Located
in Puget Sound, about 30 miles north of Seattle, Whidbey Island was
visited in 1792 during the voyages of Captain Vancouver aboard the
HMS Discovery. Named for Joseph Whidbey, first mate on
Vancouver’s ship, the island was home at that time to members of
the Skagit, Swinomish, Snohomish and Suquamish tribes. Whidbey Island
was settled by non-native peoples in the 1840's.
About 45 miles
long, the island is about 10 miles across at its widest point, and a
mile at its narrowest place. Along with Camono Island and a number of
small -- mostly uninhabited -- islands, Whidbey comprises Island
County, with Coupeville as county seat.
Primarily
agriculltural, the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station at Oak Harbor is
a dominant presence on the north end of the island. Further south,
the island retains a rural atmosphere among its small towns,
farmlands, acres of woods, and many state parks. The southern end
serves as a minor bedroom community for the nearby city of Everett,
where the Boeing plant is located, as well as Seattle.
Connected at
the north end to Fidalgo Island (and from there to the mainland) by
the Deception Pass bridge, the island is reached via ferry
from Mukilteo in the south and from Port Townsend on the Olympic
Peninsula at Keystone. The island is the location of five state
parks, and is a great place for nature lovers and birders. The
total population is about 56,000.
Lying
partially in the "rainshadow"
of the Olympic Mountains to the west, Whidbey Island has a variety
of climate zones. The most obvious are based on rainfall - wettest in
the south, driest south of Coupeville, and moister again farther
north. Additional variation comes from soil type. The clay or sandy
and gravely soils of the south give way to dramatically rocky areas
at the north end.
The
result is that plant life also varies from one end of the island to
the other. The south is more similar to the mainland. The principal
trees are Douglas firs, alders, bigleaf maples, western red cedar,
and western hemlocks. Vine maples are notably absent, except where
they have been planted. Other understory plants are not too
surprising, including the lower longleaf Oregon grape, red
elderberries, salal, and oceanspray (and lots of nettles, of course!)
Farther
up the island, however, the shorter Oregon grape is seen less and
tall Oregon grape, with its wonderfully fragrant yellow flowers
predominates. The native rhododendron is much more visible. Garry
oaks, (the "Oak" in Oak Harbor) become quite common
deciduous trees. Madronas cling to steep banks over the water. Grand
firs are more often seen. Sitka spruces and shore pines also increase
in the conifer mix. The more open prairie areas even contain a native cactus.
In
the rocky Deception Pass region, the most remarkable differences
begin. From here through the San Juan and Gulf islands and lower
Vancouver Island, picturesquely gnarled Rocky Mountain junipers grow
near the shores. Douglas maples, with their greater sun and drought
tolerance fill the vine-maple void. Wildflowers such as camas,
checker lilies, and Indian paintbrush color the earth. These unusual
survivors are more commonly associated with Eastern Washington and
the Rocky Mountain region.
Located
in Puget Sound, about 30 miles north of Seattle, Whidbey Island was
visited in 1792 during the voyages of Captain Vancouver aboard the
HMS Discovery. Named for Joseph Whidbey, first mate on
Vancouver’s ship, the island was home at that time to members of
the Skagit, Swinomish, Snohomish and Suquamish tribes. Whidbey Island
was settled by non-native peoples in the 1840's.
Broken
Arrow Memorial Fund
A
peaceful place to stay on Whidbey