Kitsap County

Kitsap County extends across the Kitsap Peninsula with 250 miles (400 kilometers) of saltwater coastline and includes Bainbridge Island and Blake Island. The administrative area sits west of Seattle on Puget Sound, separated from the rest of Washington by waterways.

The administrative area was established in 1857 under the name Slaughter County and received its current name from Chief Kitsap of the Suquamish Tribe. The population grew rapidly during World War II when naval facilities expanded.

The United States Navy operates several installations across the area, including Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Naval Base Kitsap. These facilities shape daily life for many residents who work in shipyard maintenance or on the military bases.

Washington State Ferries connect the peninsula to Seattle through routes from Bremerton, Bainbridge Island, Kingston, and Southworth. Crossings take between 30 minutes and an hour depending on the route and offer views of Puget Sound.

Blake Island within the administrative boundaries was the traditional birthplace of Chief Seattle, after whom the nearby city is named. The small island remains uninhabited and hosts a state park accessible only by boat.

Location: Washington

Inception: 1857

Capital city: Port Orchard

Shares border with: Island County, Snohomish County, King County, Pierce County, Mason County, Jefferson County

Website: https://kitsap.gov

GPS coordinates: 47.64000,-122.65000

Latest update: December 13, 2025 19:24