Liberty Bay facts for kids
Liberty Bay is a narrow inlet of water located in Western Washington. It stretches about 4 miles in a northerly direction. This bay is part of the larger Port Orchard area, right next to the Kitsap Peninsula.
Exploring Liberty Bay
The southeastern part of Liberty Bay is quite narrow. Its shores are low and covered with trees. The edges of the bay are made of sand and gravel. At the very end of the bay, and in a small curve on its south side, you can find mud flats. The bottom of the bay is mostly mud. Sometimes, the water's currents, called tidal velocities, can move faster than 1 knot.
The City of Poulsbo
The city of Poulsbo, Washington is located at the northern end of Liberty Bay. This charming city is often called "Little Norway" because of its strong Norwegian heritage.
How Liberty Bay Got Its Name
Liberty Bay has had a few different names over time. It was once known as Dogfish Bay, and also Poulsbo Bay. The name Dogfish Bay came from a plant that used dogfish oil in the 1860s. This oil was used to grease logs for lumber camps.
People living in Poulsbo really wanted the name changed to Liberty Bay. They asked the Washington State Legislature in 1893 and again in 1899. However, the state government refused to make the change officially. Even so, people started using the name Liberty Bay more and more. Eventually, this name became the official one through common use.
