Jefferson County Spotlight

Jefferson County

Densely forested and surrounded by the coast on two sides, Jefferson County boasts some of the state’s most beautiful scenery and offers a robust and well-rounded economy, with both industrial and agricultural industries flourishing in the county. With over half of the county territory belonging to the Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest, Jefferson County hosts a variety of tourist activities, including fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, and sightseeing—it is even home the “World’s Largest Red Cedar” located near Kalaloch. The Jefferson County seat, Port Townsend, features an active port as well as the county’s largest paper mill, both of which represent a large portion of the county’s economy. Port Townsend, the largest city in the county, also benefits from tourism brought about by town development and the county’s expanding organic farming industry, which provides artisan cheeses and breads for tourists to sample.

Facts

County Seat: Port Townsend

Incorporation Date: December 22, 1852

Form of Government: General Law

Area: 1,809 sq mi (4,685 km2)

Population: 31,900 (2019)

Etymology: Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), 3rd U.S. President and principal author of the Declaration of Independence

Resources