Hat Island, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hat Island, Washington
č̓əč̓əsəliʔ
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Hat Island aerial view from the east
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 Hat Island, Washington
Location in Washington (state)
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Snohomish |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.692 sq mi (1.79 km2) |
| • Land | 0.688 sq mi (1.78 km2) |
| • Water | 0.004 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 207 ft (63 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 41 |
| • Density | 59.6/sq mi (23.0/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
98201
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| Area code(s) | 360 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2584980 |
Hat Island, also known as Gedney Island, is a small island in Possession Sound in the state of Washington, USA. It's a special type of community called a census-designated place (CDP) in Snohomish County. In 2010, 41 people lived there. The island is located between the city of Everett, Washington, and the southern part of Whidbey Island. It covers about 0.688 square miles (1.78 square kilometers) of land.
Contents
History of Hat Island
For thousands of years, Hat Island was home to a village of the Snohomish people. They called the island č̓əč̓əsəliʔ in their language, Lushootseed. Their lands stretched across the Snohomish River and parts of Camano and Whidbey islands. The village was on the north side of Hat Island, near a spring. It had several longhouses, which were large homes shared by many families.
A Big Wave Changes Everything
In the 1820s, a huge landslide happened at Camano Head. This caused a giant wave, like a small tsunami, to crash into Hat Island. The wave destroyed the village, and only a few people survived. After this event, the Snohomish people no longer lived on the island permanently. They only used it as a temporary camp when they came to collect clams. Sometimes, people who visited the island would find old human remains or parts of the destroyed village.
How Hat Island Got Its Names
The island was first written about in 1792 by a naturalist named Archibald Menzies. He was part of the Vancouver Expedition. Later, in 1841, Charles Wilkes gave the island its English name. Some people think it was named after John B. Gedney or Jonathon Haight Gedney. However, Wilkes's own writings say he named it after Lieutenant Thomas R. Gedney. The name "Hat" came from the shape of a beach and a flat, treeless area on the island. This name was first used in 1870. Since 1980, the island has often been called Gedney Island (Hat).
Getting to Hat Island
Today, there is a special ferry called the Hat Express. It carries people to and from the island. The ferry can hold up to 88 passengers. It runs on a limited schedule, mainly on Thursdays, Friday evenings, and weekends. The ferry travels between the Everett Yacht Club in Everett and the Hat Island Marina.
Geography
Hat Island is a small piece of land. It covers about 0.688 square miles (1.78 square kilometers). A very small part of its total area, about 0.004 square miles (0.01 square kilometers), is water.
Parks and Recreation
Hat Island has fun places for people to enjoy. There is a marina with 127 boat slips, where boats can dock. The island also has a golf course. Both the marina and the golf course are taken care of by the Hat Island Community Association.
See also
In Spanish: Hat Island (Washington) para niños
