Editing Poulsbo, Washington

{{Short description|City in Washington, United States}}
{{about|the city in Washington state|the Intel Poulsbo chipset|System Controller Hub}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Poulsbo, Washington
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| nickname           = Viking City, Little Norway
| native_name        = č̓uʔč̓uɬac
| native_name_lang   = lut
| image_skyline      = Front Street NE, Poulsbo, Washington.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Front Street Northeast
| image_seal         = 
| image_map          = Kitsap_County_Washington_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Poulsbo_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Poulsbo, Washington
<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = [[United States]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Washington|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Kitsap County, Washington|Kitsap]]
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = [[Mayor–council government|Mayor–council]]
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Becky Erickson<ref name="Sun-Erickson"/>
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = 
<!-- Area -->
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_53.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 13.91
| area_land_km2      = 12.27
| area_water_km2     = 1.64
| area_total_sq_mi   = 5.37
| area_land_sq_mi    = 4.74
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.63
<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>
| population_total   = 11275
| population_est     = 11891
| pop_est_as_of      = 2022
| pop_est_footnotes  = <ref name="USCensusEstimate2019">{{cite web |date=May 2020 |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Washington: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2019 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2010s-total-cities-and-towns.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=May 27, 2020}}</ref>
| population_density_km2 = 910.20
| population_density_sq_mi = 2528
<!-- General information -->
| timezone           = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific (PST)]]
| utc_offset         = -8
| timezone_DST       = PDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -7
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 62
| coordinates        = {{coord|47|44|21|N|122|38|27|W|region:US-WA|display=inline,title}}
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 98370
| area_code          = [[Area code 360|360]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 53-55995
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2411479<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2411479}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|https://cityofpoulsbo.com}}
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Poulsbo''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|ɔː|l|z|b|oʊ}} {{respell|PAWLZ|boh}}) is a city on [[Liberty Bay]] in [[Kitsap County, Washington|Kitsap County]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], United States. It is the smallest of the four cities in Kitsap County. The population was 11,970 at the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Poulsbo city, Washington |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/poulsbocitywashington/PST045222 |access-date=August 1, 2023 |website=www.census.gov |language=en}}</ref> and an estimated 10,927 in 2018.<ref name="USCensusEst2018">{{cite web |url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2018/PEPANNRES/0400000US53.16200 |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2018 (PEPANNRES): Washington Incorporated Places |access-date=June 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213191003/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2018/PEPANNRES/0400000US53.16200 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[Suquamish]] people have inhabited the surrounding area, called {{Langx|lut|č̓uʔč̓uɬac|label=none}} in [[Lushootseed]], for millennia.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}} After the signing of the [[Treaty of Point Elliott]] in 1855, many were moved to the [[Port Madison Indian Reservation]]. Poulsbo was then founded in the 1880s by Norwegian immigrant Jørgen Eliason, who was joined by other Scandinavians who relocated from the [[Midwest|Midwestern states]]. They were drawn here by the availability of land, by the area's rich resources, and by a landscape similar to their native home. The settlement was connected by boats to other areas of the region, including the [[Puget Sound mosquito fleet]], which was eventually usurped by highways built in the early 20th century.

Modern-day downtown Poulsbo maintains a Scandinavian theme to honor its early immigrant history and is a popular regional tourist destination. One of its local products, [[Poulsbo Bread]], is made locally at Sluys Bakery and used to be sold internationally. Many visitors arrive by boat; there are three [[marina]]s near the town, and the town's harbor is an excellent anchorage.

==History==
[[File:First Lutheran Church of Poulsbo.jpg|thumb|left|upright|First Lutheran Church of Poulsbo]]

The [[Suquamish]] people have inhabited [[Liberty Bay]] for millennia, hunting in local forests and floodplains, fishing in bays and streams, and harvesting shellfish along the shoreline. The site upon which the modern city is built is called {{Langx|lut|č̓uʔč̓uɬac|label=none}}, meaning "maple trees".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bates |first=Dawn |title=Lushootseed Dictionary |last2=Hess |first2=Thom |last3=Hilbert |first3=Vi |publisher=University of Washington Press |year=1994}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.northkitsapherald.com/business/311052921.html |title=Viking Avenue business owner will replace trees he cut down |work=North Kitsap Herald |date=June 30, 2015 |first=Richard |last=Walker |access-date=August 30, 2016}}</ref> The Suquamish had a winter village nearby, at the head of Liberty Bay, anglicized variously as "Ho-Cheeb"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.northkitsapherald.com/news/304004031.html |title=1 million Norwegians immigrated to U.S. between 1820 and 1920 |work=North Kitsap Herald |date=May 16, 2015 |access-date=August 30, 2016}}</ref> and "Xoyacid,"<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Waterman |first=T.T. |title=sdaʔdaʔ gʷəɬ dibəɬ ləšucid ʔacʔaciɬtalbixʷ - Puget Sound Geographical Names}}</ref> which consisted of two large houses and four smaller houses. It existed until the late 1800s until settlers began populating the area.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Suquamish Tribe – Home of the Suquamish People |url=https://suquamish.nsn.us/ |access-date=July 8, 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref>

After the signing of the [[Treaty of Point Elliott]] in 1855, most of the Suquamish people living in the area were relocated to the [[Port Madison Indian Reservation]].

[[File:Oyster dyke at Poulsbo, Washington, June 1920 (COBB 143).jpeg|thumb|upright|[[Oyster farming]] in Poulsbo, 1920]]

Founded by Norwegian immigrant Jørgen Eliason in the 1880s, Poulsbo was settled in its early years by a large number of [[Norwegians|Norwegian]] and other [[Scandinavia]]n immigrants because of its similarities to their native countries.<ref name=majors>{{Cite book| last = Majors | first = Harry M. | title = Exploring Washington | publisher = Van Winkle Publishing Co | year = 1975 | page = 82 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CoWrPQAACAAJ| isbn = 978-0-918664-00-6}}</ref> In 1886, Iver Brynildsen Moe, one of the early Norwegian settlers, suggested that the community should have a post office. Moe suggested the town be named "Paulsbo", his hometown in [[Halden]], Norway.<ref name="HistoryLink">{{cite web |last=Ott |first=Jennifer |date=November 5, 2007 |title=Poulsbo — Thumbnail History |url=https://www.historylink.org/File/8359 |work=[[HistoryLink]] |accessdate=March 4, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Meany |first=Edmond S. |author-link=Edmond S. Meany |year=1923 |title=Origin of Washington Geographic Names |page=230 |publisher=[[University of Washington Press]] |oclc=1963675 |url=https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/001444300 |via=[[HathiTrust]] |accessdate=March 4, 2021}}</ref> The community's petition for a post office was granted and Moe became the first postmaster, but authorities in Washington, D.C. misspelled the town's name, likely misreading Moe's handwriting,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Poulsbo -- Thumbnail History |url=https://historylink.org/File/8359 |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=historylink.org}}</ref> and the community became known as "Poulsbo" thereafter. Poulsbo was incorporated on December 18, 1907.

On September 15, 1914, after a dry summer with multiple previous brush fires, a large portion of the downtown business district was destroyed in a fire. Eight business buildings, an estimated third of the business section, were destroyed, with another damaged. The cause of the fire was never determined. Businessowners who lost their buildings continued business in undamaged buildings while downtown was rebuilt. After the fire, new buildings were constructed with cement rather than wood.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Driscoll |first=Judy |date=September 12, 2014 |title=Remembering the Great Fire of 1914 |url=https://www.kitsapdailynews.com/news/remembering-the-great-fire-of-1914/ |work=[[Kitsap Daily News]] |accessdate=May 7, 2024}}</ref>

Until [[World War II]], many Poulsbo residents retained [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]] as a primary language. However, during [[World War II]], the military constructed about 300 residential units to provide housing for workers at the nearby [[Puget Sound Naval Shipyard]] in [[Bremerton, Washington|Bremerton]]. The population of Poulsbo almost tripled over three years, and the diversification of the population led to the dominance of [[English language|English]] as the primary language.

On October 22, 1975, King [[Olav V of Norway]] visited Poulsbo as part of the celebration of 150 years of Norwegian immigration to the United States.<ref name=Jacobi>{{cite web |last=Ott |first=Jennifer |date=November 5, 2007 |title=King Olav V of Norway visits Poulsbo on October 22, 1975. |url=https://www.historylink.org/File/8361 |work=HistoryLink |accessdate=March 4, 2021}}</ref> His son, [[Harald V|Harald]], visited 20 years later.

==Education==
Poulsbo is home to many different [[state school|public schools]] in the [[North Kitsap School District]]. North Kitsap High School, Poulsbo Middle School, Poulsbo Elementary School and Vinland Elementary School are located within the city limits, while Pearson Elementary School lies south of town. Private schools include Gateway Christian School and West Sound Academy. Post-secondary undergraduate education includes [[Olympic College]] Poulsbo.

[[Chief Kitsap Academy]] in [[Suquamish, Washington|Suquamish]] is outside of the Poulsbo city limits and has a Poulsbo postal address.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://suquamish.nsn.us/home/departments/education1/ckacademy/cka-about-us/|title=About Us|publisher=[[Chief Kitsap Academy]]|accessdate=July 14, 2021|quote=15801 Creative Drive NE Poulsbo, WA 98370}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st53_wa/place/p5369170_suquamish/DC10BLK_P5369170_001.pdf 2010 US Census Bureau map of Suquamish CDP] - The site is not in the Poulsbo city limits. See [https://cityofpoulsbo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2017_zoningmap_-1.pdf zoning map] and compare to the address.</ref>

[[Northwest College of Art & Design]] was formerly in the Poulsbo area. The school, established in 1982 as the Northwest College of Art, was initially in Lemolo in Poulsbo.<ref name=Sooter>{{cite web|last=Sooter|first=Tad|url=https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/money/blogs/minding-your-business/2017/03/26/poulsbo-art-college-announces-move-tacoma/99665624/|title=Poulsbo art college announces move to Tacoma|newspaper=[[Kitsap Sun]]|date=March 26, 2017|accessdate=July 15, 2021}}</ref> In 1991 the institution began leasing the former Mains Manor in Suquamish<!--The place name isn't in the source text, but based on https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st53_wa/place/p5369170_suquamish/DC10BLK_P5369170_001.pdf (map of Suquamish CDP), https://cityofpoulsbo.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2017_zoningmap_-1.pdf (zoning map for Poulsbo), and 15801 Creative Drive NE Poulsbo, WA 98370 (address of [[Chief Kitsap Academy]], which bought the former building-->, which was purchased in 2000.<ref>{{cite web|last=Edwards|first=Sue|url=https://products.kitsapsun.com/archive/2000/01-22/0051_northwest_college_of_art__the_fin.html<!--Former URL: https://web.kitsapsun.com/archive/2000/01-22/0051_northwest_college_of_art__the_fin.html-->|title=NORTHWEST COLLEGE OF ART: The fine art of buying a campus|newspaper=[[Kitsap Sun]]|date=January 22, 2000|accessdate=July 15, 2021}}</ref> The Suquamish tribe had purchased the former college building for $5.03 million on November 28, 2017, and made it into the current Chief Kitsap Building.<ref name=HenryChrismoves>{{cite web|last=Henry|first=Chris|url=https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/local/2018/09/06/suquamish-tribes-chief-kitsap-academy-moves-new-campus-school-students/1214275002/|title=Suquamish Tribe's Chief Kitsap Academy moves to new campus|newspaper=[[Kitsap Sun]]|date=September 6, 2018|accessdate=July 14, 2021}}</ref> The college, at that time, moved to Tacoma, having purchased a building there.<ref name=Sooter/>

==Geography==

===Topography===
Poulsbo is located in northern Kitsap County at the north end of [[Liberty Bay]], a sheltered arm of [[Puget Sound]]. [[Washington State Route 305]] has its northwestern terminus in the northern part of the town at [[Washington State Route 3|State Route 3]] and leads southeast {{convert|13|mi}} to the ferry docks at [[Bainbridge Island, Washington|Bainbridge Island]]. SR 3 leads north {{convert|9|mi|0}} to [[Port Gamble, Washington|Port Gamble]] and south {{convert|16|mi}} to the western part of [[Bremerton, Washington|Bremerton]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], Poulsbo has a total area of {{convert|5.27|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|4.67|sqmi|sqkm|2}} are land and {{convert|0.60|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, or 11.43%, are water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=December 19, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=January 25, 2012}}</ref>

===Climate===
{{Weather box <!--infobox begins-->
|open=
|single line=yes
|location= Poulsbo, Washington

|temperature color=
|collapsed = Y
|Jan record high F= 62
|Feb record high F= 71
|Mar record high F= 80
|Apr record high F= 83
|May record high F= 92
|Jun record high F= 97
|Jul record high F= 99
|Aug record high F= 101
|Sep record high F= 97
|Oct record high F= 86
|Nov record high F= 70
|Dec record high F= 68

|Jan high F= 47
|Feb high F= 49
|Mar high F= 54
|Apr high F= 59
|May high F= 65
|Jun high F= 70
|Jul high F= 76
|Aug high F= 77
|Sep high F= 71
|Oct high F= 60
|Nov high F= 51
|Dec high F= 45

|Jan low F= 36
|Feb low F= 35
|Mar low F= 38
|Apr low F= 41
|May low F= 46
|Jun low F= 51
|Jul low F= 54
|Aug low F= 55
|Sep low F= 50
|Oct low F= 44
|Nov low F= 39
|Dec low F= 34

|Jan record low F= 12
|Feb record low F= 12
|Mar record low F= 19
|Apr record low F= 28
|May record low F= 27
|Jun record low F= 38
|Jul record low F= 41
|Aug record low F= 39
|Sep record low F= 33
|Oct record low F= 27
|Nov record low F= 10
|Dec record low F= 7

|Jan precipitation inch= 8.89
|Feb precipitation inch= 6.22
|Mar precipitation inch= 5.95
|Apr precipitation inch= 3.57
|May precipitation inch= 2.46
|Jun precipitation inch= 1.69
|Jul precipitation inch= 0.86
|Aug precipitation inch= 1.03
|Sep precipitation inch= 1.55
|Oct precipitation inch= 4.89
|Nov precipitation inch= 9.39
|Dec precipitation inch= 10.07

|source 1= <ref name= weather.com>{{cite web |url= http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/USWA0352 |title= weather.com }}</ref>
}}<!--infobox ends-->

==Demographics==
[[File:Poulsbo, WA - Sons of Norway 02.jpg|thumb|left|Sons of Norway Hall, Poulsbo]]
{{US Census population
|1910= 364
|1920= 546
|1930= 584
|1940= 639
|1950= 1014
|1960= 1505
|1970= 1856
|1980= 3453
|1990= 4848
|2000= 6813
|2010= 9200
|2020= 11970
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 26, 2013}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]],<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=December 19, 2012}}</ref> there were 9,200 people, 3,883 households, and 2,310 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1970.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 4,115 housing units at an average density of {{convert|881.2|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 82.9% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 9.2% [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]], 5.7% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.1% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.9% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.3% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 3.6% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 5.4% from two or more races.

There were 3,883 households, of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.5% were non-families. 34.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.97.

The median age in the city was 40.2 years. 23.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.7% were from 25 to 44; 24.5% were from 45 to 64; and 19.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 45.3% male and 54.7% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], there were 6,813 people, 2,845 households, and 1,772 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 2,121.5 people per square mile (819.5/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 2,992 housing units at an average density of 931.7 per square mile (359.9/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the city was 88.1% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 4.8% [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]], 3.0% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.0% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.0% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.4% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.9% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 4.6% from two or more races. 14.6% were of [[germans|German]], 10.6% [[irish people|Irish]], 10.0% [[english people|English]] and 9.5% [[norwegians|Norwegian]] ancestry. 95.3% spoke [[english language|English]] and 2.6% [[spanish language|Spanish]] as their first language.

There were 2,845 households, out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.7% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.2% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and under, there are 78.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $38,875 and the median income for a family was $51,353. Males had a median income of $40,482 versus $27,899 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $20,649. 9.1% of the population and 8.2% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 14.1% of those under the age of 18 and 6.0% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. A large number of employed individuals work on the east side of Puget Sound, in Seattle or other King County cities, and commute to work by ferry.

==Government==

Poulsbo has a [[mayor–council government]] that is led by an elected [[mayor]] and five-member city council. Becky Erickson was elected mayor in 2009 and re-elected three times; she plans to retire in 2026.<ref name="Sun-Erickson">{{cite news |last=Pilling |first=Nathan |date=March 16, 2021 |title=Becky Erickson reverses retirement plans, announces bid for fourth term as Poulsbo mayor |url=https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2021/03/16/becky-erickson-reverses-plans-announces-re-election-bid-poulsbo-mayor/4712256001/ |work=Kitsap Sun |accessdate=February 19, 2025}}</ref> The position will become a part-time position on January 1, 2026, with duties transferred to a hired [[city administrator]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Shuey |first=Tyler |date=October 18, 2024 |title=Poulsbo mayor to become part-time position in 2026 |url=https://www.kitsapdailynews.com/news/poulsbo-mayor-to-become-part-time-position-in-2026/ |work=Kitsap Daily News |accessdate=February 19, 2025}}</ref> A proposal to move Poulsbo to a [[council–manager government]] was rejected by 60&nbsp;percent of voters in a 2001 special election.<ref name="Sun-Erickson"/>

==Culture==

===Media===
The ''[[North Kitsap Herald]]'' has published continuously since 1901, providing local news for Poulsbo as well as the greater Kitsap County area. The Herald was founded by Peter Iverson, who served as mayor of Poulsbo and state legislator. Today, the ''Herald'' is owned by [[Sound Publishing]]. In Kitsap, Sound also publishes the ''Bainbridge Island Review'', ''Central Kitsap Reporter'', and ''Port Orchard Independent'' (Fridays); ''Kingston Community News'' (monthly); as well as KitsapDailyNews.com and BainbridgeReview.com (daily online).

===Landmarks===
First [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]] Church opened in 1886 atop the hill, overlooking downtown Poulsbo, and was originally Førdefjord Lutheran.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.poulsbofirstlutheran.org|title=Poulsbo First Lutheran Church – People gathered and sent in the love of Christ.|website=www.poulsbofirstlutheran.org}}</ref>

====Norseman statue====
[[File:Poulsbo Norseman Liberty Bay Moon.jpg|thumb|''The Norseman'' is a 12-foot Viking statue made of steel and concrete by artist Mark Gale of Tacoma. The statue sits at the southeast corner of the Viking Avenue-Lindvig Way.]]
[[File:Norseman Velkommen til Poulsbo.jpg|thumb|upright|Velkommen til Poulsbo]]

The Norseman Statue ({{Coord|47.74719|-122.65469|type:landmark_region:US-WA|display=inline}}), a {{convert|12|ft|adj=on}} statue by artist Mark Gale of [[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]], stands at Viking Avenue and Lindvig Way.<ref>{{cite web|title=Norseman sculpture unveiled at Viking and Lindvig|url=http://www.northkitsapherald.com/news/180690871.html|work=North Kitsap Herald|date=November 24, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Norseman stands tall in Poulsbo|url=http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/local-news/norseman-stands-tall-in-poulsbo|publisher= kitsapsun.com}}</ref>

The statue was commissioned by the city to replace a wooden sign at Viking Avenue and Lindvig Way. The statue was created by [[Tacoma, Washington]]-based artist Mark Gale. The project was coordinated by local businessman Bill Austin and Poulsbo Mayor Becky Erickson. Privately funded by the Bjorgen Beautification Fund, the statue cost $25,000. It was unveiled on November 23, 2012, at a traditional city tree lighting ceremony.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.northkitsapherald.com/community/189442951.html|title= Bill Austin receives Lifetime Achievement Award |date= February 2013 |publisher= North Kitsap Herald|access-date= February 10, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.northkitsapherald.com/news/election/202226381.html|title= Erickson's running for second term as Poulsbo mayor |date= April 10, 2013 |publisher= North Kitsap Herald|access-date= February 10, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.northkitsapherald.com/news/180690871.html|publisher=northkitsapherald.com|title= Norseman sculpture unveiled at Viking and Lindvig|date=November 24, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Norseman recruited by local Girl Scouts|url=http://www.kingstoncommunitynews.com/community/294422551.html|website=kingstoncommunitynews.com|date=February 27, 2015}}</ref>

The statue constitutes 500 pounds of rebar steel and 5,000 pounds of cement. It stands on a foundation engraved with the words ''Velkommen til Poulsbo''. It is located on the western edge of town, on the southeast corner of Viking Avenue NW and NW Lindvig Way.<ref>{{cite web
|url= http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/36395|title= 12-Foot-Tall Concrete Viking |publisher=roadsideamerica.com|access-date= February 10, 2016}}</ref>

===Parks===
[[File:Fish park south entrance boulder.jpg |thumb|Entrance to Poulsbo's Fish Park]]

Poulsbo's Fish Park ({{coord|47|44.862|N|122|39.190|W|type:landmark|name=Poulsbo's Fish Park}}) is a {{convert|40|acre|adj=on}} park in Poulsbo.<ref>{{cite book | last=Romano | first=Craig | title=Urban Trails: Kitsap: Bainbridge Island, Key Peninsula, Bremerton/Silverdale & Gig Harbor | publisher=[[Mountaineers Books]] | year=2016 | isbn=978-1-68051-023-2 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3HgeDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT101 | page=101 }}</ref> The park was started in 2002 by a group of community members and governments including the City of Poulsbo and the [[Suquamish Tribe]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Poulsbo's Fish Park — A Study in Community Leadership|date=September 10, 2015 |author=Cary Bozeman|work=Westsound Home and Garden|location=Port Orchard, Washington|url=https://wshg.net/featured/2015-09-10/poulsbos-fish-park-a-study-in-community-leadership/}}
</ref>

The park is centered on the Dogfish Creek [[estuary]] at the north end of [[Liberty Bay]]. {{As of|2015}}, the park had {{convert|1.5|miles}} of trails, with the city planning to double that figure.<ref>{{cite news|title=More trails planned at Poulsbo's Fish Park|author=Rachel Anne Seymour|date=October 26, 2015|newspaper=Kitsap Sun|url=http://archive.kitsapsun.com/news/local/more-trails-planned-at-poulsbos-fish-park-ep-1335378593-354066341.html}}</ref>

During the fall [[salmon run]], [[Washington State University]]'s [[Agricultural extension|extension service]] conducts salmon tours at locations on Kitsap Peninsula including Fish Park.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Washington State University Extension|access-date=September 21, 2019|title=Kitsap Salmon Tours|url=https://extension.wsu.edu/kitsap/nrs/water-stewards/kitsap-salmon-tours/}}</ref>

==Notable residents==
* [[Tarn Adams]] — creator of ''[[Dwarf Fortress]]''
* [[Margaret Olofsson Bergman]] — weaver
* [[Jack Colletto]] — American football player
* [[James W. Douglass]] — author, peace activist, and Gandhian nonviolent Christian theologian
* [[Jason Everman]] — former member of [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]]; U.S. Army [[Special Forces]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/02/magazine/evermans-war.html?_r=0 |title=The Rock n Roll Casualty Who Became a War Hero|newspaper=The New York Times|date=July 2, 2013|last1=Tarver|first1=Clay}}</ref>
* [[Richard F. Gordon Jr.]] —  [[Apollo 12]] astronaut<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.museumofflight.org/Display.asp?Page=VisCal |title=Explorer Series: Capt. Richard F. Gordon Jr. |publisher=[[Museum of Flight]] |access-date=September 22, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070701042734/http://www.museumofflight.org/Display.asp?Page=VisCal <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = July 1, 2007}}</ref>
* [[Aaron Sele]] — [[Major League Baseball]] pitcher
* [[Scott Shipley]] — Olympic canoeing medalist
* [[Harland Svare]] —former NFL player and coach
* [[Ryan Villopoto]] — pro motocross rider

== Transportation ==
* {{jct|SR|3|state=WA}}
* {{jct|SR|305|state=WA}}
* {{jct|SR|307|state=WA}}

==Sister cities==
Poulsbo has two [[sister cities]], both in Norway:<ref>{{cite web |title=Velkommen til Poulsbo… Welcome!|url=https://cityofpoulsbo.com/|publisher=City of Poulsbo|access-date=January 31, 2021}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|NOR}} [[Kautokeino Municipality]]
*{{flagicon|NOR}} [[Namsos Municipality]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{wikivoyage|Poulsbo}}
* [http://www.cityofpoulsbo.com City of Poulsbo official website]
* [http://www.poulsbochamber.com Greater Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://visitkitsap.com/cities.asp?ID=7 Kitsap Peninsula Visitor & Convention Bureau]
* [http://vikingfest.org/ Annual Viking Fest]

{{Kitsap County, Washington}}
{{Geographic location
 | Northwest = ''[[Hood Canal]]''
 | North =  [[Port Gamble, Washington|Port Gamble]]
 | Northeast = [[Kingston, Washington|Kingston]]
 | West =  [[Bangor, Washington|Bangor]]
 | Center= Poulsbo
 | East =  [[Suquamish, Washington|Suquamish]], [[Indianola, Washington|Indianola]]
 | Southwest = [[Bangor, Washington|Bangor]], [[Silverdale, Washington|Silverdale]]
 | South =  [[Scandia, Washington|Scandia]], [[Keyport, Washington|Keyport]]
 | Southeast = [[Bainbridge Island, Washington|Bainbridge Island]]
}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Finnish-American culture in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Norwegian-American culture in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Cities in Kitsap County, Washington]]
[[Category:Cities in the Seattle metropolitan area]]
[[Category:1907 establishments in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1907]]