Oak Harbor, Washington

Oak Harbor is a city located on Whidbey Island in Island County, Washington, United States. The population was 24,622 at the 2020 census. Oak Harbor was properly established in 1915.

History

The Lower Skagit people have inhabited Oak Harbor () and the nearby Crescent Harbor () since prehistorical times. There were several villages in the area, and the modern city of Oak Harbor was built over one of them.

In the early 1850s, two settlers staked claims where the city stands—Zakarias Martin Toftezen, a shoemaker from Norway, and C.W. Sumner from New England. Irish and Dutch immigrants also arrived in the area. Oak Harbor was named for the Garry Oak trees in the area, and was established in 1915 with a population of 401. Houses and businesses sprouted along the shores of Oak Harbor as the pioneers relied only on water transport until the 1900s. For the next 30 years, steamers and freighters carried passengers and goods from the island to the mainland and back , as well as Fidalgo Island to the north. The city grew after the completion of Deception Pass Bridge on July 31, 1935, and Naval Air Station Whidbey Island on September 21, 1942. The bridge, which linked Whidbey Island to Fidalgo Island and the mainland, was a Public Works Administration project built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. A nearby state park with  of forest, campsites, and trails was also created.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which  is land and  is water.  Access to the island by land is only possible by driving through Deception Pass. Other ways to travel to Whidbey Island include flying or using a ferry service.  The Mukilteo–Clinton ferry provides service connecting the southern end of Whidbey Island to the area right north of Seattle, while the Coupeville-Port Townsend ferry connects to the Olympic peninsula.

Surveys of shorelines through the Puget Sound region have indicated that 58% are "unstable".  Average retreat rates range from one to eight centimeters per year, and shores in the Puget Sound area made of seperate sediment erode 10 to 100 times faster than rocky shoreline.

Climate
Oak Harbor has a Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csb) with warm, dry summers and mild, damp winters. Because toofthe Olympic rain shadow, the region is much drier than most of the Pacific Northwest west of the Cascades.

Demographics

 2020 census 
As of the 2020 census, there were 24,622 people and 9,852 households in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 67.3% White, 5.4% African American, 1.3% Native American, 8.4% Asian, 0.6% Pacific Islander, and 13.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents were 15.9% of the population.

2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 22,075 people, 8,677 households, and 5,789 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 9,553 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 72.6% White, 4.9% African American, 0.9% Native American, 10.2% Asian, 1.0% Pacific Islander, 2.7% from other races, and 7.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 9.3% of the population.

There were 8,677 households, of which 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them. 51.7% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female owner with no husband, 3.5% had a male owner with no wife. 33.3% were non-families. 26.9% of households were made up of one person, and 8.5% had someone 65 years old or older living alone. The average household size was 2.53 people and the average family size was 3.09.

The median age in the city was 29 years. 28.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 31.9% were from 25 to 44; 17% were from 45 to 64; and 10.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.2% male and 50.8% female.

2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 19,795 people, 7,333 households, and 5,265 families living in the city. The population density was 2,175.0 people per square mile (839.9/km2). There were 7,772 housing units at an average density of 854.0 per square mile (329.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 74.9% White, 5.5% African American, 9.6% Asian, 1.2% Native American, 0.8% Pacific Islander, 2.4% from other races, and 5.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 6.6% of the population.

There were 7,333 households, out of which 43.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.0% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. Also, 22.2% of all households comprised individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the city, 31.6% of the population was under the age of 18, 11.6% was from 18 to 24, 34.4% from 25 to 44, 13.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,641, and the median income for a family was $41,579. Males had a median income of $29,498 versus $21,633 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,830. About 8.1% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.2% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

Government
Oak Harbor has favored Republican candidates in each presidential election in the 21st century, though by less than a percentage point in 2020. Kamala Harris ultimately flipped the city in 2024.

+ Oak Harbor city vote by party in presidential elections Year Democratic Republican Third Parties202449.42% 4,60747.02% 4,3833.56% 332202046.81% 4,66047.53% 4,7315.66% 563201639.07% 3,00650.14% 3,85710.79% 830201242.00% 3,21953.80% 4,1234.20% 322200843.21% 3,18356.79% 4,1830.00% 0200433.17% 2,22664.02% 4,2962.80% 188200037.20% 2,05857.94% 3,2064.86% 269

Notable people
Shayla Beesley – actress
Lamont Brightful – player in the NFL and Canadian Football League
Michael Harring – filmmaker
Marti Malloy – Olympic Judo medalist
Patricia McPherson – actress
Jerod Turner – golfer
Chad Veach - evangelical pastor, founder of Zoe Church
Robert Lee Yates - serial killer

References

Category:1910s establishments in Washington (state)
Category:1915 establishments in the United States
Category:Cities in Washington (state)
Category:Settlements in Island County, Washington