Greenbank, Washington
Encyclopedia
Greenbank is an unincorporated community
on Whidbey Island
in Island County, Washington
, USA.
Greenbank, which was named by Calvin Philips after his homestead in Delaware
, has a population around 250. It is the location of the Greenbank Farm, once the largest loganberry
farm in the world, and the Greenbank store, which is owned and run by the Coupe family, descendants of Captain Thomas Coupe, founder of Coupeville
. Opened in 1904, and now owned and operated by the Coupe's niece, the Greenbank store has a deli with great sandwiches and access to the post office through a side door in the store. Greenbank Farm is the location of Whidbey Pies the Farm's Wine Tasting & Shop, Greenbank Cheese, Rob Schouten Gallery, Artworks Gallery, and Raven Rocks Gallery & Gifts, as well as a Sunday market, Holiday Market, and Year-Round Festivals and Events. At the farm, there are several things to do. The fields, which used to be planted with loganberries, blackberries and red currants, now have trails and several alpaca
s. Behind the barns at the Greenbank farm is a small marsh with a viewing platform recently built by the Whidbey Audubon Society. Many species of birds can be observed here including Red Wing Black-Birds and Warblers.On highway 525, one mile south of the Greenbank farm, sits "Guest House Log Cottages", on twenty five beautiful forest acres with wildlife viewing pond with six luxury log cottages, just for two. Nearby on Bakken road is the Greenbank Trading Post which specializes in antiques and used tools. Located on the corner of Bakken and Day roads is Greenbank Cellars, a winery with a small vineyard and tasting shop in an old fashioned barn. The winery is also the location of a 100-year-old Nickelodeon which is in operating condition. It is served by State Route 525. Very few people stop in the area, as it is more of a passing-through area than a way-point along the highway.
Prior to 1997, Classic Road, about 2 miles south of Greenbank, marked the northern reach of the Whidbey Telephone Company (now Whidbey Telecom
). Today Whidbey Telecom and Verizon Communications
serve the entire Greenbank area. However, unlike most places on Whidbey Island, the residents of Greenbank have a choice between the two phone companies, or can elect to have both. The advantage of both is being able to call anywhere on Whidbey, and several places in Skagit County
without being charged for a toll call.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
on Whidbey Island
Whidbey Island
Whidbey Island is one of nine islands located in Island County, Washington, in the United States. Whidbey is located about north of Seattle, and lies between the Olympic Peninsula and the I-5 corridor of western Washington...
in Island County, Washington
Island County, Washington
Island County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. In 2010 census, its population was 78,506. Its county seat is Coupeville, while its largest city is Oak Harbor....
, USA.
Greenbank, which was named by Calvin Philips after his homestead in Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
, has a population around 250. It is the location of the Greenbank Farm, once the largest loganberry
Loganberry
The loganberry is an hexaploid hybrid produced from crossing an octaploid blackberry and a diploid red raspberry. The plant and the fruit resemble the blackberry more than the raspberry, but the fruit colour is a dark red, rather than black...
farm in the world, and the Greenbank store, which is owned and run by the Coupe family, descendants of Captain Thomas Coupe, founder of Coupeville
Coupeville, Washington
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,723 people, 737 households, and 426 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,346.7 people per square mile . There were 814 housing units at an average density of 636.2 per square mile...
. Opened in 1904, and now owned and operated by the Coupe's niece, the Greenbank store has a deli with great sandwiches and access to the post office through a side door in the store. Greenbank Farm is the location of Whidbey Pies the Farm's Wine Tasting & Shop, Greenbank Cheese, Rob Schouten Gallery, Artworks Gallery, and Raven Rocks Gallery & Gifts, as well as a Sunday market, Holiday Market, and Year-Round Festivals and Events. At the farm, there are several things to do. The fields, which used to be planted with loganberries, blackberries and red currants, now have trails and several alpaca
Alpaca
An alpaca is a domesticated species of South American camelid. It resembles a small llama in appearance.Alpacas are kept in herds that graze on the level heights of the Andes of southern Peru, northern Bolivia, Ecuador, and northern Chile at an altitude of to above sea level, throughout the year...
s. Behind the barns at the Greenbank farm is a small marsh with a viewing platform recently built by the Whidbey Audubon Society. Many species of birds can be observed here including Red Wing Black-Birds and Warblers.On highway 525, one mile south of the Greenbank farm, sits "Guest House Log Cottages", on twenty five beautiful forest acres with wildlife viewing pond with six luxury log cottages, just for two. Nearby on Bakken road is the Greenbank Trading Post which specializes in antiques and used tools. Located on the corner of Bakken and Day roads is Greenbank Cellars, a winery with a small vineyard and tasting shop in an old fashioned barn. The winery is also the location of a 100-year-old Nickelodeon which is in operating condition. It is served by State Route 525. Very few people stop in the area, as it is more of a passing-through area than a way-point along the highway.
Prior to 1997, Classic Road, about 2 miles south of Greenbank, marked the northern reach of the Whidbey Telephone Company (now Whidbey Telecom
Whidbey Telecom
Whidbey Telecom is a private telecommunications company operating on the South End of Whidbey Island, the community of Point Roberts, Washington, and doing business as Hat Island Telephone Company on Hat Island. Whidbey Telecom is a technologically advanced local telephone company, given its size...
). Today Whidbey Telecom and Verizon Communications
Verizon Communications
Verizon Communications Inc. is a global broadband and telecommunications company and a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average...
serve the entire Greenbank area. However, unlike most places on Whidbey Island, the residents of Greenbank have a choice between the two phone companies, or can elect to have both. The advantage of both is being able to call anywhere on Whidbey, and several places in Skagit County
Skagit County, Washington
Skagit County is a county in the U.S. state of Washington. It is named after the Skagit Indian tribe. As of 2010, the population was 116,901. It is included in the Mount Vernon-Anacortes, Washington, Metropolitan Statistical Area...
without being charged for a toll call.
Points of interest
- Meerkerk Rhododendron GardensMeerkerk Rhododendron GardensMeerkerk Rhododendron Gardens are nonprofit botanical gardens located at 3531 Meerkerk Lane, Greenbank, Washington. They are open daily; an admission fee is charged....
- South Whidbey State ParkSouth Whidbey State ParkSouth Whidbey State Park in Island County, Washington is one of the Washington State Parks. It consists of of old-growth forest and tidelands with of shoreline on Admiralty Inlet. Available activities include hiking, camping, crabbing, clamming, recreational fishing, swimming, beachcombing,...