Port Madison facts for kids

Port Madison is a beautiful bay located on the west side of Puget Sound in western Washington. Sometimes it's also called Port Madison Bay. This deep water bay is surrounded by land on different sides. To the north, you'll find Indianola. To the west is Suquamish. And to the south, it's bordered by Bainbridge Island. Port Madison connects to Bainbridge Island through the Agate Pass Bridge in the southwest.

There are two smaller bays that open off Port Madison. One is Miller Bay, located to the northwest. The other small bay to the south is also, a bit confusingly, called Port Madison Bay. Locals often call this southern part the "Inner Harbor." This inner harbor, which goes into Bainbridge Island, is home to the Port Madison Yacht Club and a Seattle Yacht Club outstation. The Port Madison Indian Reservation is located along the western and northern shores of Port Madison.

History of Port Madison

Early Names and Explorers

Before it was called Port Madison, this bay had different names given by the native people. Some sources say its native name was either Tu-che-kup or Noo-sohk-um.

On November 8, 1824, a man named John Work from the Hudson's Bay Company was exploring the area. He was looking for good places to set up a trading post. He wrote down the bay's name as Soquamis Bay. This name was a bit like the name of the Suquamish tribe, who lived on the western shore of the bay.

Later, on May 10, 1841, the Wilkes Expedition explored and mapped the bay. They decided to name it after James Madison, who was the 4th president of the United States.

From Mill Town to Residential Area

In 1854, a man named George A. Meigs built a lumber mill on the Bainbridge Island side of the bay. Soon, Port Madison became a very busy mill town. It grew so much that the town of Port Madison became the first county seat for Kitsap County. A county seat is like the main town where the government offices are located.

However, in the 1890s, there was an economic depression, which meant the economy was struggling. The lumber mill had to close down. Because of this, the county seat was moved to another town, and Port Madison became what people call a "ghost town."

Today, Port Madison is no longer a ghost town. It's a peaceful residential area where people live. It's also a very popular spot for boaters who enjoy the water.

See also

In Spanish: Port Madison para niños