Bainbridge Island, Washington
|
|
Bainbridge Island is an island in Puget Sound, and is an incorporated city located in Kitsap County, Washington. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 20,308.
| Contents |
History
In 1841, U.S. Navy Lieutenant Charles Wilkes visited the island while surveying the Northwest. Lt. Wilkes named the island after Commodore William Bainbridge, commander of the frigate Constitution in the War of 1812. Bainbridge Island was originally a center for the logging and shipbuilding industries. The island was known for huge and accessible cedars, which were especially in demand for ship's masts. The original county seat of Kitsap County was at Port Madison on the north end of the island. However, by the end of the 19th Century the island had been clear cut and the mills and shipyards slowly died off.
The city of Bainbridge Island has occupied the entire island since February 28, 1991, when the former City of Winslow (around 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) of land on Eagle Harbor, incorporated August 23, 1947) annexed the rest of the island. Bainbridge Island's claim to fame is that it is the birthplace of the sport of pickleball, as well as having the dubious distinction of sending the first Japanese-Americans to internment camps in World War II. Since the 1960s, Bainbridge Island has become a bedroom community of Seattle, a 35-minute ride away on the Washington State Ferries.
Geography
WAMap-doton-Bainbridge_Island.png
Location of Bainbridge Island, Washington
Bainbridge Island lies due west of the city of Seattle. On the Kitsap Peninsula, Bremerton and Poulsbo lie across the Port Orchard channel to the west, and the city of Port Orchard lies across Rich Passage to the south.
The island is just under 28 square miles in area, with a population of 20,750 as of 2001. The island is quite hilly, and is known for its popular Chilly Hilly bicycle ride held every year in February. This ride has been the un-official start to the bicycling season in the Pacific Northwest since 1972.
Bainbridge Island is connected to the Kitsap Peninsula by a bridge carrying WA-305 over Agate Passage, and to Colman Dock in Downtown Seattle by Washington State Ferries service from Winslow.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 169.7 km² (65.5 mi²). 71.5 km² (27.6 mi²) of it is land and 98.2 km² (37.9 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 57.87% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 20,308 people, 7,979 households, and 5,784 families residing in the city. The population density is 284.0/km² (735.6/mi²). There are 8,517 housing units at an average density of 119.1/km² (308.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 92.88% White, 0.28% African American, 0.62% Native American, 2.40% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 0.75% from other races, and 2.96% from two or more races. 2.17% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 7,979 households out of which 36.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.1% are married couples living together, 7.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% are non-families. 22.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.52 and the average family size is 2.98.
In the city the population is spread out with 26.7% under the age of 18, 3.6% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 33.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 43 years. For every 100 females there are 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 90.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $70,110, and the median income for a family is $83,415. Males have a median income of $65,853 versus $42,051 for females. The per capita income for the city is $37,482. 4.4% of the population and 3.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 3.8% of those under the age of 18 and 3.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Points of interest
External links
- Bainbridge Island Community Network (http://www.bainbridgeisland.org/)
- Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce (http://www.bainbridgechamber.com/)
- City of Bainbridge Island (http://www.ci.bainbridge-isl.wa.us/)
- Bainbridge Island Visitor Information (http://visitkitsap.com/cities.asp?ID=1)
- Bainbridge Island Public Library (http://www.krl.org/branch/BI/index.html)
- Chilly Hilly Bicycle Ride (http://www.cascade.org/EandR/CH.cfm)