Vashon, Washington | |
|---|---|
 Aerial view of Vashon and Maury islands | |
 Location in King County | |
  Vashon Location in Washington and the United States Show map of Washington (state) Vashon Vashon (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Coordinates:47°24′35″N122°27′05″W / 47.40972°N 122.45139°W /47.40972; -122.45139 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | King |
| Area | |
• Total | 80.8 sq mi (209.3 km2) |
| • Land | 36.9 sq mi (95.6 km2) |
| • Water | 43.9 sq mi (113.6 km2) |
| Elevation | 272 ft (83 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 11,055 |
| • Density | 300/sq mi (116/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 98070 & 98013 (Burton) |
| Area code | 206 |
| FIPS code | 53-74305 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2409505[1] |
Vashon (/ˈvæʃɒn/) is acensus-designated place (CDP) inKing County, Washington, United States. It covers an island alternately calledVashon Island orVashon–Maury Island, the largest island inPuget Sound south ofAdmiralty Inlet. Before the construction of atombolo built in 1913, Vashon Island andMaury Island were connected only during low tide; now they are considered atied island.
The CDP's population was 11,055 at the2020 census,[3] up from 10,624 a decade ago. The CDP covers an area of 36.9 square miles (95.6 km2).[4]
The island is connected toWest Seattle and theKitsap Peninsula to the north andTacoma to the south via theWashington State Ferries system, as well as toDowntown Seattle via theKing County Water Taxi. The island has resisted the construction of a fixed bridge to preserve its relative isolation and rural character.[5] Vashon Island is also known for its annual strawberry festival,sheepdog trials, and agriculture.
Vashon Island sits in the midpoint of southern Puget Sound, between Seattle andTacoma, Washington. In the nearbyPacific Ocean, roughly 170 miles (270 km) west of Vashon Island, lies the 700-mile (1,130 km) tectonic boundary known as theCascadia Subduction Zone, and as such, Vashon Island is one of many areas at risk for earthquakes or related natural disasters. The Cascadia Subduction Zone last saw a major rupture in 1700, but the potential of the zone could cause one of the worst natural disasters in the history of North America.[6]
Up until the late 18th cenutry, Vashon and Maury Islands were inhabited solely by American Indians, and there is evidence of human activity on Vashon Island dating back 10,000 to 12,000 years. Historical data from the era when the first Native Americans settled Vashon–Maury Island is limited. Some of the Native peoples known to have lived on Vashon Island were theMarpole culture from about 7,000 years ago,Coast Salish peoples about 1,000 years ago, and the Sqababsh (known inChinook Wawa as theS'Homamish) starting about 500 years ago, the latter of which established 5 known major village sites.[7] TheTulalip Tribe established villages along the shores of both islands.[8] Fishing was abundant in the cold saltwater of the central Puget Sound basin, helping Native American tribes to thrive. Moreover, the many waterways and inlets provided easy travel by way of canoe.
The first non–Native American to explore and the first to chart this island was CaptainGeorge Vancouver, during his surveys of the Puget Sound area with theBritish Royal Navy. The island was named on May 28, 1792, by Vancouver after his friendJames Vashon of the Royal Navy. Starting in 1824, different explorer and settler groups stayed on Vashon Island.
Maury Island, immediately to the southeast of Vashon, was named in 1841 by then Lt.Charles Wilkes in honor ofWilliam Lewis Maury, an officer in theUnited States Exploring Expedition.[9] Maury was naturally separated from Vashon by a narrow passage, until local landowners decided to build an earth bridge, oristhmus, linking them together in 1916, thus creating the hamlet ofPortage. Therefore, the two-piece isle was renamed Vashon-Maury Island. Between the two sections, it covers nearly 37 square miles (96 km2).[10]
The firstlogging on the island began in 1852. By 1855–1856, the S'Homamish people were interned at Fox Island. European-Americans settled Vashon Island between 1865 and 1890. During that time the main economies on the island were fishing and logging.
In 1890, Japanese Americans started growingstrawberries for sale. Denichiro Mukai came to the island in 1910 and became renowned for barreling fresh strawberries using a special method that concentrated flavor and moisture in the fruit and permitted long-distance shipping. In time, Mukai designed and built his own home and elaborate garden and then constructed a sturdy timber framed barreling plant. During the peak years, ice cream, jam and preserve makers across the West were customers of Mukai, relishing the oak barrels for their lingering flavor and mythologizing about the island of strawberry fields. This became an important part of the island economy during the next 50 years, until the Japanese American population was forcibly relocated into internment camps as a response to Japanese/American tension caused by WWII.
In 1892,Vashon College opened in the Burton section of Vashon.[11] During its operation, it was one of the leading colleges in the area. It burned down in 1910.[12]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the Vashon CDP has a total area of 80.8 square miles (209.3 km2), of which 36.9 square miles (95.6 km2) comprise the island and 43.9 square miles (113.6 km2) are the waters of Puget Sound surrounding the island.[4]
To the west Vashon Island is separated from theKitsap Peninsula by theColvos Passage. TheDalco Passage separates Vashon Island fromTacoma to the south. Neighborhoods of Vashon Island includeMagnolia Beach, which had a post office from 1908 to 1953, andRaeco, with a post office from 1907 to 1911.[13][14]
This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F (22.0 °C). According to theKöppen Climate Classification system, Vashon has awarm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.[15]
While orchards and strawberry farms formerly played a major role in the Vashon economy, the pressures of suburban residential development have all but eliminated any major commercial agriculture on the island. However, many small farms operate on the island, providing locals with fresh organic produce, milk, and eggs.
Despite the changes, the island continues to observe the tradition of holding a Strawberry Festival every July. In certain areas likeDockton, a significant amount of private property was occupied and subsequently seized fromJapanese-American citizens who farmed strawberries on that land until World War II, when they were moved tointernment camps away from the island.[16]
Local orchards and wineries are established on the island, with some focusing on developingperry, an alcoholic beverage derived from pear juice instead of grapes.[17] There are at least three wineries that produce 100% locally produced wines and other alcoholic-based beverages.[18]
Vashon has lost two of its major industrial employers:K2 Sports moved its manufacturing to China, and theSeattle's Best Coffee roastery operation was closed shortly after SBC was bought byStarbucks. Currently, the largest manufacturer on Vashon isPacific Research Laboratories, locally referred to as "The Bone Factory".[19]
In 2014 it was reported that the company Edipure was to purchase the old K2 ski plant to manufacture more than 60marijuana-based snacks including crackers, candy and gummy bears.[20]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 944 | — | |
| 1910 | 2,423 | 156.7% | |
| 1920 | 2,810 | 16.0% | |
| 1930 | 2,798 | −0.4% | |
| 1940 | 3,118 | 11.4% | |
| 1950 | 3,889 | 24.7% | |
| 1960 | 5,182 | 33.2% | |
| 1970 | 6,516 | 25.7% | |
| 1980 | 7,377 | 13.2% | |
| 1990 | 9,309 | 26.2% | |
| 2000 | 10,123 | [21] | 8.7% |
| 2010 | 10,624 | [22] | 4.9% |
| 2020 | 11,055 | [2] | 4.1% |
| Source: U.S. Decennial Census Vashon History[23] | |||
The population of Vashon Island grew at its fastest rate in the early 20th century, doubling from 944 in 1900 to 2,810 in 1920. The community then experienced another period of rapid growth afterWorld War II, growing to 9,309 residents by 1990. Growth slowed to under 20 percent per decade since 1990.[24] As of the2020 census, there are 11,055 people who reside permanently on Vashon Island.[24]
Based onper capita income,[when?] Vashon ranks 32nd of 522 areas in the state of Washington to be ranked.
As of the 2020 census, there were 11,055 people and 4,717 households living within the boundaries of the Vashoncensus-designated place, which encompasses the whole island. The island'spopulation density was 136.8 inhabitants per square mile (52.8/km2). There were 5,636 total housing units, of which 83.7% were occupied and 16.3% were vacant or for occasional use. Theracial makeup of Vashon Island was 85.3%White, 0.7% Black orAfrican American, 0.3%Native American andAlaska Native, 2.1%Asian, 0.1%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, and 2.8% from other races. Residents who identified as more than one race were 8.7% of the population.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 5.7% of the population.[2]
Of the 4,717 households on Vashon Island, 54.3% weremarried couples living together, and 6.5% were cohabitating but unmarried. Households with a male householder with no spouse or partner were 15.1% of the population, while households with a female householder with no spouse or partner were 24.1% of the population. Out of all households, 22.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 45.0% had residents who were 65 years of age or older.[2] There were 4,717 occupied housing units on Vashon Island, of which 79.9% were owner-occupied and 20.1% were occupied byrenters.[2]
The median age of the island's residents was 53.1 years old for all sexes, 52.0 years old for males, and 54.0 years old for females. Of the total population, 17.8% of residents were under the age of 19; 3.3% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 17.2% were between the ages of 25 and 44; 32.2% were between the ages of 45 and 64; and 29.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the island's residents was 49.6% male and 50.4% female.[2]
In 1994 the Vashon Island Committee for Self-Government circulated a petition calling for the incorporation of Vashon and Maury Islands. At the time only some 448 residents of about 10,000 signed the petition which was then filed with the King County Auditor.[25]
The Vashon-Maury Island Community Council was a body whose purpose was to advise theKing County Council on matters relating toVashon Island andMaury Island. In 2013, it collapsed due to a requirement that it comply with the state's public records act and threats of lawsuits undermined the function of the organization.[26][27] However, with the adoption of formal bylaws on June 15, 2020, a new Vashon-Maury Island Community Council was officially created by island residents.[28] The new group was formed as a non-profit to help island residents address important issues facing their community.[29]
Vashon Fire is a combination professional-volunteer department with one staffed station, Station 55, which houses a minimum staffing of three firefighter/EMTs and two King County paramedics. Station 55 contains four aid units, one engine, onequint, one brush truck, two water tenders, one boat, one ATV, and one support unit. Vashon Fire uses ValleyCom as its dispatch center. There are two outlying stations that contain water tenders and backup engines: Station 56 located in Burton and Station 58 located in Dockton. The department is primarily funded by a property tax levy which last had a voter approved lid lift in 2017.
The island has an establishedemergency operations center manager who runs emergency drills with members of thecommunity emergency response team (CERT) in order to provide the best response in times of emergencies such asearthquakes.[6] The drills were established as routine through the group VashonBePrepared, a nonprofit,FEMA-sanctioned coalition of disaster preparedness organizations that were previously established on the island. Sometimes the drills have members of theWashington Army National Guard participating and supporting the volunteers.[30]
There are some claims that the island is home to variousdrug houses, a claim which has caused the Vashon Youth & Family Services to offer substance abuse counseling as part of the regular assembly of social services.[31]
Homicide rates on the island are extremely low, with only two homicides reported in the last twenty years and other forms of crime are also largely not seen. In 2005 the Sheriff's Office investigated one rape, six assaults, and forty-nineburglaries, in 2006 they investigated three rapes, eight assaults, and sixty-three burglaries.[32]
Major crimes on the Island include a serial rapist who operated from 2003 through 2010 until he was arrested and charged due to DNA evidence,[33] and a police officer who pleaded guilty toincest and other sex crimes involving his underage stepdaughter.[34]
Vashon Island is described as a "rural outpost" and an artists' community due to its isolation from the rest of the Seattle metropolitan area.[35] It has historically attracted acounterculture population, but has also become more of a bedroom community for Seattle commuters with the expansion of ferry options in the 21st century.[36] The island also has a large arts community that supports its own organizations for opera, chamber music, and plays.[36][37]
The annual studio tour was created in the late 1970s by some of thepotters who lived on the island. The group was rebranded in February 2018 as the Vashon Island Visual Artists, and they applied for non-profit status in 2015. The group now operates semi-annual tours of studios of local artists, classes, workshops, salons, exhibits, and social activities for artists, with membership around 300.[38] The island is home to achoral group established in 1989 under the name Island Singers, and now known as the Vashon Island Chorale.[39]
On the first Friday of every month, there is a gallery walk where the art galleries in town open for visitors.[40] The Vashon Center for the Arts along with cafés are also open during the First Friday gallery walk which have shown the work of local artists includingAnn Leda Shapiro.[41]
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In 2014, a small media outlet, the Voice of Vashon, acquired alow-power FM radio broadcast license from the FCC.KVSH-FM went live on 101.9 FM in October 2014,[42] and is also still available for live streaming.[43] The Voice of Vashon started filing as a non-profit starting from the 2015 tax year.[44] The Voice of Vashon records and broadcasts community arts events with support from King County4Culture grants.[42] The Voice of Vashon board includes director and producerRick Wallace. The Voice of Vashon also operates a television station, Comcast Channel 21, and its emergency broadcast system at1650AM.[45] Each of these outlets serves Vashon and Maury Islands year round, 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, with island-generated or specific information, entertainment and emergency alerts.[42]
Maury Island is home to numerousAM transmitters.KIRO 710 (built in 1941) has two massive towers for its 50,000-watt day/night transmitter.KTTH 770, which transmits 50,000 watts during the day and 5,000 watts at night, shares towers withKPTR. KIRO and KTTH are owned byBonneville International.
There was a tower originally built in 1946 for KEVR 1090AM, which later became KING radio, and is now KPTR, owned byiHeartMedia. It transmits 50,000 watts day/night and operates three towers. This site is shared with KTTH.
On Vashon Island, radio stationKVI 570 has a single tower on a beach in Tramp Harbor, nicknamed "KVI Beach". KVI transmits 24 hours a day at 5,000 watts.KNWN 1000 transmits 50,000 watts day/night and has a three-tower setup on the northeast corner of the island. Both KVI and KNWN are owned byLotus Communications.
KGNW AM 820 propagates its signal from three towers in the center of the island. It operates 50,000 watts during the day and 5,000 at night. It is owned bySalem Media Group.KJR 950 shares the towers at the KGNW site, transmits 50,000 watts day/night, and is owned by iHeartMedia.
These stations have located their transmitters on Vashon and Maury Islands because localsoil conductivity, important forsignal propagation in the megawattbroadcast frequency range, is greater than elsewhere in the Puget Sound area. The surrounding sea water is also helpful for radio propagation.
The island is home to the Vashon Island Rowing Club who participates in many events such as the Opening Day celebrations on Seattle'sMontlake Cut.[46] The island is also home to the Vashon Island Golf & Country Club.[47]
The Vashon Sheepdog Classic occurred each year at the Misty Isle Farms, with local food and merchandise vendors, with all profits going to area nonprofits.[48] The trials were completed by a team composed of a dog and its handler who were released into a shedding ring and worked to herd the sheep into specific areas. As of 2024, the Sheepdog Classic has been suspended indefinitely.[49]
Public schools:There are three public schools provided by theVashon Island School District[50]
Private schools:There are two private schools in Vashon.[52]
There are no bridges to Vashon Island, so all access to the island is by sea or by air. Most travel on and off the island is on theWashington State Ferry system. A bridge connecting Vashon to Seattle and Kitsap County was planned in 1959, but was ultimately not funded.[56] A second bridge proposal from the Washington State Transportation Commission was withdrawn in 1992 after objections from island residents.[57]
Vashon Municipal Airport is on the northern half of the island. There is no regularly scheduled air service to the airport.
King County Metro provides bus service down the length of the island daily. Two routes (route 118 and 119) start at the Vashon Ferry Terminal in the north; at Valley Center mid-way down the island, the routes split with route 118 serving the southern part of Vashon Island while route 119 serving Maury Island.[58] On September 10, 2016, on-island Sunday service returned to route 118.[59]
The southern terminus of the Vashon Highway is the Tahlequah Ferry Terminal in the Tahlequah neighborhood, connected to the Point Defiance neighborhood ofTacoma by thePoint Defiance–Tahlequah ferry. The northern terminus of the Vashon Highway is the Heights Dock at Point Vashon, serving the state ferry docks atSouthworth, andFauntleroy inWest Seattle. Passenger-only service from Heights Dock toColman Dock inDowntown Seattle is provided by theKing County Ferry District, with sailings throughout the day on weekdays.[60]
As of July 1, 2024, the King County Water Taxi increased their service to the island from downtown Seattle. They now have an additional four trips in between their morning and afternoon/evening service. These extra trips are Monday through Friday and sponsored by Washington State.
The island previously had ferries that were run by private companies, including thePuget Sound Navigation Company (also known as the Black Ball Line). After a six-day strike by workers in February 1947 left Vashon Island without service, a group of residents acquired three passenger ferries and operated them on their own the following year under the King County Ferry District. The Black Ball Line planned to restart service on May 15, 1948, but were blocked by a mob of Vashon Island residents who rushed theMV Illahee when it attempted to dock. The ferry district remained without private competition until it was dissolved in 1951 and replaced by Washington State Ferries.[61]
In 2016 it was reported that the medical clinic on the island had closed after CHIFranciscan Health had left the clinic, claiming financial concerns. Another provider, the non-profit NeighborCare Health, pledged to open a new clinic later in the year, alleviating the issue of transporting patients to hospitals off the island via the ferry, which can take upwards of three hours.[62] NeighborCare' lease on the island's clinic expired in 2020,[63] and as of 2025[update] the clinic was operated by Sea Mar.[64]
During the2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Vashon faced a shortage of tests, medical resources, andprotective equipment. A team of local doctors created their own response plan, dubbed the "Rural Test & Trace Toolkit", with the hopes of creating a model for other isolated communities.[65]
Many of those who live on the island choose not tovaccinate their children due tovaccine hesitancy.[66] It was reported in 2015 that 23.1% of kindergartners in the Vashon Island School District legally opted out of vaccinations againstdiphtheria andtetanus,whooping cough,measles,mumps,rubella,polio,varicella, andhepatitis B. The number, at the time, was five times the state average.[67] Of those who do not vaccinate, more than 98% cite "Personal" rather than "Religious" or "Medical" as exemptions. Their failure to vaccinate has caused resentment in the community.[66]
Due to expanded access to vaccines, media coverage of themeasles outbreaks, and education about the benefits of vaccination, the vaccine rate for the Vashon Island School District has risen over the years, even though it is still one of the lowest in the United States. The district's rates of fully immunized students rose 31% over six years, from 56% to 74% as of the 2017–2018 school year; although still below the 95% target rate for the rest of the country.[68] In 2019, it was reported that some 11.6% of families on the island had failed to vaccinate their children.[69]
Vashon Island has a number of buildings and sites that are listed on theKing County Historic Register:
| Landmark | Built | Listed | Address | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burton Masonic Hall | 1894 | 1995 | 23927 Vashon Highway SW |  |
| Colvos Store | 1923 | 1987 | 123rd Ave. SW and Cove Road | |
| Dockton Store and Post Office | 1908 | 1992 | 25908 99th Avenue SW |  |
| Norman Edson Studio | 1890s | 1985 | 23825 Vashon Hwy SW | |
| Ferncliff (Wise Mansion) | 1923 | 1982 | 10350 SW Cowan Rd | |
| Fuller Store | 1884 | 2013 | 19603 Vashon Hwy SW | |
| Lisabuela School | 1925 | 2011 | 22029 Wax Orchard Rd SW | |
| Harrington-Beall Greenhouse Company Historic District | c. 1885–1886 | 1988–1994[84] | 18527-31 Beall Road | |
| Judd Creek Bridge | 1953 | 2004 | Vashon Highway |  |
| Marjesira Inn | 1906 | 1994 | 25134 Vashon Highway SW | |
| Thomas McNair House | 1884 | 1993 | 22915 107th Avenue SW |  |
| Mukai Agricultural Complex | 1926 | 1993 | 18005-18017 107th Avenue SW |  |
| Captain Thomas W. Phillips House | 1925 | 1992 | 11312 SW 232nd Street | |
| Schwartz-Bell House | 1930 | 1996 | 20233 81st Avenue S | |
| Smith-Baldwin House (Fern Cove) | 1912 | 1995 | Cedarhurst Road | |
| Helmer and Selma Steen House | 1910 | 1996 | 10924 SW Cove Road | |
| Vashon Odd Fellows Hall | 1912 | 1985 | 19704 Vashon Highway SW |  |
| Vashon Hardware Store | 1890, 1935 | 1986 | 17601 Vashon Highway SW |  |
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1942-1945: When Japanese residents were removed from the island, forced to leave behind most of their belongings and property, and imprisoned during World War II in the American concentration camps.
The locals call it The Bone Factory.
Vashon Island artist is being featured during February in one-man show at Tacoma gallery
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