Poulsbo, Washington

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about a town in Washington. For the Intel Poulsbo chipset, see System Controller Hub.
Poulsbo, Washington
City
Front Street Northeast
Nickname(s): Little Norway
Location of Poulsbo, Washington
Coordinates: 47°44′21″N 122°38′21″W / 47.73917°N 122.63917°W / 47.73917; -122.63917Coordinates: 47°44′21″N 122°38′21″W / 47.73917°N 122.63917°W / 47.73917; -122.63917
Country United States
State Washington
County Kitsap
Area[1]
 • Total 5.27 sq mi (13.65 km2)
 • Land 4.67 sq mi (12.10 km2)
 • Water 0.60 sq mi (1.55 km2)
Elevation 30 ft (9 m)
Population (2010)[2]
 • Total 9,200
 • Estimate (2012[3]) 9,393
 • Density 1,970.0/sq mi (760.6/km2)
Time zone Pacific (PST) (UTC-8)
 • Summer (DST) PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP code 98370
Area code(s) 360
FIPS code 53-55995
GNIS feature ID 1507605[4]
Website www.cityofpoulsbo.com

Poulsbo (/ˈpɔːlzboʊ/ US dict: pôlz′·bō) is a city on Liberty Bay in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. It is the fourth largest city in Kitsap County. The population was 9,200 at the 2010 census.

Poulsbo has a long history as a destination for immigrants from Scandinavia, particularly Norway and Finland. Downtown Poulsbo maintains a Scandinavian theme in its shops and restaurants, and is a popular regional tourist destination. One of its local products is now available worldwide, Poulsbo Bread, originally made in the local bakery. Many visitors arrive by boat; there are three marinas near the town, and the town's harbor is an excellent anchorage.

History

First Lutheran Church of Poulsbo
Founded by Norwegian immigrant Jorgen Eliason in the 1880s, Poulsbo was settled in its early years by a large number of Norwegian and other Scandinavian immigrants because of its similarities to their native countries.[5] In 1886 I. B. Moe, one of the early Norwegian settlers, suggested that the community should have a post office. Moe suggested the town be named Paulsbo (which translates as "Paul's place"), after the Norwegian village where Moe spent his early years. The community's petition for a post office was granted, and Moe became the first postmaster, but the authorities in Washington D.C. misspelled the town's name, probably because of illegible handwriting, and the community became known as Poulsbo thereafter. Poulsbo was officially incorporated on December 18, 1907.

Until World War II Poulsbo retained Norwegian as a primary language. However, during World War II, the military constructed about 300 residential units to provide housing for workers at the nearby Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, located in Bremerton, Washington. The population of Poulsbo almost tripled over three years, and the diversification of the population led to the dominance of English as the primary language.

On October 22, 1975, King Olav V of Norway visited Poulsbo as part of the celebration of 150 years of Norwegian settlement in the United States.[6]

Schools

Poulsbo is home to many different public schools in the North Kitsap School District. North Kitsap High School, Poulsbo Middle School, and Poulsbo Elementary are at the heart of town, while Vinland Elementary, Breidablik Elementary and Pearson Elementary schools lie in the surrounding areas. Private schools include West Sound Academy and Christ the King Academy. Post-secondary undergraduate education includes Olympic College Poulsbo.

Geography

Topography

Poulsbo is located on Liberty Bay, a sheltered arm of Puget Sound, at 47°44′21″N 122°38′21″W / 47.739137°N 122.639278°W / 47.739137; -122.639278 (47.739137, -122.639278).[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.27 square miles (13.65 km2), of which, 4.67 square miles (12.10 km2) is land and 0.60 square miles (1.55 km2) is water.[1]

Surrounding Municipalities

 Hood Canal Lofall, Port Gamble Kingston
Bangor Suquamish, Indianola
   Poulsbo  
Bangor, Silverdale Liberty Bay, Keyport Bainbridge Island, Winslow

Climate

Climate data for Poulsbo, Washington
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 62
(17)		 71
(22)		 80
(27)		 83
(28)		 92
(33)		 97
(36)		 99
(37)		 101
(38)		 97
(36)		 86
(30)		 70
(21)		 68
(20)		 101
(38)
Average high °F (°C) 47
(8)		 49
(9)		 54
(12)		 59
(15)		 65
(18)		 70
(21)		 76
(24)		 77
(25)		 71
(22)		 60
(16)		 51
(11)		 45
(7)		 60.3
(15.7)
Average low °F (°C) 36
(2)		 35
(2)		 38
(3)		 41
(5)		 46
(8)		 51
(11)		 54
(12)		 55
(13)		 50
(10)		 44
(7)		 39
(4)		 34
(1)		 43.6
(6.5)
Record low °F (°C) 12
(−11)		 12
(−11)		 19
(−7)		 28
(−2)		 27
(−3)		 38
(3)		 41
(5)		 39
(4)		 33
(1)		 27
(−3)		 10
(−12)		 7
(−14)		 7
(−14)
Precipitation inches (mm) 8.89
(225.8)		 6.22
(158)		 5.95
(151.1)		 3.57
(90.7)		 2.46
(62.5)		 1.69
(42.9)		 0.86
(21.8)		 1.03
(26.2)		 1.55
(39.4)		 4.89
(124.2)		 9.39
(238.5)		 10.07
(255.8)		 56.57
(1,436.9)
Source: [8]

Culture

Media

The North Kitsap Herald has been published in print continuously since 1901, providing local news for Poulsbo as well as the greater Kitsap County area.

Sister Cities

Poulsbo has the following sister city relationships:[9][10]

Demographics

Sons of Norway Hall, Poulsbo
Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1910364
—
192054650.0%
19305847.0%
19406399.4%
19501,01458.7%
19601,50548.4%
19701,85623.3%
19803,45386.0%
19904,84840.4%
20006,81340.5%
20109,20035.0%
Est. 20129,3932.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
2012 Estimate[12]

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 9,200 people, 3,883 households, and 2,310 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,970.0 inhabitants per square mile (760.6 /km2). There were 4,115 housing units at an average density of 881.2 per square mile (340.2 /km2). The racial makeup of the city was 82.9% White, 1.1% African American, 0.9% Native American, 5.7% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 3.6% from other races, and 5.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.2% of the population.

There were 3,883 households of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.5% were non-families. 34.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.97.

The median age in the city was 40.2 years. 23.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.7% were from 25 to 44; 24.5% were from 45 to 64; and 19.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 45.3% male and 54.7% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,813 people, 2,845 households, and 1,772 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,121.5 people per square mile (819.5/km2). There were 2,992 housing units at an average density of 931.7 per square mile (359.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 88.10% White, 1.01% African American, 0.97% Native American, 2.99% Asian, 0.43% Pacific Islander, 1.92% from other races, and 4.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.84% of the population. 14.6% were of German, 10.6% Irish, 10.0% English and 9.5% Norwegian ancestry according to Census 2000. 95.3% spoke English and 2.6% Spanish as their first language.

There were 2,845 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.7% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.2% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 86.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and under, there are 78.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $38,875 and the median income for a family was $51,353. Males had a median income of $40,482 versus $27,899 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,649. 9.1% of the population and 8.2% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 14.1% of those under the age of 18 and 6.0% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. A large number of employed individuals work on the east side of Puget Sound, in Seattle or other King County cities, and commute to work by ferry.

Notable Poulsbo natives

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-12-19. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-12-19. 
  3. ↑ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-06-01. 
  4. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  5. ↑ Majors, Harry M. (1975). Exploring Washington. Van Winkle Publishing Co. p. 82. ISBN 978-0-918664-00-6. 
  6. ↑ "King at home in Poulsbo". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. 1975. 
  7. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
  8. ↑ "weather.com". 
  9. ↑ Poulsbo City Council Meeting of September 2008
  10. ↑ Poulsbo Historical Society
  11. ↑ United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved September 26, 2013. 
  12. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Retrieved September 26, 2013. 
  13. ↑ "The Rock n Roll Casualty Who Became a War Hero". 
  14. ↑ "Explorer Series: Capt. Richard F. Gordon, Jr.". Museum of Flight. Archived from the original on 2007-07-01. Retrieved 2007-09-22. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Poulsbo, Washington.
Municipalities and communities of Kitsap County, Washington, United States
Cities
CDPs
Other
unincorporated
communities
Indian reservation
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.