View source for Oak Harbor, Washington

{{Short description|City in Washington, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Oak Harbor
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| image_skyline      = Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Aerial view of Oak Harbor
| image_map          = Island_County_Washington_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Oak_Harbor_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Oak Harbor, Washington
<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Washington|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Island County, Washington|Island]]
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = [[Mayor–council government|Mayor–council]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Office of the Mayor|url=https://www.oakharbor.org/mayor|publisher=City of Oak Harbor|access-date=April 2, 2022}}</ref>
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Ronnie Wright
| established_title  = City
| established_date   = May 14, 1915
<!-- Area -->
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_53.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 31.90
| area_land_km2      = 25.00
| area_water_km2     = 6.90
| area_total_sq_mi   = 12.32
| area_land_sq_mi    = 9.65
| area_water_sq_mi   = 2.66
<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name ="CenPop">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US5350360|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 12, 2022}}</ref>
| population_total   = 24622
| population_urban   = 
| population_metro   = 86,857 (US: [[List of micropolitan statistical areas|48th]])
| population_metro_footnotes = <ref name ="CenPopMetro">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US53029|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 12, 2022}}</ref>
| population_density_km2 = 984.88
| population_density_sq_mi = 2551.5
| population_demonym = Oak Harborite
<!-- General information -->
| timezone           = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific (PST)]]
| utc_offset         = -8
| timezone_DST       = PDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -7
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 177
| coordinates        = {{coord|48|17|38|N|122|36|23|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code        = 98277–98278
| area_code          = [[Area code 360|360]]
| blank_name         = Telephone exchanges
| blank_info         = 240, 257, 279, 395, 632, 675, 678, 679
| blank1_name        = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank1_info        = 53-50360
| blank2_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank2_info        = 2411287<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2411287}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|https://oakharbor.gov}}
| footnotes          = 
}}
[[File:Oak Harbor 1.jpg|thumb|right|Windjammer Park in Oak Harbor]]
'''Oak Harbor''' is a city located on [[Whidbey Island]] in [[Island County, Washington]], United States. The population was 24,622 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]. Oak Harbor was incorporated on May 14, 1915.

==History==
[[File:Pioneer Way in downtown Oak Harbor, WA.jpg|thumb|right|Pioneer Way in downtown Oak Harbor]]

The [[Swinomish Indians of the Swinomish Reservation of Washington|Lower Skagit people]] have inhabited Oak Harbor ({{Langx|lut|təqucid}})<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Puget Sound Geographical names |date=January 16, 2017 |url=https://tulaliplushootseed.com/places/ |access-date=January 26, 2023 |publisher=Tulalip Tribes}}</ref> and the nearby Crescent Harbor ({{Langx|lut|č̓itusəb}})<ref name=":0" /> since time immemorial.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Smith |first=Marian W |date=1941 |title=The Coast Salish of Puget Sound |journal=American Anthropologist |volume=43 |issue=2 |pages=197–211 |doi=10.1525/aa.1941.43.2.02a00050 |jstor=662952 |doi-access=free }}</ref> There were several villages in the vicinity, and the modern settlement of Oak Harbor was built over one such village.<ref name=":1" />

In the early 1850s, two [[settlers]] staked claims where the city now stands&mdash;[[Zakarias Martin Toftezen]], a shoemaker from [[Norway]]; C.W. Sumner from [[New England]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sahs-fncc.org/?page_id=58|title=Toftezen Memorial, Lutheran Cemetery, Pioneer Highway|publisher=Stanwood Area Historic Society|access-date=April 1, 2016|archive-date=June 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629215030/http://www.sahs-fncc.org/?page_id=58|url-status=dead}}</ref> Irish and Dutch immigrants also arrived and settled in the area. Oak Harbor was named for the area's [[Garry Oak]] trees and was incorporated in 1915 with a population of 401. Houses and businesses sprouted up along the shores of Oak Harbor as the [[settler|pioneers]] relied entirely on water transportation until the 1900s. For the next 30 years, [[Steamboat|steamers]] and [[cargo ship|freighters]] carried passengers and freight from the [[Whidbey Island|Island]] to the mainland and back as well as Fidalgo Island to the north. The city grew following the completion of [[Deception Pass Bridge]] on July 31, 1935, and [[Naval Air Station Whidbey Island]] on September 21, 1942.<ref name="HistoryLink">{{cite web |last=Wilma |first=David |date=July 30, 2007 |title=Oak Harbor — Thumbnail History |url=https://www.historylink.org/File/8223 |work=[[HistoryLink]] |accessdate=January 27, 2023}}</ref> The bridge, which linked [[Whidbey Island]] to [[Fidalgo Island]] and the mainland, was a [[Public Works Administration]] project built by the [[Civilian Conservation Corps]]. A [[Deception Pass State Park|nearby state park]] with {{convert|4100|acre|km2|0}} of forest, campsites, and trails was also developed.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|9.47|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|9.42|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.05|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2012-12-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=January 25, 2012 }}</ref>  Access to the island by land is only available by driving through Deception Pass.  Other ways to travel to Whidbey Island include flying or utilizing a ferry service.  The [[Mukilteo–Clinton ferry]] provides service connecting the southern end of Whidbey Island to the area immediately north of Seattle, while the Coupeville-Port Townsend ferry connects to the Olympic peninsula.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

Surveys of shorelines throughout the Puget Sound region have indicated that 58% are "unstable".  Average retreat rates range from one to eight centimeters per year and shores in the Puget Sound area, composed of unconsolidated sediment, erode 10 to 100 times faster than rocky shoreline.<ref>{{Cite journal | doi=10.1016/j.yqres.2012.06.001|title = Long-term shoreline retreat rates on Whidbey Island, Washington, USA| journal=Quaternary Research| volume=78| issue=2| pages=315–322|year = 2017|last1 = Rogers|first1 = Heather E.| last2=Swanson| first2=Terry W.| last3=Stone| first3=John O.|s2cid = 140167429}}</ref>

===Climate===
Oak Harbor has a [[Mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Csb'') characterized by warm, dry summers and cold, though not severe, and damp winters. Due to the Olympic [[rain shadow]], the region is much drier than most of the Pacific Northwest west of the Cascades.
{{Weather box
|width=auto
|collapsed = Y
|single line = Y
|location= Oak Harbor, Washington
|Jan record high F= 62
|Feb record high F= 69
|Mar record high F= 78
|Apr record high F= 81
|May record high F= 85
|Jun record high F= 92
|Jul record high F= 95
|Aug record high F= 98
|Sep record high F= 91
|Oct record high F= 79
|Nov record high F= 67
|Dec record high F= 62
|Jan high F= 47
|Feb high F= 50
|Mar high F= 54
|Apr high F= 59
|May high F= 64
|Jun high F= 68
|Jul high F= 73
|Aug high F= 74
|Sep high F= 69
|Oct high F= 59
|Nov high F= 51
|Dec high F= 46
|Jan low F= 37
|Feb low F= 36
|Mar low F= 39
|Apr low F= 42
|May low F= 46
|Jun low F= 50
|Jul low F= 52
|Aug low F= 52
|Sep low F= 49
|Oct low F= 44
|Nov low F= 39
|Dec low F= 35|Jan record low F= 3
|Feb record low F= 5
|Mar record low F= 14
|Apr record low F= 26
|May record low F= 28
|Jun record low F= 35
|Jul record low F= 40
|Aug record low F= 38
|Sep record low F= 29
|Oct record low F= 20
|Nov record low F= 6
|Dec record low F= 3
|precipitation colour=green
|Jan precipitation inch= 2.50
|Feb precipitation inch= 1.75
|Mar precipitation inch= 1.88
|Apr precipitation inch= 1.67
|May precipitation inch= 1.83
|Jun precipitation inch= 1.33
|Jul precipitation inch= 0.86
|Aug precipitation inch= 0.77
|Sep precipitation inch= 1.27
|Oct precipitation inch= 1.97
|Nov precipitation inch= 3.15
|Dec precipitation inch= 2.53

|source 1=<ref name=weather.com>{{cite web |url= http://www.weather.com/outlook/driving/interstate/wxclimatology/monthly/USWA0309 |title=Monthly Averages for Oak Harbor, WA |access-date=July 6, 2012}}</ref>
}}<!--infobox ends-->

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1920= 337
|1930= 362
|1940= 376
|1950= 1193
|1960= 3942
|1970= 9167
|1980= 12271
|1990= 17176
|2000= 19795
|2010= 22075
|2020= 24622
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 21, 2014}}</ref><br />2018 Estimate<ref name="2018 Pop Estimate">{{cite web|title=Population Estimates|url=https://census.gov/data/tables/2018/demo/popest/total-cities-and-towns.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=June 16, 2019}}</ref>
}}

=== 2020 census ===
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=United States Census Bureau |title=Quickfacts: Oak Harbor city, Washington |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/oakharborcitywashington |access-date=June 27, 2024}}</ref> there were 24,622 people and 9,852 households in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 67.3% [[White (US Census)|White]], 5.4% [[Black (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.3% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 8.4% [[Asian (U.S. census)|Asian]], 0.6% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], and 13.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 15.9% of the population.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]],<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=December 19, 2012}}</ref> there were 22,075 people, 8,677 households, and 5,789 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2343.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 9,553 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1014.1|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 72.6% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 4.9% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.9% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 10.2% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.0% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.7% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 7.8% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] residents of any race were 9.3% of the population.

There were 8,677 households, of which 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.3% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.09.

The median age in the city was 29 years. 28.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 31.9% were from 25 to 44; 17% were from 45 to 64; and 10.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.2% male and 50.8% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], there were 19,795 people, 7,333 households, and 5,265 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was 2,175.0 people per square mile (839.9/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 7,772 housing units at an average density of 854.0 per square mile (329.8/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the city was 74.9% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 5.5% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 9.6% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.2% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.8% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.4% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 5.6% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] residents of any race were 6.6% of the population.

There were 7,333 households, out of which 43.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. Also, 22.2% of all households comprised individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the city, 31.6% of the population was under the age of 18, 11.6% was from 18 to 24, 34.4% from 25 to 44, 13.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,641, and the median income for a family was $41,579. Males had a median income of $29,498 versus $21,633 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $16,830. About 8.1% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 11.2% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
Oak Harbor has favored [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] candidates in each presidential election in the 21st century, though by less than a percentage point in 2020. [[Kamala Harris]] ultimately flipped the city in 2024.

{| border = "2"
|+ Oak Harbor city vote<br /> by party in presidential elections
|- style="background:lightgrey;"
! Year
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Third party (United States)|Third Parties]]

|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2024 United States presidential election|2024]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20241105/export.html|title=November 5, 2024 General Election Results|date=December 6, 2024|website=results.vote.wa.gov}}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''49.42%''' ''4,607''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|47.02% ''4,383''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|3.56% ''332''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2020 United States presidential election|2020]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20201103/island/precincts-60513.html|title=Island County November 3, 2020 General Election|date=November 23, 2020|website=results.vote.wa.gov}}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|46.81% ''4,660''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''47.53%''' ''4,731''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|5.66% ''563''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2016 United States presidential election|2016]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.islandcountywa.gov/Auditor/Elections/PastElections/Results_110816.pdf |title=Official Returns, General Election, November 8, 2016, Island County, State of Washington |website=islandcountywa.gov |date=November 29, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224221921/https://www.islandcountywa.gov/Auditor/Elections/PastElections/Results_110816.pdf}}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|39.07% ''3,006''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''50.14%''' ''3,857''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|10.79% ''830''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2012 United States presidential election|2012]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.islandcountywa.gov/Auditor/Elections/PastElections/results_110612.pdf |title=Official Returns, General Election, November 6, 2012, Island County, State of Washington |website=islandcountywa.gov |date=November 27, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230142816/https://www.islandcountywa.gov/Auditor/Elections/PastElections/results_110612.pdf}}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|42.00% ''3,219''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''53.80%''' ''4,123''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|4.20% ''322''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.islandcountywa.gov/Auditor/Elections/PastElections/results_110408.pdf |title=Official Returns of the General Election held in Island County, Washington, November 4, 2008 |website=islandcountywa.gov |date=November 25, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170127014941/https://www.islandcountywa.gov/Auditor/Elections/PastElections/results_110408.pdf}}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|43.21% ''3,183''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''56.79%''' ''4,183''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2004 United States presidential election|2004]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.islandcountywa.gov/Auditor/Elections/PastElections/results_110204.pdf |title=Official Returns of the State General Election, November 2, 2004, Island County, State of Washington |website=islandcountywa.gov |date=November 17, 2004 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207201719/https://www.islandcountywa.gov/Auditor/Elections/PastElections/results_110204.pdf}}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|33.17% ''2,226''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''64.02%''' ''4,296''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.80% ''188''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2000 United States presidential election|2000]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.islandcountywa.gov/Auditor/Elections/PastElections/results_110700.pdf|title=Official Returns of the State General Election held in Island County, November 7, 2000, State of Washington |website=islandcountywa.gov |date=November 22, 2000 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207201920/https://www.islandcountywa.gov/Auditor/Elections/PastElections/results_110700.pdf}}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|37.20% ''2,058''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''57.94%''' ''3,206''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|4.86% ''269''
|-
|}

==Education==
The city is served by the [[Oak Harbor School District]]<!--UNI 05940-->.<ref>{{cite map |author=U.S. Census Bureau Geography Division |date=December 21, 2020 |title=2020 Census – School District Reference Map: Island County, WA |scale=1:95,099 |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st53_wa/schooldistrict_maps/c53055_san_juan/DC20SD_C53055.pdf |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |accessdate=March 16, 2025}}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Shayla Beesley]] – actress
*[[Lamont Brightful]] – player in the [[National Football League|NFL]] and [[Canadian Football League]]
*[[Michael Harring]] – filmmaker
*[[Marti Malloy]] – Olympic Judo medalist
*[[Patricia McPherson]] – actress
*[[Jerod Turner]] – golfer
*[[Chad Veach]] - evangelical pastor, founder of Zoe Church
*[[Robert Lee Yates]] - serial killer

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.oakharbor.gov City of Oak Harbor] official website
* [https://www.oakharborchamber.com/ Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce]

{{Island County, Washington}}
{{Seattle Metro}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Oak Harbor, Washington| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Cities in Island County, Washington]]
[[Category:Micropolitan areas of Washington (state)]]