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Bremerton, WA

Frequently asked questions

Bremerton, WA

Bremerton is a city in Kitsap County, Washington. The population was 43,505 at the 2020 census and an estimated 44,122 in 2021, making it the largest city on the Kitsap Peninsula. Bremerton is home to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the Bremerton Annex of Naval Base Kitsap.

The city lies west of Seattle and is connected by an automobile ferry operated by Washington State Ferries and a passenger-only ferry. Bremerton spans the Port Washington Narrows and extends inland along Sinclair Inlet opposite Port Orchard.

Bremerton is within the historical territory of the Suquamish people. The land was made available for non-Native settlement by the Treaty of Point Elliott of 1855. Bremerton was planned by German immigrant and Seattle entrepreneur William Bremer in 1891. In that year, Navy Lieutenant Ambrose Barkley Wyckoff purchased approximately 190 acres (77 ha) of waterfront land on Sinclair Inlet. This land was owned by the Bremer family. Three years earlier, a U.S. Navy commission determined that Point Turner, between the protected waters of the Sinclair and Dyes inlets, would be the best site in the Pacific Northwest on which to establish a shipyard. Recognizing the large number of workers such a facility would employ, Bremer and his business partner and brother-in-law, Henry Hensel, purchased the undeveloped land near Point Turner at the inflated price of $200 per acre. In April 1891, Bremer arranged for the sale of 190 acres (77 ha) to the Navy at $50 per acre. This land became part of the initial footprint of the Puget Sound Navy Yard.

Bremerton was incorporated on October 15, 1901, with Alvyn Croxton serving as the city's first mayor. Progress in the new city soon faced a major crisis, as Assistant Secretary of the Navy Charles Darling moved all repair work to the Mare Island Navy Yard in California in November 1902. Darling cited reports from commanders that the Bremerton waterfront was rife with prostitution, opium houses, and frequent strongarmed robberies of sailors. Politics were probably also at play, as local newspapers reported that the city's incorporation left the shipyard essentially landlocked without room to expand. A dispute ensued between Mayor Croxton, who wanted to shutter all saloons in Bremerton, and three members of the city council, who attempted to block his efforts. Croxton eventually won out, and the council voted to revoke all liquor licenses in June 1904. With the ban, Darling reestablished the navy yard as a port of call. Saloons had begun to return to business within two years, however.

Bremerton, the largest city in Kitsap County, is located directly west of Seattle across Puget Sound on the Kitsap Peninsula. It is bounded on the southeast and east by Sinclair Inlet and the strait of Port Orchard respectively. The city is divided by the Port Washington Narrows, a strait spanned by two bridges that connect the eastern and western sides of the city. The part of the city northeast of the narrows is referred to as East Bremerton. The city limits extend to the southwest as far as the Mason County line and include Bremerton National Airport. Bremerton is bordered to the south, across Sinclair Inlet, by the city of Port Orchard.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Bremerton has a total area of 32.29 square miles (8,360 ha), of which 28.41 square miles (7,360 ha) are land and 3.88 square miles (1,000 ha) are water.

Harrison Medical Center and Marvin Williams Recreation Center offer comprehensive health and wellness services, including wellness check-ups and preventive care programs. Bremerton Fitness Complex is a full-service, state-of-the-art fitness center that features cardio equipment, free weights, TRX, spin bikes, outstanding group fitness classes, and more. Also, visit Bremerton Family YMCA for a wide range of fitness classes and swimming options. Enjoy a rejuvenating spa day at Manette Day Spa, where you can indulge in massages and skincare treatments. Outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate Evergreen Rotary Park for its beautiful walking trails and waterfront views. For a mix of fitness and fun, Kitsap CrossFit and Planet Fitness provide intense workout sessions tailored to all fitness levels. 

Top sites in Bremerton, WA are USS Turner Joy, Puget Sound Navy Museum, Harborside Fountain Park, and Bug & Reptile Museum. 

Population: 45,291 (2024). ZIP codes: 98310–98312, 98314, 98337. Area code: 360, 564. Elevation: 39 ft (12 m). Area: 32.29 square miles (83.63 km²). 

FAQs

Is Bremerton, WA a good place to live?

Bremerton is a nice place to live because of its proximity to the Washington State Ferries. Despite its proximity to Seattle, Bremerton manages to retain a small-town atmosphere. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to meet your neighbors and show your support for the local economy at everything from corner stores and farmers’ markets to indie theaters and community-run celebrations. Bremerton is a fantastic city for nature lovers of all stripes. The Pacific Northwest is known for its gorgeous scenery and easy access to the sea, Puget Sound, inland lakes, and hiking trails.

How expensive is it to live in Bremerton, Washington?

The cost of living in Bremerton, WA is the same as the state average and 18% higher than the national average. Bremerton, WA housing is 22% more expensive than the U.S. average, while utilities are about 11% less pricey. When it comes to necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 19% more in Bremerton, WA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 19% more. Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 30% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 19% pricier in Bremerton, WA.

What is the crime rate in Bremerton, Washington?

With a crime rate of 46 per one thousand residents, Bremerton has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes - from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One's chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 22. Within Washington, more than 89% of the communities have a lower crime rate than Bremerton. With a population of 45,415, Bremerton has a combined rate of violent and property crime that is very high compared to other places of similar population size.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Bremerton

Home and Money

Rentcafe

Neighborhood Scout

Kitsap County

USS Turner Joy

Puget Sound Navy Museum 

Harborside Fountain Park 

Bug & Reptile Museum

Marvin Williams Recreation Center

Planet Fitness

Harrison Medical Center

Bremerton Fitness Complex

Bremerton Family YMCA

Manette Day Spa

Evergreen Rotary Park

Kitsap CrossFit

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