LOCAL: A Short History of the Kitsap Peninsula

The Kitsap Peninsula would be an island were it not for a mile or two of forest that separates North Bay from Lynch Cove - a relative ribbon of land that tethers the massive peninsula to the rest of Western Washington.

 

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“The history of what we call the Kitsap Peninsula begins under the great Cordillion Ice Sheet 15,000 years ago...”

Kitsap: Carved from Ice

During the last Ice Age all of the Kitsap Peninsula, and indeed all of British Columbia all the way up to Alaska and beyond, was under an enormous glacier that towered up to 2 miles high and seemed to cover the world. What would someday be Seattle, Bremerton, Olympia, Tacoma, Port Orchard, Belfair, Gig Harbor and all the rest were ground to a rocky pulp by the Southern lip of the Cordillion Ice Sheet, buried under the immense weight of the Puget Lobe.

The Labyrinth of waterways that ripple the edges of Kitsap were carved out by the retreating glaciers and melting water. The channels and coves and narrows and passages and inlets and bays we see now were carved out by the grinding teeth of the last Ice Age.

To this day Washington is the 2nd most glaciated state in the US - Alaska is the 1st. So even today the story of our place is still a story of glaciers, and people.

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Kitsap: the chief

George Vancouver made contact with the Suquamish, among the original peoples of the Salish Sea of the Washington coast, in 1792. Nobody knows how many thousands of years the Suquamish and the other original peoples of Kitsap lived on these shores and in these forests. We may never know. We do know that there are 120+ distinct tribes in WA and the earliest human remains found thus far date back to 13,000 years ago.

The Kitsap Peninsula (once referred to as the Great Peninsula) and Kitsap County are named in honor of Chief Kitsap. A great and legendary figure, Chief Kitsap was one of the most powerful leaders of the indigenous people of the Salish Sea. He led a vast intertribal coalition and built the biggest longhouse that had ever been constructed. His figure looms large in the early history of the Peninsula and he was pivotal in the time of European contact. You can visit the site of this long house at Old Man House park in Suquamish, near Agate Pass.

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kitsap: county or peninsula?

Kitsap County and the Kitsap Peninsula are two different things altogether. Kitsap County is defined by the ‘imaginary’ jurisdictional lines set down by humans. The Kitsap Peninsula is the entire geographic region as carved by glaciers and the hands of time.

The Kitsap Peninsula is home to 3 counties - Kitsap, Mason and Pierce. Kitsap County comprises the majority of the Peninsula - over 2/3rds of the northernmost and central landmass. Pierce County claims the southern communities of Gig Harbor, Longbranch and Vaughn among others. And Mason County claims the southern crook in the Hood Canal, Belfair and the vast forests that line the shores of the Canal.

Non-Native Settlement

In 1852 the first non-native peoples on the Peninsula build a mill at what would eventually become the city of Kingston and shortly thereafter in 1854  a mill in Port Gamble is built. The sawmill remained in operation until 1996. And in 1857 Slaughter County is established from portions of King and Jefferson counties. Six short months later, the people officially changed the name to Kitsap County, because - of course it is a MUCH better name. A generation later, in 1891 the Puget Sound Naval Station is established in Bremerton and the Peninsula has never been the same. To this day PSNS is the biggest employer on the Peninsula.

kitsap peninsula cities & towns

There are only a handful of cities on the Kitsap Peninsula; Kingston, Poulsbo, Bremerton, Port Orchard, Gig Harbor…and yes, we are counting Bainbridge Island because it’s a part of our county and we couldn’t bear to part with it!

Kingston, founded 1853: Sitting peacefully on the shore of Appletree Cove, Kingston is a 30-minute ferry ride from Edmonds for cars and walk-ons. It's a beautiful ferry crossing. Kingston's colorful and quaint main street is lined with shops, pubs, and eateries.

Bainbridge Island, founded 1854: Accessible by the short Agate Pass Bridge, Bainbridge is a socially-progressive, upscale, and downright gorgeous island/city. You’ll find beautiful homes, a thriving art culture, activism, outdoor scene, and no shortage of great food.

Poulsbo, founded 1880’s: Known as "Little Norway," Poulsbo was settled in 1892 by Norwegian loggers, farmers, and fishermen who likened landscape to their homeland. The downtown waterfront is home to dozens of unique shops offering Scandinavian gifts, art, and goodies and is home to several breweries and great restaurants.

Gig Harbor, founded 1888: The beautiful Southernmost city on the Kitsap Peninsula, Gig Harbor is generally more upscale than the rest of Kitsap and has a beautiful and walkable waterfront downtown area as well as areas for dining and shopping.

Port Orchard founded 1890: The County seat is a quaint town who’s small historic downtown is accessible by foot ferry from Bremerton and thus Seattle. The Port Orchard area is home to several great parks such as Manchester State Park, Banner Forest, and many shorefront communities such as Annapolis, Southworth, and Harper.

Bremerton, founded 1891: The biggest city on the Peninsula and home to one of the biggest naval shipyards on the west coast, Bremerton has long been a central hub for commerce and industry. As of late, the city has been experiencing a welcome renaissance of culture and revitalization.

Other towns and communities on the Kitsap Peninsula include:

* Annapolis * Bangor * Belfair * Brownsville * Colby * Colchester * Chico * Erlands Point * Kitsap Lake * Gorst * Hansville * Illahee * Indianola * Keyport * Manchester * Manette * Olalla * Parkwood * Port Gamble * Purdy * Retsil * Seabeck * Silverdale * Southworth * Suquamish * Tahuya * Tracyton

Learn more local KITSAP information