Keyport, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Keyport, Washington
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Aerial view of Keyport looking west from Port Orchard Bay
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 Keyport, Washington
Location in Washington (state)
Keyport, Washington
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Kitsap |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.70 sq mi (1.81 km2) |
| • Land | 0.49 sq mi (1.27 km2) |
| • Water | 0.21 sq mi (0.54 km2) |
| Elevation | 35 ft (11 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 554 |
| • Density | 1,126/sq mi (434.9/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
98345
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| Area code(s) | 360 |
| FIPS code | 53-35625 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1505963 |
Keyport is a small community in Kitsap County, Washington, USA. It's on the Kitsap Peninsula, right where State Route 308 ends. Keyport is known for its small size and pretty coastal views. In 2010, about 554 people lived here.
The community got its name from Keyport, New Jersey, in 1896. People sometimes call it "Torpedo Town USA." Keyport is on a small piece of land that sticks out into Liberty Bay, close to Poulsbo. It's home to a small United States Navy base. This base helps test and fix torpedoes for the US Navy and its allies.
Keyport Bible Church is the only church in Keyport. It started in the early 1900s and became official in 1926. The church building was opened on May 2, 1937. Since then, it has grown with more classrooms and a multipurpose building.
Contents
Keyport's Military History
The naval station in Keyport, Washington, has had many names. It started before World War I. First, it was called the Pacific Torpedo Station. Later, it became the Naval Torpedo Station. In the 1990s, its name changed to the Naval Undersea Warfare Engineering Station (NUWES). The land where the base sits used to be a pig farm. This led to some funny nicknames for the base in its early days.
After the Cold War ended, the base faced many budget cuts. There were also times when the number of workers was reduced. Keyport's main command in Newport, Rhode Island, decided to keep some engineering work for itself. This led to a new name for Keyport: Naval Undersea Warfare Center - Division Keyport. Later, it was reorganized again. Its name changed to Naval Sea Systems Command, Keyport (NAVSEA).
Today, the station is called Naval Base Kitsap – Keyport. This name matches other Navy places in Bremerton and Bangor. Even with all these changes, Keyport has stayed open. However, the number of civilian workers has gone down. In 1990, there were about 3,500 people. By 2005, there were 1,348.
Visiting Keyport
Keyport has a great place for visitors called the Naval Undersea Museum. This museum shows many cool things about technology used underwater. You can see the bathyscaphe Trieste II, a special vehicle that went down 20,000 feet (about 6,100 meters) into the ocean. There is also a boat dock run by the local Port Authority. Kitsap County has a small park on the beach. It's right across State Route 308 from the main gate of the base.
Fun on the Base
Inside the naval base, visitors can find more fun things to do. There's a place to launch boats and a park. You can also enjoy a large picnic area next to a lagoon. There are hiking trails on "Radio Hill." Base employees often use these trails during their lunch breaks. If you're boating, remember to stay at least 300 feet (91 meters) away from the base's work areas.
Environmental Care
Like many military bases, the Navy base at Keyport is part of a special program. This program helps clean up areas where chemicals might have caused pollution. There are four areas that need attention. One is an old landfill on the west side of the base. It could affect nearby well water. Scientists are working to clean up chemicals like CAHs and PCBs.
How They Clean Up
For some areas, they use a method called phytoremediation. This means growing poplar trees to help clean the soil. Other cleanup efforts include removing contaminated dirt from the water. They also improve and maintain the cover over the old landfill. Plus, they keep an eye on the area for a long time to make sure it stays clean.
Keyport's Climate
Keyport has warm, but not hot, and dry summers. The average monthly temperatures do not go above 71.6°F (22°C). Keyport has a climate known as a warm-summer Mediterranean climate.
See also
In Spanish: Keyport (Washington) para niños
