James Island (San Juan Islands)

For the island at the mouth of the Quillayute River near La Push, Washington, see James Island (Washington).

James Island Marine State Park
James Island (left) behind Decatur Island (foreground right)
Map showing the location of James Island Marine State Park
Map showing the location of James Island Marine State Park
Location in the state of Washington
Map showing the location of James Island Marine State Park
Map showing the location of James Island Marine State Park
James Island (San Juan Islands) (the United States)
LocationSan Juan County, Washington, United States
Coordinates48°30′45″N 122°46′31″W / 48.51250°N 122.77528°W / 48.51250; -122.77528[1]
Area113 acres (46 ha)
Elevation75 ft (23 m)[1]
DesignationWashington marine state park
Established1964
AdministratorWashington State Parks and Recreation Commission
WebsiteJames Island Marine State Park

James Island is one of the San Juan Islands in San Juan County, Washington, United States. It lies in Rosario Strait just off the eastern shore of Decatur Island and west of the city of Anacortes. The entire island comprises James Island State Park of the Washington State Park System. It has a land area of 113 acres (46 ha) with 12,335 feet (3,760 m) of saltwater shoreline. The island has no potable water[2] or residents.[3] It has three different camping areas, each with at least one toilet. The camping areas combine for a total of 13 campsites and are connected by a loop trail. James Island was named by Charles Wilkes in 1841 to commemorate the naval hero Reuben James.[4] The property was transferred from the federal government to the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission in 1964.[2]

  1. ^ a b "James Island State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference wasp was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference census was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Blumenthal, Richard W. (2009). Charles Wilkes and the Exploration of Inland Washington Waters: Journals from the Expedition of 1841. McFarland. p. 76. ISBN 9780786453979.