Gardiner, Washington
Encyclopedia
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Jefferson County, Washington
Jefferson County, Washington
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington, named after Thomas Jefferson. As of 2010, the population was 29,872. The county seat is at Port Townsend, which is also the county's only incorporated city....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. (Additionally, part of Clallam County located along the Jefferson County line adjacent to Gardiner is often referred to as being part of Gardiner.)
Gardiner is located on the Miller Peninsula
Miller Peninsula
The Miller Peninsula is a small peninsula in Clallam County, Washington and Jefferson County, Washington surrounded by Discovery Bay on the east, the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the north, and Sequim Bay to the west...
, at the northern coast of the Olympic Peninsula
Olympic Peninsula
The Olympic Peninsula is the large arm of land in western Washington state of the USA, that lies across Puget Sound from Seattle. It is bounded on the west by the Pacific Ocean, the north by the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the east by Puget Sound. Cape Alava, the westernmost point in the contiguous...
on Discovery Bay
Discovery Bay, Washington
Discovery Bay is:* A small bay adjoining the Strait of Juan de Fuca on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State; this body of water was also historically called Port Discovery...
, which enters the Strait of Juan de Fuca
Strait of Juan de Fuca
The Strait of Juan de Fuca is a large body of water about long that is the Salish Sea outlet to the Pacific Ocean...
. Gardiner is primarily a rural-residential community, with mostly five- and 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) parcels, plus several large landholders. Gardiner also has a few retail establishments, a community center, and a church, all located on U.S. Route 101
U.S. Route 101
U.S. Route 101, or U.S. Highway 101, is an important north–south U.S. highway that runs through the states of California, Oregon, and Washington, on the West Coast of the United States...
. There is still some farming, lumbering, and fishing, but the area is following the Jefferson County trend away from agriculture, as old homesteads and family farms get subdivided into residences.
Discovery Bay, Washington
Discovery Bay is:* A small bay adjoining the Strait of Juan de Fuca on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State; this body of water was also historically called Port Discovery...
; the ramp is maintained by the Port of Port Townsend
Port Townsend, Washington
Port Townsend is a city in Jefferson County, Washington, United States, approximately north-northwest of Seattle . The population was 9,113 at the 2010 census an increase of 9.3% over the 2000 census. It is the county seat and only incorporated city of Jefferson County...
. Popular salmon fishing derbies are held here each February; in the 2011 event, 760 ticket holders fished in an area spanning 500 square miles.
The community has roughly 300 people, and is located 12 miles (19.3 km) east of Sequim
Sequim, Washington
Sequim is a city in Clallam County, Washington, United States. The 2010 US Census counted a population of 6,606. Sequim is located along the Dungeness River near the base of the Olympic Mountains...
, just north of U.S. Route 101
U.S. Route 101
U.S. Route 101, or U.S. Highway 101, is an important north–south U.S. highway that runs through the states of California, Oregon, and Washington, on the West Coast of the United States...
. (Port Townsend
Port Townsend, Washington
Port Townsend is a city in Jefferson County, Washington, United States, approximately north-northwest of Seattle . The population was 9,113 at the 2010 census an increase of 9.3% over the 2000 census. It is the county seat and only incorporated city of Jefferson County...
is just a bit further, in the opposite direction.)
Timber in the area was originally cleared in the late 19th century, as was much of Discovery Bay, and was planted with fruit trees – primarily apples and pears. Gardiner took the name of the original farmer, Herbert Gardner. The spelling was eventually changed to its current form, due to a conflict with another Gardner, Washington; this was needed to enable mail delivery. (However, Gardiner lost its post office in the 1990s, when Gardiner residents were given mailing addresses in Sequim, Washington
Sequim, Washington
Sequim is a city in Clallam County, Washington, United States. The 2010 US Census counted a population of 6,606. Sequim is located along the Dungeness River near the base of the Olympic Mountains...
. The two towns are in different counties, which leads to confusion.)