Kitsap County, Washington

Last updated

Kitsap County
County
Kitsap County Courthouse.jpg
Kitsap County Courthouse
Map of Washington highlighting Kitsap County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Washington
Washington in United States.svg
Washington's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 47°38′N122°39′W / 47.64°N 122.65°W / 47.64; -122.65
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Washington.svg  Washington
FoundedJanuary 16, 1857
Named for Chief Kitsap
Seat Port Orchard
Largest city Bremerton
Area
 • Total
566 sq mi (1,470 km2)
 • Land395 sq mi (1,020 km2)
 • Water171 sq mi (440 km2)  30%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
275,611
 • Estimate 
(2023)
277,658 Increase2.svg
 • Density644/sq mi (249/km2)
Time zone UTC−8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−7 (PDT)
Congressional district 6th
Website kitsap.gov

Kitsap County is a county in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, its population was 275,611. [1] Its county seat is Port Orchard; [2] its largest city is Bremerton. The county, formed out of King County and Jefferson County on January 16, 1857, is named for Chief Kitsap of the Suquamish Tribe. Originally named Slaughter County, it was soon renamed. [3]

Contents

Kitsap County comprises the Bremerton–Silverdale–Port Orchard, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Seattle–Tacoma, WA Combined Statistical Area.

The United States Navy is the largest employer in the county, with installations at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Naval Undersea Warfare Center Keyport, and Naval Base Kitsap (which comprises former NSB Bangor and NS Bremerton).

Kitsap County is connected to the eastern shore of Puget Sound by Washington State Ferries routes, including the Seattle-Bremerton Ferry, Southworth to West Seattle via Vashon Island, Bainbridge Island to Downtown Seattle, and from Kingston to Edmonds, Washington. Kitsap Transit provides passenger-only fast ferry service between Bremerton and Seattle, Kingston and Seattle, and Southworth and Seattle.

History

The Kitsap Peninsula was originally acquired by the U.S. Government in three pieces by three treaties negotiated with the Native American tribes:

Territorial Governor Isaac Stevens represented the United States in all three negotiations.

When the Washington Territory was organized in 1853, the Kitsap Peninsula was divided between King County to the east and Jefferson County to the west. Official public papers were required to be filed at the county seat, which meant Peninsula business people had to travel to either Seattle or Port Townsend to transact business. On the understanding that they would "bring home a new county," area mill operators George Meigs and William Renton supported the candidacies to the Territorial Legislature of two employees from their respective mills: Timothy Duane Hinckley from Meigs' and S.B. Wilson from Renton's.

Upon arrival in Olympia, the two men introduced bills to create a new county, to be named "Madison". Representative Abernathy from Wahkiakum County proposed an amendment to name it "Slaughter", in recognition of Lt. William Alloway Slaughter, who had been killed in 1855 in the Yakima War. The bill passed as amended. It was signed by Governor Isaac Stevens on January 16, 1857. The county seat would be located in Meigs's mill town at Port Madison. [5]

In Slaughter County's first election on July 13, 1857, voters were given the opportunity to rename the county. The options were "Mill", "Madison" or "Kitsap". Slaughter was not one of the options. Kitsap won by an overwhelming majority. [6]

Kitsap County is home to several major United States Navy facilities, collectively named Naval Base Kitsap, and grew in response to wars and conflicts in the 20th century. Bremerton, the site of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, peaked at 80,000 residents during World War II. Naval Submarine Base Bangor was developed in the 1980s to store nuclear weapons for submarines and contributed to the county's population growth during the decade from 147,000 to 190,000. [7]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 566 square miles (1,470 km2), of which 395 square miles (1,020 km2) is land and 171 square miles (440 km2) (30%) is water. [8] It is the fourth-smallest county in Washington by land area and third-smallest by total area.

In addition to occupying most of the Kitsap Peninsula, Kitsap County includes both Bainbridge Island and Blake Island. According to Puget Sound Partnership, Kitsap county has over 250 miles (400 km) of saltwater shoreline.

The portion of the county north of Silverdale is often referred to as North Kitsap, and the portion south of Bremerton as South Kitsap.

Geographic features

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1860 544—
1870 86659.2%
1880 1,738100.7%
1890 4,624166.1%
1900 6,76746.3%
1910 17,647160.8%
1920 33,16287.9%
1930 30,776−7.2%
1940 44,38744.2%
1950 75,72470.6%
1960 84,17611.2%
1970 101,73220.9%
1980 147,15244.6%
1990 189,73128.9%
2000 231,96922.3%
2010 251,1338.3%
2020 275,6119.7%
2023 (est.)277,658 [9] 0.7%
U.S. Decennial Census [10]
1790–1960 [11] 1900–1990 [12]
1990–2000 [13] 2010–2020 [1]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 275,611 people, 105,803 households, and 71,548 families living in the county. [14]

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 251,133 people, 97,220 households, and 65,820 families residing in the county. [15] The population density was 635.9 inhabitants per square mile (245.5/km2). There were 107,367 housing units at an average density of 271.9 per square mile (105.0/km2). [16] The racial makeup of the county was 82.6% white, 4.9% Asian, 2.6% black or African American, 1.6% American Indian, 0.9% Pacific islander, 1.6% from other races, and 5.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 6.2% of the population. [15] In terms of ancestry, 21.3% were German, 14.4% were Irish, 13.8% were English, 7.1% were Norwegian, and 4.2% were American. [17]

Of the 97,220 households, 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.3% were non-families, and 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.97. The median age was 39.4 years. [15]

The median income for a household in the county was $59,549 and the median income for a family was $71,065. Males had a median income of $52,282 versus $38,499 for females. The per capita income for the county was $29,755. About 6.1% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over. [18]

Communities

map of Kitsap County and surrounding area Kitsapcounty-wa.png
map of Kitsap County and surrounding area

Cities

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Beach cottages in Fragaria along Colvos Passage in Kitsap County Fragaria washington.JPG
Beach cottages in Fragaria along Colvos Passage in Kitsap County

Politics

Kitsap County is generally considered to be a relatively Democratic area, owing to progressivism stemmed from the county's Scandinavian settlers. In the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Democrat Hillary Clinton received 49.05% of the vote to Republican Donald Trump's 38.07%. [19] This Democratic margin widened in 2020, with candidate Joe Biden receiving 56.90% of the vote versus incumbent Trump receiving 38.80%. [20]

On mainland Kitsap County, politics are strongly influenced by working-class Bremerton, which casts moderate margins for Democratic candidates. Unincorporated Kitsap County is a mix of battleground areas. Non-Bremerton parts of incorporated mainland Kitsap County vary, with Silverdale having become a Republican stronghold, Poulsbo marginally Democratic, and Port Orchard consistently electing Republican candidates.

Democrats typically carry the Indian reservations of the area by wide margins; the area around Little Boston (part of the S'Klallam Indian Reservation) regularly votes for Democratic candidates.

The Kitsap County Auditor Website has detailed election results from 1998 to the present. County area political trends can be tracked by analyzing the election precinct data. [21]

United States presidential election results for Kitsap County, Washington [22]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2024 58,95337.66%91,54458.48%6,0463.86%
2020 61,56338.80%90,27756.90%6,8324.31%
2016 49,01838.07%63,15649.05%16,59612.89%
2012 52,84642.58%67,27754.21%3,9783.21%
2008 53,29742.63%68,62454.89%3,0902.47%
2004 55,60846.86%60,79651.23%2,2661.91%
2000 46,42745.13%50,30248.90%6,1385.97%
1996 35,30438.59%44,16748.28%12,01613.13%
1992 29,34033.13%34,44238.89%24,78627.99%
1988 34,74349.88%33,74848.45%1,1581.66%
1984 36,10154.11%29,68144.49%9311.40%
1980 29,42048.79%20,89334.65%9,98316.56%
1976 23,12445.56%25,70150.64%1,9253.79%
1972 25,83156.84%17,01137.43%2,6045.73%
1968 14,52036.47%22,27355.94%3,0227.59%
1964 10,70228.38%26,90471.34%1080.29%
1960 17,45946.80%19,66252.71%1810.49%
1956 17,98647.73%19,64152.12%580.15%
1952 16,87644.89%20,53154.61%1890.50%
1948 9,86932.17%19,53863.69%1,2714.14%
1944 11,22431.62%24,01667.67%2510.71%
1940 5,52528.19%13,86170.73%2101.07%
1936 3,44021.04%12,41475.94%4933.02%
1932 3,46524.45%10,00270.57%7064.98%
1928 6,54462.97%3,66835.30%1801.73%
1924 3,95445.19%4905.60%4,30649.21%
1920 4,98949.41%1,35013.37%3,75937.23%
1916 2,63837.83%3,47949.89%85712.29%
1912 1,22420.12%96915.93%3,88963.94%
1908 1,81956.12%85026.23%57217.65%
1904 1,73669.19%32012.75%45318.06%
1900 88058.43%48932.47%1379.10%
1896 72848.89%72848.89%332.22%
1892 43834.60%37029.23%45836.18%

Government

Board of County Commissioners

State legislators

23rd Legislative District

Bainbridge Island, East Bremerton, Poulsbo and Silverdale

  • Sen. Greg Nance (D) - Appointed September 2023 to replace Drew Hansen, who had left to fill vacant senate seat. [26]
  • Rep. Tarra Simmons (D) - First elected November 2020.
  • Rep. Drew Hansen (D) - Appointed September 2011 to replace Christine Rolfes who had been appointed to the Senate. First elected in November 2012.

26th Legislative District

Bremerton, Gig Harbor and Port Orchard

35th Legislative District

Bremerton, Shelton and Mason County

Education

Post-secondary education

Public schools

Transportation

Kitsap County is connected to the eastern shore of Puget Sound by several Washington State Ferries routes, including the Seattle-Bremerton Ferry, Southworth to West Seattle via Vashon Island, Bainbridge Island to Downtown Seattle, and from Kingston to Edmonds, Washington.

Kitsap Transit provides local transit service within Kitsap County and connects to other transit systems that continue onto the Olympic Peninsula. The agency launched its fast ferry services to Seattle in July 2017, beginning initially with a Bremerton route and later expanding to Kingston in 2018. [27] [28] Fast ferry service to Southworth is expected to begin in 2020.

The county is connected to Jefferson County and the Olympic Peninsula to the west by the Hood Canal Bridge.

A 48-mile-long (77 km) government-owned rail line, the Bangor-Shelton-Bremerton Navy Railroad, runs through the county. It is a branch off the Puget Sound and Pacific Railroad, with its junction at Shelton. At the Bremerton Junction near Gorst a spur follows Highway 3 along the shore of the Sinclair Inlet terminating at the Puget Sound Naval Ship Yard, the other follows Highway 3 along the western shore of Dyes Inlet, servicing Bangor Naval Submarine Base. The Navy had originally intended to use armored trains to transport nuclear missiles to Bangor for the Trident submarines but protesters and a series of court decisions derailed the plan. Today the railroad is primarily used to transport scrap from PSNS. [29]

Notable people

Walking Tall with The Rock and Johnny Knoxville was based in Kitsap County, and the City of Port Orchard is the basis for the fictional community of Cedar Cove in the books by Debbie Macomber.

See also

Notes

    Related Research Articles

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Bainbridge Island, Washington</span> City in Washington, United States

    Bainbridge Island is a city and island in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. It is located in Puget Sound. The population was 24,825 at the 2020 census, making Bainbridge Island the second largest city in Kitsap County.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Bremerton, Washington</span> City in Washington, United States

    Bremerton is a city in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. The population was 43,505 at the 2020 census and an estimated 44,122 in 2021, making it the largest city on the Kitsap Peninsula. Bremerton is home to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the Bremerton Annex of Naval Base Kitsap.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingston, Washington</span> Census-designated place in Washington, United States

    Kingston is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. The population was 2,515 at the 2020 census. Kingston is along the shores of Appletree Cove and Puget Sound, and is home to a major Washington State Ferry terminal linking it to Edmonds.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Port Orchard, Washington</span> City in Washington, United States

    Port Orchard is a city in and the county seat of Kitsap County, Washington, United States. It is located 13 miles (21 km) due west of West Seattle and is connected to Seattle and Vashon Island via the Washington State Ferries run to Southworth. It is named after Port Orchard, the strait that separates Bainbridge Island from the Kitsap Peninsula.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Poulsbo, Washington</span> City in Washington, United States

    Poulsbo is a city on Liberty Bay in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. It is the smallest of the four cities in Kitsap County. The population was 11,970 at the 2020 census and an estimated 10,927 in 2018.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Silverdale, Washington</span> Place in Washington, United States

    Silverdale is an unincorporated community in Kitsap County, Washington, in the United States. Despite many failed attempts at incorporation, Silverdale has not become a city. The population was 20,733 at the 2020 census. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Silverdale as a census-designated place (CDP).

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Kitsap Peninsula</span> Peninsula in Puget Sound, Washington, United States

    The Kitsap Peninsula lies west of Seattle across Puget Sound, in Washington state in the Pacific Northwest. Hood Canal separates the peninsula from the Olympic Peninsula on its west side. The peninsula, a.k.a. "Kitsap", encompasses all of Kitsap County except Bainbridge and Blake Islands, as well as the northeastern part of Mason County and the northwestern part of Pierce County. The highest point on the Kitsap Peninsula is Gold Mountain. The U.S. Navy's Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, and Naval Base Kitsap are on the peninsula. Its main city is Bremerton.

    Chief Seattle Council is the local council governing the scouting activities of the Boy Scouts of America in a large part of the Puget Sound and Seattle area, including almost all of the Olympic Peninsula.

    Southworth is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) on Puget Sound in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. It is best known for being the west end of the Fauntleroy-Vashon Island-Southworth Washington State Ferries run. Landmarks include Southworth Grocery, a US Post Office, ferry terminal, clay cliffs and a private beach on the point. Next to the ferry is a popular place to launch kayaks for trips to nearby Blake Island. The population of the Southworth CDP was 2,185 at the 2010 census.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Washington State Route 3</span> State highway in the U.S. state of Washington

    State Route 3 (SR 3) is a 59.81-mile-long (96.25 km) state highway in the U.S. state of Washington, serving the Kitsap Peninsula in Mason and Kitsap counties. The highway begins at U.S. Route 101 (US 101) south of Shelton and travels northeast onto the Kitsap Peninsula through Belfair to Gorst, where it intersects SR 16 and begins its freeway. SR 3 travels west of Bremerton, Silverdale and Poulsbo before it terminates at the eastern end of the Hood Canal Bridge, signed as SR 104. The highway is designated as a Strategic Highway Network (STRAHNET) corridor under the National Highway System as the main thoroughfare connecting both parts of Naval Base Kitsap and is also part of the Highways of Statewide Significance program.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Kitsap Transit</span> Local public transit operator in Kitsap County, Washington

    Kitsap Transit is a public transit agency serving Kitsap County, Washington, part of the Seattle metropolitan area. The system is based in Bremerton and operates bus service on 40 fixed routes, a foot ferry, a vanpool system, worker-driver services, and dial-a-ride services. The Kitsap Fast Ferries are also operated by Kitsap Transit. In 2023, the system had a total ridership of 2,739,600 and over 8,000 passengers on an average weekday in 2022.

    Chico is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. Named in 1889 for a Suquamish head chief, Chico is located on the Dyes Inlet waterfront, south of Silverdale. At the 2020 census the community had a population of 2,723.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Puget Sound and Pacific Railroad</span> Transport company

    The Puget Sound and Pacific Railroad is a Class III shortline railroad that operates 158 miles of track serving the Kitsap Peninsula, Grays Harbor County and Centralia, Washington in the U.S. State of Washington, and is headquartered in Centralia, where the railroad interchanges with the BNSF Railway and the Union Pacific Railroad. The railroad has been a subsidiary of the Genesee and Wyoming since 2012.

    The Manette Peninsula is a headland that is part of the larger Kitsap Peninsula, located on the eastern flank of the Kitsap Peninsula, in western Washington, United States.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Ferries in Washington (state)</span> Overview of ferry transportation in the U.S. state of Washington

    The U.S. state of Washington is home to a number of public and private ferry systems, most notably the state-run Washington State Ferries.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Bangor Base, Washington</span> Census-designated place in Washington, United States

    Bangor Base is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kitsap County, Washington, within U.S. Naval Base Kitsap on the Kitsap Peninsula. Its population was 5,482 at the 2020 census.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Puget Sound region</span> Coastal area in the U.S. state of Washington

    The Puget Sound region is a coastal area of the Pacific Northwest in the U.S. state of Washington, including Puget Sound, the Puget Sound lowlands, and the surrounding region roughly west of the Cascade Range and east of the Olympic Mountains. It is characterized by a complex array of saltwater bays, islands, and peninsulas carved out by prehistoric glaciers.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Seattle–Bainbridge Island ferry</span> Ferry route in Seattle, Washington, U.S.

    The Seattle–Bainbridge ferry is a ferry route across Puget Sound between Seattle and Bainbridge Island, Washington. The route was called the Seattle–Winslow ferry before the city of Winslow annexed the rest of the island and changed its name. Since 1951 the only ferries employed on the route have belonged to the Washington state ferry system, currently the largest ferry system in the United States.

    <i>Carlisle II</i> Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet vessel

    Carlisle II is the oldest of only two operational examples of a Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet vessel. They were once part of a large fleet of small passenger and freight carrying ships that linked the islands and ports of Puget Sound in Washington state in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Kitsap Fast Ferries</span> Passenger ferry system connecting Seattle to Kitsap County, Washington

    Kitsap Fast Ferries is a passenger ferry service operating between Seattle and Kitsap County in the U.S. state of Washington. It is funded and operated by Kitsap Transit and began service in July 2017, with a single boat traveling between Seattle and Bremerton. A second route, from Seattle to Kingston, launched in November 2018, and a third route serving Seattle and Southworth began operating in March 2021. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 1,091,400.

    References

    1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
    2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
    3. ↑ Clark, William G. (Summer 1985). "Fishing in a Sea of Court Orders: Puget Sound Salmon Management 10 Years After the Boldt Decision" (PDF). North American Journal of Fisheries Management. 5 (3B): 417–434. doi:10.1577/1548-8659(1985)5<417:FIASOC>2.0.CO;2. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 21, 2017. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
    4. ↑ Bowen et al. (1981), p. 11.
    5. ↑ Bowen et al. (1981), p. 12.
    6. ↑ Farley, Josh (August 5, 2020). "Kitsap's nuclear legacy: county has grown under its protectors and protesters". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
    7. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
    8. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
    9. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
    10. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
    11. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
    12. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 26, 2015. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
    13. ↑ "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
    14. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
    15. ↑ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
    16. ↑ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
    17. ↑ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
    18. ↑ "General Election Official Final". Kitsap County Auditor. Archived from the original on April 2, 2016. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
    19. ↑ "Kitsap County November 3, 2020 General Election".
    20. ↑ "Kitsap County Home". Archived from the original on March 18, 2006.
    21. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
    22. ↑ Lucia, Bill (June 5, 2023). "Lead state Senator budget writer will leave Legislature for local government". Washington State Standard. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
    23. ↑ Henry, Chris (November 3, 2020). "South Kitsap Commissioner Garrido holds big lead for fourth consecutive term". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
    24. ↑ "Kitsap County, Washington General Election 11/8/22". Kitsap County Auditor's Office. November 28, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
    25. ↑ "Greg Nance appointed to fill vacant house seat in 23rd Legislative District". Washington State House Democrats. September 19, 2023. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
    26. ↑ Friedrich, Ed (July 10, 2017). "First fast ferry sailed at sunrise". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
    27. ↑ Gutman, David (November 3, 2018). "Kitsap Transit launching Kingston-to-Seattle fast ferry service after Thanksgiving". The Seattle Times . Retrieved February 20, 2020.
    28. ↑ Friedrich, Ed (September 24, 2012). "Much Has Changed Since Bangor's Ammo Depot Days". Kitsap Sun. Bremerton, Wash.[ permanent dead link ]
    29. ↑ "Nathan Adrian - Bio". SwimSwam . Retrieved July 22, 2021.

    Bibliography

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