Kitsap Kitsap

Kitsap County

Updated on: December 23, 2021
State
Washington
County Seat:
Port Orchard
Year Organized:
1857
Total Square Miles:
565.919
Population:
266414 (2017)
Persons/Square Mile:
471

County structure

Government Type:
County
Authority:
Dillon's Rule
Legislative Body:
Board of Commissioners
Size of Legislative Body:
3

Demographics

2018 Population:
266414
25 to 64 Years of Age:
52.08%
65 Years of Age and Older:
17.83%

Economy, 2018

Gross Domestic Product (GDP):
$11.5 B
Labor Force:
122,885
Unemployment Rate:
4.60%

County Contact

614 Division Street
Port Orchard, WA

http://www.kitsapgov.com/

Kitsap is a county in Washington State. It was formed on January 16, 1857, and named for Chief Kitsap, a military leader of the Suquamish, Duwamish, Samish, Skokomish, Snoqualmie, Squaxin Island, Steilacoom, Upper Skagit, and Yakima tribes. John W. Stevens established the first permanent white settlement in Kitsap County at Point Adams on May 4, 1851.

Continue reading for more information about Kitsap history, the county seats, maps, towns, cities, county offices, and public records, among other things.

Let’s get started!

A Brief History of Kitsap County

Kitsap county lies between Hood and Puget Sound and borders King and Mason county. The first people in this county were the Suquamish, who lived along the shores of Puget Sound. They had many villages and settlements.

Chief Kitsap was the chief of the Suquamish tribe. He also led the war party that killed Captain George Vancouver during his exploration of Puget Sound in 1792.

The area around present-day Bremerton was home to the Suquamish tribe. In 1854 they signed a treaty with the United States government giving up their land claims and moving westward into Tacoma. This was part of an agreement made between the US Government and Native American Tribes.

Initially, the county was a forested area with few settlers. Later, most of the forested areas were wiped out because of logging. By 1900, only two sawmills were operating in Kitsap County, which produced lumber for local use.

Apart from logging, water transportation was a significant economic activity in this area, where the waters of Puget Sound were deep enough to support large ships. The first steamship arrived in Seattle in 1852. Soon after, steamers began arriving regularly in Bremerton.

Population Geography and Climate

According to the United States Census Bureau, Kitsap county has 271473 people as of the 2020 census. Out of this, 143521 are males while 126842 are female. The population percent change from 2010 to 2020 is 8.1%.

Geographically, the Kitsap area covers 394.94 square miles of land area and 0.05 square miles of inland water area. All the land is arable, meaning that Agricultural activities can be carried out here. Besides, the favorable climate makes it suitable for growing fruits and vegetables.

Kitsap county has warm summers and cold winters. Summers last from June to September and winters from December to March. During the summer months, temperatures range from 57 degrees Fahrenheit to 84 degrees Fahrenheit.

On average, the temperature falls below freezing every month except February. Winters are mild, with temperatures ranging from 32 degrees Fahrenheit to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. There are frequent snowfalls in the winter months.

Cities and Towns

Kitsap county has over 30 cities and towns in different areas within the county. All the cities have significant ways of supporting the county. Here are a few cities and their importance.

Port Orchard: Port Orchard is the county seat of Kitsap county. It is one of the largest cities in the county. It is on the south shore of Puget Sound. It is a popular vacation spot for residents of Seattle and Tacoma. Many tourists visit the city during the spring and fall seasons.

Bremerton: Bremerton is another important city in Kitsap county. It has a population of approximately 70,000. It is a major port city. Its economy depends heavily on the maritime industry.

Silverdale: Silverdale is a small town located north of Bremerton. It’s known for its rich history.

Poulsbo: Poulsbo is at the southern end of the Kitsap Peninsula. It is a quiet town with a population of about 7500.

Kingston: Kingston is near the center of the Kitsap peninsula. It is a small town with a population of approximately 10,000.

Bainbridge Island: Bainbridge Island is located east of Seattle. It is famous for its beautiful beaches and parks.

Kitsap County Offices

Kitsap County Offices provide services to the public. Each office is headed by an elected official called a commissioner who serves a four-year term. The offices are:

Commissioner’s Office: This office provides administrative help to the commissioners. It is under Commissioner Robert Gelder. Call the office at +1 360-337-7080.

Auditor’s Office: This office audits all financial transactions made by the county. It is under Paul Andrews. You can reach them at 360.337.7129

Treasurer’s Office is under Meredith R. Green. This office collects taxes levied by the county and disburses them according to law. You can call the office at +1 360-337-7135.

The sheriff’s office is under Sheriff John Gese. The office handles criminal cases and ensures the safety of citizens. Call the office at 1 360-337-7101.

Kitsap County Maps

Using the Kitsap county maps, you can locate anything in the county. They show roads, rivers, lakes, and other features. You can also find the location of schools, hospitals, fire stations, police stations, museums, airports, etc.

You can use these maps to plan your trip to any part of Kitsap county. They will also help you get directions to any place in the county.

These maps are available online through the Maps of World website. You can download these maps as pdf files.

These maps are updated regularly so that they reflect changes in the county lines.

Public Records at Kitsap County

If you want to access anything in Kitsap County, you need to know exactly where it is kept. Public records are documents that are open to anyone. These include birth certificates, marriage licenses, death certificates, deeds, land titles, court records, tax records, etc.

To view these records, you must first obtain a copy of the document from the clerk’s office. If you don’t have a record, you can apply for a duplicate.

There are many ways to access public records. You can go to the Clerk’s office or the Auditor’s office. You can also search online through the internet. You can even ask someone who knows how to do this.

Call the departments where you need the specific records for help. The contacts directory on the website can be helpful.

Verdict

Kitsap County is one of the most populated counties in Washington state. It has many tourist attractions like the Olympic National Park, Bremerton Naval Base, Puget Sound, San Juan Islands, Mount Baker, Mt. Rainier, Lake Crescent, etc.

This county is well connected to the rest of the country through major highways. Several ferry routes are connecting this county with neighboring states.

This county has a lot of recreational activities, including boating, fishing, hiking, camping, skiing, snowboarding, swimming, etc. It is easy to travel around Kitsap county using public transportation. There are buses running throughout the day.