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Whidbey Island (historical spelling Whidby) is one of nine islands in Island County, Washington. The others are Camano Island (second largest and to the east of Whidbey), Baby (or Hackney), Ben Ure, Deception, Kalamut, Minor, Smith, and Strawberry. Whidbey is an island forming the northern boundary of the Puget Sound in Washington State, USA. The nine islands comprise all of Island County. Whidbey Island is home to 58,211 residents (2000 census), also known as 'Whidbey Islanders'. It is located about 30 miles (50 km) 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 Fidalgo Island lies across Deception Pass to the north. It is between 36 miles (58 km) and 62 miles (100 km) long (from the extreme north to extreme south, depending on the source of the measurement) making it the second largest and second or third longest in the continental U.S., and 1.5 to 12 miles (2 to 18 km) wide. With 168.67 mi² (436.85 km²) of land area, Whidbey Island is the third largest island in the contiguous United States after Long Island, NY, and Isle Royale, MI. The 2000 census reported a population of 58,211. •
History The island was once inhabited by members of the Skagit, Swinomish, Suquamish, Snohomish and other Native American tribes. Whidbey Island was discovered by Europeans 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 by a non native American was by Catholic missionary Father Blanchet, while traveling across Puget Sound, on 26 May 1840. LT Charles Wilkes, Commander of the triumphant U.S. Exploring Expedition of 1838-1842 (which proved the existence of the Continent of Antarctica and brought back 40 tons of specimens from around the world, which became the basis for the Smithsonian Institution), sailed the USS Vincennes into Penn Cove in 1841. There he found the largest Indian settlement of Puget Sound and noted a mission had been started with a 2 acre fenced garden. Wilkes named the lower cove after his assistant surgeon, Silas Holmes (Holmes Harbor). In 1850, Colonel Isaac N. Ebey became the first permanent settler on Whidbey Island, claiming a square mile of prairie with a southern shoreline on Admiralty Inlet. Even though he was farming potatoes and wheat on his land, he was also the postmaster for Port Townsend, Washington and rowed a boat daily across the inlet in order to work at the Post Office there. On August 11, 1857, Colonel Ebey was murdered and beheaded at age 39 by Haida Indians who travelled from the Queen Charlotte Islands (Canada) looking for revenge against the first white leader they happened upon. Their original intended victim was supposedly Dr. John Kellogg, who lived near the present day lighthouse at Admiralty Head. Fort Ebey (established in 1942) on the west side of the central part of the island (just northwest of Coupeville) is named in Colonel Ebey's honor as is Ebey's Landing, the beachfront located just below the still-standing home Ebey lived in with his family. The Admiralty Head Lighthouse is located in this area on the grounds of Fort Casey State Park. The area around Coupeville is the federally protected Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve in honor of Isaac Ebey. In 1984, the island was the site of a violent encounter between law enforcement and white nationalist and organized crime leader Robert Jay Mathews. Government Whidbey Island, along with Camano Island and a few uninhabited islands, comprises Island County, Washington. It also is the home of Coupeville, Island County's Seat of Government. However, Whidbey Island and Camano Island have no direct route of ground transportation without passing through another county, providing quite a conundrum for vital county-wide services. There is a county hospital in Coupeville, and an extension clinic in Clinton. The Naval Air Station has a limited service hospital for military personnel, veteran retirees and their dependents only. Economy
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 with average rainfall of 30 inches (760 mm), driest in the central district of Coupeville with average rainfall of 18 to 20 inches (460 to 510 mm), and turning moister again farther north with average rainfall of 26 inches (660 mm). This variation in precipitation created by the rain shadow of the northern peaks of the Olympic Mountains can often be observed in person by travelling from grey cloudy weather on the Western shore to pouring drizzle on the Eastern shore. Microclimates abound, determined by proximity to water, elevation and prevailing winds. Additional variation comes from soil type. The sandy clay 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 vegetation in the south is more similar to that of 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 Evergreen Huckleberry, lower longleaf Oregon-grape, red elderberries, salal, oceanspray, and nettles. Non-native introduced plants such as foxgloves, ivies and hollies are also evident. Farther up the island, however, the shorter Oregon-grape and the blue Evergreen Huckleberry is seen less, while tall Oregon-grape, with its wonderfully fragrant flowers, and Red Huckleberry predominate. The native Pacific rhododendron is much more visible. Garry oaks (from which Oak Harbor takes its name) 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. There are three open prairie areas: Smith, Crockett and Ebey's Prairie. Interestingly, some patches of Prickly-Pear cactus is found along the slopes near Partridge Point. 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. Education Whidbey Island is served by three school districts. Oak Harbor School District operates in Oak Harbor and Ault Field. Within the district there is one High School, two Middle Schools, and several Elementary Schools. Coupeville School District operates in Coupeville and Greenbank. Coupeville SD operates one Jr/Sr High School and one Elementary School. South Whidbey School District serves the "Southend" of the island, including Greenbank, Freeland, Clinton, and Langley. SWSD operates one High School (9-12), one Alternative High School (9-12), one Middle School (6-8), one Intermediate School (3-5), and one Primary School (K-2). Transportation
Trivia Demographics In the 2000 U.S. Census, the population of Whidbey Island was estimated at 58,211. Areas with post offices An estimated 29,000 people live in rural locations of Whidbey Island. Recognized communities Names Only (North to South) Points of interest | ||||||||||||
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