Whidbey Island is an island in Puget Sound in Washington State, USA. It is located about 30 miles north of Seattle, and lies between the Olympic Peninsula and the I-5 corridor of western Washington. The west coast of the island looks toward the eastern entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Admiralty Inlet; Puget Sound is to the south; Possession Sound and Saratoga Passage are on the east; and Deception Pass on the north. It is approximately 45 miles long (from the extreme north to extreme south), and between one-half and ten miles wide. Whidbey Island is considered the longest island in the contiguous United States according to the Supreme Court ruling of February 1985. Long Island, at 118 miles, was declared to be a peninsula.

Contents

1 History 2 Government 3 Economy 4 Climate and Vegetation 5 Transportation 6 Demographics 6.1 Areas with Post Offices 6.2 Recognized Communities

History

The island was once inhabited by members of the Skagit, Swinomish, Suquamish, Snohomish and other tribes. Whidbey Island was discovered in 1790 by Captain George Vancouver. In May of that year, Joseph Whidbey along with Peter Puget began to map and explore the areas of Puget Sound. Whidbey circumnavigated Whidbey Island in June, and Capt. Vancouver named it after him.

The first known overnight stay on Whidbey Island was by Catholic missionary Father Blanchet, while traveling across Puget Sound, on 26 May 1840.

In 1850, Colonel Isaac Ebey became the first permanent (white) settler on Whidbey Island. He established Fort Ebey on the west side of the central part of the island (just northwest of Coupeville). The Admiralty Head Lighthouse is located in this area. The area around Coupeville is the Federally protected Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve in honor of Isaac Ebey.

Government

Whidbey Island, along with Camano Island and a few uninhabited islands, comprises Island County, Washington. It also is the home of Island County's Seat of Government. However, there is no way for one to get from Whidbey Island to Camano Island with out passing through at least one other county, providing quite a conundrum for vital county-wide services.

The Island has one county Hospital in Coupeville, and an extension clinic in Clinton. The Naval Air Station has a limited service hospital for military personal and their dependents only.

Economy

Whidbey Island has a primarily agricultural economy. The Northend is much more urbanized that the Southend, primarily due to the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station near Oak Harbor (N.A.S. Whidbey). It is a dominant presence on the north end of the island an has attracted many box-like stores to the Oak Harbor area. Further south, the island retains a rural atmosphere among its small towns, farmlands, acres of woods, and many state parks. The southern end serves as a minor bedroom community for the nearby city of Everett, where the Boeing plant is located, as well as Seattle.

It is connected to the mainland via a bridge to Fidalgo Island over Deception Pass at the northern end. There are ferry links at the south end (Clinton to Mukilteo) and the central western shore (Keystone to Port Townsend, on the Olympic Peninsula).

Whidbey Island is home to Whidbey Island Naval Air Station and is renowned for Penn Cove mussels. Washington State Parks located on the island include, Deception Pass State Park, Fort Ebey State Park, Joseph Whidbey State Park, Fort Casey State Park, South Whidbey State Park, and Possession Point State Park.

Climate and Vegetation

Whidbey Island lies partially in the "rain-shadow" of the Olympic Mountains to the west, and has a variety of climate zones. The most obvious are based on rainfall - wettest in the south (average rainfall -- 30 inches), driest south of Coupeville (average rainfall -- 18 - 20 inches), and moister again farther north (average rainfall -- 26 inches.) Microclimates abound, determined by proximity to water, elevation and prevaling winds. Additional variation comes from soil type. The clay or sandy and gravely soils of the south give way to dramatically rocky areas at the north end.

The result is that plant life also varies from one end of the island to the other. The south is more similar to the mainland. The principal trees are douglas-firs, red alders, bigleaf maples, western redcedar, and western hemlocks. Vine maples are notably absent, except where they have been planted. Other under-story plants are not too surprising, including the lower longleaf Oregon-grape, red elderberries, salal, and oceanspray (and lots of nettles.) Non-native introduced plants such as foxgloves, ivies and hollies are also evident.

Farther up the island, however, the shorter Oregon-grape is seen less and tall Oregon-grape, with its wonderfully fragrant flowers predominates. The native Pacific rhododendron is much more visible. Garry oaks, (the "Oak" in Oak Harbor) become quite common deciduous trees. Pacific madrone cling to steep banks over the water. Grand firs are more often seen. Sitka spruces and shore pines also increase in the conifer mix. The more open prairie areas even contain a native cactus.

In the rocky Deception Pass region, the most remarkable differences begin. From here through the San Juan and Gulf islands and lower Vancouver Island, picturesquely gnarled Rocky Mountain junipers grow near the shores. Douglas maples, with their greater sun and drought tolerance fill the vine-maple void. Wildflowers such as Camassia, checker lilies, and Indian paintbrush color the earth. These unusual survivors are more commonly associated with Eastern Washington and the Rocky Mountain region.

Transportation

Whidbey Island is reached via Washington State Route 20 over the Deception Pass Bridge in the north, the Keystone to Port Townsend on the west coast and via Washington State Route 525 on the Clinton to Mukilteo ferry service on the southern east coast.

Travel on the island involves use of an extensive county road system, all of which act as feeders to the two state highways Washington State Route 525 and Washington State Route 20.

Public Transportation is provided by Island Transit, which provides a free bus service paid for by a 6/10th of 1% sales tax within the county. There are currently 9 bus routes. The busses do not run on Sunday or major holidays, and there is limited service on Saturdays.

There are two public airports on the island. One small runway is just southwest of Langley, the other is just southwest of Oak Harbor. There is also a Navy flight training facility just southeast of Coupeville. The Navy also operates a large airport facility at the base. A seaplane company uses the waters of the Oak Harbor Marina as a landing area for flights to and from Seattle's Union Bay.

Demographics

The current population of Whidbey Island is estimated at 56,000.

Areas with Post Offices

Names (North to South), Population, ZIP Code

• NAS Whidbey - 2,064 - 98278
• City of Oak Harbor - 19,795 - 98277
• Town of Coupeville - Island County seat - 1,723 - 98239
• Community of Greenbank (Not Incorporated) - No Data - 98253
• Village of Freeland (Not Incorporated) - 1,313 - 98249
• City of Langley - 959 - 98260
• Village of Clinton (Not Incorporated) - 868 - 98236

Recognized Communities

Names Only (North to South)

• West Beach
• San De Fuca
• Keystone
• Bayview (Not to be confused with Bay View in Skagit County)
• Maxwelton
• Glendale

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