Kitsap County, Washington: Difference between revisions

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'''Kitsap County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Washington (state)|Washington]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], its population was 275,611.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/kitsapcountywashington/PST045223 |access-date=November 10, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Port Orchard, Washington|Port Orchard]];<ref name="GR6">{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> its largest city is [[Bremerton, Washington|Bremerton]]. The county, formed out of [[King County, Washington|King County]] and [[Jefferson County, Washington|Jefferson County]] on January 16, 1857, is named for [[Chief Kitsap]] of the [[Suquamish]] Tribe. Originally named Slaughter County, it was soon renamed.<ref name="historylink">{{Cite web |date=March 6, 2003 |title=Milestones for Washington State History &mdash; Part 2: 1851 to 1900 |url=http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=5380 |publisher=[[HistoryLink.org]]}}</ref>
'''Kitsap County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Washington (state)|Washington]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], its population was 275,611.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/kitsapcountywashington/PST045223 |access-date=November 10, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Port Orchard, Washington|Port Orchard]];<ref name="GR6">{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> its largest city is [[Bremerton, Washington|Bremerton]]. The county, formed out of [[King County, Washington|King County]] and [[Jefferson County, Washington|Jefferson County]] on January 16, 1857, is named for [[Chief Kitsap]] of the [[Suquamish people|Suquamish]] Tribe. Originally named Slaughter County, it was soon renamed.<ref name="historylink">{{Cite web |date=March 6, 2003 |title=Milestones for Washington State History &mdash; Part 2: 1851 to 1900 |url=http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=5380 |publisher=[[HistoryLink.org]]}}</ref>


Kitsap County comprises the Bremerton–[[Silverdale, Washington|Silverdale]]–[[Port Orchard, Washington|Port Orchard]], WA [[Metropolitan Statistical Area]], which is also included in the [[Seattle]]–[[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]], WA [[Seattle metropolitan area|Combined Statistical Area]].
Kitsap County comprises the Bremerton–[[Silverdale, Washington|Silverdale]]–[[Port Orchard, Washington|Port Orchard]], WA [[Metropolitan Statistical Area]], which is also included in the [[Seattle]]–[[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]], WA [[Seattle metropolitan area|Combined Statistical Area]].
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According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|566|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|395|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|171|sqmi}} (30%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_53.txt |access-date=July 7, 2015 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> It is the fourth-smallest county in Washington by land area and third-smallest by total area.
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|566|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|395|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|171|sqmi}} (30%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_53.txt |access-date=July 7, 2015 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> It is the fourth-smallest county in Washington by land area and third-smallest by total area.


In addition to occupying most of the [[Kitsap Peninsula]], Kitsap County includes both [[Bainbridge Island]] and [[Blake Island]]. According to Puget Sound Partnership, Kitsap county has over {{convert|250|mi|km}} of saltwater shoreline.
In addition to occupying most of the [[Kitsap Peninsula]], the county includes both [[Bainbridge Island]] and [[Blake Island]]. Kitsap County has approximately {{convert|250|mi|km}} of shoreline.<ref>{{cite news |last=Farley |first=Josh |date=May 10, 2018 |title=Sorry, Kitsap, we don't have the country's longest coastline |url=https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/local/2018/05/10/kitsap-county-longest-coastline-country-myth/582493002/ |work=Kitsap Sun |accessdate=October 7, 2025}}</ref>


The portion of the county north of [[Silverdale, Washington|Silverdale]] is often referred to as [[North Kitsap]], and the portion south of Bremerton as [[South Kitsap]].
The portion of the county north of [[Silverdale, Washington|Silverdale]] is often referred to as [[North Kitsap]], and the portion south of Bremerton as [[South Kitsap]].
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*[[Pritchard Park]]
*[[Pritchard Park]]
*[[Scenic Beach State Park]]
*[[Scenic Beach State Park]]
==Economy==
The largest employer in Kitsap County is [[Naval Base Kitsap]], which had a total of 38,187 workers in 2024; approximately 63{{nbsp}}percent are civilian employees, while the rest are military personnel.<ref name="Sun-Jobs"/> According to 2025 statistics from the [[Washington State Employment Security Department]], 22.9{{nbsp}}percent of the labor force in Kitsap County are employed by the federal government—the highest rate among Washington's counties.<ref>{{cite news |last=Balk |first=Gene |date=October 6, 2025 |title=The shutdown may strain WA’s federal workers. Here's where they live |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/data/the-shutdown-may-strain-was-federal-workers-heres-where-they-live/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=October 7, 2025}}</ref> Other major employers include [[St. Michael Medical Center]] in Silverdale, local school districts, the county government, and [[Olympic College]].<ref name="Sun-Jobs">{{cite news |last=Lin |first=Peiyu |date=June 30, 2025 |title=Federal jobs still dominate as report shows Kitsap job growth during 2024 |url=https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2025/06/30/who-are-top-employers-in-kitsap-county/84325761007/ |work=Kitsap Sun |accessdate=October 7, 2025}}</ref>


==Demographics==
==Demographics==
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==Communities==
==Communities==
[[Image:Kitsapcounty-wa.png|thumb|right|map of Kitsap County and surrounding area]]
[[Image:Kitsapcounty-wa.png|thumb|right|Map of Kitsap County and surrounding area]]


===Cities===
===Cities===
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*[[Lone Rock, Washington|Lone Rock]]
*[[Lone Rock, Washington|Lone Rock]]
*[[Long Lake, Washington|Long Lake]]
*[[Long Lake, Washington|Long Lake]]
*[[Nellita, Washington|Nellita]]
*[[Olalla, Washington|Olalla]]
*[[Olalla, Washington|Olalla]]
*[[Olalla Valley, Washington|Olalla Valley]]
*[[Olalla Valley, Washington|Olalla Valley]]
*[[Port Gamble, Washington|Port Gamble]]
*[[Scandia, Washington|Scandia]]
*[[Scandia, Washington|Scandia]]
*[[South Colby, Washington|South Colby]]
*[[South Colby, Washington|South Colby]]
*[[South Park Village, Washington|South Park Village]]
*[[South Park Village, Washington|South Park Village]]
*[[Twin Spits, Washington|Twin Spits]]
*[[Virginia, Washington|Virginia]]
*[[Virginia, Washington|Virginia]]
*[[Waterman, Washington|Waterman]]
*[[Waterman, Washington|Waterman]]
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Democrats typically carry the [[Indian reservation]]s of the area by wide margins; the area around [[Little Boston, Washington|Little Boston]] (part of the [[Klallam|S'Klallam Indian Reservation]]) regularly votes for Democratic candidates.
Democrats typically carry the [[Indian reservation]]s of the area by wide margins; the area around [[Little Boston, Washington|Little Boston]] (part of the [[Klallam|S'Klallam Indian Reservation]]) regularly votes for Democratic candidates.


The Kitsap County Auditor Website has detailed election results from 1998 to the present. County area political trends can be tracked by analyzing the election precinct data.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kitsap County Home |url=https://www.kitsap.gov/auditor/Pages/ElectionArchives.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060318203842/http://www.kitsapgov.com/aud/elections/archive.htm |archive-date=March 18, 2006}}</ref>
The Kitsap County Auditor website has detailed election results from 1998 to the present. County area political trends can be tracked by analyzing the election precinct data.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kitsap County Home |url=https://www.kitsap.gov/auditor/Pages/ElectionArchives.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060318203842/http://www.kitsapgov.com/aud/elections/archive.htm |archive-date=March 18, 2006}}</ref>


{{PresHead|place=Kitsap County, Washington|source=<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=April 6, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
{{PresHead|place=Kitsap County, Washington|source=<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=April 6, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
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{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|2,638|3,479|857|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|4,989|1,350|3,759|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1924|Progressive|3,954|490|4,306|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|6,544|3,668|180|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|3,465|10,002|706|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|3,440|12,414|493|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|5,525|13,861|210|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|11,224|24,016|251|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|9,869|19,538|1,271|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|16,876|20,531|189|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|17,986|19,641|58|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|17,459|19,662|181|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|10,702|26,904|108|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|14,520|22,273|3,022|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|25,831|17,011|2,604|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|23,124|25,701|1,925|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|29,420|20,893|9,983|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|36,101|29,681|931|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|34,743|33,748|1,158|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|29,340|34,442|24,786|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|35,304|44,167|12,016|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|46,427|50,302|6,138|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|55,608|60,796|2,266|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|53,297|68,624|3,090|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|52,846|67,277|3,978|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|49,018|63,156|16,596|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|61,563|90,277|6,832|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|59,080|91,731|6,061|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|59,080|91,731|6,061|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|61,563|90,277|6,832|Washington (state)}}
{{PresFoot}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|49,018|63,156|16,596|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|52,846|67,277|3,978|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|53,297|68,624|3,090|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|55,608|60,796|2,266|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|46,427|50,302|6,138|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|35,304|44,167|12,016|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|29,340|34,442|24,786|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|34,743|33,748|1,158|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|36,101|29,681|931|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|29,420|20,893|9,983|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|23,124|25,701|1,925|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|25,831|17,011|2,604|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|14,520|22,273|3,022|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|10,702|26,904|108|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|17,459|19,662|181|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|17,986|19,641|58|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|16,876|20,531|189|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|9,869|19,538|1,271|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|11,224|24,016|251|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|5,525|13,861|210|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|3,440|12,414|493|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|3,465|10,002|706|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|6,544|3,668|180|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1924|Progressive|3,954|490|4,306|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|4,989|1,350|3,759|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|2,638|3,479|857|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|1,224|969|3,889|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,819|850|572|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,736|320|453|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|880|489|137|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1896|Tie|728|728|33|Washington (state)}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Republican|438|370|458|Washington (state)}}


==Government==
==Government==
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====26th Legislative District====
====26th Legislative District====
[[Bremerton]], [[Gig Harbor]] and [[Port Orchard]]
[[Bremerton]], [[Gig Harbor]] and [[Port Orchard]]
*Sen. Deborah Krishnadasan (D) - Appointed December 2024 to replace Emily Randall who had been elected to the U.S. Senate.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Demkovich |first=Laurel |date=December 11, 2024 |title=Gig Harbor education leader to become WA's newest Democratic state senator |url=https://washingtonstatestandard.com/briefs/gig-harbor-education-leader-to-become-was-newest-democratic-state-senator/ |access-date=January 16, 2025 |publisher=Washington State Standard}}</ref>
*Sen. Deborah Krishnadasan (D) - Appointed December 2024 to replace Emily Randall who had been elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Demkovich |first=Laurel |date=December 11, 2024 |title=Gig Harbor education leader to become WA's newest Democratic state senator |url=https://washingtonstatestandard.com/briefs/gig-harbor-education-leader-to-become-was-newest-democratic-state-senator/ |access-date=January 16, 2025 |publisher=Washington State Standard}}</ref>
*Rep. Adison Richards (D) - Elected November 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Adison Richards |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Adison_Richards |access-date=January 16, 2025 |website=Ballotpedia.org}}</ref>
*Rep. Adison Richards (D) - Elected November 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Adison Richards |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Adison_Richards |access-date=January 16, 2025 |website=Ballotpedia.org}}</ref>
*Rep. [[Michelle Caldier]] (R)
*Rep. [[Michelle Caldier]] (R)

Latest revision as of 01:52, 5 November 2025

Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Main otherScript error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for clobbered parameters".Template:Main otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main otherTemplate:Main otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Kitsap County is a county in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, its population was 275,611.[1] Its county seat is Port Orchard;[2] its largest city is Bremerton. The county, formed out of King County and Jefferson County on January 16, 1857, is named for Chief Kitsap of the Suquamish Tribe. Originally named Slaughter County, it was soon renamed.[3]

Kitsap County comprises the Bremerton–SilverdalePort Orchard, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the SeattleTacoma, WA Combined Statistical Area.

The United States Navy is the largest employer in the county, with installations at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Naval Undersea Warfare Center Keyport, and Naval Base Kitsap (which comprises former NSB Bangor and NS Bremerton).

Kitsap County is connected to the eastern shore of Puget Sound by Washington State Ferries routes, including the Seattle-Bremerton Ferry, Southworth to West Seattle via Vashon Island, Bainbridge Island to Downtown Seattle, and from Kingston to Edmonds, Washington. Kitsap Transit provides passenger-only fast ferry service between Bremerton and Seattle, Kingston and Seattle, and Southworth and Seattle.

History

The Kitsap Peninsula was originally acquired by the U.S. Government in three pieces by three treaties negotiated with the Native American tribes:

Territorial Governor Isaac Stevens represented the United States in all three negotiations.

When the Washington Territory was organized in 1853, the Kitsap Peninsula was divided between King County to the east and Jefferson County to the west. Official public papers were required to be filed at the county seat, which meant Peninsula business people had to travel to either Seattle or Port Townsend to transact business. On the understanding that they would "bring home a new county," area mill operators George Meigs and William Renton supported the candidacies to the Territorial Legislature of two employees from their respective mills: Timothy Duane Hinckley from Meigs' and S.B. Wilson from Renton's.

Upon arrival in Olympia, the two men introduced bills to create a new county, to be named "Madison". Representative Abernathy from Wahkiakum County proposed an amendment to name it "Slaughter", in recognition of Lt. William Alloway Slaughter, who had been killed in 1855 in the Yakima War. The bill passed as amended. It was signed by Governor Isaac Stevens on January 16, 1857. The county seat would be located in Meigs's mill town at Port Madison.[5]

In Slaughter County's first election on July 13, 1857, voters were given the opportunity to rename the county. The options were "Mill", "Madison" or "Kitsap". Slaughter was not one of the options. Kitsap won by an overwhelming majority.[6]

Kitsap County is home to several major United States Navy facilities, collectively named Naval Base Kitsap, and grew in response to wars and conflicts in the 20th century. Bremerton, the site of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, peaked at 80,000 residents during World War II. Naval Submarine Base Bangor was developed in the 1980s to store nuclear weapons for submarines and contributed to the county's population growth during the decade from 147,000 to 190,000.[7]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (30%) is water.[8] It is the fourth-smallest county in Washington by land area and third-smallest by total area.

In addition to occupying most of the Kitsap Peninsula, the county includes both Bainbridge Island and Blake Island. Kitsap County has approximately Template:Convert of shoreline.[9]

The portion of the county north of Silverdale is often referred to as North Kitsap, and the portion south of Bremerton as South Kitsap.

Geographic features

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Adjacent counties

Notable parks

Economy

The largest employer in Kitsap County is Naval Base Kitsap, which had a total of 38,187 workers in 2024; approximately 63Template:Nbsppercent are civilian employees, while the rest are military personnel.[10] According to 2025 statistics from the Washington State Employment Security Department, 22.9Template:Nbsppercent of the labor force in Kitsap County are employed by the federal government—the highest rate among Washington's counties.[11] Other major employers include St. Michael Medical Center in Silverdale, local school districts, the county government, and Olympic College.[10]

Demographics

Template:US Census population

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 275,611 people, 105,803 households, and 71,548 families living in the county.[12]

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 251,133 people, 97,220 households, and 65,820 families residing in the county.[13] The population density was Template:Convert. There were 107,367 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert.[14] The racial makeup of the county was 82.6% white, 4.9% Asian, 2.6% black or African American, 1.6% American Indian, 0.9% Pacific islander, 1.6% from other races, and 5.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 6.2% of the population.[13] In terms of ancestry, 21.3% were German, 14.4% were Irish, 13.8% were English, 7.1% were Norwegian, and 4.2% were American.[15]

Of the 97,220 households, 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.3% were non-families, and 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.97. The median age was 39.4 years.[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $59,549 and the median income for a family was $71,065. Males had a median income of $52,282 versus $38,499 for females. The per capita income for the county was $29,755. About 6.1% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.[16]

Communities

File:Kitsapcounty-wa.png
Map of Kitsap County and surrounding area

Cities

Census-designated places

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Other unincorporated communities

File:Fragaria washington.JPG
Beach cottages in Fragaria along Colvos Passage in Kitsap County

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Politics

Kitsap County is generally considered to be a relatively Democratic area, owing to progressivism stemmed from the county's Scandinavian settlers. In the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Democrat Hillary Clinton received 49.0% of the vote to Republican Donald Trump's 38.1%.[17] This Democratic margin widened in 2020, with candidate Joe Biden receiving 56.9% of the vote versus incumbent Trump receiving 38.8%.[18] The Democratic margin widened ever further in 2024, with Kamala Harris receiving 58.5% of the vote compared with Trump's 37.7%, the largest margin of victory for a presidential candidate in the county since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.[19]

On mainland Kitsap County, politics are strongly influenced by working-class Bremerton, which casts moderate margins for Democratic candidates. Unincorporated Kitsap County is a mix of battleground areas. Non-Bremerton parts of incorporated mainland Kitsap County vary, with Silverdale having become a Republican stronghold, Poulsbo marginally Democratic, and Port Orchard consistently electing Republican candidates.

Democrats typically carry the Indian reservations of the area by wide margins; the area around Little Boston (part of the S'Klallam Indian Reservation) regularly votes for Democratic candidates.

The Kitsap County Auditor website has detailed election results from 1998 to the present. County area political trends can be tracked by analyzing the election precinct data.[20]

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Government

Board of County Commissioners

  • District 1 (North Kitsap): Christine Rolfes, Democrat; appointed 2023.[21] Elected in 2024[22]
  • District 2 (South Kitsap): Oran Root, Republican; elected in 2024[22]
  • District 3 (Central Kitsap): Katie Walters, Democrat; elected in 2022[23]

State legislators

23rd Legislative District

Bainbridge Island, East Bremerton, Poulsbo and Silverdale

  • Sen. Drew Hansen (D) - Appointed August 2023 to replace Christine Rolfes who had been appointed to Board of County Commissioners. Elected November 2024.[24]
  • Rep. Tarra Simmons (D) - First elected November 2020.
  • Sen. Greg Nance (D) - Appointed September 2023 to replace Drew Hansen, who had left to fill vacant senate seat.[25] Elected November 2024.[24]

26th Legislative District

Bremerton, Gig Harbor and Port Orchard

  • Sen. Deborah Krishnadasan (D) - Appointed December 2024 to replace Emily Randall who had been elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.[26]
  • Rep. Adison Richards (D) - Elected November 2024.[27]
  • Rep. Michelle Caldier (R)

35th Legislative District

Bremerton, Shelton and Mason County

Education

Post-secondary education

Public schools

Transportation

Kitsap County is connected to the eastern shore of Puget Sound by several Washington State Ferries routes, including the Seattle-Bremerton Ferry, Southworth to West Seattle via Vashon Island, Bainbridge Island to Downtown Seattle, and from Kingston to Edmonds, Washington.

Kitsap Transit provides local transit service within Kitsap County and connects to other transit systems that continue onto the Olympic Peninsula. The agency launched its fast ferry services to Seattle in July 2017, beginning initially with a Bremerton route and later expanding to Kingston in 2018.[28][29] Fast ferry service to Southworth is expected to begin in 2020.

The county is connected to Jefferson County and the Olympic Peninsula to the west by the Hood Canal Bridge.

A Template:Convert government-owned rail line, the Bangor-Shelton-Bremerton Navy Railroad, runs through the county. It is a branch off the Puget Sound and Pacific Railroad, with its junction at Shelton. At the Bremerton Junction near Gorst a spur follows Highway 3 along the shore of the Sinclair Inlet terminating at the Puget Sound Naval Ship Yard, the other follows Highway 3 along the western shore of Dyes Inlet, servicing Bangor Naval Submarine Base. The Navy had originally intended to use armored trains to transport nuclear missiles to Bangor for the Trident submarines but protesters and a series of court decisions derailed the plan. Today the railroad is primarily used to transport scrap from PSNS.[30]

Notable people

In popular culture

Walking Tall with The Rock and Johnny Knoxville was based in Kitsap County, and the City of Port Orchard is the basis for the fictional community of Cedar Cove in the books by Debbie Macomber.

See also

Notes

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References

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Bibliography

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External links

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  30. "Nathan Adrian - Bio". SwimSwam. Retrieved July 22, 2021.