Washington Island (Wisconsin)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Washington Island is an island located about 7 miles northeast of the tip of Door Peninsula in Door County, Wisconsin. The island has a year-round population of 660 people (2000 census). It has a land area of 60.89 km² (23.51 sq mi) and comprises over 92 percent of the land area of the town of Washington, as well as all of its population. It is the largest in a group of islands that includes Plum Island, Detroit Island, Hog Island and Rock Island. These islands form the Town of Washington. A large part of Washington Island's economy is based on tourism.

Washington Island is approximately 5 miles wide by 6 miles long. Together with the Door Peninsula, Washington Island forms a treacherous strait that connects the Bay of Green Bay to the rest of Lake Michigan. Early French explorers named this water way, now littered with shipwrecks, Porte des Mort Passage, which means "Death's Door Passage" and gives Door County and Door Peninsula their names.[1]

[edit] History

Originally named Colonel John Miller Island, the island received a new name in 1816 from the crew of the schooner Washington in honor of both their vessel and President Washington. Most of the people who settled on the island were Scandinavian immigrants, especially Icelanders. Today, Washington Island is one of the oldest Icelandic communities in the United States and among the largest outside of Iceland itself.[2]

[edit] Transportation

The easiest way to visit Washington Island is to take a 30-minute ferry ride from the Door Peninsula to Detroit Harbor on the island. A freight, automotive and passenger ferry departs daily from the Northport Pier, or a passenger-only ferry departing from Gills Rock featuring both ferry rides and narrated train tours upon arriving on Washington Island.

The Washington Island Airport, a small public airport with two grass runways, is also located on the island.