Editing Kitsap County, Washington

{{Short description|County in Washington, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Kitsap County
 | state                = Washington
 | ex image             = Kitsap County Courthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Kitsap County Courthouse
 | seal                 = 
 | founded year         = 1857
 | founded date         = January 16
 | seat wl              = Port Orchard
 | largest city wl      = Bremerton
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 566
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 395
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 171
 | area percentage      = 30%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 275611
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 281420 {{increase}}
 | density_sq_mi        = 644
 | time zone            = Pacific
 | coordinates          = {{coord|47.64|-122.65|display=inline,title|type:adm2nd_region:US-WA_source:UScensus1990}}
 | named for            = [[Chief Kitsap]]
 | district             = 6th
 | flag                 = 
 | website              = https://www.kitsap.gov/
}}

'''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 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]].

The [[United States Navy]] is the largest employer in the county, with installations at [[Puget Sound Naval Shipyard]], [[Naval Undersea Warfare Center]] [[Keyport, Washington|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, Washington|Southworth]] to [[West Seattle, Seattle, Washington|West Seattle]] via [[Vashon Island]], [[Seattle-Bainbridge Island ferry|Bainbridge Island to Downtown Seattle]], and from [[Edmonds-Kingston Ferry|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:

* The [[Treaty of Medicine Creek]], signed December 26, 1854, ratified March 3, 1855
* The [[Treaty of Point Elliott]], signed January 22, 1855, ratified April 11, 1859
* [[Point No Point Treaty]], signed January 26, 1855, ratified March 8, 1859.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Clark |first=William G. |date=Summer 1985 |title=Fishing in a Sea of Court Orders: Puget Sound Salmon Management 10 Years After the Boldt Decision |url=http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/salmon/fishing_in_a_sea_of_court_orders_-_puget_sound_salmon_management.pdf |url-status=dead |journal=North American Journal of Fisheries Management |volume=5 |issue=3B |pages=417–434 |doi=10.1577/1548-8659(1985)5<417:FIASOC>2.0.CO;2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221171104/http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/salmon/fishing_in_a_sea_of_court_orders_-_puget_sound_salmon_management.pdf |archive-date=February 21, 2017 |access-date=June 28, 2017}}</ref>

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 Anson Meigs|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.<ref>[[#Bowen|Bowen ''et al.'' (1981)]], p. 11.</ref>

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.<ref>[[#Bowen|Bowen ''et al.'' (1981)]], p. 12.</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Farley |first=Josh |date=August 5, 2020 |title=Kitsap's nuclear legacy: county has grown under its protectors and protesters |url=https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2020/08/05/kitsaps-nuclear-legacy-has-protectors-protestors/5502825002/ |access-date=January 27, 2024 |work=Kitsap Sun}}</ref>

==Geography==
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.

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]].

===Geographic features===
{{div col}}
*[[Bainbridge Island]]
*[[Blake Island]]
*[[Buck Lake (Kitsap County)|Buck Lake]]
*[[Colvos Passage]]
*[[Dyes Inlet]]
*[[Hood Canal]]
*[[Kitsap Peninsula]]
*[[Liberty Bay]]
*[[Port Gamble]]
*[[Port Madison]]
*[[Port Orchard]]
*[[Puget Sound]]
*[[Sinclair Inlet]]
*[[Blue Hills (Washington)|Blue Hills]]
*[[Seattle Fault Zone]]
*[[Kitsap Lake]]
*[[Ostrich Bay]]
*[[Horseshoe Lake (Kitsap County)|Horseshoe Lake]]
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Island County, Washington|Island County]] - northeast
*[[Snohomish County, Washington|Snohomish County]] - east
*[[King County, Washington|King County]] - east/southeast
*[[Pierce County, Washington|Pierce County]] - south/southeast
*[[Mason County, Washington|Mason County]] - southwest
*[[Jefferson County, Washington|Jefferson County]] - northwest
===Notable parks===
*[[Blake Island Marine State Park]], {{convert|1127|acre}}
*[[Bloedel Reserve]]
*[[Camp Yeomalt]]
*[[Eagledale Park]]
*[[Fay Bainbridge Park]]
*[[Fort Ward Park]]
*[[Illahee State Park]]
*[[Kitsap Memorial State Park]]
*[[Manchester State Park (Washington)|Manchester State Park]]
*[[Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park]], {{convert|3493|acre}}
*[[Pritchard Park]]
*[[Scenic Beach State Park]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 544
|1870= 866
|1880= 1738
|1890= 4624
|1900= 6767
|1910= 17647
|1920= 33162
|1930= 30776
|1940= 44387
|1950= 75724
|1960= 84176
|1970= 101732
|1980= 147152
|1990= 189731
|2000= 231969
|2010= 251133
|2020= 275611
|estyear=2024
|estimate=281420
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 17, 2025}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=January 7, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=January 7, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/wa190090.txt |access-date=January 7, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226035610/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=February 26, 2015 |access-date=January 7, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="QF" />
}}

===2020 census===
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 275,611 people, 105,803 households, and 71,548 families living in the county.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Kitsap%20County,%20Washington%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=November 10, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 251,133 people, 97,220 households, and 65,820 families residing in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{Cite web |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US53035 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213012018/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US53035 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=March 6, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|635.9|PD/sqmi}}. There were 107,367 housing units at an average density of {{convert|271.9|/sqmi}}.<ref name="census-density">{{Cite web |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US53035 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213191515/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US53035 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=March 6, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 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.<ref name="census-dp1" /> In terms of ancestry, 21.3% were [[Germans|German]], 14.4% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 13.8% were [[English people|English]], 7.1% were [[Norwegians|Norwegian]], and 4.2% were [[Americans|American]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{Cite web |title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US53035 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213030642/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US53035 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=March 6, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

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.<ref name="census-dp1" />

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.<ref name="census-dp3">{{Cite web |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US53035 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213031121/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US53035 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=March 6, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

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

===Cities===
*[[Bainbridge Island, Washington|Bainbridge Island]]
*[[Bremerton, Washington|Bremerton]]
*[[Port Orchard, Washington|Port Orchard]] (county seat)
*[[Poulsbo, Washington|Poulsbo]]

===Census-designated places===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
*[[Bangor Base, Washington|Bangor Base]]
*[[Bethel, Washington|Bethel]]
*[[Burley, Washington|Burley]]
*[[Chico, Washington|Chico]]
*[[East Port Orchard, Washington|East Port Orchard]]
*[[Enetai, Washington|Enetai]]
*[[Erlands Point, Washington|Erlands Point]]
*[[Gorst, Washington|Gorst]]
*[[Hansville, Washington|Hansville]]
*[[Indianola, Washington|Indianola]]
*[[Keyport, Washington|Keyport]]
*[[Kingston, Washington|Kingston]]
*[[Kitsap Lake, Washington|Kitsap Lake]]
*[[Lofall, Washington|Lofall]]
*[[Manchester, Washington|Manchester]]
*[[Navy Yard City, Washington|Navy Yard City]]
*[[Parkwood, Washington|Parkwood]]
*[[Port Gamble Tribal Community, Washington|Port Gamble Tribal Community]]
*[[Rocky Point, Kitsap County, Washington|Rocky Point]]
*[[Seabeck, Washington|Seabeck]]
*[[Silverdale, Washington|Silverdale]]
*[[Southworth, Washington|Southworth]]
*[[Suquamish, Washington|Suquamish]]
*[[Tracyton, Washington|Tracyton]]
{{div col end}}

===Other unincorporated communities===
[[Image:Fragaria washington.JPG|right|thumb|240px| Beach cottages in Fragaria along Colvos Passage in Kitsap County]]

{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
*[[Annapolis, Washington|Annapolis]]
*[[Bay Vista, Washington|Bay Vista]]
*[[Breidablick, Washington|Breidablick]]
*[[Brownsville, Washington|Brownsville]]
*[[Camp Union, Washington|Camp Union]]
*[[Central Valley, Washington|Central Valley]]
* Clear Creek
*[[Crosby, Washington|Crosby]]
*[[Eglon, Washington|Eglon]]
*[[Fernwood, Washington|Fernwood]]
*[[Fragaria, Washington|Fragaria]]
*[[Gilberton, Washington|Gilberton]]
*[[Glenwood, Kitsap County, Washington|Glenwood]]
*[[Harper, Washington|Harper]]
*[[Holly, Washington|Holly]]
*[[Horseshoe Lake, Washington|Horseshoe Lake]]
*[[Illahee, Washington|Illahee]]
*[[Island Lake, Washington|Island Lake]]
*[[Kariotis, Washington|Kariotis]]
*[[Lofall, Washington|Lofall]]
*[[Lone Rock, Washington|Lone Rock]]
*[[Long Lake, Washington|Long Lake]]
*[[Olalla, Washington|Olalla]]
*[[Olalla Valley, Washington|Olalla Valley]]
*[[Scandia, Washington|Scandia]]
*[[South Colby, Washington|South Colby]]
*[[South Park Village, Washington|South Park Village]]
*[[Virginia, Washington|Virginia]]
*[[Waterman, Washington|Waterman]]
*[[Wautauga Beach, Washington|Wautauga Beach]]
*[[Wildcat Lake, Washington|Wildcat Lake]]
*[[Wye Lake, Washington|Wye Lake]]
{{div col end}}

==Politics==
Kitsap County is generally considered to be a relatively [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] area, owing to progressivism stemmed from the county's [[Nordic and Scandinavian Americans|Scandinavian]] settlers. In the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 U.S. presidential election]], Democrat [[Hillary Clinton]] received 49.0% of the vote to [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Donald Trump]]'s 38.1%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=General Election Official Final |url=https://www.kitsap.gov/auditor/Pages/ElectionArchives.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402123608/http://www.kitsapgov.com/aud/elections/archive/12/Cum1112/ElectionResult.htm |archive-date=April 2, 2016 |access-date=March 1, 2015 |publisher=Kitsap County Auditor}}</ref> This Democratic margin widened in 2020, with candidate [[Joe Biden]] receiving 56.9% of the vote versus incumbent Trump receiving 38.8%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kitsap County November 3, 2020 General Election |url=https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20201103/kitsap/}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kitsap County November 5, 2024 General Election |url=https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20241105/kitsap/}}</ref>

On mainland Kitsap County, politics are strongly influenced by working-class [[Bremerton, Washington|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, Washington|Silverdale]] having become a Republican stronghold, [[Poulsbo, Washington|Poulsbo]] marginally Democratic, and [[Port Orchard, Washington|Port Orchard]] consistently electing Republican 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>

{{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>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|59,080|91,731|6,061|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|61,563|90,277|6,832|Washington (state)}}
{{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==

===Board of County Commissioners===

* District 1 (North Kitsap): [[Christine Rolfes]], Democrat; appointed 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lucia |first=Bill |title=Lead state Senate budget writer will leave Legislature for local government |url=https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2023/06/05/lead-state-senate-budget-writer-will-leave-legislature-for-local-government/ |access-date=May 9, 2024 |publisher=Washington State Standard}}</ref> Elected in 2024<ref name=":0" />
* District 2 (South Kitsap): Oran Root, Republican; elected in 2024<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Uyehara |first=Kai |date=November 5, 2024 |title=Root elected as South Kitsap's first Republican District 2 commissioner in decades |url=https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/11/05/kitsap-county-commissioner-election-results/75709435007/ |access-date=January 16, 2025 |publisher=Kitsap Sun}}</ref>
* District 3 (Central Kitsap): Katie Walters, Democrat; elected in 2022<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 28, 2022 |title=Kitsap County, Washington General Election 11/8/22 |url=https://www.kitsap.gov/auditor/Documents/ResultsGE2022.html |access-date=May 10, 2024 |publisher=Kitsap County Auditor's Office}}</ref>

===State legislators===

====23rd Legislative District====
[[Bainbridge Island]], [[East Bremerton]], [[Poulsbo]] and [[Silverdale, Washington|Silverdale]]
*Sen. [[Drew Hansen]] (D) - Appointed August 2023 to replace Christine Rolfes who had been appointed to Board of County Commissioners. Elected November 2024.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Lin |first=Peiyu |date=November 5, 2024 |title=Incumbents leading races across 23rd, 26th, and 35th District races |url=https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/11/05/election-results-washington-legislative-races-kitsap-county/75723385007/ |access-date=January 16, 2025 |publisher=Kitsap Sun}}</ref>
*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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 19, 2023 |title=Greg Nance appointed to fill vacant house seat in 23rd Legislative District |url=https://housedemocrats.wa.gov/blog/2023/09/19/greg-nance-appointed-to-vacant-house-seat-in-23rd-legislative-district/ |access-date=May 10, 2024 |publisher=Washington State House Democrats}}</ref> Elected November 2024.<ref name=":1" />

====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. 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>
*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)

====35th Legislative District====
[[Bremerton]], [[Shelton, Washington|Shelton]] and [[Mason County, Washington|Mason County]]
*Sen. [[Drew MacEwen|Drew MacEwan]] (R)
*Rep. [[Dan Griffey]] (R)
*Rep. [[Travis Couture]] (R)

==Education==

===Post-secondary education===
*[[Olympic College]]

===Public schools===
*[[Bainbridge Island School District]]
*[[Bremerton School District]]
*[[Central Kitsap School District]]
*[[North Kitsap School District]]
*[[South Kitsap School District]]

==Transportation==
Kitsap County is connected to the eastern shore of [[Puget Sound]] by several [[Washington State Ferries]] routes, including the [[Seattle-Bremerton Ferry]], [[Southworth, Washington|Southworth]] to [[West Seattle, Seattle, Washington|West Seattle]] via [[Vashon Island]], [[Seattle-Bainbridge Island ferry|Bainbridge Island to Downtown Seattle]], and from [[Edmonds-Kingston Ferry|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 [[Kitsap Fast Ferries|fast ferry]] services to Seattle in July 2017, beginning initially with a Bremerton route and later expanding to Kingston in 2018.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Friedrich |first=Ed |date=July 10, 2017 |title=First fast ferry sailed at sunrise |url=http://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2017/07/10/first-fast-ferry-sailed-sunrise/464144001/ |access-date=February 20, 2020 |work=Kitsap Sun}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Gutman |first=David |date=November 3, 2018 |title=Kitsap Transit launching Kingston-to-Seattle fast ferry service after Thanksgiving |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/kitsap-transit-launching-kingston-to-seattle-fast-ferry-service-after-thanksgiving/ |access-date=February 20, 2020 |work=[[The Seattle Times]]}}</ref> 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 {{convert|48|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} 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.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Friedrich |first=Ed |date=September 24, 2012 |title=Much Has Changed Since Bangor's Ammo Depot Days |url=http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/local-news/much-has-changed-since-bangors-ammo-depot-days |work=Kitsap Sun |location=Bremerton, Wash.}}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Tarn Adams]] — programmer and game designer, creator of ''[[Dwarf Fortress]]'' and other games
*[[Nathan Adrian]] — swimmer and Olympic gold medalist<ref>[https://swimswam.com/bio/nathan-adrian/ "Nathan Adrian - Bio"]. ''[[SwimSwam]]''. Retrieved July 22, 2021.</ref>
*[[Dove Cameron]] — actress, singer
*[[Ben Gibbard]] — musician
*[[Richard F. Gordon Jr.]] — naval officer and aviator, test pilot, and NASA astronaut
*[[Russell Johnson]] — actor, best known as [[The Professor (Gilligan's Island)|The Professor]] on TV's ''[[Gilligan's Island]]''
*[[James Kelsey (sculptor)|James Kelsey]] — sculptor
*[[Debbie Macomber]] — best-selling romance novelist
*[[Gregg Olsen]] — best-selling mystery/crime novelist
*[[Benji Olson]] — NFL player for Tennessee Titans
*[[Delilah Rene]] — radio personality, author and songwriter
*[[Bree Schaaf]] — 2010 Winter Olympics competitor in bobsled
*[[Aaron Sele]] — former [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|all-star]] [[Major League Baseball|MLB]] [[pitcher]]
*[[Ben Shepherd]] — bass player of Seattle rock band [[Soundgarden]]
*[[Scott Shipley]] — slalom canoeist
*[[Marvin Williams]] — NBA player for the Atlanta Hawks
*[[Andrew Wood (singer)|Andrew Wood]] — lead singer of Seattle rock band [[Mother Love Bone]]

==In popular culture==
''[[Walking Tall (2004 film)|Walking Tall]]'' with [[Dwayne Johnson|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 (fictional community)|Cedar Cove]] in the books by [[Debbie Macomber]].

==See also==
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Kitsap County, Washington]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

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

===Bibliography===
* {{Cite book |last=Bowen |first=Evelyn T. |title=Kitsap County: A History: A Story of Kitsap County and its Pioneers |last2=Kvelstad |first2=Rangvald |last3=Parfitt |first3=Elnora |last4=Perry |first4=Fredi |last5=Stott |first5=Virginia |date=1977 |publisher=Dinner & Klein |edition=Second Edition, 1981 |location=Seattle |ref=Bowen}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Kitsap County, Washington}}
*[http://www.kitsap.gov/ Kitsap County official website]
*[http://www.wagenweb.org/kitsap/ Kitsap County USGenWeb]
*[http://visitkitsap.com/ Kitsap Peninsula Visitor and Convention Bureau]
*[http://www.kitsapeda.org/ Kitsap Economic Development Alliance]
*[http://www.kitsaphistory.org/ Kitsap Historical Society and Museum] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819085355/http://www.kitsaphistory.org/ |date=August 19, 2014 }}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Kitsap County, Washington
|North     =
|Northeast = [[Island County, Washington|Island County]]
|East      = [[Snohomish County, Washington|Snohomish County]]
|Southeast = [[King County, Washington|King County]]
|South     = [[Pierce County, Washington|Pierce County]]
|Southwest = [[Mason County, Washington|Mason County]]
|West      =
|Northwest = [[Jefferson County, Washington|Jefferson County]]
}}
{{Kitsap County, Washington}}
{{Washington}}
{{Seattle Metro}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Kitsap County, Washington| ]]
[[Category:Washington (state) placenames of Native American origin]]
[[Category:1857 establishments in Washington Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1857]]
[[Category:Seattle metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Western Washington]]