Key Peninsula

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The Key Peninsula ("The KP" or "The Key" to some locals) is a finger of land in Puget Sound, Washington, United States . It is approximately fifteen miles long and extends south from the Kitsap Peninsula. It is part of Pierce County, Washington. Some of its towns include: Wauna, Key Center, Vaughn, Home, Lakebay, and Longbranch.

The Key Peninsula is in the Peninsula School District; Elementary school is provided by a number of small schools up and down the peninsula while middle school is provided by Key Peninsula Middle School. High school age children attend Peninsula High School (PHS) on the Gig Harbor Peninsula in Purdy.

Though the Key Peninsula is connected to Purdy and Gig Harbor via the Purdy Bridge and is generally considered the same area by Pierce County, the residents of Gig Harbor try to distinguish themselves as a more affluent, sophisticated community than Key Peninsula's more rural lifestyle. Over the last few years the distinction between Gig Harbor and the Key Peninsula has become blurred as KP outsiders have moved to the peninsula and build "MacMansions". These outsiders have often brought with them an urban mentality that has not always blended well with prevailing live and let live philosophy of the original Key Peninsula residents. On the other hand, those that move to the Key Peninsula to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life and are willing to embrace the eclectic laid back lifestyle will find a friendly welcoming community.

The Key Peninsula rural character of vast areas of green trees, blue waters, wild life, clean air, and very little crime is something the residents hope to preserve. This is a place where families have chosen to leave the city life to pursue a "good old days" lifestyle on the Key Pen with small communities in which everyone knows their neighbors, hometown doctors, mom and pop storefronts dating back many decades, and community fairs, parades, and events in which the small, friendly, tight-knit community can come together and celebrate the essence of what is the Key Pen.

The Key Peninsula is home to two State Parks: Penrose Point State Park, and also Joemma Beach State Park.