Nickname: "The Rock"[1] | |
|---|---|
 Location of Whidbey Island | |
 Satellite image of Whidbey Island | |
  Whidbey Island  Whidbey Island | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Puget Sound |
| Coordinates | 48°10′17″N122°36′33″W / 48.1713°N 122.6092°W /48.1713; -122.6092 |
| Area | 168.67 sq mi (436.9 km2) |
| Length | 37 mi (60 km) |
| Width | 10 mi (20 km) |
| Highest elevation | 484 ft (147.5 m) |
| Highest point | Goose Rock |
| Administration | |
United States | |
| State | Washington |
| County | Island County |
| Largest settlement | Oak Harbor (pop. 24,622 as of 2020[2]) |
| Demographics | |
| Demonym | Whidbey Islander |
| Population | 69,501[3] (2020 census) |
| Pop. density | 159.03/km2 (411.89/sq mi) |
| Additional information | |
| Official website | whidbeycamanoislands |
Whidbey Island (historical spellingsWhidby,Whitbey,[4] orWhitby) is the largest of the islands composingIsland County, Washington, in the United States, and the largest island in Washington state. Whidbey is about 30 miles (48 km) north ofSeattle, and is separated from theOlympic Peninsula in the southwest byAdmiralty Inlet. The island forms the northern boundary ofPuget Sound. It is home toNaval Air Station Whidbey Island. The state parks and natural forests are home to numerous old growth trees.
As of the2020 U.S. census, Whidbey Island has 69,501 total residents.[3] The majority live in the center of the island, which includes its most populous city,Oak Harbor.[2][3]
Whidbey Island is approximately 37 miles (60 km) from north to south, and 1.5 to 10 miles (2.4 to 16.1 km) wide, with a total land area of 168.67 square miles (436.9 km2),[5] making it the40th largest island in the United States. It is ranked as the fourth longest and fourth largest island in the contiguous United States, behindLong Island,New York;[6][7]Padre Island, Texas (the world's longest barrier island);[8] andIsle Royale,Michigan.[9] In the state of Washington, it is the largest island, followed byOrcas Island.
Whidbey Island was originally the site of villages belonging to theLower Skagit andSnohomish peoples.[10] One name that was recorded for the island was "Tscha-kole-chy".[11][unreliable source?]
The first known European sighting of Whidbey Island was during the 1790 Spanish expedition ofManuel Quimper andGonzalo López de Haro on thePrincesa Real.[12]
CaptainGeorge Vancouver fully explored the island in 1792. In May of that year,Royal Navy officers and members of Vancouver's expedition,Joseph Whidbey (master of HMSDiscovery) andPeter Puget (a lieutenant on the ship), began to map and explore the areas of what would later be namedPuget Sound. After Whidbey circumnavigated the island in June 1792, Vancouver named the island in his honor. By that time, Vancouver had claimed the area for Britain.[13][14] On 4 June 1792, the King's Birthday, near Possession Point at the southern end of Whidbey Island, Vancouver took formal possession of all the coast and hinterland contiguous to theStrait of Juan de Fuca, including Puget Sound, under the name of New Georgia.[15]
The first known overnight stay by a non-Native American was made on May 26, 1840, by a Catholic missionary, FatherFrançois Norbert Blanchet, during travel across Puget Sound. He had been invited by Chief Tslalakum.[16] Blanchet remained on the island for nearly a year and guided the inhabitants in building a new log church.[17][16]
LieutenantCharles Wilkes, commander of theUnited States Exploring Expedition of 1838–1842, sailed theUSSVincennes into Penn Cove in 1841. By that time, the log church was already being built by the Native Americans beside a huge wooden cross (24 feet long) that they had erected. Wilkes ordered his men to use no force except in self-defense when dealing with the "savage and treacherous inhabitants". In fact, he encountered few problems with the indigenous people who had already been poorly treated by visitors and suffered from diseases they had introduced.[18]
Wilkes named the lower cove Holmes Harbor, after his assistant surgeon, Silas Holmes. During this time he charted Puget Sound.[18] Other sites in the area that were given names by Wilkes included Maury Island (Vashon), Hammersley Inlet, Totten and Budd Inlets, Agate Passage between the Kitsap Peninsula and Bainbridge Island, Hale Passage and Dana Passage.[18]
TheOregon Treaty of 1846 established the boundary between Britain and the U.S.A. makingPuget Sound and islands claimed by the United States.[citation needed]
Thomas W. Glasgow filed the first land claim on Whidbey Island in 1848, attempting to become the first settler. He built a small cabin near Penn Cove, planted some crops and married a local lady, Julia Pat-Ke-Nim.[19] Glasgow left in August of that year however, having been forced out by the local inhabitants.[11]ColonelIsaac N. Ebey arrived from Columbus, Ohio, in 1850 and became the first permanent white settler, claiming a square mile (2.6 km2) of prairie with a southern shoreline onAdmiralty Inlet. He took advantage of the 640 acres offered free of charge to each married couple, the first to do so, on October 15, 1850. In the fall of 1851, his children, his wife, three of her brothers and the Samuel Crockett family arrived to join Ebey.[19]In addition to farming potatoes and wheat, Ebey was also the postmaster forPort Townsend, Washington and rowed a boat daily across the inlet in order to work at the post office there. Colonel Ebey also served as a representative in the Oregon Territory Legislative Assembly, as Island County's first Justice of the Peace, as a probate judge and as Collector of Customs for the Puget Sound District.[11]
On August 11, 1857, at age 39, Colonel Ebey was murdered and beheaded by Native Americans, said to beHaida who had traveled to this area fromHaida Gwaii. Some sources however, refer to his killers as "Russian Indians called Kakes or Kikans, [from] Kufrinoff Island, near the head of Prince Frederick's Sound."[19] Ebey was slain in proxy-retaliation for the killing of a Haida chief or Tyee and 27 other indigenous people atPort Gamble.Fort Ebey, named for the Colonel, was established in 1942 on the west side of the central part of the island, just northwest ofCoupeville.[11]
Admiralty Head Lighthouse is located in this area, on the grounds ofFort Casey State Park. The area around Coupeville is the federally protectedEbey's Landing National Historical Reserve, named in honor of Isaac Ebey.
On September 25, 1959, a U.S. NavyP5Mantisubmarine aircraft with an unarmed (it carried no nuclear material at the time)nuclear depth charge on board crash-landed into Puget Sound near Whidbey Island. TheMark 90 nuclear bomb casing was never recovered.[20]
On August 8, 1970, the infamousPenn Cove capture of several orcas along with the deaths of several orcas occurred inPenn Cove off the island's east coast.[21]
In December 1984, the island was the site of a violent encounter between law enforcement andwhite nationalist andorganized crime leaderRobert Jay Mathews of the groupThe Order. A large shootout occurred between Mathews and FBI agents in which Mathews was killed during a house fire. Mathews' followers have since gathered on the island at the location where he was killed by FBI agents on the anniversary of his death to commemorate it.[22]
On June 10, 2022, the island dedicated one of its trash cans to late night talk show hostConan O'Brien in an elaborate ceremony in which O'Brien signed the top of the trash can with a black marker. O'Brien was visiting the island to attend the premiere of a play written by Liza O'Brien (his wife).[23]
Whidbey Island, along withCamano Island, Ben Ure Island and six uninhabited islands, comprisesIsland County, Washington. The county seat is located in the town ofCoupeville on Whidbey Island.
Population centers of Whidbey Island include theCity of Oak Harbor, theTown of Coupeville, theCity of Langley, theVillage of Freeland, theCommunity of Greenbank, theVillage of Clinton and theCommunity of Bayview. Only Oak Harbor, Coupeville and Langley are incorporated, the others (with the exception of Greenbank and Bayview) are allcensus-designated places, and all but Bayview have their own post offices and ZIP codes.
Whidbey Island is divided economically into two different regions: the northern end of the island (encompassing Oak Harbor andWhidbey Island Naval Air Station), and the remainder of the island (encompassing Coupeville, Greenbank, Freeland, Langley, Clinton and the smaller communities in-between).
The economy of the northern end of Whidbey Island is strongly influenced by the presence of Whidbey Island Naval Air Station nearOak Harbor (N.A.S. Whidbey). N.A.S. Whidbey is Oak Harbor's largest employer; thus, Oak Harbor has a predominantly service-based economy and several national chain stores have been attracted to the Oak Harbor area.
The economy of Whidbey Island south of Oak Harbor relies heavily on tourism, small-scale agriculture, and the arts.
Tourism is especially important for both Whidbey and Camano Islands. On Whidbey, tourists find a wide range of amenities in the towns of Oak Harbor, Coupeville, Freeland and Langley. Coupeville's Penn Cove Mussel Farm exports large quantities of its highly renowned Penn CoveMussels. This aquaculture facility, along with a number of small farms, reflects the rural agricultural nature of most of central Whidbey Island. Many of these small farms host farm stands onsite, where customers may buy produce, flowers, meat, eggs and other locally raised products directly from the farmers.[24]
Whidbey is home to numerous working artists, writers, and performers. These include many well-known painters, sculptors, glass artists, wood workers, metal workers, mixed media artists, photographers, authors, poets, actors, and musicians.
In addition to being a haven for artists, the southern end of Whidbey Island also serves as a minor bedroom community for the nearby cities ofEverett, where theBoeing Everett Factory is located, andSeattle. Commuters to and from those areas use theWashington State Ferries system's run betweenClinton andMukilteo.
Whidbey Island is often claimed to be the longest island in the continental United States (or another similar claim), but according to theSeattle Times it cannot be correctly considered so.[25] The island has several bays, including on its east sideOak Harbor with the town ofOak Harbor at its base, andPenn Cove with the towns ofCoupeville andSan de Fuca on its south and north shores respectively.
Whidbey Island has four lakes that are part of its interior hydrology: Cranberry Lake (inside Deception Pass State Park), Deer Lake, Goss Lake and Lone Lake (both near the town of Langley).[26]
As of the 2020 census, there were 69,501 people and 28,461 households living within the threecensus county divisions (CCDs) that encompass Whidbey Island. Of them, the North Whidbey CCD is the most populous with 40,814 residents, followed by the South Whidbey CCD at 15,082 residents and the Central Whidbey CCD at 13,605 residents. The island'spopulation density was 412.1 inhabitants per square mile (159.1/km2). There were 32,926 total housing units, of which 84.2% were occupied and 15.8% were vacant or for occasional use. Theracial makeup of Whidbey Island was 75.9%White, 3.3% Black orAfrican American, 0.8%Native American andAlaska Native, 5.3%Asian, 0.6%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, and 3.1% from other races. Residents who identified as more than one race were 11.0% of the population.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 9.2% of the population.[3]
Whidbey Island contains several state and federal parks and recreation areas.[27] The largest site isEbey's Landing National Historical Reserve, created in 1978[27] as the first national historic reserve in the United States and maintained by theNational Park Service to preserve therural history and culture of the island and to protect the area's rare and sensitive plants.
Washington State Parks located on the island includeDeception Pass State Park (the most visited state park in Washington),Joseph Whidbey State Park,Fort Ebey State Park,Fort Casey State Park,Possession Point State Park, andSouth Whidbey State Park.[27] There is also a series of county operated parks throughout the Island including:
Earth Sanctuary is a nature reserve, sculpture garden and retreat center on Whidbey Island. The ponds and bog fen complex have been designated as a "habitat of local importance" by the Whidbey Audubon Society and Island County Critical Areas program.[30][31]
The Price Sculpture Forest opened in October 2020 in Coupeville.[32][33]
Whidbey Island hosts many festivals and celebrations throughout the year.
Whidbey Island lies partially in therain shadow of theOlympic Mountain Range to the west, and has a variety of climate zones. This can be observed by rainfall amounts – wettest in the south with average rainfall of 36 inches (910 mm), driest in the central district ofCoupeville with average rainfall of 20 to 22 inches (510 to 560 mm), and turning moister again farther north with average rainfall of 32 inches (810 mm).Microclimates abound, determined by proximity to water, elevation and prevailing winds.
| Climate data forWhidbey Island NAS (1981−2010 normals) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 46.8 (8.2) | 48.9 (9.4) | 52.2 (11.2) | 55.6 (13.1) | 59.5 (15.3) | 63.6 (17.6) | 66.5 (19.2) | 67.3 (19.6) | 64.0 (17.8) | 57.2 (14.0) | 50.3 (10.2) | 45.5 (7.5) | 56.5 (13.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 36.2 (2.3) | 35.4 (1.9) | 38.4 (3.6) | 41.5 (5.3) | 46.1 (7.8) | 50.0 (10.0) | 52.1 (11.2) | 51.8 (11.0) | 48.0 (8.9) | 43.2 (6.2) | 39.2 (4.0) | 35.1 (1.7) | 43.1 (6.2) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 2.23 (57) | 1.47 (37) | 1.67 (42) | 1.65 (42) | 1.56 (40) | 1.28 (33) | 0.74 (19) | 0.96 (24) | 1.15 (29) | 2.07 (53) | 3.40 (86) | 2.11 (54) | 20.29 (515) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.9 (2.3) | 1.5 (3.8) | 0.1 (0.25) | 0.1 (0.25) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.9 (2.3) | 1.7 (4.3) | 5.2 (13) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 16.4 | 10.7 | 11.5 | 11.9 | 10.0 | 5.9 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 4.1 | 12.6 | 20.7 | 17.3 | 144.7 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 2.9 |
| Source: NOAA[47] | |||||||||||||
During theLast Glacial Period, theSalish Sea region was populated byAmerican mastodon,Columbian mammoth,Bison antiquus,giant ground sloth,saber-toothed salmon,Camelops (camels), and other animals.[48] There is evidence in the shorelines of the island of mammoth hunts by Indigenous peoples extending beyond the formation of the major coastlines.[49] The Island County Historical Museum currently possesses mammoth tusks which were unearthed by soil erosion.[50]
Vegetation varies greatly from one end of the island to the other. Vegetation in the south is more similar to that of mainland Washington. The principal trees areDouglas fir,red alder,bigleaf maple,western red cedar,western hemlock, andPacific madrone.[51] Compared to the rest of western Washington state,vine maple is notably absent, except where they have been planted. Other under-story plants include theevergreen huckleberry, lower longleafOregon grape,elderberry,salal,oceanspray, and varieties ofnettle. Non-native introduced plants such asfoxglove,ivy andholly are also evident.[52]
Farther up the island, however, the shorter Oregon-Grape and the blue Evergreen Huckleberry is seen less, while tall Oregon-grape andRed Huckleberry predominate. The nativePacific rhododendron is much more visible. Amongst thedeciduous varieties,Garry oak (from which Oak Harbor takes its name) are seen more frequently in the northern portion of the island.[53] In theconifer classification,grand fir is found more in the northern part of Whidbey Island along withSitka spruce andshore pine. There are three open prairie areas on Whidbey Island – Smith Prairie, Crockett Prairie and Ebey Prairie.[54] Some patches ofprickly pear cactus are found along the slopes near Partridge Point.[55]
Gray whales migrate between Whidbey and Camano Islands during March and April and can be seen from both ship and shore.[56]Orca also make use of the waters surrounding Whidbey Island, including thesouthern residents. Penn Cove was used as an orca-hunting area in the 1960s and 1970s by aquarium ownerTed Griffin, who captured several young southern resident orcas for sale tomarine parks and killed others in the process. The southern residents did not return to Penn Cove until a sighting in 2024.[57]
Clams andoysters are abundant locally and may be harvested from some public beaches.[58] The Washington State Department of Health provides an online guide to assist in identifying shellfish varieties as well as providing guidance about where to find specific varieties.[59]
According to the Whidbey Audubon Society, Approximately 230bird species are reported to take advantage of the diverse habitats on the island.[60]
Whidbey Island is served by three publicschool districts.
Oak Harbor School District operates inOak Harbor. Within the district, there is onehigh school, one alternative high school, two middle schools, and five elementary schools. Within theWashington Interscholastic Activities Association, Oak Harbor High is listed as a 3-A school.
Coupeville School District operates inCoupeville, Washington, andGreenbank, Washington. Within the district, there is one high school, one middle school, and one elementary school. Within theWashington Interscholastic Activities Association, Coupeville High is listed as a 1-A school.
South Whidbey School District serves the southern end of the island, includingFreeland,Langley, andClinton. Within the district, there is one high school (grades 9–12), one alternative school (grades K–12), one middle school (grades 5–8) split between two campuses, and one elementary school (grades K–4). Within the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, South Whidbey High is listed as a 1-A school.
Skagit Valley College has one campus located in Oak Harbor.
Seattle Pacific University owns Camp Casey, a retreat center nearCoupeville, which was once the barracks for the adjacentFort Casey.
The only bridge that reaches Whidbey Island is theDeception Pass Bridge,State Route 20, which connects the north end of Whidbey to the mainland viaFidalgo Island. Prior to the completion of the bridge in 1935, Whidbey Island was linked toFidalgo Island by theDeception Pass ferry, which ran from 1924 to 1935. Modern ferry service is available via State Route 20 on theCoupeville toPort Townsend ferry, and viaState Route 525 on theClinton toMukilteo ferry service on the southern east coast.
Travel on the island involves use of an extensive county road system, or city infrastructure depending on location, all of which act as feeders to the two state highwaysState Route 525 andState Route 20.
Whidbey Island's State Routes525/20 is the only nationally designated Scenic Byway on an island. It is named the "Whidbey Island Scenic Isle Way". It is also a part of theCascade Loop.
Public transportation is provided byIsland Transit,zero-fare bus service paid for by a 6/10th of 1% sales tax within the county. There are currently 11 bus routes serving Whidbey Island. The service operated 7 days a week, except for major holidays.
Two public airports provide service to Whidbey Island. Whidbey Air Park is located 2 miles (3.2 km) southwest ofLangley with a 2,470 feet (750 m) long runway.A.J. Eisenberg Airport is located 3 miles (4.8 km) southwest ofOak Harbor with a 3,265 ft (995 m) long runway.Kenmore Air Express ran a scheduled airline service to Whidbey Island serving the Oak Harbor airport from 2006 to 2009.[85]
TheUnited States Navy operates two airports on Whidbey Island. The largest is a two-runway airport located atWhidbey Island Naval Air Station north ofOak Harbor. In addition, the Navy also operates a flight training facility namedNaval Outlying Landing Field Coupeville (Coupeville OLF) located just southeast ofCoupeville. The Navy namedUSSWhidbey Island (LSD-41) in honor of the island.
Whidbey Health is the regional, county-run healthcare system with ageneral hospital in Coupeville. It also operateswalk-in clinics in Clinton and Oak Harbor, along with four primary care facilities.[citation needed]
NAS Whidbey has a limited service hospital at the main base at Ault Field. TheVeterans Health Administration also operates a clinic in Oak Harbor to supplement its larger facilities on the mainland.[citation needed]
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