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Port Orchard, WA

Frequently asked questions

Port Orchard, WA

Port Orchard is a city in and the county seat of Kitsap County, Washington, United States. It is located 13 miles (21 km) west of West Seattle and is connected to Seattle and Vashon Island via the Washington State Ferries run to Southworth. It is named after Port Orchard, the strait that separates Bainbridge Island from the Kitsap Peninsula. The population was 15,587 at the 2020 census and is estimated to be 17,089 in 2022.

The first European Americans to settle in what is now Port Orchard were William Renton and Daniel Howard, who set up a sawmill there in 1854. The town that was to become Port Orchard was originally platted in 1886 by Frederick Stevens, who named the new location after his father, Sidney. The town of Sidney was incorporated on September 15, 1890, and was the first in Kitsap County to be both platted and incorporated. Shortly thereafter, the U.S. Navy sought a suitable location for another installation on the West Coast and found it with the assistance of Sidney's residents in Orchard Bay (this installation would later become the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton).

The county seat was originally in Port Madison but moved to Sidney after a popular vote in 1892. In December of that same year, the residents of Sidney petitioned both the state legislature and the Post Office Department to rename the city "Port Orchard". The legislature refused, as Charleston (now West Bremerton) had also requested that name. The Post Office Department, however, went through with the name change, and as a result, the Port Orchard post office ended up in Sidney, and the Charleston post office ended up in Port Orchard. It wasn't until 1903 that local politician Will Thompson convinced the state legislature to correct this confusing situation, and relocated the Charleston post office to Charleston, at the same time renaming Sidney "Port Orchard", as it is known today.

Port Orchard is located in south-central Kitsap County at 47°31′54″N 122°38′18″W (47.531563, -122.638405), on the south side of Sinclair Inlet, an arm of the Port Orchard strait connecting to Puget Sound. The city is bordered to the north across Sinclair Inlet by the city of Bremerton.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.21 square miles (29.03 km²), of which 9.64 square miles (24.97 km²) are land and 1.57 square miles (4.07 km²), or 15.65%, is water. The city is home to South Kitsap Regional Park, a 209-acre (85 ha) public park with multiple fields and installations such as hiking trails, a playground, a skate park, and batting cages. Port Orchard Airport, located 7 miles (11 km) south of the city, is a private airport with an industrial park.

Port Orchard places a strong emphasis on health and wellness for its residents. St. Michael Medical Center and Port Orchard Medical Center offer comprehensive health services, including wellness check-ups and preventive care programs. Olympic Gym offers comprehensive fitness programs including cardio, strength training, and group exercise classes. At Orchard Roots Yoga, residents can enjoy yoga classes tailored to different skill levels. For a full-service gym experience, Anytime Fitness provides 24/7 access to top-notch equipment and fitness classes. Those seeking relaxation can visit CAYA Massage Therapy for therapeutic massages. YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties offers a wide range of wellness programs, including swimming and group fitness classes. 

Top sites in Port Orchard WA are Sidney Art Gallery and Museum, Manchester State Park, Western Washington Center for the Arts, and McCormick Woods Golf Club.

Population: 17,089 (2022). Elevation: 72 ft (22 m). Area code: 360. ZIP Code: 98366. Area: 11.21 sq mi (29.03 km²).

FAQs

What is Port Orchard, WA known for?

Port Orchard is located on the Sinclair Inlet of the Puget Sound.  As a waterfront community, it has a lot of amenities. The numerous marinas provide visitors and boat dwellers alike with convenient accommodations. The downtown corridor offers shopping, museums, entertainment, galleries, and dining. With ferry access from Bremerton and Seattle, an excursion to Port Orchard is an easy day trip or a weekend getaway.

Is Port Orchard, WA a nice place to live?

Boasting some of the best neighborhoods, schools, beautiful scenery, and eateries, Port Orchard is a good place to live. With a short commute to Seattle, WA, and an even shorter drive to mountain views, its breathtaking views are one of its best attributes, and this western Washington city is a wonderful place to call home. You can spend your summers enjoying the sunshine and salty air and your winters skiing on the nearby slopes. The 15,587 residents of Port Orchard enjoy the city’s small-town feel and the convenient proximity to recreational activities, like the Olympic Mountains, not to mention the amenities of bigger cities waiting just across the water.

What is the crime rate in Port Orchard, WA?

With a crime rate of 60 per one thousand residents, Port Orchard 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 17. Within Washington, more than 95% of the communities have a lower crime rate than Port Orchard.

Sources

City of Port Orchard

Wikipedia

All Ready Moving

Neighborhood Scout

Sidney Art Gallery and Museum

Manchester State Park

Western Washington Center for the Arts

McCormick Woods Golf Club

St. Michael Medical Center

Port Orchard Medical Center

Olympic Gym

Orchard Roots Yoga

Anytime Fitness

CAYA Massage Therapy

YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties

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.