Quimper Peninsula
Encyclopedia
The Quimper Peninsula is a narrow peninsula forming the most northeastern extent of the Olympic Peninsula
of Washington state in the northwestern United States of America.
The peninsula is named after the Peru
vian-born Spanish
explorer Manuel Quimper
who, in command of the Princesa Real
, charted the north and south coasts of the Strait of Juan de Fuca
during the summer of 1790. The Spanish had given the name Quimper to today's New Dungeness Bay
, which George Vancouver
had renamed New Dungeness. In 1838 Charles Wilkes
gave the peninsula the name Dickerson, but the U.S. Coast Survey renamed it with Quimper's name.
The Quimper Peninsula is defined by Discovery Bay
to the west, the Strait of Juan de Fuca
to the north, and Port Townsend Bay
to the east. From the isthmus it extends approximately seven miles to the north-northwest and then curves to the northeast for another four miles before terminating at Point Wilson
. For most of its length the width is less than four miles. This peninsula forms the westernmost boundary of Admiralty Inlet
. Its approximate geographic center is at coordinates 48°5′N 122°50′W.
Although the Quimper Peninsula is geographically the most isolated part of Jefferson County, Washington
, it is the most economically developed and densely populated part of the county. Port Townsend
, the county seat and only incorporated city in the county, is located at the end of the peninsula. The communities of Cape George
, Port Hadlock, Irondale, and Chimacum
are on the peninsula south of Port Townsend
. The name "Quimper Peninsula" has become a convenient means of referring collectively to Port Townsend and the surrounding communities.
When non-native explorers first arrived in the late 18th century, and the first non-native settlers in the mid-19th century, there were no permanent Native American
settlements on the northern part of the peninsula as fresh water was obtainable only from streams at the southern end of the peninsula. The Chimakum
lived along the southeastern shore of the peninsula and members of the S'Klallam
along the southwestern shore. Because of strong tidal currents in Admiralty Inlet
, Native Americans
traveling between the Strait of Juan de Fuca
and Puget Sound
would often portage their canoes across the Quimper Peninsula by way of a prairie they called Kah Tai, that traversed the peninsula in present-day Port Townsend
.
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...
of Washington state in the northwestern United States of America.
The peninsula is named after the Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
vian-born Spanish
Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....
explorer Manuel Quimper
Manuel Quimper
Manuel Quimper Benítez del Pino was a Spanish Peruvian explorer, cartographer, naval officer, and colonial official. He participated in charting the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Sandwich Islands in the late 18th century. He was later appointed a colonial governor in his native Peru at the...
who, in command of the Princesa Real
Princess Royal (sloop)
Princess Royal was a British merchant ship that sailed on fur trading ventures in the late 1780s, and was captured at Nootka Sound by Esteban José Martínez of Spain during the Nootka Crisis of 1789...
, charted the north and south coasts of 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...
during the summer of 1790. The Spanish had given the name Quimper to today's New Dungeness Bay
Dungeness Spit
Dungeness Spit is a long sand spit jutting out from the northern edge of the Olympic Peninsula in northeastern Clallam County, Washington, into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It protects Dungeness Bay. The Dungeness Spit is entirely within the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge and home of the...
, which George Vancouver
George Vancouver
Captain George Vancouver RN was an English officer of the British Royal Navy, best known for his 1791-95 expedition, which explored and charted North America's northwestern Pacific Coast regions, including the coasts of contemporary Alaska, British Columbia, Washington and Oregon...
had renamed New Dungeness. In 1838 Charles Wilkes
Charles Wilkes
Charles Wilkes was an American naval officer and explorer. He led the United States Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842 and commanded the ship in the Trent Affair during the American Civil War...
gave the peninsula the name Dickerson, but the U.S. Coast Survey renamed it with Quimper's name.
The Quimper Peninsula is defined by 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...
to the west, 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...
to the north, and Port Townsend Bay
Port Townsend Bay
Port Townsend Bay, also called Port Townsend, is a marine inlet off Admiralty Inlet at the northeastern extreme of the Olympic Peninsula in the U.S. state of Washington. It was named Port Townsend by George Vancouver in 1792. The name Port Townsend Bay is sometimes used to distinguish the bay from...
to the east. From the isthmus it extends approximately seven miles to the north-northwest and then curves to the northeast for another four miles before terminating at Point Wilson
Point Wilson
Point Wilson is at the end of the Quimper Peninsula, a northeast extension of the Olympic Peninsula and the northeastern most point of Jefferson County, Washington, United States, approximately two miles north of the Port Townsend business district....
. For most of its length the width is less than four miles. This peninsula forms the westernmost boundary of Admiralty Inlet
Admiralty Inlet
Admiralty Inlet is a strait in the U.S. state of Washington connecting the eastern end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Puget Sound. It lies between Whidbey Island and the northeastern part of the Olympic Peninsula....
. Its approximate geographic center is at coordinates 48°5′N 122°50′W.
Although the Quimper Peninsula is geographically the most isolated part of 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....
, it is the most economically developed and densely populated part of the county. 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...
, the county seat and only incorporated city in the county, is located at the end of the peninsula. The communities of Cape George
Cape George, Washington
Cape George is an unincorporated community on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state. It lies along the eastern shore of Discovery Bay on the western coast of the Quimper Peninsula in eastern Jefferson County....
, Port Hadlock, Irondale, and Chimacum
Chimacum, Washington
Chimacum is an unincorporated community in eastern Jefferson County, Washington, United States. It lies on the Olympic Peninsula. It was named after the Chimakum group of Native Americans that lived there until the late 19th century.Chimacum is the home of Chimacum Schools' main campus, which...
are on the peninsula south 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...
. The name "Quimper Peninsula" has become a convenient means of referring collectively to Port Townsend and the surrounding communities.
When non-native explorers first arrived in the late 18th century, and the first non-native settlers in the mid-19th century, there were no permanent Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
settlements on the northern part of the peninsula as fresh water was obtainable only from streams at the southern end of the peninsula. The Chimakum
Chimakum
The Chimakum, also spelled Chemakum and Chimacum , were a Native American people who lived in the northeastern portion of the Olympic Peninsula, between Hood Canal and Discovery Bay through the mid-19th century...
lived along the southeastern shore of the peninsula and members of the S'Klallam
S'Klallam (Jamestown)
The Jamestown S'Klallam is a tribe of the S'Klallam or Klallam Native American group on the northern Olympic Peninsula of Washington state in the northwestern United States...
along the southwestern shore. Because of strong tidal currents in Admiralty Inlet
Admiralty Inlet
Admiralty Inlet is a strait in the U.S. state of Washington connecting the eastern end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Puget Sound. It lies between Whidbey Island and the northeastern part of the Olympic Peninsula....
, Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
traveling between 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...
and Puget Sound
Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...
would often portage their canoes across the Quimper Peninsula by way of a prairie they called Kah Tai, that traversed the peninsula in present-day 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...
.