Decatur Island facts for kids
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Decatur Island in the foreground, James Island in the distance
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Location of Decatur Island within the San Juan Islands
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 Decatur Island
Location in Washington (state)
Location of Decatur Island within the San Juan Islands
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Pacific Northwest |
| Coordinates | 48°30′37″N 122°48′39″W / 48.510236°N 122.810926°W |
| Archipelago | San Juan Islands |
| Area | 3.524 sq mi (9.13 km2) |
| Administration | |
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United States
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| State | Washington |
| County | San Juan County |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 71 (2000) |
Decatur Island is a lovely island in the San Juan Islands of Washington state, USA. It is located just east of Lopez Island and south of Blakely Island. The island is about 3.5 square miles (9.1 square kilometers) in size. It was named in 1841 by the Wilkes Expedition after a famous naval officer named Stephen Decatur.
Island History
A post office called Decatur was opened in 1891. It served the islanders until 1969.
Today, Decatur Island has a special one-room school for children from kindergarten through eighth grade. In the year 2000, about 71 people lived on the island.
Fun Things to Do
Decatur Island offers some fun activities for residents and visitors.
- There is a private nine-hole rustic golf course.
- From Memorial Day to Labor Day (summer months), there is a farmer's market every Saturday at the country store. You can find fresh local produce and goods there.
- James Island State Park is a short boat ride away, just to the east of Decatur Island. It's a great spot for outdoor adventures.
Getting Around
Decatur Island does not have many public facilities. There is one public boat ramp in Davis Bay on the east side of the island. The San Juan Preservation Trust allows people to visit their property on the southern tip of the island during the day.
There is no Washington State Ferry service to Decatur Island. This means you can only get there by private boat or plane. The airport on Decatur Island is private and mostly for people who live in the Decatur Shores community. Other people need to ask for permission before using the airport.
Some companies offer ways to get to the island:
- Paraclete Charter Service and Island Express Charters provide ferry service for passengers only from Anacortes.
- Northwest Sky Ferry offers air service from Bellingham, Washington.
- Island Transport operates a ferry/barge that carries cargo and vehicles from Skyline Marina in Anacortes to the public boat ramp.
