Bainbridge Island, Washington facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bainbridge Island, Washington
City
City of Bainbridge Island
Aerial view of Bainbridge Island
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Location of Bainbridge Island, Washington
Bainbridge Island, Washington Location in Washington (state) Show map of Washington (state) Bainbridge Island, Washington Location in the United States Show map of the United States Bainbridge Island, Washington Location in North America Show map of North America
Country	United States
State	Washington
County	Kitsap
Named for	William Bainbridge
Government
• Type	Council–manager
• Body	City council
Area
• Total	65.08 sq mi (168.55 km2)
• Land	27.61 sq mi (71.52 km2)
• Water	37.46 sq mi (97.03 km2)
Elevation	200 ft (60 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	24,825
• Density	916.1/sq mi (353.72/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP Code	98110
Area code(s)	206
FIPS code	53-03736
GNIS feature ID	1512809

Bainbridge Island is a city and an island in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. It is located in Puget Sound, a large body of water connected to the Pacific Ocean. In 2020, about 24,825 people lived here. This makes Bainbridge Island the second largest city in Kitsap County.

The island is separated from the Kitsap Peninsula by Port Orchard. The city of Bremerton is to the southwest. Bainbridge Island is a suburb of Seattle. You can reach Seattle by taking a ferry. You can also get to Poulsbo and the Suquamish Indian Reservation by State Route 305. This road uses the Agate Pass Bridge.

Discovering Bainbridge Island's Past

For thousands of years, the Suquamish people lived on Bainbridge Island. They had nine villages across the island. These included winter villages at Port Madison and Port Blakely. They also had summer villages at places like Manzanita.

Early Explorers and Names

In 1792, Captain George Vancouver, an English explorer, visited the island. His ship, HMS Discovery, anchored near Restoration Point. He explored nearby waters but did not find Agate Passage. Because of this, his maps showed Bainbridge Island as a peninsula. He named Restoration Point on May 29, honoring King Charles II of England.

In 1841, US Navy Lieutenant Charles Wilkes surveyed the area. He named the island after Commodore William Bainbridge. Commodore Bainbridge was a hero from the War of 1812. He commanded the ship USS Constitution.

Logging and the Suquamish Treaty

Early settlers used Bainbridge Island for logging and shipbuilding. The island was cut down for timber at least twice. It was famous for its huge cedar trees, which were great for ship masts. The first county seat of Kitsap County was at Port Madison on the island.

In 1855, the Suquamish tribe signed the Treaty of Point Elliott. They gave up their claim to Bainbridge Island. In return, they received a reservation at Port Madison. They also kept their fishing rights in Puget Sound.

A Difficult Time: World War II

A group of Japanese-American residents of Bainbridge Island wave the American flag as they are sent to an internment camp, March 30, 1942.

The first Japanese immigrants came to the island in 1883. During World War II, Japanese-American residents of Bainbridge Island faced a tough time. They were the first group to be sent to special camps. This event is remembered at the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial. It opened in 2011. The US government held them during the war due to fears of spying. The Navy also set up a radio station here to track Japanese ships.

Modern Bainbridge Island

Since the 1960s, Bainbridge Island has grown. It became a popular place for people who work in Seattle. The ferry ride to Seattle takes about 35 minutes.

The city of Winslow, which was on the island, grew over time. On February 28, 1991, Winslow officially took over the entire island. It was then renamed the City of Bainbridge Island on November 7, 1991.

Exploring Bainbridge Island's Geography

Aerial view of the northern part of Bainbridge Island adjoining Puget Sound, with Agate Passage in center.

Aerial view of Bainbridge Island from the southeast, showing the Bainbridge Island ferry.

Bainbridge Island was formed long ago, about 13,000 to 15,000 years ago. This happened during the last ice age. A huge glacier, about 3,000 feet thick, carved out the Puget Sound area.

The island is located in the Puget Sound Basin. It is east of the Kitsap Peninsula and west of Seattle. Bainbridge Island is about 5 miles wide and 10 miles long. It covers nearly 17,778 acres. It is one of the largest islands in Puget Sound.

The island has a very uneven coastline, about 53 miles long. It has many bays and inlets. You can find different land forms like spits, bluffs, and lagoons. The highest point on the island is Toe Jam Hill, which is 425 feet high.

Getting Around the Island

The ferry Wenatchee en route from Seattle to Bainbridge Island.

You can reach Bainbridge Island by car, bike, or on foot. There are two main ways to get there, both using Washington State Route 305. The Agate Pass Bridge connects the island to the Kitsap Peninsula. This bridge carries SR 305 over Agate Passage.

The only other way off the island is by ferry. The Seattle–Bainbridge Island ferry takes you from Winslow to Seattle. There are also many public access points to the water around the island. These are called Road Ends.

Island Communities

When the city of Winslow expanded in 1991, it included many smaller communities. Most of these places are still known by their original names.

People and Life on Bainbridge Island

In 2010, there were 23,025 people living on Bainbridge Island. There were 9,470 households. About 31.9% of households had children under 18. Most people (91.0%) were White. About 3.2% were Asian.

The average age of residents was 47.7 years. About 23.7% of people were under 18. About 16.4% were 65 or older.

Island Economy and Shopping

Bainbridge Island has four main shopping areas. These are Winslow, Lynwood Center, Fletcher Bay (also called Island Center), and Rolling Bay. Winslow is the main downtown area. It has most of the shops and restaurants. Lynwood Center has restaurants and a small hotel. Fletcher Bay has a small grocery store. Rolling Bay is on the east side of the island.

The local newspapers are the weekly Bainbridge Island Review and the Bainbridge Islander.

Learning on Bainbridge Island

Public Schools

The Bainbridge Island School District serves the island. It has several public schools:

• Capt. Johnston Blakely Elementary School (grades PK-4)
• x̌alilc (Halilts) Elementary School (grades PK-4)
• Ordway Elementary School (grades K-4), which offers a Spanish immersion program
• Sonoji Sakai Intermediate School (grades 5–6)
• Woodward Middle School (grades 7–8)
• Bainbridge High School (grades 9–12)

The district also offers special programs. These include Mosaic Home Education Partnership and Odyssey Multiage Program. Eagle Harbor High School is also part of these options.

Private Schools

There are several private schools on the island:

• Montessori Country School (grades PK-6)
• Madrona School (Preschool, Kindergarten, Grades 1–5)
• St. Cecilia Catholic School (grades PK-8)
• The Island School (grades K-5)
• Hyla School (grades 6–12)

Sports and Fun on the Island

Bainbridge Island has a strong sports history. In 2001, the Bainbridge Island Little League team went to the Little League World Series. The high school lacrosse team has won state titles many times. The Fastpitch team also won a state title in 2009.

Pickleball was actually invented on Bainbridge Island in 1965. It was created by the family of congressman Joel Pritchard at their summer home. It's a fun game similar to badminton and tennis. It uses paddles and a lightweight plastic ball.

Aerial view of Restoration Point, with the Country Club of Seattle.

Arts and Culture on Bainbridge Island

The Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, which opened in 2013.

The Bainbridge Island Museum of Art opened in June 2013. It is near the ferry terminal in Winslow. The museum displays art made by island residents. It cost $15.6 million to build. It has an auditorium, a classroom, and other spaces. The building is 20,000 square feet and looks like the front of a ship.

Photo gallery

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  Stone Sculptures at Winslow Wharf Marina

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  Cottages on Bainbridge Island

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  Docks and forest clearing on Bainbridge Island

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  Mist surrounds the marina.

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  Seattle-bound cars waiting at Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal

Famous People from Bainbridge Island

Sister Cities

Bainbridge Island has special connections with these cities:

• Ometepe Island, Nicaragua
• Nantes, France

See also

In Spanish: Bainbridge Island para niños