Oak Harbor, Washington

thumb|Windjammer Park in Oak Harbor, taken before the windmill seen in the background was torn down.

Oak Harbor is a city located on Northern Whidbey Island in Island County, Washington, United States. The population was 24,622 at the 2020 census. Oak Harbor was incorporated on May 14, 1915.

History

thumb|right|Pioneer Way in downtown Oak Harbor

The Lower Skagit people have inhabited Oak Harbor () and the nearby Crescent Harbor () There were several villages in the vicinity, and the modern settlement of Oak Harbor was built over one such village. 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 pioneers relied entirely on water transportation until the 1900s. For the next 30 years, steamers and freighters carried passengers and freight from the 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. 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 nearby state park with of forest, campsites, and trails was also developed.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water. 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.

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.

Climate

Oak Harbor has a Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csb) characterized by warm, dry summers and cold, though not severe, damp winters. Due to the Olympic rain shadow, the region is much drier than most of the Pacific Northwest west of the Cascades.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Oak Harbor had a population of 24,622. The median age was 31.3 years. 25.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 12.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.7 males age 18 and over.

There were 9,532 households in Oak Harbor, of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 51.8% were married-couple households, 18.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

! Race !! Number !! Percent

| White || 15,704 || 63.8%

| Black or African American || 1,530 || 6.2%

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 256 || 1.0%

| Asian || 2,524 || 10.3%

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 225 || 0.9%

| Some other race || 995 || 4.0%

| Two or more races || 3,388 || 13.8%

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 3,366 || 13.7%

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 22,075 people, 8,677 households, and 5,789 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 9,553 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 72.6% White, 4.9% African American, 0.9% Native American, 10.2% Asian, 1.0% Pacific Islander, 2.7% from other races, and 7.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or 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 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 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/km2). There were 7,772 housing units at an average density of 854.0 per square mile (329.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 74.9% White, 5.5% African American, 9.6% Asian, 1.2% Native American, 0.8% Pacific Islander, 2.4% from other races, and 5.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or 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 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 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 by party in presidential elections

|- style="background:lightgrey;"

! Year

! Democratic

! Republican

! Third Parties

|align="center" |2024

|align="center" |49.42% 4,607

|align="center" |47.02% 4,383

|align="center" |3.56% 332

|align="center" |2020

|align="center" |46.81% 4,660

|align="center" |47.53% 4,731

|align="center" |5.66% 563

|align="center" |2016

|align="center" |39.07% 3,006

|align="center" |50.14% 3,857

|align="center" |10.79% 830

|align="center" |2012

|align="center" |42.00% 3,219

|align="center" |53.80% 4,123

|align="center" |4.20% 322

|align="center" |2008

|align="center" |43.21% 3,183

|align="center" |56.79% 4,183

|align="center" |0.00% 0

|align="center" |2004

|align="center" |33.17% 2,226

|align="center" |64.02% 4,296

|align="center" |2.80% 188

|align="center" |2000

|align="center" |37.20% 2,058

|align="center" |57.94% 3,206

|align="center" |4.86% 269

Education

The city is served by the Oak Harbor School District. At the beginning of the 2025-26 school year, there were 5,628 enrolled students in the district, as well as 375 teachers.

Notable people

Shayla Beesley – actress
Lamont Brightful – player in the 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

External links

City of Oak Harbor official website
Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce