Fidalgo Island facts for kids
Fidalgo Island is a beautiful island located in Skagit County, Washington. It's about 60 miles (97 km) north of the big city of Seattle.
To its east, a narrow waterway called the Swinomish Channel separates it from the mainland. To the south, the famous Deception Pass separates it from Whidbey Island. The island got its name from a Spanish explorer and mapmaker, Salvador Fidalgo, who explored this area in 1790.
The largest city on Fidalgo Island is Anacortes. In 2010, about 15,778 people lived there. From Anacortes, you can catch ferries every day. These ferries travel to Sidney in British Columbia, Canada, and to the lovely San Juan Islands.
Island Geography
Fidalgo Island covers an area of about 41 square miles (106.7 square kilometers). It's home to several important lakes. Some of these lakes include Campbell, Little Cranberry, Erie, Heart, Mud, Pass, Trafton/Crater, and Whistle. These lakes add to the island's natural beauty.
A Look at Fidalgo Island's History
Long ago, Fidalgo Island was the home of the Samish and Swinomish peoples. They were the first inhabitants of this land.
The island is named after Salvador Fidalgo, a Spanish explorer. He explored the area in 1790 with a group led by Francisco de Eliza. Later, in 1841, an American explorer named Charles Wilkes discovered that it was actually an island, not part of the mainland. He first named it Perry Island to honor Oliver Hazard Perry. Perry was an American commander who won an important battle during the War of 1812. Wilkes also named the island's highest point Mount Erie.
However, in 1847, a British mapmaker named Henry Kellett changed the official maps. He removed the name Perry and gave the island the name Fidalgo to honor the Spanish explorer. The highest point, however, kept its name Mount Erie.
In the 1850s, more people started moving to Fidalgo Island. This was partly because of the Fraser River Gold Rush. People hoped to find gold. In 1890, even more people arrived. They thought the island might become a major stop for the Northern Pacific Railroad. Later, the island became a busy place for fishing and cutting down lumber.
Traveling to Fidalgo Island
For a while, from 1924 to 1935, a Deception Pass ferry connected Fidalgo Island to Whidbey Island. But in 1935, the amazing Deception Pass Bridge was built. This bridge made it much easier to travel between the islands.
Today, Fidalgo Island is a very important travel hub. It has the main ferry terminal that connects the San Juan Islands to the rest of Washington state.
