March 2008
March 2008
Facts about Whidbey Island for each letter of the alphabet.
Please click on highlighted word for more information.
A IS FOR ACCOMMODATIONS, AGRICULTURE, & ARTS
Whidbey Island has a wide variety of
ACCOMMODATIONS including hotels, motels, inns, and B&Bs. Many of the parks offer campsites and RV hookups.
Rich forests and fertile soil helped to make AGRICULTURE important in Whidbey Island's early economy. Wheat, barley, corn and row crops are grown as well as several kinds of berries. The island has several Farmers Markets that sell locally grown produce, plants, flowers, and handcrafted items.
The
Coupeville ARTS Center was founded in 1986 to promote the visual arts on a year-round basis. It is a nationally recognized arts education resource with a visiting faculty of national and international artists. An Arts & Crafts Festival is held in Langley in July and in Coupeville in August. The Festival in Coupeville is one of the oldest in the state. The
Artist's Coopereative in Langley showcases Whidbey Island artists who own and operate the gallery.
Whidbey Island has several types of public
BEACHES. City Beach in Oak Harbor has camp sites, kayak sites, and wading pools. Freeland Park Beach has some of the best public beach clamming in Puget Sound. Lagoon Point North is a popular salmon and fishing beach.
A large variety of
BIRDS can be seen on Whidbey Island including the
State Bird - the goldfinch. More than 40 nesting pairs of
Bald Eagles make their home on the island. Whidbey Island sits at the crossroads of three major bird migration routes.
There are many CHURCHES on Whidbey island and a variety of denominations. St. Mary’s Catholic Church is located in Coupeville. It was built in 1889 as a Congregational Church and is the oldest church building on Whidbey Island.
CLINTON is an unincorporated town at the south end of Whidbey Island. Ferries from Mukilteo on the mainland dock here.
Whidbey Island has many CLUBS and organizations. For adults there are Soroptimist International, Kiwanis, Lions, 100F Lodge, Elks, Rotary and Masonic Lodge. For young people there are Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Explorers, Girl Scouts, Brownies, Campfire Girls, Boys and Girls Club, and
4-H Clubs. The island also has a Chapter of the
American Red Cross. The
Island county Astronomical Society hosts events throughout the year.
The city of
Coupeville was founded in 1852 and incorporated in 1910. It is the oldest city on Whidbey Island and second oldest city in the state. A series of outdoor concerts and an Arts & Craft Fair are held here in the summer. Located nearby is
Penn Cove the number one mussel-producing area in the country and a Mussel Festival is held here in March.
DECEPTION PASS is a narrow, high-walled gorge between Whidbey and Fidalgo Island. The bridge is the most photographed bridge in the state and a National Historic Monument.
Whidbey Island has a variety of DINING places from
restaurants to fast food. Stores include nationally known grocery and discount stores and privately owned establishments. The island also has many unique
shopping opportunities including Farmer's Markets.
An occasional EARTHQUAKE is felt on Whidbey Island. Two
earthquake faults run through the island. One in the north part of the island and the other in the south.
Whidbey Island offers many forms of ENTERTAINMENT.
Whidbey Playhouse in Oak Harbor presents musicals and dramas using local talent. The island has two movie theaters and one drive-in theater. The Whidbey Island Center for the Arts is located in Langley and has small theater and musical productions.
Many different
EVENTS are held on Whidbey Island during the year. Oak Harbor has a 4th of July Parade and Fireworks Display.
Race Week is held in Oak Harbor in July. The
Whidbey Island Marathon is held in the spring & attracts people from other states and countries.
Scottish Highland Games are held in the summer. A
Kite Festival is held every year at Camp Casey near Coupeville.
FOSSILS of the
Wooly Mammoth have been found on Whidbey Island. The Island County Museum celebrates
Mammoth Day and has the largest collection of mammoth artifacts in the Pacific Northwest. The Wooly Mammoth is the
Washington State Fossil.
The town of
FREELAND is located on Holmes Harbor in Central Whidbey and is the business and industrial center of the southend of the island. It was named for the Free Land Association that was organized in 1900. The harbor was named in honor of Dr. Silas Holmes, the assistant surgeon on the Wilkes expedition with the United States Navy in 1841.
Whidbey Island has two public GARDENS. Maxwelton Garden has display gardens and nine acres of trails and self-guided tours.
Meerkerk Gardens is a peaceful woodland garden and has tours. The island has a
WSU/Island County Master Gardner Program and Garden Clubs.
The
GLOBAL POSITION of Whidbey Island is approximately 48 North Latitude by 122 West Longitude. The island is surrounded by salt water. The Strait of Juan de Fuca is to the west and connects to the Pacific Ocean. Satatoga Passage is to the east, Deception Pass north, and Puget Sound south. Goose Rock is the highest point on the island. The lowest point is sea level.
Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunt using a global positioning system, and
Geocaches are located throughout the island.
Whidbey Island has several
GOLF COURSES. There is also a miniature golf course north of Oak Harbor. The island hosts several golf tournaments during the year.
GREENBANK is a small community located in the central part of Whidbey Island at the narrowest part of the island.
Greenbank Farm was established as a working farm in the late 1800s. In 1997 it was purchased by the Port of Coupeville and the Nature Conservancy and is now the site of festivals and events during the year. A herd of alpacas live at the farm.
Excellent HEALTH care is available on Whidbey Island.
Whidbey General Hospital in Coupeville is considered one of the most modern, rural health care facilities in the state. The hospital sponsors a 100 mile bike ride called the
Tour de Whidbey. Whidbey General South in Clinton offers outpatient services. The
Naval Hospital at WNAS provides inpatient and outpatient services to military personnel. There are also Health Clubs, gyms, and spas on the island.
HOLLAND HAPPENING is a Festival held in Oak Harbor every April. It celebrates the Dutch heritage of early settlers who arrived on Whidbey Island in 1894. There is a parade, an Arts and Crafts Fair, a Carnival, and other special entertainment. The first annual "Wings of Gold" marathon was held in 2002.
The
Whidbey Island Rescue for Equines (WIRE) provides rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption for equines (HORSES). Whidbey Island has two Pony Clubs. The
Whidbey Island Pony Club focuses on events and trials held over the 4th of July. The South Whidbey Pony Club offers a program for young, new, or future horse owners.
Whidbey Island has access to the INTERNET through all national Internet Service Providers and several local providers. All libraries and schools are connected to the internet and have webpages. Government offices and many business also have webpages. Other forms of communication include radio, television, and telephone. The telephone area code for Whidbey Island is 360.
During the 1850s IRISH settlers arrived on Whidbey Island. The Irish Wildlife Society sponsors a parade in Oak Harbor every year on
St. Patrick's Day. A remnant of the "Blarney Stone" is located near the Windmill at City Beach.
The ISLAND COUNTY Courthouse is located in Coupeville.
Island County is made up of eight islands. Some of the islands are joined to other islands at low tide.
A Dixeland JAZZ festival is held in Oak Harbor in July. An annual Jazz festival is held in South Whidbey and features bands from every middle and high school on the island. The Whidbey Island Jazz Society sponsors an all-island Jazz concert - a showcase of talented youth. Island Dance has an award winning
Jazz Team
Keystone JETTY is located in Central Whidbey. It was originally constructed as a breakwater for a ferry terminal but was turned into an underwater park because of all the marine life. The ferry from Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula docks nearby.
KETTLES Trail Park near Coupeville has unusual ice age geologic formations known as
KETTLES. Central Whidbey has a rich
archaeological heritage.
Many aspects of life on Whidbey Island focus on KIDS and there are lots of special things just for kids on the island. The island has a
Big Brother/Big Sister group. A Kids Day is held at a South Whidbey Community Park in September. The
State and the
State Legislature each have a Kids Page. The Washington
Kids Count program provides information about the health and well-being of children in the state.
Whidbey Island has several LAKES.
Cranberry Lake is located in Deception Pass State Park and Crocket Lake is in the middle of the island. Deer Lake, Goss Lake, and Love Lake are located in the south part of the island. All are freshwater lakes and get an annual stocking of several thousand trout. Lake Pondilla has bass fishing.
The city of
LANGLEY is located at the south end of Whidbey Island. It was named for a member of the company which platted the town site in 1890. The
Island County Fair is held here in August. The city hosts a Mystery Weekend in February.
Whidbey Island has five public
LIBRARIES. The libraries feature adult, young adult, and childrens programs. Groups known as Friends of the Library have book sales and provide displays and special programs. There are several
Writers'Groups on the island.
Tbe most important aspect of a
LIGHTHOUSE is the light that come from the tower.
The
Admiralty Head Lighthouse is located at Fort Casey in Central Whidbey. The original lighthouse was built in 1860. The present lighthouse was built in 1901 and is now used as an Interpretive Center.
There are several MARINAS on Whidbey Island. Cornet Bay Marine State Park in North Whidbey has a boat launch, moorage, scubing diving and is part of the Cascadian Marine Trail System.
Oak Harbor Marina is located in Oak Harbor and hosts an annual sailboat race. Langley Marina is located at the east end of downtown Langley.
Whidbey Island has 2 MUSEUMS. The
Island County Historical Society Museum is located in Coupeville and chronicles the history of Whidbey Island with facts and artifacts. The museum celebrates Mammoth Day and has the largest collection of mammoth artifacts in the Pacific Northwest.
The
South Whidbey Historical Society Museum is located in Langley and covers the early history of South Whidbey.
Several organizations on Whidbey Island provide MUSIC. The Community Concert Association gives musical performances during the winter. The All Island City Band gives concerts and particpates in parades and other special events. The Dixie Jazz Society plays for charitable events. The An-O-Chords, a men's barbershop group, meet in Anacortes but most members are from Whidbey Island. The
Whidbey Dance Bonanza is held in November in Coupeville and Greenbank. Music of many styles can be heard at the Geoduck Festival held at South Whidbey Community Park in the summer.
OAK HARBOR is located in North Whidbey. It was settled in the 1800’s and named for the oak trees that grow in the area. It was incorporated in 1915 and is the largest city on Whidbey Island. It has many special events during the year.
Whidbey Island has Federal, State, County, and City PARKS. Most of them have tent and RV facilities. Deception Pass State Park is the most popular park in the state. Possession Point Park is as far south as you can get on Whidbey Island. South Whidbey State Park has two miles of beach and several species of crab live along the shoreline.
The POPULATION of Island County is over 70,000. It is made up of people representing many different cultures and countries.
QUILTING has an interesting history, and there are several
quilting groups on Whidbey Island. One group makes quilts of recycled material for disaster victims that are distributed all over the world. Another group makes quilts and gives them to foster children. A Quilt Shop in Oak Harbor has classes, fabric, notions, & books.
Quilting by the Sea in Langley helps people with quilting projects. A
fabric store in Freeland offers classes in quilting. A Whidbey Island
resident has written several books on quilting. Oak Harbor has a quilting store and
quilters workshop. Whidbey Island has knitting groups, and South Whidbey Knitters knit items for needy people in the country and around the world. The
Whidbey Weavers Guild is associated with the Handweave Guild of America and has workshops and an annual Spin-In.
Take a QUIZ about the state of
Washington.
A local
RADIO STATION serves several counties and features news, weather, and an adult contemporary mix of music. The station broadcasts high school sports and community events and is a designated radio station for the "Emergency Alert System". The
Island County Amatuer Radio Club is involved in many public events on the island and in the Northwest.
There are many
RECREATION opportunites on Whidbey Island. Fishing and
Scuba diving are popular. Nearly 200 species of fish can be found. Plants and seaweed provide food and shelter for the fish. The Roller Barn in Oak Harbor has roller skating. The city also has a bowling alley and there are several tournaments. Bicycling is popular and there is a variety of terrain and special routes.
The waters surrounding Whidbey Island are home to a variety of SEA LIFE.
Grey whales and Orcas travel along the coasts of the island. The Orca became the Washington State Marine Mammal in 2005. Other marine mammals include sea lions and seals.
Rock beaches provide homes for sea life along the shores of Whidbey Island. Keystone Tire Reef is south of the Keystone Ferry Terminal and giant octopus and wolf eel live there. The
geoduck, the largest clam species in the Northwest, is prevalent on the sandy beaches of the island at low tide.
Whidbey island has both public and private
SCHOOLS.
The Oak Harbor High School
Cheerleading team has won many championships. Coupeville High School has often been a winner in the
State History Day competition. In 2002 an Oak Harbor Middle School student participated in the 75th Annual
Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee.
SENIOR services of Island County serves senior citizens and provides nutrition sites and Meals on Wheels. There is a Senior Center in Oak Harbor and one in Langley. There are several retirement communities on the island.
The island offers the opportunity to participate in many SPORTS. The High Schools and Middle Schools on Whidbey Island have a variety of sports teams. There are also Little League teams, Softball Teams, Soccer teams, Swim Teams, and Tennis Clubs. Playfields are located throughout the island and swimming lessons are offered in several locations.
TIDES affect locations where the public may access beaches. Tidelands are those parts of a beach that are alternately covered and uncovered by the rising and falling tides. Uplands are the parts of the beach that are above the high tide mark and are almost always dry. Almost all of the upland parts of beaches on Whidbey Island are privately owned.
There is an
UNDERWATER Park at Keystone
There are several
UNIVERSITIES on Whidbey Island. Skagit Valley College offers AA degrees and has a branch of Western Washington University that offers BA degrees in education.
Whidbey Island has several VINEYARDS.
Whidbey Island Vineyard and Winery handcrafts small lots of wine. At one time
Greenbank Farms was once the largest loganberry farm in the world.
Whidbey Island enjoys moderate
WEATHER throughout the year. The summers are mild and sunny with an occasional rainstorm. The winters are mild and cool and sometimes it snows. The
rainshadow of the Olympic Mountains covers much of Whidbey Island and protects it from Pacific storms and holds down rainfall.
WHIDBEY ISLAND is the longest island in the contiguous United States. It is often called "The Rock" because it was formed out of Glacial Rock. The shape of the island is likened to that of a seahorse. It is bordered on the East by Saratoga Passage, on the West by the
Strait of Juan de Fuca, on the south by
Puget Sound, and on the North by Deception Pass/Fidalgo Island.
The
history of the island dates back to 1792, and its anniversary is celebrated on January 4.
Ebey's Landing is located on Central Whidbey and was the first National Historical Preserve established in the country.
Whidbey Island has a large variety of WILDLIFE including deer, oppossum, rabbits, squirrels, coyotes, raccoons, and skunks! Each year the
Wildlife Care Clinic treats nearly 500 mammals and birds. The
Smith Prairie Reserve near Coupeville is a research and restoration area. Hancock Native Reserve is a saltwater estuary with protected birds and animals. Candlewick Farm has a mini-herd of bison and hosts field trips for schools.
XMAS is an abbreviation for Christmas which is celebrated on Whidbey Island like the rest of the
country. Whidbey Dance Theater in South Whidbey is well-known for its holiday production of
The Nutcracker Ballet. All
Federal Holidays are observed throughout the island.
The
ARMED FORCES Y in Oak Harbor provides programs, services, and activities for all members of the community.
The use of
ZIP CODES in the United States began in 1963. The zip codes on Whidbey Island all start with 98.
Whidbey Island is in the Pacific Time ZONE.
South Whidbey is part of a local phenomena referred to as a
Convergence ZONE and receives more rain than North Whidbey. For gardening the island is in the
USDA Hardiness Zone 8 and in the
Sunset Gardening Zone 5.
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