of Sedro-Woolley, squeezed between State Route 20 and the Skagit River. Hamilton is just four miles farther east. The Lyman population is 437. Hamilton had 312. Both Lyman and Hamilton are threatened by frequent flooding from the Skagit River. Flood waters forced many of the residents of both communities to evacuate in November, 2021. In 2019, a non-profit agency bought land north of SR 20 and invited the residents of Hamilton to relocate. Still, most residents refuse to move to higher ground.