Friday Harbor, Washington

Friday Harbor
Town
Friday Harbor, Washington

Friday Harbor, Washington

Location of Friday Harbor, Washington
Coordinates: 48°32′7″N 123°1′52″W / 48.53528°N 123.03111°W / 48.53528; -123.03111Coordinates: 48°32′7″N 123°1′52″W / 48.53528°N 123.03111°W / 48.53528; -123.03111
Country United States
State Washington
County San Juan
Incorporation February 10, 1909
Area[1]
 • Total 2.16 sq mi (5.59 km2)
 • Land 2.09 sq mi (5.41 km2)
 • Water 0.07 sq mi (0.18 km2)
Elevation 59 ft (18 m)
Population (2010)[2]
 • Total 2,162
 • Estimate (2014)[3] 2,306
 • Density 1,034.4/sq mi (399.4/km2)
Time zone Pacific (PST) (UTC−8)
 • Summer (DST) PDT (UTC−7)
ZIP code 98250
Area code 360
FIPS code 53-25615[4]
GNIS feature ID 1505051[5]
Website Town of Friday Harbor

Friday Harbor is a town in San Juan County, Washington, United States. The population was 2,162 at 2010 Census.[2] Located on San Juan Island, Friday Harbor is the major commercial center of the San Juan Islands archipelago and is the county seat of San Juan County.[6]

History

San Juan County District Courthouse

In 1845 the Hudson's Bay Company laid claim to San Juan Island. In 1850 they built a salmon curing station. A few years later they started a sheep farm.[7]

The town's name originates from Joseph Poalie Friday, a native Hawaiian. Friday worked at the Pugets Sound Agricultural Company's Fort Cowlitz, from 1841 to 1859–60 and later moved north to San Juan Island, raising and herding sheep around the harbor.[8]

After the peaceful settlement obtained following the Pig War, the San Juan Islands became a separate county in 1873. Friday Harbor was named the county seat.[9]

Friday Harbor was officially incorporated on February 10, 1909. It remains the only incorporated town in the San Juan Islands.[10]

Sailing ships, and later, the steamships of the Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet, visited the harbor on a regular basis hauling passengers, mail and freight. Freight from the island would include apples, pears, cherries, strawberries, peas, cream, eggs, chickens, grain, salmon, and lime. All were produced on or around San Juan Island. The Great Depression, World War II, the pea weevil, and competition from Eastern Washington growers brought about the decline of traditional island industries, diminishing Friday Harbor's export trade. The 1970s brought new industries - tourism, retirement, real estate, and construction. Today, Friday Harbor is again busy and prosperous.

Osamu Shimomura harvested jellyfish from the docks of the harbor. Eventually he purified the proteins that allow the jellyfish to fluoresce green when exposed to blue light. One of them, green fluorescent protein, is now widely used as a marker of molecular activity.[11]

Geography and climate

Friday Harbor is located at 48°32′07″N 123°01′52″W / 48.535260°N 123.031055°W / 48.535260; -123.031055 (48.535260, -123.031055).[12]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.16 square miles (5.59 km2), of which, 2.09 square miles (5.41 km2) is land and 0.07 square miles (0.18 km2) is water.[1]

Climate data for Friday Harbor, Washington
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 65
(18)		 66
(19)		 76
(24)		 78
(26)		 87
(31)		 89
(32)		 92
(33)		 89
(32)		 87
(31)		 77
(25)		 67
(19)		 65
(18)		 92
(33)
Average high °F (°C) 47
(8)		 49
(9)		 53
(12)		 58
(14)		 63
(17)		 67
(19)		 71
(22)		 71
(22)		 67
(19)		 59
(15)		 50
(10)		 46
(8)		 58.4
(14.6)
Average low °F (°C) 36
(2)		 36
(2)		 38
(3)		 41
(5)		 45
(7)		 48
(9)		 51
(11)		 51
(11)		 48
(9)		 44
(7)		 38
(3)		 34
(1)		 42.5
(5.8)
Record low °F (°C) −8
(−22)		 −4
(−20)		 10
(−12)		 28
(−2)		 31
(−1)		 37
(3)		 40
(4)		 38
(3)		 32
(0)		 26
(−3)		 4
(−16)		 2
(−17)		 −8
(−22)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.92
(99.6)		 2.49
(63.2)		 2.33
(59.2)		 1.89
(48)		 1.80
(45.7)		 1.29
(32.8)		 0.80
(20.3)		 1.06
(26.9)		 1.33
(33.8)		 2.97
(75.4)		 4.82
(122.4)		 3.54
(89.9)		 28.24
(717.2)
Source: [13]

Transportation

A passenger ferry at Friday Harbor's dock
Seaplane at Friday Harbor on arrival from Seattle Lake Union

Friday Harbor's primary connection to the mainland is via Washington State Ferries, which sail between the town and Anacortes, Washington several times per day. Friday Harbor can also be reached via ferry from Sidney, British Columbia, on Washington State Ferries' only international route. This service is available seasonally, only (i.e., May to October). The Friday Harbor Airport features limited airline service.

Friday Harbor is also served by regular daily float plane scheduled services from the downtown pier to Seattle's Lake Union seaplane terminal.[14]

Seasonal passenger ferry service is available from Bellingham, Port Townsend and Seattle to Friday Harbor.

On the island, there are taxis, shuttles, bicycles, and mopeds for rent.

Education

Kids playing on Spring Street

The town of Friday Harbor houses the world famous marine biology facility, Friday Harbor Laboratories, a field station of the University of Washington. The town has several schools, including the public Friday Harbor High School, Friday Harbor Middle School, and Friday Harbor Elementary School that are part of the San Juan Island School District; and two private schools: Stillpoint School and Spring Street School. Also on the island is a branch of Skagit Valley College. The school district also includes the small Stuart Island Elementary School that was established in 1897 and is one of Washington's "remote and necessary" schools.

Demographics

Friday Harbor has a diverse population - both young and old
Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1910400—
192052230.5%
193060115.1%
19406589.5%
195078319.0%
1960706−9.8%
197080313.7%
19801,20049.4%
19901,49224.3%
20001,98933.3%
20102,1628.7%
Est. 20142,306[15]6.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[16]
2014 Estimate[3]

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 2,162 people, 1,015 households, and 481 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,034.4 inhabitants per square mile (399.4/km2). There were 1,273 housing units at an average density of 609.1 per square mile (235.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 83.1% White, 0.3% African American, 0.5% Native American, 2.0% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 10.9% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.9% of the population.

There were 1,015 households of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.2% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 52.6% were non-families. 46.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.05 and the average family size was 2.88.

The median age in the town was 41.3 years. 22.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.2% were from 25 to 44; 28.7% were from 45 to 64; and 17% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.2% male and 52.8% female.

2000 census

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 1,989 people, 896 households, and 468 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,467.7 people per square mile (564.7/km2). There were 1,053 housing units at an average density of 777.0 per square mile (298.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 92.01% White, 0.65% African American, 1.31% Native American, 1.41% Asian, 0.20% Pacific Islander, 2.61% from other races, and 1.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.23% of the population.

There were 896 households out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.6% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.7% were non-families. 38.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the town the age distribution of the population shows 23.1% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 84.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $35,139, and the median income for a family was $45,208. Males had a median income of $35,625 versus $24,741 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,792. About 7.7% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.

Sister cities

Friday Harbor has the following sister cities:[17]

Popular culture

Friday Harbor is featured as the default starting point in the computer game, Microsoft Flight Simulator X.

It is also the setting for the 1998 film Practical Magic.

It is also featured in a film called Pirate for the Sea, a film about Paul Watson, co founder of Greenpeace and president and founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

It is the setting of a 2012 Hallmark Film called Christmas with Holly.

Friday Harbor is also the setting of the novel Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas.

Friday Harbor was also the location for the 1966 feature film Namu, the Killer Whale, based on a true story.

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

Friday Harbor was also the home base for Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, where president and founder Paul Watson lived.

Gallery

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Friday Harbor, Washington.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Friday Harbor.
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