| Friday Harbor, Washington | |
|---|---|
| — Town — | |
 |
|
 |
|
| Coordinates: 48°32′7″N 123°1′52″W / 48.53528°N 123.03111°WCoordinates: 48°32′7″N 123°1′52″W / 48.53528°N 123.03111°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | San Juan |
| Incorporation | February 10, 1909 |
| Area | |
| - Total | 1.4 sq mi (3.7 km2) |
| - Land | 1.4 sq mi (3.5 km2) |
| - Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2) |
| Elevation | 59 ft (18 m) |
| Population (2008) | |
| - Total | 2,130 |
| - Density | 1,467.7/sq mi (566.7/km2) |
| Time zone | Pacific (PST) (UTC−8) |
| - Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC−7) |
| ZIP code | 98250 |
| Area code(s) | 360 |
| FIPS code | 53-25615[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1505051[2] |
| Website | http://www.fridayharbor.org |
Friday Harbor is a town in San Juan County, Washington, United States. The population was 2,130 at the 2008 Census Bureau estimate.[3] Located on San Juan Island, it is the major commercial center of the San Juan Islands archipelago. It is the county seat of San Juan County.[4]
Contents |
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.[5]
The harbor got its name from Joseph Poalie (Poalima?) Friday, a Kanaka - a native Hawaiian man who worked at the Hudson's Bay Company's Cowlitz farm from 1841 to 1859-60. He moved north to San Juan Island and raised sheep around the harbor.[6]
After the peaceful settlement of the Pig War, the islands became a separate county in 1873. Friday Harbor was named the county seat of San Juan County.[7]
Friday Harbor was officially incorporated on February 10, 1909. It is the only incorporated town in the San Juan Islands.[8]
Sailing ships and, later, the steamships of the Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet visited the harbor on a regular basis, hauling passengers, mail and freight. They took the island's bounty: apples, pears, cherries, strawberries, peas, cream, eggs, chickens, grain, salmon, and lime.
The Great Depression, World War II, the pea weevil, and competition from Eastern Washington growers brought about the decline of traditional island industries. Friday Harbor's fortunes declined with them.
The 1960s brought new industries - tourism, retirement, real estate, construction - began to take hold. 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.[9]
Friday Harbor is located at 48°32′07″N 123°01′52″W / 48.535260°N 123.031055°W (48.535260, -123.031055).[10]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.7 km2), of which, 1.4 square miles (3.5 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km2) of it (4.93%) is water.
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, has a limited airline service.
Friday Harbor is also served by regular daily float plane scheduled services from the down town pier to Seattle's Lake Union seaplane base.[11]
On the island, there are taxis, shuttles, bicycles and mopeds for rent.
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 the private Stillpoint School, Paideia 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.
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 400 |
|
|
| 1920 | 522 | 30.5% | |
| 1930 | 601 | 15.1% | |
| 1940 | 658 | 9.5% | |
| 1950 | 783 | 19.0% | |
| 1960 | 706 | −9.8% | |
| 1970 | 803 | 13.7% | |
| 1980 | 1,200 | 49.4% | |
| 1990 | 1,492 | 24.3% | |
| 2000 | 1,989 | 33.3% | |
| Est. 2008 | 2,130 | 7.1% | |
As of the census[1] 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/sq mi (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 population was spread out with 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.
Friday Harbor has the following sister city: [12]
Friday Harbor is featured as the default starting point in the computer game, Microsoft Flight Simulator X.
Friday Harbor also became a home permanent base for Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Before they moved in different offices and they decided to go for Friday Harbor. President and founder Paul Watson happens to live in Friday Harbor, he happens to have his kind of office in Sea Shepherd Base which is a meditate chamber like office.
 Friday Harbor |
 |
 A Smerinthus cerisyi moth found in Friday Harbor |
 Spring Street and harbor |
 |
 |
 Friday Harbor's landscaping is rich with Lavender and California Poppies |
 Cars at the entrance to the ferry terminal |
 Downtown |
|
||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Friday Harbor is the main city on San Juan Island, the most populous of the San Juan Islands. It is also the county seat of San Juan County.
Friday Harbor houses one of the oldest and most famous marine research institutions, Friday Harbor Laboratories (or Labs, as it better known to locals). Situated inside University of Washington Biological Reserve (2.5 miles north of Friday Harbor), you will see island spotted deers, raccoons, Tree frogs, Banana slugs, Columbian black-tailed deet, Norway rat, White-footed mouse etc. Meet lab guys Charley and Paul to learn about fascinating life of seaweeds.
Biologist guides lead tours to the prime orca whale watching waters. Abundant seals, eagles, and other marine wildlife. Tour lengths range from a half-day up to 2, 3 and 5 day camping trips to the smaller islands. 360-378-5767 or 888-589-4253, whales@sea-quest-kayak.com Kayaking Tours in Friday Harbor
There are several kayaking tour organizers in the town. Typically costs $85 for one day trips up to $150 per day for camping tours.
Local bird book author/biologist Mark Lewis guides birding tours throughout the San Juan Islands, home to 300 species of birds. Tour lengths from half-day to full day to multi-days. 360-378-5767 or 888-589-4253, whales@sea-quest-kayak.com Birding Tours in Friday Harbor
Watch the majestic Washington state ferries sweeping in and out of Friday Harbor. Produces no waves even at 25 knots speed!
Watch the take-off and landing of Sea-planes (Kenmore Air)from the south edge of harbor.
West-coast of the island is famous for whale watching. You can get all relevant information in couple of tourist centers.
85 Nichols Street, 2 blocks up from ferry. 360.378.2638 url="http://funkandjunkantiques.com" 11:00-5:30 daily. Friday Harbor's oldest antique store, with eclectic assortment. Fine antiques to funk.
Town drug-shop has a specialized astroglide section, a must visit for island couples.
You will never forget the yummiest taste you will have of roasted beef bagel sandwich at Dining, FHL, Friday harbor. FHL Dining also features a special garden salad with honey mustard.
Don't miss Wednesday night karaoke at Herb's. Where the movie free willy was filmed
| This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow! |
Category: Usable articles
|
|
Wikis
Search
