Population85,657 (July 1, 2025 Census estimate)
Your Local Guide Starts Here
Island County, WashingtonExplore local resources and participating businesses in Island County, Washington.
Island County at a Glance
Population85,657 (July 1, 2025 Census estimate)
County SeatCoupeville
Largest City (2026)Oak Harbor (2026 OFM)
Year Organized1854 (organized; NACo County Explorer)
ZIP Code Examples98239, 98260, 98277, 98282
Total Area, Including Water517.325 square miles, including water (2020 Census geography)
Major RoutesSR 20, SR 525, SR 532
Local Area Codes360 / 564
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Discover Island County
Island County
Island County was created under Oregon territorial government in 1853, shortly before Washington Territory was established. Its early boundaries included much of northwestern Washington, later divided into other counties. Coveland served as the seat before the move to Coupeville in 1891. These changes make dates and jurisdiction important when reading older records. The modern county's island identity is therefore only one part of a longer administrative story, connecting a broad early territory with the more specific communities of Whidbey and Camano.
Choose a Whidbey or Camano route first, then identify specific public destinations that fit the available travel time. Coupeville's civic history offers one starting point, with Coveland providing an earlier chapter for local interpretation. Historical records may refer to places now in other counties, so compare dates and boundaries carefully. An island-focused visit benefits from a few well-chosen stops rather than treating the whole county as one compact destination.
What Shapes Us
Place And Character
The earlier seat at Coveland and the county's territorial origins provide a civic thread, while its present island geography offers a much smaller frame than its original jurisdiction.
The Local Story
Island County was created under Oregon territorial government in 1853, shortly before Washington Territory was established. Its early boundaries included much of northwestern Washington, later divided into other counties.
Explore The County
Choose a Whidbey or Camano route first, then identify specific public destinations that fit the available travel time. Coupeville's civic history offers one starting point, with Coveland providing an earlier chapter for local interpretation.
Discover island communities within a much larger territorial story.
A Closer Look
Island County
Places and perspectives from Island County
Whidbey News-Times · Local
Frances Joan Carlson: May, 14, 1944 – September, 24, 2026
Frances Joan Carlson (Frani) was born in Coupeville, WA on May 14, 1944, to John and Mary Vanderzicht.…
Read the Story Oct 24, 2026 • Read at sourceAround Island County
Local coverage first, followed by Washington and national updates when needed.
Whidbey News-Times · Local
Frances Joan Carlson: May, 14, 1944 – September, 24, 2026
Frances Joan Carlson (Frani) was born in Coupeville, WA on May 14, 1944, to John and Mary Vanderzicht.…
Oct 24, 2026 • Read at source
Whidbey News-Times · Local
Romance and roadways don’t mix for deer
Highway 20 and Highway 525 are among the state’s trouble spots for wildlife-vehicle collisions.
Oct 23, 2026 • Read at source
Whidbey News-Times · Local
Clinton post office burglars sent to prison
They broke in on July 31, 2024, stealing mail from post office boxes and a mail drop box.
Oct 23, 2026 • Read at source
Whidbey News-Times · Local
Star Store’s legacy shines statewide
Owners of the beloved Langley business received the Legacy on Main Award.
Oct 23, 2026 • Read at source
Whidbey News-Times · Local
South Whidbey school’s response to threats questioned after stabbing
A parent wants to know whether school officials did enough to prevent a fight.
Oct 23, 2026 • Read at source
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
County Resources
Find the Right Local Connection
Start with the organization responsible for the service you need. Follow its official link for current requirements, office locations and availability.
Government
Island County government — County offices and public services.
Departments and services — Find the office responsible for your request.
Washington state services — State agencies and programs.
Schools
Public school contacts
Selected local schools from the NCES 2024-2025 directory. Contact the school or district to confirm enrollment, attendance boundaries and current services; this is not a complete school list.
Coupeville Elementary School – Elementary; grades PK-05. 6 South Main Street, Coupeville, WA 98239. 360-678-2473.
Broad View Elementary – Elementary; grades KG-04. 473 SW Fairhaven Dr., Oak Harbor, WA 98277. 360-279-5250.
South Whidbey Elementary – Elementary; grades KG-05. 5380 Maxwelton Rd, Langley, WA 98260. 360-221-4600.
Elger Bay Elementary – Elementary; grades KG-05. 1810 ELGER BAY RD, CAMANO ISLAND, WA 98282. 360-629-1290.
Coupeville High School – High; grades 09-12. 501 South Main Street, Coupeville, WA 98239. 360-678-2413.
Coupeville Middle School – Middle; grades 06-08. 501 South Main Street, Coupeville, WA 98239. 360-678-2412.
Island County Corrections Facility Ed Program – High; grades 09-12. 501 N Main St, Coupeville, WA 98239. 360-678-4522.
Hospitals
Local hospital contacts
Facility contacts from the CMS Hospital General Information directory, updated July 22, 2026. Contact the facility directly to confirm current services and appointment arrangements.
Whidbeyhealth Medical Center – Critical Access Hospitals. 101 North Main Street, Coupeville, WA 98239. 360-678-5151.
Public Safety
For an emergency, call 911. Use the department website for non-emergency contact information.
Island County sheriff — Law enforcement information and departmental contacts.
Emergency Services
Call 911 for an immediate emergency.
Emergency management — Preparedness resources and local alerts.
National Weather Service — Forecasts and weather warnings; search by location.
Ready.gov — Household emergency planning.
State Parks
Deception Pass State Park — Park information, maps and current notices.
Find Washington state parks — Search additional parks and activities.
Discover Pass — Parking pass information.
Trails
Island County parks and trails — Local recreation destinations and maps.
Deception Pass State Park maps and visitor information — Review the park map and current trail notices before a visit.
Utilities
Puget Sound Energy — Service, billing and outage information. Confirm whether this provider serves your address.
County public works — County infrastructure and public works services.
Electricity, gas, water, sewer and waste services can have different providers. Check service boundaries for the specific property.
Libraries
Local library contacts
Locations and public phone numbers are from the IMLS FY2024 Public Libraries Survey. Call the branch to confirm current hours and services before visiting.
Camano Island Library – 848 N. Sunrise Blvd., Camano Island, WA 98282. 360-387-5150.
Clinton Library – 4781 Deer Lake Rd, Clinton, WA 98236. 360-341-4280.
Coupeville Library – 788 Nw Alexander, Coupeville, WA 98239. 360-678-4911.
Freeland Library – 5495 Harbor Ave, Freeland, WA 98249. 360-331-7323.
Langley Library – 104 Second St., Langley, WA 98260. 360-221-4383.
Oak Harbor Library – 1000 Se Regatta Drive, Oak Harbor, WA 98277. 360-675-5115.
Courts
Island County court services — Court information and local contacts.
Washington Courts directory — Choose Island County to find superior, district, municipal and juvenile courts.
DMV
Washington — Renew or replace a driver license
Washington — Find a driver licensing office
Washington — Renew or replace vehicle tabs
Transportation
Island Transit — Routes, schedules, rider information and service-area details.
WSDOT maps — State highway maps and travel planning.
Washington State Ferries — Routes, sailing schedules and service notices.
Postal Services
USPS location finder — Search by street address, city or ZIP Code for nearby post offices, collection boxes and available services.
USPS ZIP Code lookup — Find the mailing ZIP Code for a specific street address.
USPS Hold Mail — Arrange a temporary mail hold and review identity-verification requirements.
USPS change of address and forwarding — Review forwarding options and submit an address-change request through USPS.
USPS package pickup — Check pickup availability for your address and schedule eligible shipments.
Veterans
National services available to local residents
VA accredited representatives — Find help with VA claims and benefit applications.
VA health care applications — Review application options and supporting information.
VA disability claims — Find the official steps for submitting a disability claim.
GI Bill and education benefits — Review how to apply for VA education benefits.
Veteran career and employment support — Explore VA employment, training and career assistance.
Employment
National services available to local residents
USAJOBS federal employment — Search federal openings by location and occupation.
Apprenticeship Finder — Search apprenticeship opportunities by location and occupation.
My Next Move career exploration — Explore occupations, industries and career interests.
Government job-training resources — Find routes to state training programs and support for different job seekers.
Unemployment benefit guidance — Find your state program and its application and eligibility information.
Get to Know Island County
Useful answers for residents, visitors and anyone planning their next step.
Local Questions
Island County Questions, Answered
Explore practical details about the county and the organizations that serve it.
85,657 (July 1, 2025 Census estimate). This is a dated Census Bureau estimate, rather than a live resident count.
517.325 square miles, including water (2020 Census geography). The total combines land and water area.
Start with Employment, linked from the government source used for this county. Check that page for current details before visiting or submitting a request.
For emergencies, call 911.
Island County sheriff — Use the official department page for non-emergency contacts and services.
Island County government — Find county departments, public meetings and services.
Start with these official Washington resources: Renew or replace a driver license; Find a driver licensing office; Renew or replace vehicle tabs. Choose the page for the service you need, then check its office or online instructions before making a trip. These links cover state services; they do not establish that every transaction is available at a county office.
Use USPS ZIP Code Lookup for the mailing ZIP Code of a specific street address. Use the USPS location finder to search for nearby postal facilities and available services. An address lookup is more useful for mailing than assuming the entire county shares one ZIP Code.
The VA explains how to find and appoint an accredited representative for benefit claims. Contact a representative to confirm availability before appointing them. For education benefits, use the GI Bill application guidance. These are national VA services available to eligible local residents, rather than a listing of county offices.
Island County was created under Oregon territorial government in 1853, shortly before Washington Territory was established. Its early boundaries included much of northwestern Washington, later divided into other counties. Coveland served as the seat before the move to Coupeville in 1891. These changes make dates and jurisdiction important when reading older records. The modern county's island identity is therefore only one part of a longer administrative story, connecting a broad early territory with the more specific communities of Whidbey and Camano.
Choose a Whidbey or Camano route first, then identify specific public destinations that fit the available travel time. Coupeville's civic history offers one starting point, with Coveland providing an earlier chapter for local interpretation. Historical records may refer to places now in other counties, so compare dates and boundaries carefully. An island-focused visit benefits from a few well-chosen stops rather than treating the whole county as one compact destination.
The 2020 Census geography figures record 208.474 square miles of land and 308.851 square miles of water in Island County. The county’s total area includes both. These are geographic measurements for that Census vintage, not a measurement of current water levels or public recreation access.
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
My Local Guide
Find Something Fun
Make Time to ExploreBrowse local places by the kind of day you have in mind.
Explore Island County
Featured local businesses
All Critter Pet Care & Training
Parks and outdoor places
Deception Pass State Park — Plan a visit using the official park information.
Island County parks and trails
Getting around
A New Stop, a Local ConnectionExplore the Listings Below