Vashon Island
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Vashon has two ferry terminals. The southern terminus of the Vashon Highway is the Tahlequah Ferry Terminal, connected to the Point Defiance neighborhood of Tacoma by a Washington State Ferries run. The northern terminus of the Vashon Highway is the Heights Dock at Point Vashon, which services the state ferry docks at Southworth, Fauntleroy in West Seattle, and Downtown Seattle.
The island was named on May 28, 1792, by the explorer George Vancouver after his friend James Vashon of the Royal Navy, who also explored the area on H.M.S. Alert. At that time, Vashon Island was separate from the neighbouring Maury Island, but today the tiny hamlet of Portage sits on an isthmus built by the U.S Army Corps of Engineers that connects the two.
Based on per capita income, one of the more reliable measures of affluence, Vashon ranks 32nd of 522 areas in the state of Washington to be ranked.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, it has a total area of 95.8 km² (37.0 mi²).
Demographics
As of the census[Geographic references#2GR2] of 2000, there are 10,123 people, 4,193 households, and 2,838 families residing on the island. The population density is 105.7/km² (273.9/mi²). There are 4,867 housing units at an average density of 50.8/km² (131.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the island is 93.61% White, 0.45% Black or African American, 0.70% Native American, 1.56% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.87% from other races, and 2.75% from two or more races. 2.56% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.There are 4,193 households out of which 30.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% are married couples living together, 7.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% are non-families. 23.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.40 and the average family size is 2.86. The island is reputed locally for having a high percentage of gay and lesbian residents.
On the island the population is spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 34.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 44 years. For every 100 females there are 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 91.0 males.
The median income for a household on the island is $58,261, and the median income for a family is $67,010. Males have a median income of $50,201 versus $36,426 for females. The per capita income for the island is $31,983. 6.0% of the population and 4.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 5.2% of those under the age of 18 and 2.2% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Economy
The economy of Vashon Island is heavily based on residents commuting to Seattle and Tacoma. While orchards and strawberry farms formerly played a major role in the Vashon economy, the pressures of suburban residential development have all but eliminated commercial agriculture on the island.Vashon's economy took another hit in recent years when it lost two of its major industrial employers: K2 Sports moved its manufacturing to China, and the Seattle's Best Coffee roastery operation was closed shortly after SBC was bought by Starbucks. Currently, the largest manufacturer on Vashon is Pacific Research Laboratories, locally referred to as "The Bone Factory."
Maury Island is home to numerous AM transmitters. KIRO 710 has two massive antennas for its 50,000 watt transmitter. KTTH 770 operates a three-arial directional transmitter nearby. KVI 570 has a single tower on a beach in Tramp Harbor, nicknamed "KVI Beach." KGNW 820 propagates its signal from two towers in the center of the island. Finally, KOMO 1000 has a two antenna setup on the northwest corner of Vashon Island. Only the KOMO station employs anyone full time.
Somewhat ironically, the Voice of Vashon, a local volunteer radio station, provides high-quality programming at below pirate radio signal strength, reaching only some parts of the island.
People of Note
Vashon Island has been home to many people of note.
- Gene Amondson, 2004 Prohibition Party presidential nominee, lives on Vashon.
- Berkeley Breathed, author of the political satire comic strip Bloom County, resided on Vashon for some time. He wrote a children's book based on a bicycle in a tree. The real-life tree, growing around a bicycle, can be seen on the island.
- Felicia Dale grew up on Vashon Island.
- Booth Gardner, former Washington state governor, lives on Vashon Island.
- Betty MacDonald once lived on Vashon and used the island as the setting of her book Onions in the Stew.
- John Ratzenberger, who played Clifford C. Clavin, Jr. on the television show Cheers, onced lived on and still owns land on connected Maury Island.
- Dan Savage, editor of The Stranger and the author of "Savage Love," a syndicated sex advice column, formerly lived on Vashon Island with his partner and adopted son. By his own account, he moved from Vashon because he was unsure that the local public schools would welcome the adopted son of gay partners.
- Eric Francis, journalist and founder of Planet Waves, as well as an internationally published horoscope writer, lived there for several years.
- Tom Stewart, founder and chairman of Misty Isle Farms [link], lives on the island. Stewart, a prominent regional Republican leader and someone with a measure of national clout, anonymously rekindled the Quartermaster Harbor fireworks show in 1991 after it was discontinued as Vashon Island's traditional local Independence Day celebration in 1989.
External links
- [Vashon Chamber of Commerice]
- [Vashon-Maury Island Community Council]
- [Vashon Parks District]
- [Vashon School District]
- [VashonHistory.com]
- [University of Washington Libraries Digital Collections – Oliver S. Van Olinda Photographs] A collection of 420 photographs depicting life on Vashon Island, Whidbey Island, Seattle and other communities of Washington State's Puget Sound from the 1880s to the 1930s.
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