Oak Harbor, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oak Harbor
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Aerial view of Oak Harbor
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Location of Oak Harbor, Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Island |
| City | May 14, 1915 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–council |
| Area | |
| • City | 12.32 sq mi (31.90 km2) |
| • Land | 9.65 sq mi (25.00 km2) |
| • Water | 2.66 sq mi (6.90 km2) |
| Elevation | 92 ft (28 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • City | 24,622 |
| • Density | 2,551.5/sq mi (984.88/km2) |
| • Metro | 86,857 (US: 48th) |
| Demonym(s) | Oak Harborite |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP codes |
98277–98278
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| Area code(s) | 360 |
| Telephone exchanges | 240, 257, 279, 395, 632, 675, 678, 679 |
| FIPS code | 53-50360 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1512518 |
Oak Harbor is a city located on Whidbey Island in Island County, Washington, United States. The population was 22,075 at the 2010 census. Oak Harbor was incorporated on May 14, 1915.
History
The Lower Skagit people have inhabited Oak Harbor (Lushootseed: təqucid) and the nearby Crescent Harbor (Lushootseed: č̓itusəb) since time immemorial. There were several villages in the vicinity, and the modern settlement of Oak Harbor was built over one such village.
In the early 1850s, two settlers staked claims where the city now stands—Zakarias Martin Toftezen, a shoemaker from Norway; C.W. Sumner from New England. Irish and Dutch immigrants also arrived and settled in the area. Oak Harbor was named for the area's Garry Oak trees and was incorporated in 1915 with a population of 401. Houses and businesses sprouted up along the shores of Oak Harbor as the pioneers relied entirely on water transportation until the 1900s. For the next 30 years, steamers and freighters carried passengers and freight from the Island to the mainland and back as well as Fidalgo Island to the north. The city grew following the completion of Deception Pass Bridge on July 31, 1935, and Naval Air Station Whidbey Island on September 21, 1942. The bridge, which linked Whidbey Island to Fidalgo Island and the mainland, was a Public Works Administration project built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. A nearby state park with 4,100 acres (17 km2) of forest, campsites, and trails was also developed.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.47 square miles (24.53 km2), of which, 9.42 square miles (24.40 km2) is land and 0.05 square miles (0.13 km2) is water. Access to the island by land is only available by driving through Deception Pass. Other ways to travel to Whidbey Island include flying or utilizing a ferry service. The Mukilteo–Clinton ferry provides service connecting the southern end of Whidbey Island and just north of Seattle, WA, while the Coupeville-Port Townsend ferry connects to the Olympic peninsula.
Surveys of shorelines throughout the Puget Sound region have indicated that 58% are "unstable". Average retreat rates range from one to eight centimeters per year and shores in the Puget Sound area, composed of unconsolidated sediment, erode 10 to 100 times faster than rocky shoreline.
Climate
Oak Harbor has a Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csb) characterized by warm dry summers and cold, though not severe, and damp winters. The Olympic rain shadow means that the region is much drier than most of the Pacific Northwest west of the Cascades.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record high °F (°C) | 62 (17) |
69 (21) |
78 (26) |
81 (27) |
85 (29) |
92 (33) |
95 (35) |
98 (37) |
91 (33) |
79 (26) |
67 (19) |
62 (17) |
98 (37) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 47 (8) |
50 (10) |
54 (12) |
59 (15) |
64 (18) |
68 (20) |
73 (23) |
74 (23) |
69 (21) |
59 (15) |
51 (11) |
46 (8) |
60 (15) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 37 (3) |
36 (2) |
39 (4) |
42 (6) |
46 (8) |
50 (10) |
52 (11) |
52 (11) |
49 (9) |
44 (7) |
39 (4) |
35 (2) |
43 (6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 3 (−16) |
5 (−15) |
14 (−10) |
26 (−3) |
28 (−2) |
35 (2) |
40 (4) |
38 (3) |
29 (−2) |
20 (−7) |
6 (−14) |
3 (−16) |
3 (−16) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.50 (64) |
1.75 (44) |
1.88 (48) |
1.67 (42) |
1.83 (46) |
1.33 (34) |
0.86 (22) |
0.77 (20) |
1.27 (32) |
1.97 (50) |
3.15 (80) |
2.53 (64) |
21.51 (546) |
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 337 | — | |
| 1930 | 362 | 7.4% | |
| 1940 | 376 | 3.9% | |
| 1950 | 1,193 | 217.3% | |
| 1960 | 3,942 | 230.4% | |
| 1970 | 9,167 | 132.5% | |
| 1980 | 12,271 | 33.9% | |
| 1990 | 17,176 | 40.0% | |
| 2000 | 19,795 | 15.2% | |
| 2010 | 22,075 | 11.5% | |
| 2020 | 24,622 | 11.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2018 Estimate |
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2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 24,622 people and 9,852 households in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 67.3% White, 5.4% African American, 1.3% Native American, 8.4% Asian, 0.6% Pacific Islander, and 13.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 15.9% of the population.
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 22,075 people, 8,677 households, and 5,789 families living in the city. The population density was 2,343.4 inhabitants per square mile (904.8/km2). There were 9,553 housing units at an average density of 1,014.1 per square mile (391.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 72.6% White, 4.9% African American, 0.9% Native American, 10.2% Asian, 1.0% Pacific Islander, 2.7% from other races, and 7.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 9.3% of the population.
There were 8,677 households, of which 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.3% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.09.
The median age in the city was 29 years. 28.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 31.9% were from 25 to 44; 17% were from 45 to 64; and 10.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.2% male and 50.8% female.
Notable people
- Shayla Beesley – actress
- Lamont Brightful – player in the NFL and Canadian Football League
- Michael Harring – filmmaker
- Marti Malloy – Olympic Judo medalist
- Patricia McPherson – actress
- Jerod Turner – golfer
- Chad Veach - evangelical pastor, founder of Zoe Church
See also
In Spanish: Oak Harbor (Washington) para niños
