Waterfront Houses for Sale in Island County, Washington

Island County, WA History and Demographics

Island County, Washington, home to just over 85,000 people, is aptly named, since it is entirely made up of islands. Most of the county’s inhabitants live on the two largest islands, Camano and Whidbey. The smaller islands provide significant habitat to wildlife, and some, like Smith Island and Minor Island are part of preserves. According to recent census data, around 78% of Island County residents identify as white, and almost 9% identify as Hispanic or Latino. Roughly one-third of all residents have at least a bachelor’s degree. While those over 65 only make up 15.9% of the population of Washington state as a whole, in Island County, 65 year-olds make up more than 25% of the residents.

Whidbey Island

It’s difficult to distill into a few paragraphs the many wonders that await you in Island County. Take Whidbey Island — known for its sections of rugged terrain, Whidbey Island also has beautiful beaches, grass-covered hills, and rolling and productive farmland. The state’s most popular state park, Deception Pass State Park, is on Whidbey Island, and it is a favorite among children and adults for its clifftop views, spooky coves, and reliably stunning sunsets. Fish, swim, hunt for shells, hike through the forest, search for wildlife — Deception Pass State Park and Whidbey Island will not disappoint. 

On the northside of Whidbey Island is the city of Oak Harbor. In addition to shopping and dining, Oak Harbor is also home to Smith Park. It is here that you can catch a glimpse of what the area would have looked like before European settlement. Smith Park is home to a remarkable stand of Garry Oaks, many of which are over 300 years old.

Camano Island

Camano Island has its own charms as well. Connected to the mainland via State Route 532, it is home to two state parks, Cama Beach, where you can take boat building classes at the Center for Wooden Boats, and Camano Island State Park,where you can go sailboarding, crabbing, boating, and swimming.

Nearby Counties

To the north of Island County is San Juan County, the only other county in Washington state made up entirely of islands. The only way to get to the islands of San Juan County is by boat or ferry. To the west of Island County is Jefferson County, which stretches all the way from Hood Canal to the Pacific Ocean.