Indianola, Washington
Encyclopedia
Indianola is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Kitsap County
, Washington, United States
, located on the north shore of Port Madison
on the Port Madison Indian Reservation
, home of the Suquamish
Indian Tribe. The population was 3,500 at the 2010 census. It was originally established as a summer community and was a stop for Mosquito Fleet
ferries until the 1950s.
, just east of Miller Bay. It is south of Kingston
and northeast of Suquamish
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 5.3 square miles (13.8 km²), of which, 4.8 square miles (12.6 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.2 km²) of it (8.82%) is water.
which had been allotted to Kakue Beedee in 1886. The allotment eventually passed to the sons of Alpheus Loughrey, a white man who had married Katie, the daughter of Beedee's wife Tu-Tue-Tue by a previous marriage.
Development began in 1916 with the formation of the Indianola Beach Land Company by W. L. Gazzam to promote real estate sales on the land owned by the Loughreys. A dock and a store were built as amenities to attract buyers; a second store, the Beachcomber, was built the next year. From the beginning, Indianola has been a vacation community, with its population inflating considerably in the summertime.
In the early 20th century, most transportation on Puget Sound was by steamer
, and a community’s dock was often its only lifeline to the outside world. Such was the case for the young community of Indianola Beach, and by 1918 a steamer was docking there every weekend. Daily ferry service was initiated in 1919 when Carl Hendrix organized twelve passengers to pay in advance for one year’s daily service between Indianola Beach and Seattle. Hendrix and his wife established a school the same year.
Cyrus Beede Pickrell, who had been Indian Agent for the Port Madison Reservation, moved to Indianola Beach from Suquamish with his family in 1920. Postal service had been discontinued, so when the Pickrells opened a new store, they housed the postal operation at Indianola Beach with Cyrus as Postmaster. Around this time, the Postmaster General
took issue with the double name of Indianola Beach and the post office was renamed Kitsap in honor of Chief Kitsap
of the Suquamish
tribe.
Plans to establish a library and community hall were cause for much activity and development in the 1920s. Lots were auctioned off and a carnival was held in 1927 to raise funds. The Indianola Beach Improvement Club was incorporated in 1928 to raise more building money. The Club acquired some lots from W. L. Gazzam, which were raffled off with the proceeds going toward the purchase of property on which to build the structure. The Indianola Clubhouse was finally built in 1930.
By 1929, three passenger boats left the Indianola dock for Seattle every day, and the 1930s brought more connections to the outside world. A power line was strung in 1930, and phone service was established in 1934. The Port of Indianola was established in 1933 after a special election. The dock, which had previously only accommodated passengers, was widened and reinforced to allow auto access. In 1935, Kitsap County began taking surveys to build a road to connect Indianola and Suquamish; when the road was completed in 1939, it was the first time Indianola was accessible by other means of transportation than boat.
Road access to Indianola changed the character of the community somewhat, as the community now had access to more amenities in Kitsap and was no longer self-contained. The school closed in 1941 after more than twenty years of classes. Kitsap County’s naval bases and facilities brought a population boom during World War II
, and many families settled in Indianola. Ferry service was discontinued in Fall of 1951 after the Agate Pass
Bridge opened and the Washington State Ferries took over ferry service on Puget Sound.
It was not until after 1957 that the name of the post office was changed from Kitsap to Indianola, due to the confusion caused by its sharing a name with the county.
of 2000, there were 3,026 people, 1,140 households, and 855 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 623.6 people per square mile (240.9/km²). There were 1,304 housing units at an average density of 268.7/sq mi (103.8/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 87.74% White, 0.53% African American, 5.29% Native American, 1.39% Asian, 0.33% Pacific Islander, 0.83% from other races
, and 3.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.74% of the population.
There were 1,140 households out of which 40.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were married couples
living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 29.6% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 33.7% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 7.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 101.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.2 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $52,852, and the median income for a family was $60,028. Males had a median income of $43,633 versus $30,208 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $22,895. About 3.2% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.3% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in Kitsap County
Kitsap County, Washington
Kitsap County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington, named after Chief Kitsap of the Suquamish tribe. As of 2011 state estimate, its population was 253,900. Its county seat is at Port Orchard, and its largest city is Bremerton....
, Washington, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, located on the north shore of Port Madison
Port Madison
Port Madison, sometimes called Port Madison Bay, is a deep water bay located on the west shore of Puget Sound in western Washington. It is bounded on the north by Indianola, on the west by Suquamish, and on the south by Bainbridge Island. Port Madison connects to Port Orchard via the Agate Pass...
on the Port Madison Indian Reservation
Port Madison Indian Reservation
The Port Madison Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation in northern Kitsap County, Washington. It occupies 30.273 km² on the western and northern shores of Port Madison, and is divided into two separate parcels by Miller Bay. The unincorporated towns of Suquamish and Indianola both lie...
, home of the Suquamish
Suquamish
The Suquamish are a Lushootseed-speaking Native American Tribe, located in present-day Washington in the United States.The Suquamish are a southern Coast Salish people; they spoke a dialect of Lushootseed, which belongs to the Salishan language family. Like many Northwest Coast natives, the...
Indian Tribe. The population was 3,500 at the 2010 census. It was originally established as a summer community and was a stop for Mosquito Fleet
Mosquito Fleet
The term Mosquito Fleet has had nine main meanings in U.S. naval and maritime history:#It is the term used to describe the United States Navy's fleet of small gunboats, leading up to and during the War of 1812, most were part of the New Orleans Squadron....
ferries until the 1950s.
Geography
Indianola is located at 47°45′5"N 122°31′22"W (47.751512, -122.522878). It lies on the north shore of Port MadisonPort Madison
Port Madison, sometimes called Port Madison Bay, is a deep water bay located on the west shore of Puget Sound in western Washington. It is bounded on the north by Indianola, on the west by Suquamish, and on the south by Bainbridge Island. Port Madison connects to Port Orchard via the Agate Pass...
, just east of Miller Bay. It is south of Kingston
Kingston, Washington
-External links:* *...
and northeast of Suquamish
Suquamish, Washington
Suquamish is a census-designated place in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. The population was 4,140 at the 2010 census. Located within the Port Madison Indian Reservation, it is the burial site of Chief Seattle.-Geography:...
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP has a total area of 5.3 square miles (13.8 km²), of which, 4.8 square miles (12.6 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.2 km²) of it (8.82%) is water.
History
Indianola was formed on the portion of the Port Madison Indian ReservationPort Madison Indian Reservation
The Port Madison Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation in northern Kitsap County, Washington. It occupies 30.273 km² on the western and northern shores of Port Madison, and is divided into two separate parcels by Miller Bay. The unincorporated towns of Suquamish and Indianola both lie...
which had been allotted to Kakue Beedee in 1886. The allotment eventually passed to the sons of Alpheus Loughrey, a white man who had married Katie, the daughter of Beedee's wife Tu-Tue-Tue by a previous marriage.
Development began in 1916 with the formation of the Indianola Beach Land Company by W. L. Gazzam to promote real estate sales on the land owned by the Loughreys. A dock and a store were built as amenities to attract buyers; a second store, the Beachcomber, was built the next year. From the beginning, Indianola has been a vacation community, with its population inflating considerably in the summertime.
In the early 20th century, most transportation on Puget Sound was by steamer
Mosquito Fleet
The term Mosquito Fleet has had nine main meanings in U.S. naval and maritime history:#It is the term used to describe the United States Navy's fleet of small gunboats, leading up to and during the War of 1812, most were part of the New Orleans Squadron....
, and a community’s dock was often its only lifeline to the outside world. Such was the case for the young community of Indianola Beach, and by 1918 a steamer was docking there every weekend. Daily ferry service was initiated in 1919 when Carl Hendrix organized twelve passengers to pay in advance for one year’s daily service between Indianola Beach and Seattle. Hendrix and his wife established a school the same year.
Cyrus Beede Pickrell, who had been Indian Agent for the Port Madison Reservation, moved to Indianola Beach from Suquamish with his family in 1920. Postal service had been discontinued, so when the Pickrells opened a new store, they housed the postal operation at Indianola Beach with Cyrus as Postmaster. Around this time, the Postmaster General
United States Postmaster General
The United States Postmaster General is the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Postal Service. The office, in one form or another, is older than both the United States Constitution and the United States Declaration of Independence...
took issue with the double name of Indianola Beach and the post office was renamed Kitsap in honor of Chief Kitsap
Chief Kitsap
Kitsap or Ktsap was a war chief of the Suquamish Tribe. Born 1770/80-Died April 18, 1860. One source says that he was the most powerful chief on Puget Sound from 1790 to 1845...
of the Suquamish
Suquamish
The Suquamish are a Lushootseed-speaking Native American Tribe, located in present-day Washington in the United States.The Suquamish are a southern Coast Salish people; they spoke a dialect of Lushootseed, which belongs to the Salishan language family. Like many Northwest Coast natives, the...
tribe.
Plans to establish a library and community hall were cause for much activity and development in the 1920s. Lots were auctioned off and a carnival was held in 1927 to raise funds. The Indianola Beach Improvement Club was incorporated in 1928 to raise more building money. The Club acquired some lots from W. L. Gazzam, which were raffled off with the proceeds going toward the purchase of property on which to build the structure. The Indianola Clubhouse was finally built in 1930.
By 1929, three passenger boats left the Indianola dock for Seattle every day, and the 1930s brought more connections to the outside world. A power line was strung in 1930, and phone service was established in 1934. The Port of Indianola was established in 1933 after a special election. The dock, which had previously only accommodated passengers, was widened and reinforced to allow auto access. In 1935, Kitsap County began taking surveys to build a road to connect Indianola and Suquamish; when the road was completed in 1939, it was the first time Indianola was accessible by other means of transportation than boat.
Road access to Indianola changed the character of the community somewhat, as the community now had access to more amenities in Kitsap and was no longer self-contained. The school closed in 1941 after more than twenty years of classes. Kitsap County’s naval bases and facilities brought a population boom during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and many families settled in Indianola. Ferry service was discontinued in Fall of 1951 after the Agate Pass
Agate Pass
Agate Pass or Agate Passage is a high-current tidal strait in Puget Sound connecting Port Madison and Port Orchard. It lies between Bainbridge Island and the mainland of the Kitsap Peninsula near Suquamish. It is the northern entrance to Port Orchard, extending about one mile in a straight,...
Bridge opened and the Washington State Ferries took over ferry service on Puget Sound.
It was not until after 1957 that the name of the post office was changed from Kitsap to Indianola, due to the confusion caused by its sharing a name with the county.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 3,026 people, 1,140 households, and 855 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 623.6 people per square mile (240.9/km²). There were 1,304 housing units at an average density of 268.7/sq mi (103.8/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 87.74% White, 0.53% African American, 5.29% Native American, 1.39% Asian, 0.33% Pacific Islander, 0.83% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 3.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.74% of the population.
There were 1,140 households out of which 40.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 29.6% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 33.7% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 7.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 101.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.2 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $52,852, and the median income for a family was $60,028. Males had a median income of $43,633 versus $30,208 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $22,895. About 3.2% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.3% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.