In 1903 Cusick opened its post office, a mark of success for any pioneering community. The name was derived from the Cusick brothers, Joe and Frank, who owned and operated a fleet of five sternwheelers, which carried freight, passengers, and mail. Around 1910 train largely replaced steam wheelers.

The rail connection to the outside markets brought prosperity as men logged virgin white pine and processed it through the lumber mills, this was quite a lumber community back then.

Today the present economy depends on construction work and local service companies plus newsprint and aluminum fabricating plants.