Anacortes, Washington
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Anacortes (pronounced [ˌænəˈkɔɹtəs]) is a city in Skagit County, Washington, USA. The population was 14,557 at the 2000 census.
There is a Washington State Ferries dock that serves Lopez Island, Shaw Island, Orcas Island, and San Juan Island, as well as Victoria, British Columbia (via Sidney, British Columbia) on Vancouver Island. There is also a Skagit County-operated ferry dock that serves Guemes Island.
In the 2004 US presidential election, Anacortes cast 49.56% of its vote for Democrat John Kerry[link].
History
Anacortes was officially incorporated on 19 May, 1891.Geography
Anacortes is on Fidalgo Island.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 36.7 km² (14.2 mi²). 30.5 km² (11.8 mi²) of it is land and 6.2 km² (2.4 mi²) of it (16.93%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census[Geographic references#2GR2] of 2000, there were 14,557 people, 6,086 households, and 4,162 families residing in the city. The population density was 477.1/km² (1,236.0/mi²). There were 6,551 housing units at an average density of 214.7/km² (556.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.66% White, 0.32% African American, 1.14% Native American, 1.64% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 1.48% from other races, and 2.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.15% of the population.There were 6,086 households out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $41,930, and the median income for a family was $49,531. Males had a median income of $38,080 versus $27,080 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,297. About 6.0% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.4% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.
Description
-->Anacortes is on Fidalgo Island, the only San Juan Island accessible by road from the mainland. It is surrounded by the north Puget Sound and San Juan Islands on three sides, and by the Swinomish Channel and the flats of Skagit Valley to the east. The weather is milder than other areas of the Pacific Northwest, because it lies within the Olympic Mountain rain shadow. Fidalgo Island gets 21" of rain per year, only half as much as Seattle.
Anacortes was established with a name and a post office in 1877 in the vain hope that it would be selected as the western terminus of the transcontinental railroad. The town was officially incorporated in 1891 shortly after the railroad bust, and became a lumber and fishing center. In the 1950's oil companies built big refineries near town. Refining remains the area's largest industry, but the economic base now includes yacht construction, tourism, retirees, and residential services for the nearby Whidbey Island Naval Air Station. A growing arts and crafts community aspires to make Anacortes the Carmel of the Pacific Northwest.
Anacortes is a popular destination for boaters and those traveling on to the San Juan Islands.
Sister Cities
Anacortes has the following sister city relationships, according to [link] and [link]:
External links
- [City of Anacortes Web site]
- [WSF Anacortes terminal info]
- [Skagit County Guemes Island ferry info]
- [Anacortes American (Newspaper)]
- [Anacortes School District]
- [Port of Anacortes]
- [Anacortes Kayak Tours]
- [Information]
- [Chamber of Commerce]
- [Department of Safety]
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