View source for Port Angeles, Washington

{{short description|City in Washington, United States}}
{{Redirect-distinguish|Port Angeles|Port of Los Angeles}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Port Angeles, Washington
|settlement_type          = [[City government in Washington (state)|City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = Where the mountains meet the sea.
<!-- Images --------------->
|image_skyline            = Port Angeles S.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Aerial view of downtown Port Angeles, looking towards the [[Olympic Mountains]]
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = 
<!-- Maps ----------------->
|image_map                = Clallam County Washington Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Port Angeles Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Port Angeles, Washington
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
|pushpin_map              = Washington#USA
|pushpin_map_caption      = Location within Washington##Location within the United States
|pushpin_relief           = 1
|pushpin_label            = Port Angeles
<!-- Location ------------->
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Washington|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Clallam County, Washington|Clallam]]
<!-- Government ----------->
|government_footnotes     = <ref>{{cite web|title=Meet Your City Council Members|url=https://cityofpa.us/912/Meet-Your-City-Council-Members|publisher=City of Port Angeles, Washington|access-date=November 30, 2024}}</ref>
|government_type          = [[Council–manager government|Council–manager]]
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Kate Dexter
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = 1791
|established_title1       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date1        = June 11, 1890
<!-- Area ----------------->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2024">{{cite web|title=2024 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_gaz_place_53.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 30, 2024}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 37.63
|area_land_km2            = 27.74
|area_water_km2           = 9.89
|area_total_sq_mi         = 14.53
|area_land_sq_mi          = 10.71
|area_water_sq_mi         = 3.82
<!-- Population ----------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 20101
|pop_est_as_of            = 2023
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2023"/>
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
|population_total         = 19960
|population_density_km2   = 724.61
|population_density_sq_mi = 1876.71
|population_urban         = 24445<ref name="urban area">{{cite web|url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/29/2022-28286/2020-census-qualifying-urban-areas-and-final-criteria-clarifications|title=2020 Census Qualifying Urban Areas and Final Criteria Clarifications|publisher=United States Census Bureau|website=Federal Register|date=December 29, 2022}}</ref>
|population_metro         = 77616 (US: [[Micropolitan statistical area|79th]])
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific (PST)]]
|utc_offset               = −8
|timezone_DST             = PDT
|utc_offset_DST           = −7
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 141
|coordinates              = {{coord|48|07|35|N|123|28|40|W|region:US-WA_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]s
|postal_code              = 98362, 98363
|area_code                = [[Area code 360|360]] and [[Area code 564|564]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 53-55365
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2411459<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2411459}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://www.cityofpa.us/|cityofpa.us}}
|footnotes                = 
}}
[[File:Aerial view of Port Angeles.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Aerial view of Port Angeles]]

'''Port Angeles''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|æ|n|dʒ|əl|ə|s}} {{respell|AN|jəl|əs}}) is a city and [[county seat]] of [[Clallam County, Washington|Clallam County]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|archive-date=May 31, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> The population was 19,960 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Port_Angeles_city,_Washington?g=160XX00US5355365 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=November 30, 2024}}</ref> it is the most populous city in the county, as well as the most populous city on the [[Olympic Peninsula]]. The population was estimated at 20,101 in 2023.<ref name="USCensusEst2023"/>

The city's [[harbor]] was dubbed {{lang|es|Puerto de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles}} (Port of Our Lady of the Angels) by Spanish explorer {{lang|es|[[Francisco de Eliza]]|italics=no}} in 1791. By the mid-19th century, after settlement by English speakers from the United States, the name was shortened and partially [[Anglicisation|anglicized]] to its current form,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://w3.gsa.gov/web/p/interaia_save.nsf/0/ccc101f52eb46603852565d90053a193?OpenDocument|title=Port Angeles Federal Building|work=Historic Federal Buildings|publisher=[[General Services Administration]]|access-date=April 30, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080311070923/http://w3.gsa.gov/web/p/interaia_save.nsf/0/ccc101f52eb46603852565d90053a193?OpenDocument|archive-date=March 11, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> Port Angeles Harbor.<ref>{{Cite GNIS|1524583|Port Angeles Harbor}}</ref>

Port Angeles is home to [[Peninsula College]]. It is the birthplace of football hall of famer [[John Elway]] and residents include writers and other celebrities. The city is served by [[William R. Fairchild International Airport]]. Ferry service is provided across the [[Strait of Juan de Fuca]] to [[Victoria, British Columbia]], Canada on the [[MV Coho|MV ''Coho'']].

==History==
{{more citations needed|section|date=April 2019}}
This area was long occupied by succeeding cultures of [[indigenous people]]s. In 1791, the harbor was entered by Spanish explorer {{lang|es|[[Francisco de Eliza]]|italics=no}}, who named it {{lang|es|Puerto de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles}} (Port of Our Lady of the Angels), claiming it for Spain. He was on an expedition from southern California. This name was shortened to the current one of Port Angeles.

It was not until the 19th century that European Americans began to settle here. A small whaling, fishing and shipping village developed, which traded with [[Victoria, British Columbia]]. In 1856–57, the first settlers arrived and were followed by the Cherbourg Land Company in 1859.

Soon afterwards the site caught the attention of Victor Smith. Smith, a protege of [[Salmon Chase]], was Collector of Customs for the Puget Sound District. He quickly gained approval to relocate the [[United States Customs Service|U.S. Customs]] [[port of entry]] for [[Washington Territory]] from [[Port Townsend, Washington|Port Townsend]] to Port Angeles. With Chase's support, he also succeeded in getting President [[Abraham Lincoln]] to designate {{convert|3520.|acre}} at Port Angeles as a federal reserve for lighthouse, military and naval purposes. 
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers platted a federal town site on the reserve land, laying out the street plan which still exists today. The fact that [[Washington, D.C.]], was the only other city officially laid out by the federal government led the U.S. Board of Trade in 1890 to dub Port Angeles the "Second National City." Settlers soon followed slowly, but Smith's death in the sinking of the ''[[Brother Jonathan (steamer)|Brother Jonathan]]'' led to the loss of interest in the area. The Port of Entry was returned to Port Townsend and the area sank into obscurity until the 1880s.
[[File:McKinley Paper Company Port Angeles.jpg|thumb|The McKinley Paper Company plant in Port Angeles]]
In 1884, a hotel was built and the trading post was expanded into the area's first general store. A wharf was soon built upon the site where the current ferry pier stands. A village of 300 in 1886, Port Angeles' population grew to 3,000 by 1890. Hundreds of its new residents were part of the [[Puget Sound Cooperative Colony]], which was established in 1887 and built several of the settlement's first permanent civic facilities, including a sawmill, church, office building, and [[opera house]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Henson |first=Jack |date=June 16, 1962 |title=Colony important in growth of Port Angeles |page=I2 |work=Port Angeles Evening News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30551008/colony_important_in_growth_of_port/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=April 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430055410/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30551008/colony_important_in_growth_of_port/ |archive-date=April 30, 2019 |url-status=live }} {{free access}}</ref> The town was incorporated on June 11, 1890, and was named the [[county seat]] of Clallam County later that year.<ref>{{cite web |title=History of Port Angeles |url=https://www.cityofpa.us/399/History |publisher=City of Port Angeles |access-date=April 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413054459/https://www.cityofpa.us/399/History |archive-date=April 13, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> A depression a few years later was weathered and the town continued to grow into the new century. In 1914, large-scale logging began with construction of a large mill and a railway connecting the hinterlands to the mill. Other mills were soon built and the lumber and pulp mills supported the economy of the area until well into the century.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

Tourism became increasingly important as the growing national affluence, and especially the 1961 opening of the Hood Canal Bridge that cut driving time from the populated central Puget Sound region, brought more visitors drawn by the mountains, rivers, and rainforest of Olympic National Park and by fishing and boating along the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The mills began to close in the 1970s and 1980s until only one pulp mill remained in operation; the [[Rayonier]] specialty pulp mill was shuttered in&nbsp;1997.<ref name=pmpclos>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Zs0qAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iNAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6492%2C1841457 |work=Moscow-Pullman Daily News |location=(Idaho-Washington) |agency=Associated Press |title=Pulp mill closing; 365 jobs at stake |date=October 22, 1996 |page=4A}}</ref>

In August 2003, a $275 million construction project known as the Graving Dock Project was started in Port Angeles near the water as part of the [[Hood Canal Bridge]] east-half replacement project. It was intended to construct an area for anchoring pontoons for the bridge.<ref name="wstc">[http://www.wstc.wa.gov/PolicyPlanning/TPAB/HCBFinalReport.pdf ''Review of Port Angeles Graving Dock Project''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221193711/http://wstc.wa.gov/PolicyPlanning/TPAB/HCBFinalReport.pdf |date=December 21, 2016 }}, Report 06-8, June 30, 2006</ref> During construction, human remains and artifacts were discovered. This site was found to be the "largest prehistoric Indian village and burial ground found in the United States," according to a senior archaeologist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Seattle. The archeology site also included Native American burials of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.<ref name="wstc"/>

Archeologists were called in to conduct a professional excavation. They found about 300 graves and 785 pieces of human bones, in addition to numerous ritual and ceremonial Indian artifacts of the former [[Tse-whit-zen]] village of the federally recognized [[Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe]]. This site had appeared to have been continuously occupied for thousands of years; some of the remains date back at least 8,000 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.internationalrivers.org/resources/legendary-creation-site-discovered-by-lower-elwha-klallam-tribe-7627|title=Legendary 'Creation Site' Discovered by Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe &#124; International Rivers|access-date=May 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529130244/https://www.internationalrivers.org/resources/legendary-creation-site-discovered-by-lower-elwha-klallam-tribe-7627|archive-date=May 29, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Because of the significance of the site for Native American history, in December 2004, the graving dock project was abandoned.<ref name="wstc"/>

Many of the graves uncovered appeared to hold entire families, who seemed to have died suddenly. Archeologists speculate that this could have been the result of [[pandemics]] of [[smallpox]] and other infectious illnesses. These caused massive death tolls among Native American populations in 1780 and 1835, as they had no acquired [[immunity (medical)|immunity]]. [[Infectious diseases]] contracted from interactions with European fur traders are believed to have killed about 90 percent of the people living in the Northwest before European American settlement of the area.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

In 2016, Port Angeles installed two street signs in English and [[Klallam language|Klallam]] to revitalize and preserve the area's [[Klallam people|Klallam]] culture.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indiancountrymedianetwork.com/education/native-education/bilingual-street-signs-herald-a-new-era-of-language-revitalization/|title=Bilingual Street Signs Herald a New Era of Language Revitalization|date=February 29, 2016|access-date=February 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207113113/https://indiancountrymedianetwork.com/education/native-education/bilingual-street-signs-herald-a-new-era-of-language-revitalization/|archive-date=February 7, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Port of Port Angeles NW.jpg|thumb|right|Aerial view of the Port of Port Angeles, located west of downtown]]

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|14.530|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|10.711|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|3.819|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2024"/>

The city is situated on the northern edge of the [[Olympic Peninsula]] along the shore of the [[Strait of Juan de Fuca]]. Port Angeles features a long and narrow glacial moraine named [[Ediz Hook]] that projects northeasterly nearly three miles into the Strait. Ediz Hook creates a large, natural deep-water harbor shielded from the storms and swells that move predominantly eastward down the Strait from the Pacific Ocean.  [[Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles|Coast Guard Air Station / Sector Field Office (SFO) Port Angeles]] is situated on the end of Ediz Hook. The harbor is deep enough to provide anchorage for large ocean-going ships such as tankers and cruise ships. The south shore of [[Vancouver Island]] and the city of [[Victoria, British Columbia]] are visible across the Strait to the north.

Port Angeles is located in the [[rain shadow]] of the [[Olympic Mountains]], which means the city gets significantly less rain than other areas of western Washington. The average annual precipitation total is approximately {{cvt|25|in|mm}}, compared to Seattle's {{cvt|38|in|mm}}. Temperatures are moderated by the maritime location, with winter lows rarely below {{cvt|25|F}} and summer highs rarely above {{cvt|80|F}}. However, in the winter, the city can be vulnerable to windstorms and Arctic cold fronts that sweep across the [[Strait of Juan de Fuca]]. Port Angeles receives about {{cvt|4|in|cm}} of snow each year, but it rarely stays on the ground for long.

Port Angeles is also the location of the headquarters of [[Olympic National Park]], which encompasses most of the Olympic Mountains. This park was established by President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] in 1938, during the [[Great Depression]].

===Climate===
Port Angeles has a warm summer  [[mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Csb''). It is heavily moderated by the [[Pacific Ocean]], resulting in cool summers and mild winters for its latitude. Summers are far cooler than those of nearby [[Seattle]]. On June 27, 2021, Port Angeles set a new all-time record high of {{convert|97|F|C}}, breaking the city's previous all-time record high of {{convert|96|F|C}}. Port Angeles is in the [[rain shadow]] of the [[Olympic Mountains]], resulting in much lower precipitation (only {{cvt|26.54|in|disp=sqbr}} per year) than locations to the west outside of the rain shadow.

{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = Port Angeles, Washington ([[William R. Fairchild International Airport]]), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1998&ndash;present
|single line = Y
|collapsed = Y
|Jan record high F = 69
|Feb record high F = 69
|Mar record high F = 68
|Apr record high F = 77
|May record high F = 86
|Jun record high F = 97
|Jul record high F = 94
|Aug record high F = 94
|Sep record high F = 88
|Oct record high F = 78
|Nov record high F = 67
|Dec record high F = 60
|year record high F =
|Jan avg record high F = 56.2
|Feb avg record high F = 54.4
|Mar avg record high F = 58.8
|Apr avg record high F = 66.5
|May avg record high F = 73.4
|Jun avg record high F = 81.2
|Jul avg record high F = 82.8
|Aug avg record high F = 84.8
|Sep avg record high F = 78.7
|Oct avg record high F = 66.8
|Nov avg record high F = 59.0
|Dec avg record high F = 54.4
|year avg record high F = 87.3
|Jan high F = 45.3
|Feb high F = 46.6
|Mar high F = 49.8
|Apr high F = 54.2
|May high F = 59.5
|Jun high F = 63.4
|Jul high F = 68.2
|Aug high F = 69.7
|Sep high F = 66.1
|Oct high F = 56.7
|Nov high F = 49.4
|Dec high F = 44.8
|year high F =
|Jan mean F = 39.2
|Feb mean F = 39.8
|Mar mean F = 42.4
|Apr mean F = 46.5
|May mean F = 51.5
|Jun mean F = 55.4
|Jul mean F = 59.7
|Aug mean F = 60.4
|Sep mean F = 56.6
|Oct mean F = 49.2
|Nov mean F = 42.7
|Dec mean F = 39.1
|year mean F =
|Jan low F = 33.1
|Feb low F = 33.0
|Mar low F = 35.0
|Apr low F = 38.8
|May low F = 43.4
|Jun low F = 47.4
|Jul low F = 51.1
|Aug low F = 51.1
|Sep low F = 47.1
|Oct low F = 41.6
|Nov low F = 36.0
|Dec low F = 33.4
|year low F =
|Jan avg record low F = 23.3
|Feb avg record low F = 23.7
|Mar avg record low F = 27.5
|Apr avg record low F = 31.2
|May avg record low F = 35.5
|Jun avg record low F = 40.8
|Jul avg record low F = 45.4
|Aug avg record low F = 45.1
|Sep avg record low F = 39.8
|Oct avg record low F = 31.9
|Nov avg record low F = 25.6
|Dec avg record low F = 22.7
|year avg record low F = 18.1
|Jan record low F = 12
|Feb record low F = 11
|Mar record low F = 18
|Apr record low F = 28
|May record low F = 31
|Jun record low F = 36
|Jul record low F = 41
|Aug record low F = 42
|Sep record low F = 33
|Oct record low F = 22
|Nov record low F = 11
|Dec record low F = 13
|year record low F =
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 4.29
|Feb precipitation inch = 2.84
|Mar precipitation inch = 2.94
|Apr precipitation inch = 1.65
|May precipitation inch = 1.17
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.73
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.46
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.64
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.29
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.06
|Nov precipitation inch = 5.11
|Dec precipitation inch = 5.23
|year precipitation inch =
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 17.4
|Feb precipitation days = 13.4
|Mar precipitation days = 15.6
|Apr precipitation days = 11.9
|May precipitation days = 10.1
|Jun precipitation days = 7.6
|Jul precipitation days = 3.9
|Aug precipitation days = 5.5
|Sep precipitation days = 9.0
|Oct precipitation days = 13.7
|Nov precipitation days = 17.4
|Dec precipitation days = 16.7
|Jan snow inch = 0.0
|Feb snow inch = 0.0
|Mar snow inch = 0.0
|Apr snow inch = 0.0
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 0.0
|Dec snow inch = 0.4
|year snow inch =
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 0.0
|Feb snow days = 0.0
|Mar snow days = 0.0
|Apr snow days = 0.0
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.0
|Dec snow days = 0.2
|Jan humidity = 88
|Feb humidity = 87
|Mar humidity = 86
|Apr humidity = 83
|May humidity = 79
|Jun humidity = 79
|Jul humidity = 75
|Aug humidity = 76
|Sep humidity = 80
|Oct humidity = 83
|Nov humidity = 86
|Dec humidity = 88
|year humidity =
|Jand sun = 4.1
|Febd sun = 4.2
|Mard sun = 5.8
|Aprd sun = 7.8
|Mayd sun = 9.2
|Jund sun = 9.7
|Juld sun = 10.8
|Augd sun = 10.8
|Sepd sun = 9.2
|Octd sun = 5.5
|Novd sun = 4.9
|Decd sun = 4.5
|yeard sun =
|Jan light = 8.9
|Feb light = 10.3
|Mar light = 12.0
|Apr light = 13.7
|May light = 15.2
|Jun light = 16.0
|Jul light = 15.6
|Aug light = 14.2
|Sep light = 12.5
|Oct light = 10.8
|Nov light = 9.2
|Dec light = 8.4
|year light =
|Jan uv = 2
|Feb uv = 2
|Mar uv = 2
|Apr uv = 3
|May uv = 3
|Jun uv = 4
|Jul uv = 4
|Aug uv = 4
|Sep uv = 3
|Oct uv = 3
|Nov uv = 2
|Dec uv = 2
|year uv =
|source 1 = NOAA<ref name=NOAA>{{cite web|url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00094266&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title=U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Port Angeles INTL AP, WA |access-date=December 29, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00456624&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title=U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Port Angeles, WA |access-date=December 29, 2022}}</ref><ref name=NOWData>{{cite web|url=https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=sew |publisher=National Weather Service |title=NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Seattle |access-date=May 16, 2023}}</ref>
|source 2 = Weather Atlas (UV and humidity)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/washington-usa/port-angeles-climate |title=Climate and monthly weather forecast Port Angeles, WA |access-date=August 19, 2022}}</ref>}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 2321
|1910= 2286
|1920= 5351
|1930= 10188
|1940= 9409
|1950= 11233
|1960= 12653
|1970= 16367
|1980= 17311
|1990= 17710
|2000= 18397
|2010= 19038
|2020= 19960
|estyear=2023
|estimate=20101
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |date=November 30, 2024|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020–2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=November 30, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

As of the 2022 [[American Community Survey]], there are 9,087 estimated households in Port Angeles with an average of 2.15 persons per household. The city has a median household income of $60,212. Approximately 11.0% of the city's population lives at or below the [[Poverty in the United States|poverty line]]. Port Angeles has an estimated 55.2% employment rate, with 30.7% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 92.9% holding a high school diploma.<ref>{{Cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Port Angeles city, Washington|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/portangelescitywashington/PST045223|access-date=November 30, 2024|website=www.census.gov|language=en}}</ref>

The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (93.4%), Spanish (4.3%), Indo-European (1.1%), Asian and Pacific Islander (1.1%), and Other (0.1%).

The median age in the city was 41.3 years.

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Port Angeles, Washington – racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
! Race / ethnicity <small>(''NH = non-Hispanic'')</small>
! Pop. 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Port Angeles city, Washington|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?g=160XX00US5355365|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=November 30, 2024}}</ref>
! Pop. 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Port Angeles city, Washington|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US5355365&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=November 30, 2024}}</ref>
! {{partial|Pop. 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Port Angeles city, Washington|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US5355365&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=November 30, 2024}}</ref>
! % 2000
! % 2010
! {{partial|% 2020}}
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
| 16,572
| 16,456
| style='background: #ffffe6; |16,092
| 90.08%
| 86.44%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |80.62%
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
| 123
| 153
| style='background: #ffffe6; |155
| 0.67%
| 0.80%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |0.78%
|-
| [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
| 562
| 578
| style='background: #ffffe6; |595
| 3.05%
| 3.04%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |2.98%
|-
| [[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
| 238
| 329
| style='background: #ffffe6; |416
| 1.29%
| 1.73%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |2.08%
|-
| [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
| 32
| 30
| style='background: #ffffe6; |39
| 0.17%
| 0.16%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |0.20%
|-
| [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
| 9
| 26
| style='background: #ffffe6; |91
| 0.05%
| 0.14%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |0.46%
|-
| [[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or multiracial]] (NH)
| 431
| 699
| style='background: #ffffe6; |1,457
| 2.34%
| 3.67%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |7.30%
|-
| [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
| 430
| 767
| style='background: #ffffe6; |1,115
| 2.34%
| 4.03%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |5.59%
|-
| '''Total'''
| '''18,397'''
| '''19,038'''
| style='background: #ffffe6; |'''19,960'''
| '''100.00%'''
| '''100.00%'''
| style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 19,960 people, 8,883 households, and 4,955 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Port%20Angeles%20city,%20Washington%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=November 30, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[population density]] was {{convert|1863.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 9,567 housing units at an average density of {{convert|893.2|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 82.73% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.84% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 3.31% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.15% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.21% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.43% from some other races and 9.34% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] people of any race were 5.59% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web|title=How many people live in Port Angeles city, Washington |url=https://data.usatoday.com/census/total-population/total-population-change/port-angeles-city-washington/160-5355365/ |access-date=November 30, 2024 |publisher=USA Today}}</ref> 18.6% of residents were under the age of 18, 4.7% were under 5 years of age, and 22.4% were 65 and older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.2% male and 49.8% female.

The ancestry of Port Angeles was 15.3% [[German Americans|German]], 15.1% [[English Americans|English]], 13.2% [[Irish Americans|Irish]], 5.5% [[Norwegian Americans|Norwegian]], 3.3% [[Italian Americans|Italian]], 3.2% [[French Americans|French]], 2.9% [[Scottish Americans|Scottish]], 2.3% [[Polish Americans|Polish]], and 0.1% [[African diaspora|Sub-Saharan African]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Port_Angeles_city;_Washington?g=160XX00US5355365 |access-date=May 30, 2023 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

The median household income was $53,690, with families having $65,994, married couples having $79,727, and non-families having $30,368. A total of 11.5% of the population were in poverty, with 13.4% of people under 18, 11.5% of people between the ages of 18 and 64, and 10% of people over 65 being in poverty.<ref name=":0" />

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 19,038 people, 8,459 households, and 4,808 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1779.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 9,272 housing units at an average density of {{convert|866.5|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 88.86% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.83% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 3.20% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.75% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.18% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.90% from some other races and 4.27% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] people of any race were 4.03% of the population.

There were 8,459 households, of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.2% were non-families. 35.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.79.

The median age in the city was 41.6 years. 20.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.4% were from 25 to 44; 28.3% were from 45 to 64; and 18% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.6% male and 51.4% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], there were 18,397 people, 8,053 households, and 4,831 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1823.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 8,682 housing units at an average density of {{convert|860.4|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 91.35% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.69% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 3.26% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.29% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.17% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.38% from some other races and 2.85% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] people of any race were 2.34% of the population.

There were 8,053 households, out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 23.7% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,130, and the median income for a family was $41,450. Males had a median income of $33,351 versus $25,215 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $17,903. About 9.9% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the [[Poverty threshold|poverty line]], including 17.3% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

==Media==
===Newspapers===
The local newspaper is the ''[[Peninsula Daily News]]'', originally the ''Port Angeles Evening News'' (founded 1916). The ''Peninsula Daily News'' publishes six days a week and hosts a website for the North Olympic Peninsula.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/|title=Home - Peninsula Daily News|access-date=August 5, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090315042544/http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/|archive-date=March 15, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Radio===
[[KONP|Newsradio 1450 KONP]] is a local radio station offering news, sports, information and talk programming on AM 1450. The station is also broadcast on FM 101.7 (founded 1945).<ref name="konp">{{cite web|url=http://www.konp.com/|title=Port Angeles and Sequim News Talk Radio - KONP|access-date=September 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908205820/http://www.konp.com/|archive-date=September 8, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> The Strait 102 [[KSTI]] is an FM radio station playing country music. KSTI is located at FM 102.1

===Television and movies===
Port Angeles is the home base of [[Ax Men#Rygaard Logging|Rygaard Logging]], one of the [[logging]] companies featured in the second season of the [[History (U.S. TV channel)|History Channel]] program ''[[Ax Men]]''.

The Strait of Juan de Fuca north of Port Angeles was used for filming some of the open water scenes in the 1990 film ''[[The Hunt for Red October (film)|The Hunt for Red October]]''. Port Angeles was also used in the last scene of the 1994 movie ''[[Wyatt Earp (film)|Wyatt Earp]]'' when Wyatt and Josie were on the boat out from the harbor with the Olympic Mountains in the distance.

==Education==
{{main|Port Angeles School District}}
Public school education is provided by the Port Angeles School District which operates five elementary schools, one middle school, a [[Port Angeles High School|high school]], an alternative high school and a vocational school. In addition, there are two private schools, Queen of Angels Catholic School and Olympic Christian School, both of which serve grades K-8.

[[Peninsula College]] is a community college based in Port Angeles that serves the Olympic Peninsula.

==Sister city==
{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Mutsu, Aomori]], Japan, is a [[sister city]] of Port Angeles. The cities have an [[exchange student]] program set up through the [[Port Angeles School District]].

==Notable people==
{{div col|colwidth=26em}}
*[[Robin Alexis]], New Age radio personality<ref>
{{citation|title=Communicating with the King of Pop: Port Angeles psychic hopes to help bring him back|author=Diane Urbani de la Paz |date=July 5, 2010|newspaper=Peninsula Daily News|location=Port Angeles, Washington|url=http://archive.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20100706/news/307069995/communicating-with-the-king-of-pop-port-angeles-psychic-hopes-to|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628204512/http://archive.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20100706/news/307069995/communicating-with-the-king-of-pop-port-angeles-psychic-hopes-to|archivedate=June 28, 2017}}</ref>
*[[Scott Bower]], soccer player<ref>{{cite web |title=Scott Bower |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/scott-bower/ |website=[[Major League Soccer]] |access-date=February 8, 2025}}</ref>
*[[Harold G. Bradbury]], [[U.S. Coast Guard]] Rear Admiral
*[[Raymond Carver]], author
*[[Casey Crescenzo]], musician
*[[Matthew Dryke]], former international shooter and Olympic gold medalist
*[[John Elway]], former player for the [[Denver Broncos]]
*[[Bernie Fryer]], [[NBA]]/[[American Basketball Association|ABA]] basketball player
*[[Tess Gallagher]], author
*[[Patrick Haggerty (country singer)|Patrick Haggerty]], country singer
*[[Derek Kilmer]], U.S. Congressman
*[[Sean Mac Falls]], poet
*[[Ellie Mathews]], children's writer
*[[Jim Michalczik]], football coach and former NFL player
*[[Robert Hopkins Miller]], diplomat
*[[Jeff Ridgway]], Major League Baseball player
*[[Arnie Roblan]], politician
*[[Jeff Suffering]], singer for [[Ninety Pound Wuss]]
*[[Bryan Suits]], radio host, podcaster, US Army combat veteran, historian
*[[Amelia Talon]], ''[[Playboy]]'' Playmate
{{div col end}}

==See also==
*[[Juan Carrasco (explorer)]]
*[[Tse-whit-zen]]
* [[List of deepest natural harbours]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{wikivoyage|Port Angeles}}
*{{osmrelation|237310}}
*[https://www.cityofpa.us/ City of Port Angeles – official website]
*[https://visitportangeles.com/ Visit Port Angeles - Official Visitor Site for the City of Port Angeles]
*[http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/ Peninsula Daily News Website]
*[http://www.portangeles.org/ Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce]
*[http://content.lib.washington.edu/cmpweb/index.html University of Washington Libraries Digital Collections – The Pacific Northwest Olympic Peninsula Community Museum]
*[http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&File_Id=8210 HistoryLink.org - Port Angeles - Thumbnail History]

{{Clallam County, Washington}}
{{Washington}}
{{Washington (state) county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Port Angeles, Washington| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Cities in Clallam County, Washington]]
[[Category:County seats in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Micropolitan areas of Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Washington (state)]]