Oak Harbor is a city located on Whidbey Island in Island County, Washington. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 19,795. It is the nearest city to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. Mostly due to the heavy military influence on the area, Oak Harbor is a stronghold for political conservatism and the Republican Party, causing Island County to be a narrowly Republican county on the national level.
Oak Harbor is located at 48°17'42" North, 122°39'31" West (48.295136, -122.658553).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 23.7 km2 (9.1 mi2). 23.6 km2 (9.1 mi2) of it is land and 0.1 km2 (0.04 mi2) of it is water. The total area is 0.44% water.
As of the census of 2000, there are 19,795 people, 7,333 households, and 5,265 families residing in the city. The population density is 839.9/km2 (2,175.0/mi2). There are 7,772 housing units at an average density of 329.8/km2 (854.0/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 74.93% White, 5.45% African American, 1.22% Native American, 9.62% Asian, 0.77% Pacific Islander, 2.42% from other races, and 5.58% from two or more races. 6.61% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 7,333 households out of which 43.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.0% are married couples living together, 9.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% are non-families. 22.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.2% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.68 and the average family size is 3.18.
In the city the population is spread out with 31.6% under the age of 18, 11.6% from 18 to 24, 34.4% from 25 to 44, 13.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 28 years. For every 100 females there are 98.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 95.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $36,641, and the median income for a family is $41,579. Males have a median income of $29,498 versus $21,633 for females. The per capita income for the city is $16,830. 9.3% of the population and 8.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 11.2% of those under the age of 18 and 5.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Oak Harbor, with a population over 20,000, is Whidbey Island's largest incorporated city. Named for the Garry oak trees which grace its skyline, the city is constantly growing thanks to two major events: the building of Deception Pass Bridge in 1935, and the completion of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in 1942.
Oak Harbor's history goes back to the early 1850s when three settlers staked claims where the city now stands -- Martin Tafton, a shoemaker from Norway; C.W. Sumner from New England, and Ulrich Freund, a Swiss Army officer. Freund retained part of his claim, which today is home to his descendants.
Houses and businesses sprouted up along the shores of Oak Harbor as the pioneers relied entirely on water transportation until the 1900s. For the next thirty years, steamers and freighters carried passengers and freight from the Island to the mainland and back.
The Irish came in the late 1850s, making Oak Harbor grow and prosper as they fished and farmed the area. The city's Dutch heritage arrived in the 1890s when Hollanders were disillusioned with the northern Midwest U.S. and came to Whidbey Island.
Churches, schools, and more businesses followed the arrival of the Hollanders. Oak Harbor flourished as a small country town until Deception Pass Bridge and the U.S. Navy Base connected the city to the rest of the world.
Deception Pass Bridge, a National Historic Monument since 1982, is actually two spans that link Whidbey Island to Fidalgo Island over Canoe Pass and Deception Pass. The bridge, one of the scenic wonders of the Pacific Northwest, was a Public Works Administration project built by young workers from the Civilian Conservation Corps. Deception Pass State Park, Washington's most popular state park, has over 4,100 acres of forest, campsites, trails, and scenic vistas of the San Juan Islands, Victoria (British Columbia, Canada), Mount Baker, and Fidalgo Island.
Oak Harbor was officially incorporated on May 14, 1915.
Source:
OakHarborWashington.com
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