ISLAND COUNTY

County Offices
1 NE 7th Street
Coupeville 360-678-5111
https://www.islandcountywa.gov

Chamber of Commerce
905 Northwest Alexander Street
Coupeville 360-678-5434
https://coupevillechamber.com/

Island County has a population of more than 78,500. Its county seat is Coupeville, while its largest city is Oak Harbor. The county’s name reflects the fact that it is composed entirely of islands. It contains two large islands, Whidbey, and Camano, and seven smaller islands (Baby, Ben Ure, Deception, Kalamut, Minor, Smith, and Strawberry).

Whidbey Island
By boat or ferry across Puget Sound or in a car over dramatic Deception Pass, any passage to Whidbey Island exposes its assets. Rolling farmlands, the historic waterfront communities of Coupeville, Langley and Oak Harbor, a bridge 20 stories above a rocky strait, a Civil War-era lighthouse and forest-meets-sea landscapes make this 55-mile long island a fantastic place to call home. Central Whidbey has an abundance of Historic Landmarks that are on the national register, including Coupeville Wharf, to Admiralty Head Lighthouse and the historic Blockhouses. Located in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains, Whidbey Island experiences half the annual rainfall of Seattle. Whidbey Island is surrounded by breathtaking scenery and with the presence of several nearby state parks, and the nearby San Juan Islands, Mt. Baker recreational areas, and easy access to the Cascade and Olympic Mountains there is a host of recreational activities for an active outdoor lifestyle.

Camano Island
Set between Whidbey Island and the mainland, Camano Island can be reached by car. With over 56 miles of pristine beaches, boating, salmon fishing, clamming and crabbing are bountiful. The unique appeal of Camano Island is that it offers its residents a taste of the traditional island living that made this are so attractive to settlers. Recreational activities such as biking are popular here. The island is also home to Camano Island State Park, is home to 173 acres of prime recreational land for camping, hiking and bird watching.

Residents of Island County live in a unique area that is not really duplicated anywhere else in the nation. The lifestyle on the islands is that of living amongst nature and more importantly living in your community. Local events draw residents from all over the islands and bring them together to celebrate as neighbors. Small town living is the name of the game and locals revel in it.

Services

Quality public and private schools provide a quality education for area youth. The county is home to three major school districts that handle pre-school through 12th grade education for families in the county. The districts are Oak Harbor District, Coupeville School District and South Whidbey School District. Higher education can be as convenient and affordable as desired. Most communities are only minutes from a community college campus, where college-track and degree programs mix with vocational training and career paths. Several online opportunities also exist for higher education.

Whidbey Health Medical Center is a fully licensed and certified Critical Access Hospital. The Whidbey Health system, which includes the medical center, three EMS stations and eight outpatient locations, employs more than 750 staff members. An exceptional nursing team and more than 70 providers support a broad range of inpatient and outpatient services. They also operate community clinics in multiple locations across the island to provide exceptional family-centered primary healthcare to residents. Skagit Regional Clinics Camano Island is a full service family medicine practice located on Camano Island. The Camano Island clinic provides care for patients of all ages in a small family clinic their patients love. In addition to a full range of family medicine services, clinical staff at Skagit Regional Clinics – Camano Island offer laboratory services for patients.

Communities

Coupeville
Town Offices
360-678-4461
https://townofcoupeville.org/

Chamber of Commerce
360-678-5434
https://coupevillechamber.com/

Coupeville is the second oldest incorporated town in Washington. It is the County Seat of Island County. Coupeville is also the home of Whidbey Health (the island’s hospital), the Pacific Northwest Art School, and the Port of Coupeville. The town is a place of amazing views, great local shops, and unique restaurants, Coupeville is a favored vacation destination for visitors from all over the country. Coupeville is located on Whidbey Island and is a town where every lover of nature, history, and art will find a memorable place. It is a quiet waterfront community is situated on the sheltered and pristine Penn Cove, home to famous world class mussel beds. Located in the heart of Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve, the rural farming town still maintains its character as an old world seaport from the days when Puget Sound was first being settled. Beyond its historical significance, Coupeville and Whidbey Island offer residents and visitors a broad selection of restaurants, galleries, and shops. Nearby Ebey’s Landing and Fort Casey State Park, offer hiking trails, beach combing, an historic lighthouse and lots of open space to for spotting bald eagles, whales and other wildlife.

Langley
City Offices
360-221-4246
https://www.langleywa.org/

Chamber of Commerce
360-221-6765
https://visitlangley.com/

Langley Washington is commonly referred to as The Village by the Sea. Langley is located on Whidbey Island and is reachable by a short ferry ride from Mukilteo, Washington. Langley enjoys breathtaking views of Saratoga Passage and the Cascade Mountain Range. Langley has become a destination point for those looking to see Orca Whales in their natural habitat. Langley is also known as a premiere Bald Eagle viewing area. Langley is a waterfront village with a long history and attachment to sea. The town faces north and east and is nestled into a watershed that drains into a small harbor. Whidbey Island served as a fuel source for wood-fired cargo and fishing boats working in the Saratoga Passage and Puget Sound. The town came to life during those logging and farming times. Today Langley enjoys a small-town atmosphere within an hour’s journey (including the car ferry trip) from urban Seattle. The town’s signature characteristics include its bustling center of local commerce, strong seasonal economic impact from visitors, deep pool of resident artists and performers, artisans in nearly every medium, farmers and community involvement in local government. The community is also home to annual festivals including the county fair. Residents enjoy beaches, forests, local parks, a 250-seat performing arts center that presents local as well as world-class entertainment, a small marina. While a small community, Langley is home to friendly locals who have strong ties to their town.

Oak Harbor
City Offices
360-279-4500
https://www.oakharbor.org/

Chamber of Commerce
360-675-3755
https://www.oakharborchamber.com/

The City of Oak Harbor is situated on the northern portion of Whidbey Island, approximately a two-hour drive north of Seattle, and is accessible by both land and ferry. It is home to more than 23,000 residents. Located in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains Oak Harbor experiences less than half of the annual rainfall of Seattle. The area is surrounded by amazing scenery and is home to several state parks. Residents have easy access to the San Juan Islands and the Mt. Baker recreational areas, along with quick access to the Cascade and Olympic Mountains. Residents looking for outdoor recreational activities have a lot to choose from in this area. With its location Oak Harbor offers the unique opportunity for water based adventures that include boating, whale watching, fishing, clamming and of course just relaxing on a beach. Off of the water the adventure continues with opportunities for hiking, biking, camping and even skiing all available close to home. The City is also home to a quaint downtown that offers residents access to local businesses that offer a wide selection of locally produced products, amazing restaurants run by local families and an truly vibrant nightlife. Farmers markets are a common site throughout the area and residents have their pick of the best that the land and sea have to offer. Residents enjoy a high quality of life that still reflects the small town charm that the city works hard to preserve. Housing choices are varied, with most being single family homes.

Camano
360-629-7136
https://camanoisland.org/

Chamber of Commerce
360-629-7136
https://camanoisland.org/

Camano Island offers visitors and residents a unique island experience. It is a quiet community that enjoys a high quality of life. It is right outside of Stanwood, WA which is located in Northwest Snohomish County. Camano Island has a colorful history, starting with Native Americans who fished, clammed, and picked berries on the hillsides. The local Douglas firs became very desirable for shipbuilding, and by the 1800s Camano Island was a bustling community with mills, homes, and schools. The city is home to a few restaurants, a selection of country style grocery stores, bed and breakfast facilities, and art galleries. There are two elementary schools located on the island. All of the other schools are in Stanwood. Recreational opportunities revolve around the water, including fishing all year round. Camano is home to state parks with areas for camping and hiking. Camano has several public and private beaches. Camano Island includes all types of housing, with everything from beach houses, to empty lots with a view waiting for a new home. Residents enjoy an extremely comfortable lifestyle with the beauty of nature as their neighbor.

Naval Air Station Whidbey Island
360-257-2286
https://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnrnw/installations/nas_whidbey_island.html

The Naval Air Station Whidbey Island is located 90 miles north of Seattle. It is the largest naval aviation installation in the Pacific Northwest. It is also one of the four naval installations forming the Navy Region Northwest. NAS Whidbey Island consists of a Seaplane Base and Ault Field. It manages Outlying Field (OLF) Coupeville and the Boardman Training Range in Oregon. The base is a home to all US Navy electronic attack squadrons operating the EA-6B Prowler and EA-18G Growler. The base population is composed of approximately 7,500 military forces personnel, 1,200 civilian employees and 1,200 contractors. NAS Whidbey Island has more than 1,700 housing units for the military personnel and their family members. The base housing is located at Maylor Point, Forbes Point and Coral Sea areas. The Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) center conducts navy events, fleet and family support programs, youth and teen programs, outdoor recreation, and single sailor activities. Other base facilities include the navy exchange, commissary, and child development center.