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Bainbridge Island, WA

Frequently asked questions

Bainbridge Island, WA

Bainbridge Island is a city and island in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. It is located in Puget Sound. The population was 24,825 at the 2020 census, making Bainbridge Island the second largest city in Kitsap County.

The island is separated from the Kitsap Peninsula by Port Orchard, with Bremerton lying to the southwest. Bainbridge Island is a suburb of Seattle, connected via the Washington State Ferries system and to Poulsbo and the Suquamish Indian Reservation by State Route 305, which uses the Agate Pass Bridge.

Bainbridge Island was formed during the last ice age—13,000 to 15,000 years ago—when the 3,000-foot-thick (910 m) Vashon Glacier scraped out the Puget Sound and Hood Canal basins.

Bainbridge Island is in the Puget Sound Basin, east of the Kitsap Peninsula, directly east of the Manette Peninsula, and west of Seattle. The island is about 5 miles (8 km) wide and 10 miles (16 km) long, encompassing nearly 17,778 acres (27.778 sq mi; 71.95 km²), and is one of Puget Sound's larger islands.

The city has occupied the entire space of Bainbridge Island since February 28, 1991, when the 1.5-square-mile (3.9 km²) city of Winslow (incorporated on August 9, 1947), annexed the rest of the island after a narrowly passed November 1990 referendum. It officially remained the city of Winslow for several months, until November 7, 1991, at which time the city of Winslow was renamed the city of Bainbridge Island.

Bainbridge Island shorelines border the main body of Puget Sound, as well as Port Orchard Bay, a large protected embayment, and two high-current tidal passages, Rich Passage and Agate Pass. The island has an irregular coastline of approximately 53 miles (85 km), with numerous bays and inlets and a significant diversity of other coastal landforms, including spits, bluffs, dunes, lagoons, cuspate forelands, tombolos, tide flats, streams and tidal deltas, islands, and rocky outcrops. The high point is 425-foot (130 m) Toe Jam Hill.

On the Kitsap Peninsula, Bremerton and Poulsbo lie across the Port Orchard channel to the west, and the city of Port Orchard lies across Rich Passage to the south. Despite the short distance over water and significant commuting population between Bremerton and Bainbridge Island, proposals to construct a bridge have been resisted on the Bainbridge side for various reasons. The island is quite hilly and hosts the Chilly Hilly bicycle ride every February.

Bainbridge Island can be accessed by motor vehicle, bicycle, or foot through two access points, both on Washington State Route 305. Bainbridge Island is connected to the Kitsap Peninsula by the Agate Pass Bridge, carrying SR 305 over Agate Passage at the island's northwest corner. The only other way off the island is by the Seattle–Bainbridge Island ferry, the Washington State Ferries service from the dock at Winslow in Eagle Harbor to Colman Dock (Pier 52) in Seattle. Numerous public right-of-way access points to water around the island also exist, officially called Road Ends.

Bainbridge Island places a strong emphasis on health and wellness for its residents. The island's commitment to outdoor activities is evident in its extensive network of parks and trails, including Waterfront Park and Grand Forest, providing scenic settings for recreation and relaxation. St. Michael Medical Center offers comprehensive health services, including wellness check-ups and preventive care programs. Start your day with a yoga session at Bainbridge Yoga House, which provides a serene environment for all skill levels. Island Fitness offers comprehensive fitness programs including cardio, strength training, and group exercise classes. If you're interested in water activities, Exotic Aquatics Scuba & Kayaking provides kayaking and scuba diving adventures. Relax and rejuvenate at Renew Day Spa, which offers a variety of spa treatments. Bainbridge Island Aquatic Center is perfect for swimming enthusiasts with its state-of-the-art facilities.

The top sites in Bainbridge Island, WA are Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, Bloedel Reserve, Bainbridge History Museum, and Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial.

Population: 24,494 (2022). ZIP Code: 98110. Area code: 206. Elevation: 200 ft (60 m). Area: 65.08 sq mi (168.55 km²).

FAQs

Is Bainbridge Island, WA a good place to retire?

Washington state is a beautiful place to retire, with a diverse range of landscapes and outdoor activities to keep retirees entertained. Located just a short ferry ride from Seattle, Bainbridge Island offers a peaceful and scenic retirement destination. Retirees can enjoy the island's numerous parks and beaches, as well as the vibrant arts and cultural scene.

Is Bainbridge Island, WA expensive to live in?

The cost of living in Bainbridge Island is expensive, with a COLI 83.3% higher than the national average. The Economic Policy Institute recommends that a family of four have a household income of $93,879 to live comfortably. The median household income for Bainbridge Island is $125,861, which is well above the median household income of $77,006 for the state of Washington. Bainbridge Island is an affluent area to live in and call home.

Can you drive to Bainbridge Island, WA without taking a ferry?

From the South Sound Tacoma/Olympia – Bainbridge may be an island but there is a bridge that connects the island to the Kitsap Peninsula on the north end. Visitors can drive from Tacoma over the Narrows Bridge on Highway 16 and follow Highway 3 from Bremerton to Poulsbo, where Highway 305 leads to Bainbridge Island. From the Olympic Peninsula – Take Highway 104 across the Hood Canal Bridge then take Highway 3 to Poulsbo and Highway 305 to Bainbridge Island.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Bainbridge Island

All Ready Moving

Visit Bainbridge

Unbiased

Bainbridge Island Museum of Art 

Bloedel Reserve 

Bainbridge History Museum 

Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion MemorialWaterfront Park

Waterfront Park

Grand Forest

St. Michael Medical Center

Bainbridge Yoga House

Island Fitness

Exotic Aquatics Scuba & Kayaking 

Renew Day Spa

Bainbridge Island Aquatic Center

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 (in the United States) immediately.