Seabeck, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Seabeck, Washington
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 Seabeck, Washington
Location in Washington (state)
Seabeck, Washington
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Kitsap |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.2 sq mi (11.0 km2) |
| • Land | 3.3 sq mi (8.6 km2) |
| • Water | 0.9 sq mi (2.4 km2) |
| Elevation | 500 ft (200 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 1,105 |
| • Density | 333/sq mi (128.4/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
98380
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| Area code(s) | 360 |
| FIPS code | 53-62120 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1525535 |
Seabeck is a small community in Kitsap County, Washington, USA. It is also called a census-designated place (CDP). In 2010, about 1,105 people lived there. Seabeck used to be a town known for its lumber mills, located on Hood Canal.
Contents
The Name Seabeck
The name "Seabeck" comes from the Twana people. Their word /ɬqábaqʷ/ means "far, smooth, calm water."
Captain George Vancouver explored the Hood Canal in 1792. He did not mention the Seabeck area in his notes. The name "Seabeck" was first used during the United States Exploring Expedition. This was a big trip from 1838 to 1842. On May 16, 1841, Captain Charles Wilkes sent a team to map the Hood Canal. He wrote about the area, mentioning "Scabock Harbor."
Seabeck's History
Seabeck was started in 1856 by Marshall Blinn and William Adams. They owned the Washington Mill Company. Their lumber was very popular, so they built a second mill. They even built a shipyard to make boats. These boats carried lumber to California because of the California Gold Rush.
Over time, Seabeck grew. It had four saloons, two general stores, and two hotels. By 1876, more than 400 people lived there. But in the 1880s, the demand for lumber slowed down. Also, most of the easy-to-reach trees had been cut.
In August 1886, a fire started from a ship called the Retriever. The fire burned both mills and other buildings. People thought the mills would not be rebuilt. So, most residents moved to other towns with mills, like Port Hadlock. Seabeck became almost a ghost town.
In 1914, Laurence Colman bought the old town site. He turned it into a retreat for YMCA and YWCA groups. Now, it is used by many non-profit groups. Some buildings from the 1850s and 1860s were fixed up. Today, they are part of the Seabeck Conference Center.
Seabeck is mostly a rural area. It has the conference center, a general store, a coffee shop, an antique store, a pizza parlor, and Olympic View Marina. There are also houses in the area. The population was 1,105 in 2010.
Seabeck is the hometown of famous figure skater Ashley Wagner.
Shipbuilding in Seabeck
The Washington Mill Company also built ships for a short time in the late 1800s. William J. Adams was in charge of this part of the business. The company built at least seven different types of ships in Seabeck.
Ships Built in Seabeck
- Georgia – 1872, a steamer (a boat powered by steam)
- Cassandra Adams – 1876, a sailing ship
- Richard Holyoke – 1877, a tugboat
- Olympus – 1879, a sailing ship
- Mary Winkleman – 1881, a sailing ship
- Retriever – 1881, a sailing ship
- Louise – 1884, a steamer
Seabeck's Geography
Seabeck is located in western Kitsap County. It is on the southeastern shore of Hood Canal. Seabeck is about 15 miles (24 km) northwest of Bremerton. The main village of Seabeck is in the middle of the Seabeck CDP. This area stretches east to Big Beef Creek and west to Stavis Bay. Scenic Beach State Park is also in the western part of the CDP. Lake William Symington is a few kilometers to the south.
The U.S. Census Bureau says that the Seabeck CDP covers a total area of 11.0 square kilometers (4.2 sq mi). About 8.6 square kilometers (3.3 sq mi) of this is land. The remaining 2.4 square kilometers (0.93 sq mi), or 21.85%, is water.
Places to See in Seabeck
Seabeck Conference Center
In the early 1900s, Laurence Colman and Arn Allen from Seattle wanted to build a place for YMCA and YWCA groups. They wanted a place where these groups could hold summer meetings. In 1914, Laurence Colman and his brother George bought much of the original Seabeck site.
In 1936, Laurence Colman's son, Ken Colman, made the conference grounds a non-profit organization. He gave the organization the 90 acres (36 ha) that are now the Seabeck Conference Center. The center hosts many events throughout the year. For over 30 years, the Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind has held its yearly retreat there. They welcome deaf-blind visitors from all over the world.
Seabeck Elementary School Site
Seabeck Elementary was the town's main school. It taught children from kindergarten through sixth grade. The community supported the school because it had a long and important history. The school closed at the end of the 2006-07 school year.
The old school building was torn down starting in 2019. The plan is for the area's fire department to build a new station there. The school gym, built in 1990, will stay. The field and track are also still open for the community to use.
In 2021, the Seabeck Community Center started using the renovated school gym building. They also have a farmers' market during the summer months.
Seabeck Cemetery
The Seabeck Cemetery is in the woods near the old elementary school. It is a popular spot for locals because it is very old. Only the Buena Vista Cemetery in Port Gamble is older in the area.
Scenic Beach State Park
Scenic Beach State Park covers 88 acres (36 ha) in the western part of Seabeck. It started as the Emel family's home in 1911. Later, it became a resort and then a state park. Visitors can go boating, camping, or have picnics there.
Guillemot Cove Nature Reserve
The Kitsap County Guillemot Cove Nature Reserve is 158 acres (64 ha) large. It is about 6 miles (9.7 km) southwest of Seabeck. The Reynolds family owned this land from 1939 to 1993. Now, the area is open to the public. One interesting thing to see is a hollowed-out stump of a red cedar tree, called the Stump House.
Famous People from Seabeck
- Ashley Wagner (born 1991), a well-known figure skater.
See also
In Spanish: Seabeck (Washington) para niños
