Ketron Island, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ketron Island, Washington
saʔilc
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Pierce |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 17 |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific Time Zone|Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
98388
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| Area code(s) | 253 |
Ketron Island (which is called Lushootseed: saʔilc in the Lushootseed language) is a small island in Pierce County, Washington, United States. It is also known as a census-designated place (CDP), which means it's a special area defined for gathering population information.
In 2010, only 17 people lived on Ketron Island. It is located in the southern part of Puget Sound, close to the city of Steilacoom. The island is about 221 acres in size.
Contents
Island History: Past Events and Names
The British explorer George Vancouver visited and camped on Ketron Island in May 1792. This was a long time ago, even before Washington became a state!
How Ketron Island Got Its Name
The island's name in the Lushootseed language is Lushootseed: saʔilc, which means "bad rock." The island was first named "Kittson Island" by Charles Wilkes. He was part of an expedition that explored the area from 1838 to 1842. However, his mapmakers accidentally misspelled it as "Ketron."
The island was named after William Kittson. He worked for the Hudson's Bay Company. He helped build Fort Nisqually in 1833 and was in charge there.
Modern History of Ketron Island
In 1946, someone bought the whole island. They wanted to build 200 homes there. But they stopped their plans because it was too expensive to put in a sewer system.
On August 10, 2018, a small plane crashed near the southern tip of Ketron Island.
Getting Around: Transportation to Ketron Island
Ketron Island can only be reached by a ferry. The ferry service is run by Pierce County. It connects Steilacoom, Anderson Island, and Ketron Island.
Ferry Service Details
The ferry goes to Ketron Island four times a day. You can catch a ferry any day of the week. The ferry runs from 5:45 AM until 8:00 PM.
Two ferries serve the islands: the Steilacoom II and the Christine Anderson. The Steilacoom II started service in January 2007. Both ferries help transport people from Ketron and Anderson Islands.
Learning on the Island: Education
The Steilacoom Historical School District serves the students on Ketron Island. Students attend Steilacoom High School, which is the main high school for the district.
See also
In Spanish: Ketron Island (Washington) para niños
