Coupeville, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Coupeville
|
|
|---|---|
| Coupeville, Washington | |
Aerial view of Coupeville
|
|
Location of Coupeville, Washington
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Island |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.95 sq mi (5.04 km2) |
| • Land | 1.27 sq mi (3.29 km2) |
| • Water | 0.68 sq mi (1.75 km2) |
| Elevation | 75 ft (23 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 1,942 |
| • Density | 995.9/sq mi (385.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
98239
|
| Area code(s) | 360 |
| FIPS code | 53-15185 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1512119 |
Coupeville is a charming town located on Whidbey Island in Washington, United States. It's the main town, or county seat, for Island County. In 2020, about 1,942 people lived here.
Coupeville is known for its beautiful waterfront and rich history. It's a great place to visit and learn about the past.
Contents
History of Coupeville
Early Life and Native People
Before Europeans arrived, the area where Coupeville now stands was home to the Lower Skagit people. They spoke a language called Lushootseed. There were three villages around Penn Cove, the bay nearby. The biggest village was at bəc̓adᶻali, which means "snake place." This is where Coupeville is today.
The Lower Skagit people found this a perfect spot to live. There was plenty of salmon, clams, and other food. It also gave them easy access to the water for travel and trade.
European Exploration and Settlement
When European explorers first came to Puget Sound, Joseph Whidbey was the first to visit Penn Cove. He named it after a good friend. Later, Captain George Vancouver met the Skagit people. He wrote that their population had quickly dropped due to diseases brought by the Europeans.
In the 1850s, Captain Thomas Coupe planned out the town. It was named Coupeville in his honor. The town officially became a recognized place on April 20, 1910.
Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve
Coupeville is a special historic area within the Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve. This reserve was created by the U.S. Congress in 1978. It was the first and only National Historical Reserve in the country.
The reserve covers about 22 square miles (57 km2) of land. It includes old farmlands, Fort Ebey State Park, Fort Casey State Park, beaches, parks, and trails. There are also 91 buildings and structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are very important historical sites.
Coupeville in Movies
If you're a fan of movies, you might recognize Coupeville! It was a filming location for the popular movie Practical Magic. This witchy film from the 1990s starred famous actresses Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman.
Geography and Climate
Where is Coupeville?
Coupeville is located near the middle of Whidbey Island. This island sits in Puget Sound, between the mainland and the Olympic Peninsula. To the north of downtown Coupeville is Penn Cove. This is an inlet of the Saratoga Passage. The town is part of the Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve. This reserve also includes Fort Ebey State Park to the west.
The United States Census Bureau says the town covers about 1.23 square miles (3.19 km2) of land. There is no water area within the town limits.
Coupeville's Weather
Coupeville gets much less rain than many other parts of western Washington. This is because it's in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains. A rain shadow happens when mountains block rain clouds.
Because of its dry summers, Coupeville has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate. This type of climate is known for warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters.
| Climate data for Coupeville 1S, Washington (1895 to 2016) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 65 (18) |
69 (21) |
78 (26) |
81 (27) |
86 (30) |
92 (33) |
96 (36) |
98 (37) |
91 (33) |
79 (26) |
68 (20) |
70 (21) |
98 (37) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 44.4 (6.9) |
48.1 (8.9) |
51.9 (11.1) |
57.3 (14.1) |
62.7 (17.1) |
67.2 (19.6) |
71.7 (22.1) |
72 (22) |
67 (19) |
58.3 (14.6) |
49.9 (9.9) |
45.5 (7.5) |
58 (14) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 34.2 (1.2) |
35.1 (1.7) |
36.9 (2.7) |
40.1 (4.5) |
44.5 (6.9) |
48.3 (9.1) |
50.6 (10.3) |
50.6 (10.3) |
47.2 (8.4) |
42.8 (6.0) |
38.2 (3.4) |
35.7 (2.1) |
42 (6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 3 (−16) |
5 (−15) |
0 (−18) |
25 (−4) |
28 (−2) |
35 (2) |
40 (4) |
38 (3) |
29 (−2) |
19 (−7) |
6 (−14) |
3 (−16) |
0 (−18) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.36 (60) |
1.73 (44) |
1.84 (47) |
1.57 (40) |
1.56 (40) |
1.26 (32) |
0.74 (19) |
0.85 (22) |
1.28 (33) |
1.77 (45) |
2.56 (65) |
2.69 (68) |
20.22 (514) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 2.5 (6.4) |
1.2 (3.0) |
0.8 (2.0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0.7 (1.8) |
0.9 (2.3) |
6.1 (15) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 inch) | 15 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 15 | 17 | 131 |
Population and People
How Many People Live Here?
Coupeville has grown over the years. Here's how its population has changed:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 90 | — | |
| 1890 | 513 | 470.0% | |
| 1910 | 310 | — | |
| 1920 | 343 | 10.6% | |
| 1930 | 277 | −19.2% | |
| 1940 | 325 | 17.3% | |
| 1950 | 379 | 16.6% | |
| 1960 | 740 | 95.3% | |
| 1970 | 678 | −8.4% | |
| 1980 | 1,006 | 48.4% | |
| 1990 | 1,377 | 36.9% | |
| 2000 | 1,723 | 25.1% | |
| 2010 | 1,831 | 6.3% | |
| 2020 | 1,942 | 6.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2015 Estimate |
|||
Who Lives in Coupeville?
According to the 2010 census, there were 1,831 people living in Coupeville. These people made up 806 households. About 428 of these were families.
Most residents (87.2%) were White. There were also people of African American (1.6%), Native American (0.6%), and Asian (1.9%) backgrounds. About 9.0% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
The average age in Coupeville was about 51 years old. About 17.1% of residents were under 18. About 27.5% were 65 years or older. More women live in Coupeville than men, with 55.7% being female and 44.3% male.
Economy and Jobs
Main Jobs in Town
In 1987, a large part of the jobs in Island County (42%) were with the military. Today, two of the biggest employers in Coupeville are Island County itself and WhidbeyHealth Medical Center.
Many businesses in Coupeville are service and retail stores. They serve the people living on the island and the many visitors. Tourists come to see the town's historic waterfront and the Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve.
Shopping and Dining
You can find shops along North and South Main Street, Coveland, and Front Street by the water. There are 11 restaurants, cafes, and coffee shops. You can also find art galleries, gourmet food stores, clothing shops, and souvenir stores. Most of these businesses are owned by local people.
Famous People from Coupeville
- Guy Bond – A well-known psychologist.
- Adrienne Lyle – An Olympic dressage rider, who competes with horses.
See also
In Spanish: Coupeville (Washington) para niños
