San Juan Island
Encyclopedia
San Juan Island is the second-largest and most populous of the San Juan Islands
in northwestern Washington, United States
. It has a land area of 142.59 km² (55.053 sq mi) and a population of 6,822 as of the 2000 census
.
Washington State Ferries
serves Friday Harbor
, which is San Juan Island's major population center, the San Juan County seat
, and the only incorporated town in the islands.
Scheduled seaplane services via Kenmore Air operate regularly in and out of Friday Harbor and originate from Seattle's Lake Union and Kenmore, Washington
.
, who named the archipelago Isla y Archiepelago de San Juan to honor his patron sponsor, Juan Vicente de Güemes Padilla Horcasitas y Aguayo, 2nd Count of Revillagigedo
. One of the officers under Eliza's command, Gonzalo López de Haro
, was the first European to discover San Juan Island. During the Wilkes Expedition, American explorer Charles Wilkes
renamed the island Rodgers Island; the Spanish name remained on British nautical charts and over time became the island's official name.
Outside of Friday Harbor, the only major commercial establishment resort
is the village of Roche Harbor, located on the northwest side of the island.
Other notable landmarks are the old British and American Camps at opposite ends of the island, which together comprise the San Juan Island National Historical Park
, which commemorates the 1859 "Pig War
". Interpretive centers and reconstructed buildings, formal gardens, etc. recall the history of early European settlement in the area.
The University of Washington runs a marine research lab and campus outside of Friday harbor. The campus has been extant since 1909 and has dormitories, a food service, and classrooms for holding lectures.
San Juan Islands
The San Juan Islands are an archipelago in the northwest corner of the contiguous United States between the US mainland and Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The San Juan Islands are part of the U.S...
in northwestern Washington, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It has a land area of 142.59 km² (55.053 sq mi) and a population of 6,822 as of the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
.
Washington State Ferries
Washington State Ferries
Washington State Ferries is a passenger and automobile ferry service owned and operated by the Washington State Department of Transportation that serves communities on Puget Sound and in the San Juan Islands. It is the most used ferry system in the world and the largest passenger and automobile...
serves Friday Harbor
Friday Harbor, Washington
Friday Harbor is a town in San Juan County, Washington, United States. The population was 2,162 at 2010 Census. Located on San Juan Island, Friday Harbor is the major commercial center of the San Juan Islands archipelago and is the county seat of San Juan County.-History:In 1845 the Hudson's Bay...
, which is San Juan Island's major population center, the San Juan County seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
, and the only incorporated town in the islands.
Scheduled seaplane services via Kenmore Air operate regularly in and out of Friday Harbor and originate from Seattle's Lake Union and Kenmore, Washington
Kenmore, Washington
Kenmore is a city in King County, Washington, United States, along the northernmost shores of Lake Washington...
.
History
The name "San Juan" originates from the 1791 expedition of Francisco de ElizaFrancisco de Eliza
Francisco de Eliza y Reventa was a Spanish naval officer, navigator, and explorer. He is remembered mainly for his work in the Pacific Northwest...
, who named the archipelago Isla y Archiepelago de San Juan to honor his patron sponsor, Juan Vicente de Güemes Padilla Horcasitas y Aguayo, 2nd Count of Revillagigedo
Juan Vicente de Güemes Padilla Horcasitas y Aguayo, 2nd Count of Revillagigedo
Juan Vicente de Güemes Padilla Horcasitas y Aguayo, 2nd Count of Revillagigedo was a Spanish military officer and viceroy of New Spain from October 17, 1789 to July 11, 1794...
. One of the officers under Eliza's command, Gonzalo López de Haro
Gonzalo López de Haro
Gonzalo López de Haro was a Spanish explorer, notable for his expeditions in the Pacific Northwest in the late 18th century....
, was the first European to discover San Juan Island. During the Wilkes Expedition, American explorer Charles Wilkes
Charles Wilkes
Charles Wilkes was an American naval officer and explorer. He led the United States Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842 and commanded the ship in the Trent Affair during the American Civil War...
renamed the island Rodgers Island; the Spanish name remained on British nautical charts and over time became the island's official name.
Island life
San Juan Island has one weekly newspaper, is dotted with numerous farms, and is a tourist-driven economy.Outside of Friday Harbor, the only major commercial establishment resort
Resort
A resort is a place used for relaxation or recreation, attracting visitors for holidays or vacations. Resorts are places, towns or sometimes commercial establishment operated by a single company....
is the village of Roche Harbor, located on the northwest side of the island.
Other notable landmarks are the old British and American Camps at opposite ends of the island, which together comprise the San Juan Island National Historical Park
San Juan Island National Historical Park
San Juan Island National Historical Park, also known as American and English Camps, San Juan Island, is a U.S. National Historical Park owned and operated by the National Park Service on San Juan Island in the state of Washington. The park is made up of the sites of the British and U.S. Armies'...
, which commemorates the 1859 "Pig War
Pig War
The Pig War was a confrontation in 1859 between the United States and the British Empire over the boundary between the US and British North America. The territory in dispute was the San Juan Islands, which lie between Vancouver Island and the North American mainland...
". Interpretive centers and reconstructed buildings, formal gardens, etc. recall the history of early European settlement in the area.
The University of Washington runs a marine research lab and campus outside of Friday harbor. The campus has been extant since 1909 and has dormitories, a food service, and classrooms for holding lectures.
External links
- San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce
- San Juan Island Heritage Historical collections from the San Juan Island Library District and local partners.
- American Biography A New Cyclopedia VOL 5 Page 28 San Juan Island and Northwest Boundary Survey by Archibald Campbell led to it being in USA instead of Canada