Kitsap County, Washington

Kitsap County
Kitsap County Courthouse
Kitsap County Courthouse
Map of Washington highlighting Kitsap 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°38′N 122°39′W / 47.64°N 122.65°W / 47.64; -122.65
Country United States
State Washington
FoundedJanuary 16, 1857
Named forChief Kitsap
SeatPort Orchard
Largest cityBremerton
Area
 • Total566 sq mi (1,470 km2)
 • Land395 sq mi (1,020 km2)
 • Water171 sq mi (440 km2)  30%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total275,611
 • Estimate 
(2022)
277,673 Increase
 • Density644/sq mi (249/km2)
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
Congressional district6th
Websitekitsap.gov

Kitsap County is a county in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, its population was 275,611.[1] Its county seat is Port Orchard;[2] its largest city is Bremerton. The county, formed out of King County and Jefferson County on January 16, 1857, is named for Chief Kitsap of the Suquamish Tribe. Originally named Slaughter County, it was soon renamed.[3]

Kitsap County comprises the Bremerton–SilverdalePort Orchard, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the SeattleTacoma, WA Combined Statistical Area.

The United States Navy is the largest employer in the county, with installations at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Naval Undersea Warfare Center Keyport, and Naval Base Kitsap (which comprises former NSB Bangor and NS Bremerton).

Kitsap County is connected to the eastern shore of Puget Sound by Washington State Ferries routes, including the Seattle-Bremerton Ferry, Southworth to West Seattle via Vashon Island, Bainbridge Island to Downtown Seattle, and from Kingston to Edmonds, Washington. Kitsap Transit provides passenger-only fast ferry service between Bremerton and Seattle, Kingston and Seattle, and Southworth and Seattle.

  1. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.