Jefferson County | |
|---|---|
 Jefferson County Courthouse in Port Townsend | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Washington | |
 Washington's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 47°50′N 123°35′W / 47.84°N 123.58°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Washington |
| Founded | December 22, 1852 |
| Named for | Thomas Jefferson |
| Seat | Port Townsend |
| Largest city | Port Townsend |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2,183 sq mi (5,650 km2) |
| • Land | 1,804 sq mi (4,670 km2) |
| • Water | 379 sq mi (980 km2) 17% |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 32,977 |
| • Estimate (2023) | 33,714  |
| • Density | 17/sq mi (7/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| Congressional district | 6th |
| Website | co.jefferson.wa.us |
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, the population was 32,977.[1] The county seat and only incorporated city is Port Townsend.[2] The county is named for Thomas Jefferson.[3]
Jefferson County was formed out of Thurston County on December 22, 1852, by the legislature of Oregon Territory,[4] and included the northern 4,854-square-mile (12,571.8 km2) portion of the Olympic Peninsula. On April 26, 1854, the legislature of Washington Territory created Clallam County from the northwestern 2,670-square-mile (6,915.3 km2) portion of this original area.
The Hood Canal Bridge connects Jefferson County to Kitsap County, Washington. The Coupeville-Port Townsend route of the Washington State Ferries connects the county to Whidbey Island in Island County, Washington.
- ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 168.
- ^ Reinartz, Kay. "History of King County Government 1853–2002" (PDF). p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 25, 2009. Retrieved December 28, 2007.