Oak Harbor, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oak Harbor
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Aerial view of Oak Harbor
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Location of Oak Harbor, Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Island |
| City | May 14, 1915 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–council |
| Area | |
| • City | 12.32 sq mi (31.90 km2) |
| • Land | 9.65 sq mi (25.00 km2) |
| • Water | 2.66 sq mi (6.90 km2) |
| Elevation | 92 ft (28 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • City | 24,622 |
| • Density | 2,551.5/sq mi (984.88/km2) |
| • Metro | 86,857 (US: 48th) |
| Demonym(s) | Oak Harborite |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP codes |
98277–98278
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| Area code(s) | 360 |
| Telephone exchanges | 240, 257, 279, 395, 632, 675, 678, 679 |
| FIPS code | 53-50360 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1512518 |
Oak Harbor is a city located on Whidbey Island in Island County, Washington, United States. It's a place where many people live and work. In 2020, about 24,622 people called Oak Harbor home. The city officially became a city on May 14, 1915.
Contents
A Look Back: The History of Oak Harbor
Long before settlers arrived, the Lower Skagit people, a Native American group, lived in the area. They had villages in places like Oak Harbor (which they called Lushootseed: təqucid) and Crescent Harbor (Lushootseed: č̓itusəb). The modern city of Oak Harbor was built right over one of these old villages.
In the early 1850s, the first non-Native settlers came to this area. Two of them were Zakarias Martin Toftezen from Norway and C.W. Sumner from New England. Other immigrants from Ireland and the Netherlands also settled here. The city was named Oak Harbor because of the many Garry Oak trees that grew in the area.
Oak Harbor officially became a city in 1915. At that time, only 401 people lived there. In the early days, people and goods traveled mostly by water. Boats like steamers and freighters connected the island to the mainland.
The city grew a lot after two important projects were finished. The first was the Deception Pass Bridge, completed in 1935. This bridge connected Whidbey Island to Fidalgo Island and the mainland, making travel much easier. The second was the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, which opened in 1942. These additions helped Oak Harbor become the city it is today. Near the bridge, Deception Pass State Park was also created, offering forests, campsites, and trails.
Exploring Oak Harbor's Location and Surroundings
Oak Harbor is located on Whidbey Island. The city covers about 25 square kilometers (9.65 square miles) of land and 6.9 square kilometers (2.66 square miles) of water.
You can reach Whidbey Island by driving over the Deception Pass Bridge. Other ways to get to the island include flying or taking a ferry. The Mukilteo–Clinton ferry connects the southern part of Whidbey Island to the area north of Seattle. The Coupeville-Port Townsend ferry connects the island to the Olympic Peninsula.
Oak Harbor's Climate and Weather
Oak Harbor has a Mediterranean climate. This means it has warm, dry summers and cool, damp winters. It doesn't get extremely cold in winter. The area is also drier than many other parts of the Pacific Northwest. This is because of something called the Olympic rain shadow, which blocks some of the rain.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record high °F (°C) | 62 (17) |
69 (21) |
78 (26) |
81 (27) |
85 (29) |
92 (33) |
95 (35) |
98 (37) |
91 (33) |
79 (26) |
67 (19) |
62 (17) |
98 (37) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 47 (8) |
50 (10) |
54 (12) |
59 (15) |
64 (18) |
68 (20) |
73 (23) |
74 (23) |
69 (21) |
59 (15) |
51 (11) |
46 (8) |
60 (15) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 37 (3) |
36 (2) |
39 (4) |
42 (6) |
46 (8) |
50 (10) |
52 (11) |
52 (11) |
49 (9) |
44 (7) |
39 (4) |
35 (2) |
43 (6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 3 (−16) |
5 (−15) |
14 (−10) |
26 (−3) |
28 (−2) |
35 (2) |
40 (4) |
38 (3) |
29 (−2) |
20 (−7) |
6 (−14) |
3 (−16) |
3 (−16) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.50 (64) |
1.75 (44) |
1.88 (48) |
1.67 (42) |
1.83 (46) |
1.33 (34) |
0.86 (22) |
0.77 (20) |
1.27 (32) |
1.97 (50) |
3.15 (80) |
2.53 (64) |
21.51 (546) |
Who Lives in Oak Harbor? Population Facts
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 337 | — | |
| 1930 | 362 | 7.4% | |
| 1940 | 376 | 3.9% | |
| 1950 | 1,193 | 217.3% | |
| 1960 | 3,942 | 230.4% | |
| 1970 | 9,167 | 132.5% | |
| 1980 | 12,271 | 33.9% | |
| 1990 | 17,176 | 40.0% | |
| 2000 | 19,795 | 15.2% | |
| 2010 | 22,075 | 11.5% | |
| 2020 | 24,622 | 11.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2018 Estimate |
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Population in 2020
In 2020, the city had 24,622 people and 9,852 households. Most residents (67.3%) were White. About 5.4% were African American, and 8.4% were Asian. People from two or more races made up 13.9% of the population. About 15.9% of the people identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Population in 2010
In 2010, there were 22,075 people living in Oak Harbor. There were 8,677 households. The city had about 2,343 people per square mile. Most residents (72.6%) were White. About 4.9% were African American, and 10.2% were Asian. About 9.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Many households (38.6%) had children under 18 living with them. About 51.7% of households were married couples. The average household had 2.53 people. The average family had 3.09 people.
The average age in the city was 29 years old. About 28.3% of residents were under 18. About 12.3% were between 18 and 24. And 10.3% were 65 or older. The population was almost evenly split between males (49.2%) and females (50.8%).
Famous Faces: Notable People from Oak Harbor
Oak Harbor has been home to several notable people. These include:
- Shayla Beesley – an actress
- Lamont Brightful – a football player in the NFL and Canadian Football League
- Michael Harring – a filmmaker
- Marti Malloy – an Olympic Judo medalist
- Patricia McPherson – an actress
- Jerod Turner – a golfer
- Chad Veach - an evangelical pastor and founder of Zoe Church
See also
In Spanish: Oak Harbor (Washington) para niños
