Fox Island, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fox Island, Washington
Bu-Ta-U
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Fox Island on the left
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Location of Fox Island in Pierce County, Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Pierce |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.4 sq mi (16.6 km2) |
| • Land | 5.2 sq mi (13.5 km2) |
| • Water | 1.2 sq mi (3.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 177 ft (54 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,921 |
| • Density | 613/sq mi (236.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
98333
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| Area code(s) | 253 |
| FIPS code | 53-25370 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1867612 |
Fox Island is a beautiful island located in Pierce County, Washington, in a large body of water called Puget Sound. It's also known as a census-designated place (CDP), which means it's a special area defined by the government for counting people. The island is about 5 miles (8 km) away from Gig Harbor.
The island got its name from Charles Wilkes, who was exploring the area during the United States Exploring Expedition. He named it after J.L. Fox, who was a doctor on his team. In 2020, about 3,921 people lived on Fox Island, which was a bit more than the 3,633 people counted in 2010.
Contents
Exploring Fox Island's Geography
Fox Island is found at these coordinates: 47°14′39″N 122°37′12″W / 47.24417°N 122.62000°W. There's a dock on the northern side of the island where boats can stop. The waters around the island are popular for fishing and for scuba diving, where people explore underwater.
Size and Shape of the Island
The entire area of Fox Island, including both land and water, is about 6.4 square miles (16.6 square kilometers). Most of this is land, covering about 5.2 square miles (13.5 square kilometers). The rest, about 1.2 square miles (3.0 square kilometers), is water.
How Fox Island Connects to the Mainland
Fox Island is separated from the mainland by a narrow channel called Hale Passage to the north. A special structure called the Fox Island Bridge crosses this passage. This bridge connects the island's roads to the mainland at a place called Artondale, making it easy to travel back and forth.
A tiny island called Tanglewood is very close to Fox Island, also along the Hale Passage. It's so close that it was included as part of Fox Island for the 2010 census count. To the southwest, another body of water called Carr Inlet separates Fox Island from McNeil Island.
A Look at Fox Island's History
Before European settlers arrived, Fox Island was part of the land belonging to the Steilacoom people, a Native American tribe from the Coast Salish group.
Early Explorers and Native Encounters
In 1792, during the Vancouver Expedition, a leader named Peter Puget explored the southern part of Puget Sound. His group had an encounter with local Native tribes. After a warning shot was fired, the explorers went back to Fox Island and camped there for the night.
Fox Island During the Puget Sound War
In 1856, during the Puget Sound War, many Puyallup and Nisqually Native Americans, who were not fighting, were moved from their homes. About 500 people were brought to Fox Island. A person named John Swan was in charge of this camp. He gave out food provided by the government.
On January 5, 1856, Chief Leschi and other Native leaders who were involved in the war came to Fox Island in canoes. They trusted Swan and wanted to talk about how to end the war. While they were there, Captain Maurice Maloney arrived on a steamship called the Beaver. He wanted to rescue Swan but couldn't get his men ashore. Swan paddled out to the Beaver and told Maloney that everything was peaceful. He asked Maloney not to come ashore and promised to return to the island, which he did.
Maloney went back to Steilacoom and then to Seattle to get a special cannon, but he didn't get it. He returned to Fox Island hoping to capture Chief Leschi. However, by the time Maloney's ship, the USS Active, came back, Chief Leschi and his group had already left.
Ending the War and New Treaties
By August 1856, the war was mostly over. Governor Isaac Stevens visited the Native American camp on Fox Island. He wanted to make a new agreement for the 1854 Treaty of Medicine Creek, which had caused some of the fighting. Governor Stevens agreed to create new, larger reservations for both the Puyallup and Nisqually tribes.
Growth and Development of the Island
The first non-Native settlers came to Fox Island in 1856, right after the war ended. One of the earliest land sales happened in 1881, when 56.5 acres (22.6 hectares) were sold for $118. By 1908, there were about 60 homes spread across the island.
A very important change for the community happened in 1954 when the Fox Island Bridge was finished. This bridge connected Fox Island to the mainland, making it much easier for people to reach businesses, schools, and hospitals outside the island. During the bridge's construction, an old Native American canoe was found preserved in the mud. You can see this canoe at the Fox Island history museum today! In 1956, only 120 people lived on the island, but by 2000, the population had grown to more than 2,800.
Famous Visitors and Island Life
The famous cartoonist Gary Larson, who created "The Far Side," often visited Fox Island when he was a child. He called Fox Island a "wondrous place" and said that the island's swamps and wildlife helped him become interested in nature.
A Submarine Incident
On April 29, 1988, a nuclear-powered US Navy submarine, the USS Sam Houston (SSBN-609), accidentally ran aground on Fox Island. This happened while it was operating in the nearby Carr Inlet. The submarine was stuck for about 10 hours until the high tide returned. Tugboats were then brought in to help free the ship. The island wasn't damaged, and the submarine only needed minor repairs to its hull at the Bangor Naval Submarine Base.
Fox Island Today: A Desirable Place to Live
In recent years, Fox Island has become a wealthy exurb (a community outside a city) of Tacoma. This is partly because there's a lot of waterfront property on the island. Also, the island has amazing views of the Olympic Mountains and Mount Rainier. Many homes on the island enjoy these beautiful sights. Fox Island is considered one of the most affluent areas in Washington state, based on how much money people earn there.
Island Population and Community Life
Let's look at some numbers about the people who live on Fox Island. In the year 2000, there were 2,803 people living in the CDP. These people lived in 1,048 households, and 847 of these were families. The island had about 536 people per square mile.
Who Lives on Fox Island?
Most people living on Fox Island in 2000 were White (94.08%). There were also smaller percentages of African American, Native American, Asian, and Pacific Islander residents. About 1.86% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Households and Families
Out of the 1,048 households, about 36.8% had children under 18 living with them. A large number, 72.4%, were married couples living together. The average household had about 2.67 people, and the average family had about 2.97 people.
Age Groups on the Island
The population on Fox Island was spread out across different age groups. About 27.3% of the people were under 18 years old. About 31.8% were between 45 and 64 years old, and 11.5% were 65 or older. The average age on the island was 42 years.
Income and Economy
In 2000, the average income for a household on Fox Island was $69,135, and for a family, it was $72,284. The income per person was $32,533. A small number of families (1.7%) and people (3.2%) lived below the poverty line.
Images for kids
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Nuclear submarine Sam Houston aground on the southwest shore of Fox Island
See also
In Spanish: Fox Island (Washington) para niños
