Jefferson County, Washington

Jefferson County
Jefferson County Courthouse in Port Townsend
Jefferson County Courthouse in Port Townsend
Map of Washington highlighting Jefferson County
Location within the U.S. state of Washington
Map of the United States highlighting Washington
Washington's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 47°50′N 123°35′W / 47.84°N 123.58°W / 47.84; -123.58
Country United States
State Washington
FoundedDecember 22, 1852
Named forThomas Jefferson
SeatPort Townsend
Largest cityPort Townsend
Area
 • Total2,183 sq mi (5,650 km2)
 • Land1,804 sq mi (4,670 km2)
 • Water379 sq mi (980 km2)  17%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total32,977
 • Estimate 
(2022)
33,589 Increase
 • Density17/sq mi (7/km2)
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
Congressional district6th
Websitewww.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.

  1. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 168.
  4. ^ 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.