Bremerton

Bremerton is a port city in Kitsap County, Washington, positioned along the eastern shore of Sinclair Inlet. The waterfront is dominated by military installations, while residential neighborhoods and a business district with ferry terminal sit further inland.

Dense forest covered this site until the late 1880s, when William Bremer purchased the land and began building the shipyard. Incorporation came in 1891, by which time hundreds of workers were already employed in the new docks.

The town carries the name of William Bremer, a German immigrant who developed this area in the late 1800s. His surname lives on in street signs and in the daily conversation of residents, who often refer to themselves as Bremertonians.

The ferry to Seattle runs multiple times daily and provides a direct connection across Puget Sound, carrying both foot passengers and vehicles. Visitors exploring on foot will find most public buildings and shops within a few blocks of the ferry dock.

More ships were launched here in the 1940s than at any other American shipyard, making this coastal town briefly the most important shipbuilding center in the country. Today, only a few historical markers recall that era of intense production.

Location: Kitsap County

Inception: 1891

Founders: William Bremer

Elevation above the sea: 12 m

Website: https://bremertonwa.gov

GPS coordinates: 47.56536,-122.62469

Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:01