Manchester, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Manchester, Washington
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The public pier and waterfront at Manchester during a summer low tide. Bainbridge Island is in the background on the left, and Seattle is far away on the right.
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Location of Manchester, Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Kitsap |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.65 sq mi (14.64 km2) |
| • Land | 2.93 sq mi (7.58 km2) |
| • Water | 2.73 sq mi (7.06 km2) |
| Elevation | 30 ft (9 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 5,413 |
| • Density | 1,851/sq mi (714.6/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
98353
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| Area code(s) | 360 |
| FIPS code | 53-42450 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1512426 |
Manchester is a small community in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. It's called an "unincorporated community" and a "census-designated place" (CDP). This means it's a recognized area with its own identity, but it doesn't have its own city government.
In 2020, about 5,714 people lived in Manchester. It's located right on the Puget Sound, which is a large inlet of the Pacific Ocean. Manchester is only about 10 miles away from downtown Seattle by water. It's also very close to Port Orchard, which is the main city in Kitsap County. Even though it's small, Manchester has a library, a post office, an elementary school, and a public park by the beach.
Contents
History of Manchester
Manchester was first settled in the 1860s. It was originally named "Brooklyn", just like the famous borough in New York City.
How Manchester Got Its Name
In 1892, the name was changed to "Manchester". This new name was chosen to honor the city of Manchester, England.
Travel and Transportation
In the early days, getting to Manchester by land was difficult. The main way to reach bigger cities like Seattle was by boat. After a permanent dock was built in 1908, regular steamboats connected Manchester to nearby towns like Colby, Southworth, and Harper. They also traveled across the water to Seattle.
From 1925 to 1936, a ferry service linked Manchester with Alki Point in West Seattle. When the Alki Point dock was damaged in 1936, the ferry started going to Colman Dock in downtown Seattle instead. However, ferry service stopped completely in 1949 and has not started again since.
Manchester's Military Past
Manchester also has a military history. As early as 1889, the U.S. War Department used land here to help defend the Puget Sound area. After World War I, the U.S. Navy took over the property. In 1940, they built a large pier in nearby Clam Bay to refuel ships.
This place, called the Manchester Fuel Depot, became the military's largest single fuel station in the U.S. It was used a lot during World War II and is still operating today. While the Navy still owns most of the original land, some parts are now Manchester State Park. Other parts are used by the Environmental Protection Agency and NOAA for their labs.
Community Spirit
In 1953, the local library was going to be torn down. But the people of Manchester worked together to save it. A new library was built in 1954. Today, Manchester is known for its beautiful views of Seattle, Mount Rainier, and Puget Sound. It has a public boat launch and hosts fun community events like a boat parade and salmon bakes at the library.
Geography and Climate
Manchester is located in the southeastern part of Kitsap County. It sits on the west side of Puget Sound, stretching from Rich Passage in the north to Yukon Harbor in the south.
Location Details
Manchester is about 6 miles east of Port Orchard, which is the main city for Kitsap County. Manchester State Park is just north of the community.
The Manchester area covers about 14.6 square kilometers (about 5.6 square miles). About half of this area is land, and the other half is water. Besides Manchester itself, the area also includes smaller communities like Colchester and Colby.
Weather in Manchester
Manchester has a mild climate. Summers are warm but not too hot, and they are generally dry. The warmest temperatures usually happen in late July and early August, averaging around 77°F (25°C).
Winters are also mild, and Manchester doesn't get much snow, usually only about 3 inches per year. On average, it rains about 122 days a year, with a total of about 41 inches of rain. This type of weather is known as a "warm-summer Mediterranean climate."
Education and Culture
Manchester is part of the South Kitsap School District. The community has its own elementary school, Manchester Elementary.
Manchester Elementary School
In the 2020-2021 school year, Manchester Elementary had 413 students from Pre-Kindergarten to 5th grade. After elementary school, students typically go to John Sedgwick Middle School and then South Kitsap High School.
The Manchester Library
Manchester also has a library that is a central part of the community. In 2021, the library was updated with new interiors and an expanded building. They even added solar panels to help save energy!
A volunteer group called "Friends of the Manchester Library" organizes many fun events throughout the year. These events include Fathers' Day salmon bakes, a Christmas tree lighting, summer farmers' markets, and plant sales.
People of Manchester
The 2020 census counted 5,714 people living in Manchester. The area has about 1,850 people per square mile. There were 2,373 homes, and most of them (2,246) were occupied.
Diversity in Manchester
Manchester is home to a diverse group of people. According to the 2020 census:
- 86.2% of residents were White.
- 1.2% were Black or African American.
- 0.5% were Native American.
- 2.4% were Asian.
- 1.6% were Pacific Islander.
- 5.6% were from two or more races.
- About 6.4% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Households and Families
There were 2,077 households in Manchester. On average, each household had about 2.73 people, and families had about 3.04 people.
- 58.5% of households were married couples living together.
- 16.7% had a female head of household with no spouse.
- 15.2% had a male head of household with no spouse.
About 25.8% of the population was under 18 years old, and 14.9% were over 65 years old.
Income and Economy
The average income for a household in Manchester was about $80,045 per year. For families, the average income was around $82,455. Married-couple families generally had the highest average income, at about $106,066.
The average income per person in Manchester was $34,000. About 11.7% of the population lived below the federal poverty line. This included 17% of people under 18 and 6.3% of people over 65.
See also
In Spanish: Manchester (Washington) para niños
