Vashon, Washington

Detailed map of Vashon Island, Washington

Vashon-Maury Island, usually known as Vashon Island, is Puget Sound's largest island south of Admiralty Inlet. Part of unincorporated King County, Washington, it had a total population of 10,123 as of the 2000 census. At 37 square miles (96 km²), it is about 10 percent larger in area than Manhattan, with about 1/150 the population. Vashon is locally known for its liberal politics.

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. There are no bridges to connect the island with the mainland.

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 hamlet of Portage sits on an isthmus built by the U.S Army Corps of Engineers that connects the two. Nearby is KVI Beach, a favorite spot among local youth to hang out and spend summer days and summer nights partying and living the island life.

Based on per capita income, Vashon ranks 32nd of 522 areas in the state of Washington to be ranked.

Geography

Location of Vashon Island, Washington

Vashon Island is located at 47°24′58″N 122°28′6″W (47.416198, -122.468211)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, it has a total area of 95.8 km² (37.0 mi²).

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR 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. Built in 1941.KIRO 710 has two massive towers for its 50,000 watt transmitter. KIRO is 50,000 watts day/nite. KTTH 770 which operates with 50,000 watts day and 5,000 watts night. KTTH shares towers with KPTK. KIRO and KTTH are owned by Bonneville International

Originally built in 1946 for KEVR 1090AM, which latter became KING radio and is now KPTK. KPTK, 50,000 wats day/nite operates 3 towers. CBS ownes KPTK. This site is shared with KTTH

On Vashon Island, radio station KVI 570 has a single tower on a beach in Tramp Harbor, nicknamed "KVI Beach." KVI is owned by local owner Fisher Broadcasting and operates 24 hours a day at 5,000 watts. Fisher also owns KOMO 1000 has a three tower setup on the northeast corner of Vashon Island. KOMO is 50,000 watts day/nite

KGNW 820 propagates its signal from three towers in the center of the island, KGNW operates 50,000 watts day and 5,000 nite and is owned by Salem Communications. KJR 950 shares the towers at the KGNW site. KJR is owned by Clear Channel and operates 50,000 day and 5,000 nite.

People of note

Vashon Island has been home to many people of note.

• Kevin Joyce actor, vocalist, performer and former Director of Teatro Zinzanni, the circus/dinner theater phenomenon in San Francisco and Seattle.
• Brendhan Bowers drummer for indie/psych punk band The Pharmacy
• Scott Yoder guitarist and singer for indie/psych punk band The Pharmacy
• Stefan Rubicz keyboardplayer for indie/psych punk band The Pharmacy
• Gene "Bean" Baxter of the Kevin and Bean morning show on KROQ, an alternative rock-format radio station in Los Angeles, California, lives on Vashon Island.
• 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, and also voiced a character in "Toy Story", once lived on and still owns land on connected Maury Island. He also started a school on the 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. This puzzled many locals because Vashon is a very liberal community with many people who are openly gay.
• Tom Stewart, founder and chairman of Misty Isle Farms [1] and Food Services of America, once lived on the island and moved to Arizona in 2006. Stewart, a prominent regional Republican leader, rekindled the Quartermaster Harbor fireworks show in 1991 after it was discontinued as Vashon Island's traditional local Independence Day celebration in 1989. In 1998, Stewart pled guilty to misdemeanor federal and local election-finance money laundering charges. He had to pay a $5 million fine and serve two months under house arrest, with work release, wearing an electronic ankle bracelet.
• Zach Mann, reality TV star from MTV's hit show The Real World
• Edith Derby Williams, historian, grand-daughter of former US President Theodore Roosevelt, lives on Vashon Island.
• Eyvind Kang, modern composer, lives on Vashon Island.

External links

• Vashon Chamber of Commerice
• Vashon-Maury Island Community Council
• Vashon-Maury Business Information and More
• Vashon-Maury News, Weather and Headlines
• Vashon-Maury Map
• 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.
• Photo of the Bike in the Tree.