Manette Peninsula facts for kids

The Manette Peninsula is a piece of land that sticks out into the water, like a big finger of land. It's part of the larger Kitsap Peninsula in western Washington (state), USA. This area is surrounded by beautiful waterways and has a long, interesting history.

Where is the Manette Peninsula?

The Manette Peninsula is like an island connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of land. To its west, you'll find Port Washington Narrows and Dyes Inlet. To the east, there's Port Orchard Bay, and to the north, Dogfish Bay. All these waterways are part of the amazing Puget Sound, which is a large inland sea. The peninsula connects to the rest of the Kitsap Peninsula in its northwestern part, near the Clear Creek Valley.

How the Land Was Formed

The Manette Peninsula is in an area where the Earth's crust is very active. It's part of the Puget Sound Lowlands, which means the land was shaped by ancient glaciers. These huge sheets of ice moved across the land a very long time ago, during the pleistocene epoch. As they moved, they left behind lots of sediments, which are tiny bits of rock and soil. These sediments built up to form the land we see today.

This area is also where two of Earth's giant plates meet. The Juan de Fuca Plate is slowly sliding underneath the American Continental Plate. This movement, called continental drift, continues to shape the land, even today!

People of the Manette Peninsula

Ancient History

Scientists have found clues that people lived on the Manette Peninsula a very long time ago, possibly starting as far back as 7,000 years ago! The people living here when the first European explorers arrived were the Saktabsh band of the Suquamish tribe.

They built a special fort at Point Herron. This fort helped them defend their land from attacks by other tribes from the north, like the Haida people. There was also a permanent village near Erlands Point with a large building called a longhouse. It was similar to the famous Old Man House longhouse near Agate Passage.

Early Settlements

The first permanent European settlement on the Manette Peninsula began in 1854. A man named William Renton started a sawmill and a dock at Enetai Point. This was part of the big movement of people heading west across the United States.

Renton and his partner ran the business for several years. In 1857, the area became part of what is now Kitsap County. After Renton sold the business, a new company took over. In 1868, the first Post Office was set up at the sawmill.

This early period had some dramatic events! There were stories of a ship being taken, an explosion at the mill, and even a watchdog being poisoned. Finally, in 1870, the mill burned down, and its remaining assets were taken to pay taxes.

Other small towns also grew up around the peninsula. They had docks that were important stops for the "Mosquito Fleet." This was a network of small ships and ferries that carried people and goods all around Puget Sound. These boats were the main way to travel between communities before roads were built.

What You'll Find Today

Getting Around

Today, the Manette Bridge and Warren Avenue Bridge connect the Manette Peninsula to downtown Bremerton. The southern part of the peninsula is now part of Bremerton and is often called East Bremerton. Other towns on the peninsula include Illahee, Tracyton, and Brownsville.

Water Sources

The drinking water for the area comes from deep underground. It's pumped from a large underground water source called an aquifer. Above this deep water, there's also a shallow water table that creates many natural springs and wet areas on the surface.

Fun and Recreation

If you're looking for a place to play or relax, Illahee State Park is a great spot. It's a popular recreation area located right on the eastern shore of the Manette Peninsula.