Anacortes,
Washington is the crown jewel of beautiful
Fidalgo Island. Surrounded by north
Puget Sound,
Skagit Valley, and the
Swinomish Channel, Fidalgo is the easternmost of the
San Juan Islands. Residents and visitors travel between Fidalgo Island, the
mainland, and
Whidbey Island by bridge. Fidalgo Island also houses the
Washington State Ferry terminal, serving the rest of the San Juan Islands
and
Sidney/Victoria,
British Columbia. The Anacortes name derives from Anna Curtis, the maiden
name of settler
Amos Bowman’s wife.
Anacortes enjoys a centralized location along the
western border of
Skagit County;
Bellingham,
Mount Vernon, and
Seattle are within easy reach. Anacortes, population 14,557 at the
2000 Census, is a 14.2 square mile waterfront community, and one of two
principal cities of the Mount Vernon-Anacortes MSA. Residents access top-notch
healthcare via
Island Hospital, and several excellent schools serve the area’s 3,000
students, operated by the
Anacortes School District.
Skagit Valley College lies within a reasonable driving distance.
Incorporated in 1891, Anacortes began as a strong
lumber and fishing community. In the 1950’s, oil refineries built nearby
diversified the
Skagit County economy and bringing a wealth of jobs to the region.
Tesoro Corporation and
Shell Oil own and operate these two refineries and are the largest industry
in the area today. Other significant employers include the
Whidbey Island Naval Air Station and the
Port of Anacortes. This busy marine terminal features a large commercial
fishing fleet and a public marina, containing 950 boat slips. In addition,
Anacortes boasts a successful shipbuilding and yacht construction business
cluster.
With more than 12 miles of pristine shoreline and
impressive cultural and recreational opportunities, Anacortes has a thriving
tourist industry.
Similk Beach Golf Course attracts sporting enthusiasts to the area, while
numerous sports equipment rental facilities provide every manner of water play.
Visitors enjoy bird watching, camping, fishing, hiking, kayaking, mountain
biking, sailing, and scuba diving. Local companies provide kayak tours, fishing
charters, and yacht charters for scenic trips that may include whale watching.
Anacortes celebrates several exciting events
throughout the year, including the
Anacortes Arts Festival, the annual
Jazz Festival, and the
Waterfront Festival.
Anacortes Community Forest Lands offer fifty miles of hiking and mountain
biking trails, where the most popular parks include
Washington Park and
Mount Erie Park. Other sites of interest include the
Community Theatre,
Northwest Ballet Theater, local
Farmer’s Market,
Anacortes History Museum, and the charming downtown district whose buildings
feature murals of local artist
Bill Mitchell. Anacortes is within easy driving distance of
Seattle and all the amenities found in the
Puget Sound region.
Anacortes,
Washington recently ranked 20th on the top 100 most
livable small towns in
America. This delightful island community features a serene ambiance, a
pioneering spirit, breathtaking mountain vistas, waterfront neighborhoods, and
abundance of career and recreational opportunities with
Pacific Northwest living.
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