Gig Harbor, Washington

Pierce County

53-26735

Gig Harbor is a city in Pierce County in the U.S. state of Washington. Gig Harbor is located in Puget Sound, a 150 km long, island -rich and widespread fjord-like bay in northwest Washington. The town has about 6,500 inhabitants and is located about an hour's drive from Seattle.

History

In 1840, the American naval officer and Arctic explorer Charles Wilkes contributed his gig - a small rowing dinghy - during a heavy storm in Puget Sound in a natural harbor. Wilkes called this protective Bay Gig Harbor on a map published in 1841.

1867 Samuel came Jerisich to Gig Harbor, where he founded with other immigrants from Croatia, Sweden and Norway, the first settlement.

Fishing and shipbuilding were the main industries until the construction of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. The improved accessibility of accelerated economic growth in the area. Today Gig Harbor is regarded as a wealthy suburb of Tacoma.

Climate

The summers are mild in Gig Harbor. The average daily temperature varies between 14 and 19 ° C. However, you can rise up to 25 ° C. In June 1982 and in July 2004 peak values ​​were measured at 35 ° C.

Winters are rainy. Wet ester month is December with an average rainfall of 150 mm. Coldest month is January with an average daily temperature of 5 ° C.

Population

In the census of 2000, a census as at 1 April 2000 6,465 residents were determined. Largest of these are the whites with a share of 94.2 %. There are also around 1.8 % mixed race, 1.5 % Asian, 1.1% African American, 0.6 % American Indians, including Alaska and 0.2 % Pacific Islander.

The median income for a household in 1999 was at $ 43,456, just above the U.S. average of $ 41,994. Compared to the U.S. average of 12.4 % lived in 1999 only 5.4% of individuals below the poverty line; with families, the proportion was 3.5 % ( U.S. average: 9.2%).