Friday Harbor, Washington

File:Salmon cannery of the Friday Harbor Packing Co, Friday Harbor, Washington, 1915 (COBB 95).jpeg

In 1845 the Hudson's Bay Company laid claim to San Juan Island. In 1850 they built a salmon curing station. A few years later they started a sheep farm.{{cite web|url=http://www.fridayharbor.com/ihistory.cfm|title=History and stories of Friday Harbor|access-date=May 31, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609134131/http://www.fridayharbor.com/ihistory.cfm|archive-date=June 9, 2007|url-status=dead}}

The town's name originates from Joseph Poalie Friday, a native Hawaiian. Friday worked at the Pugets Sound Agricultural Company's Fort Cowlitz, from 1841 to 1859–60 and later moved north to San Juan Island, raising and herding sheep around the harbor.{{cite web|url=http://www.byd2.com/history/|title=Who is Friday Harbor Named After Anyway?}}

After the peaceful settlement obtained following the Pig War, the San Juan Islands became a separate county in 1873. Friday Harbor was named the county seat.{{cite web|url=http://www.fridayharbor.org/about%20the%20town/history.htm|title=A brief history of Friday Harbor|access-date=May 31, 2007|archive-date=March 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110317152309/http://www.fridayharbor.org/about%20the%20town/history.htm|url-status=dead}} Friday Harbor was officially incorporated on February 10, 1909. It remains the only incorporated town in the San Juan Islands.{{cite web|url=http://oldsite.sanjuanislander.com/town/historic_preservation/info.shtml|title=Voluntarily preserving Friday Harbor's history|access-date=March 16, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411191432/http://oldsite.sanjuanislander.com/town/historic_preservation/info.shtml|archive-date=April 11, 2013|url-status=dead}}

Sailing ships, and later, the steamships of the Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet, visited the harbor on a regular basis hauling passengers, mail and freight. Freight from the island would include apples, pears, cherries, strawberries, peas, cream, eggs, chickens, grain, salmon, and lime. All were produced on or around San Juan Island. The Great Depression, World War II, the pea weevil, and competition from Eastern Washington growers brought about the decline of traditional island industries, diminishing Friday Harbor's export trade. The 1970s brought new industries - tourism, retirement, real estate, and construction. Today, Friday Harbor is again busy and prosperous.

Osamu Shimomura harvested jellyfish from the docks of the harbor. Eventually he purified the proteins that allow the jellyfish to fluoresce green when exposed to blue light. One of them, green fluorescent protein, is now widely used as a marker of molecular activity.{{cite web|url=http://dailyuw.com/2008/11/4/floating-top-uw-hosts-nobel-winning-research-invol/|title=Floating to the Top|access-date=April 3, 2009|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130121130041/http://dailyuw.com/2008/11/4/floating-top-uw-hosts-nobel-winning-research-invol/|archive-date=January 21, 2013|url-status=dead}}

Friday Harbor is located on the east side of San Juan Island facing the San Juan Channel. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of {{convert|2.16|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which, {{convert|2.09|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.07|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.{{cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=December 19, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=July 2, 2012 }}

Friday Harbor has a Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csb) with warm, dry summers and cold, though not severe, and rainy winters.

{{Weather box

|location = Friday Harbor, Washington (Friday Harbor Airport), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1998–present

|single line = Yes

|collapsed = Y

|Jan record high F = 60

|Feb record high F = 59

|Mar record high F = 71

|Apr record high F = 79

|May record high F = 98

|Jun record high F = 101

|Jul record high F = 97

|Aug record high F = 93

|Sep record high F = 89

|Oct record high F = 76

|Nov record high F = 66

|Dec record high F = 58

|Jan avg record high F = 53.9

|Feb avg record high F = 54.9

|Mar avg record high F = 61.7

|Apr avg record high F = 68.0

|May avg record high F = 76.1

|Jun avg record high F = 80.9

|Jul avg record high F = 86.3

|Aug avg record high F = 85.2

|Sep avg record high F = 80.3

|Oct avg record high F = 66.5

|Nov avg record high F = 59.6

|Dec avg record high F = 53.9

|year avg record high F = 89.3

|Jan high F = 47.1

|Feb high F = 48.5

|Mar high F = 52.6

|Apr high F = 57.4

|May high F = 63.7

|Jun high F = 68.4

|Jul high F = 72.4

|Aug high F = 73.3

|Sep high F = 68.1

|Oct high F = 58.5

|Nov high F = 51.0

|Dec high F = 46.3

|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 42.1

|Feb mean F = 42.5

|Mar mean F = 45.5

|Apr mean F = 49.1

|May mean F = 54.0

|Jun mean F = 58.2

|Jul mean F = 61.2

|Aug mean F = 61.6

|Sep mean F = 58.0

|Oct mean F = 51.2

|Nov mean F = 45.4

|Dec mean F = 41.6

|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 37.1

|Feb low F = 36.5

|Mar low F = 38.4

|Apr low F = 40.7

|May low F = 44.3

|Jun low F = 48.1

|Jul low F = 50.0

|Aug low F = 50.0

|Sep low F = 47.9

|Oct low F = 44.0

|Nov low F = 39.8

|Dec low F = 36.8

|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = 24.2

|Feb avg record low F = 25.3

|Mar avg record low F = 27.9

|Apr avg record low F = 32.3

|May avg record low F = 36.0

|Jun avg record low F = 41.0

|Jul avg record low F = 44.2

|Aug avg record low F = 44.6

|Sep avg record low F = 41.2

|Oct avg record low F = 33.7

|Nov avg record low F = 26.3

|Dec avg record low F = 22.9

|year avg record low F = 18.1

|Jan record low F = 11

|Feb record low F = 17

|Mar record low F = 19

|Apr record low F = 27

|May record low F = 30

|Jun record low F = 36

|Jul record low F = 40

|Aug record low F = 42

|Sep record low F = 36

|Oct record low F = 26

|Nov record low F = 12

|Dec record low F = 8

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 2.69

|Feb precipitation inch = 1.54

|Mar precipitation inch = 1.35

|Apr precipitation inch = 1.01

|May precipitation inch = 1.14

|Jun precipitation inch = 0.75

|Jul precipitation inch = 0.48

|Aug precipitation inch = 0.70

|Sep precipitation inch = 1.04

|Oct precipitation inch = 2.34

|Nov precipitation inch = 2.98

|Dec precipitation inch = 2.45

|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 16.7

|Feb precipitation days = 13.8

|Mar precipitation days = 14.3

|Apr precipitation days = 10.3

|May precipitation days = 9.6

|Jun precipitation days = 7.5

|Jul precipitation days = 5.0

|Aug precipitation days = 7.7

|Sep precipitation days = 11.8

|Oct precipitation days = 15.2

|Nov precipitation days = 16.3

|Dec precipitation days = 15.9

|Jan snow inch =

|Feb snow inch =

|Mar snow inch =

|Apr snow inch =

|May snow inch =

|Jun snow inch =

|Jul snow inch =

|Aug snow inch =

|Sep snow inch =

|Oct snow inch =

|Nov snow inch =

|Dec snow inch =

|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days =

|Feb snow days =

|Mar snow days =

|Apr snow days =

|May snow days =

|Jun snow days =

|Jul snow days =

|Aug snow days =

|Sep snow days =

|Oct snow days =

|Nov snow days =

|Dec snow days =

|source 1 = NOAA{{cite web|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00094276&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Friday Harbor AP, WA |access-date = May 19, 2023}}

|source 2 = National Weather Service (mean maxima/minima 2006–2020){{cite web|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=sew

|publisher = National Weather Service|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Seattle|access-date = May 19, 2023}}}}

{{US Census population

| 1910 = 400

| 1920 = 522

| 1930 = 601

| 1940 = 658

| 1950 = 783

| 1960 = 706

| 1970 = 803

| 1980 = 1200

| 1990 = 1492

| 2000 = 1989

| 2010 = 2162

| 2020 = 2613

| align-fn = center

| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 31, 2014}}
2020 Census{{cite web |date=May 2023 |title=Census Bureau profile: Friday Harbor, Washington |url=https://data.census.gov/all?q=Friday%20Harbor%20town,%20Washington |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=May 14, 2024}}

}}

As of the 2010 census,{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=December 19, 2012}} there were 2,162 people, 1,015 households, and 481 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|1034.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,273 housing units at an average density of {{convert|609.1|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 83.1% White, 0.3% African American, 0.5% Native American, 2.0% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 10.9% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.9% of the population.

There were 1,015 households, of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.2% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 52.6% were non-families. 46.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.05 and the average family size was 2.88.

The median age in the town was 41.3 years. 22.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.2% were from 25 to 44; 28.7% were from 45 to 64; and 17% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.2% male and 52.8% female.

As of the 2000 census, there were 1,989 people, 896 households, and 468 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,467.7 people per square mile (564.7/km²). There were 1,053 housing units at an average density of 777.0 per square mile (298.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.01% White, 0.65% African American, 1.31% Native American, 1.41% Asian, 0.20% Pacific Islander, 2.61% from other races, and 1.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.23% of the population.

There were 896 households, out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.6% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.7% were non-families. 38.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the town, the age distribution of the population shows 23.1% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $35,139, and the median income for a family was $45,208. Males had a median income of $35,625 versus $24,741 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,792. About 7.7% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.

Friday Harbor was also the home base for the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, where president and founder Paul Watson lived.

File:FridayHarborHarbor.JPG at Friday Harbor's dock]]

Friday Harbor's primary connection to the mainland is via the San Juan Islands ferry operated by Washington State Ferries, which sail between the town and Anacortes several times per day. An international extension of the route to Sidney, British Columbia, ran seasonally from May to October until it was discontinued in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and shutdown of cross-border traffic. The Sidney ferry is not expected to resume until 2030 at the earliest due to low demand and a staff shortage.{{cite news |last=Kroman |first=David |date=March 1, 2023 |title=WA ferries restores service to some routes, delays others |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/wa-ferries-restores-service-to-some-routes-delays-others/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=March 10, 2024}}{{cite news |last=Blacomb-Bartok |first=Kelley |date=March 20, 2023 |title=Sidney ferry run unlikely to return until 2030 |url=https://www.sanjuanjournal.com/news/sidney-ferry-run-unlikely-to-return-until-2030/ |work=The Journal of the San Juan Islands |accessdate=March 10, 2024}} Seasonal passenger ferry service by private operators is available from Bellingham, Port Townsend, and Seattle to Friday Harbor.{{Cite web| title = Transportation & Information Links – The Port of Friday Harbor| accessdate = November 6, 2021| url = https://www.portfridayharbor.org/local-information/visitor-information/}}

On San Juan Island, there are taxis, seasonal shuttles, bicycles, and mopeds for rent. The San Juan Transit system connects Friday Harbor to other areas of the island, including tourist destinations, with year-round service.{{cite news |last=Clement |first=Bethany Jean |date=July 18, 2019 |title=How to get yourself and your car to the San Juan Islands: 5 tips for scoring ferry reservations (and what to do if you don't get one) |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/life/travel/how-to-get-yourself-and-your-car-to-the-san-juan-islands-5-tips-for-scoring-washington-state-ferry-reservations-and-what-to-do-if-you-dont-get-one/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=March 10, 2024}} It launched in 1993.{{cite news |last=Lane |first=Bob |date=July 30, 1995 |title=Busing around the islands |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19950730&slug=2133948 |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=March 10, 2024}}

The Friday Harbor Airport features limited airline service. The midtown Friday Harbor Seaplane Base is also served by regular daily floatplane scheduled services from the downtown pier to Seattle's Lake Union seaplane terminal or the South tip of Lake Washington at Renton Municipal Airport with Friday Harbor Seaplanes.{{cite web |url=http://www.kenmoreair.com/sub_content.php?content_id=254 |title=Catch the Whale Plane to San Juan Island! |access-date=June 1, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609210011/http://www.kenmoreair.com/sub_content.php?content_id=254 |archive-date=June 9, 2007 |url-status=dead}}

File:Friday Harbor Spring Street.JPG

The town is served by the San Juan Island School District.{{cite map |author=U.S. Census Bureau Geography Division |date=December 21, 2020 |title=2020 Census – School District Reference Map: San Juan County, WA |scale=1:87,051 |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st53_wa/schooldistrict_maps/c53055_san_juan/DC20SD_C53055.pdf |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |accessdate=March 16, 2025}} Friday Harbor has several schools, including the public Friday Harbor High School, Friday Harbor Middle School, and Friday Harbor Elementary School that are part of the San Juan Island School District; and three private schools: Stillpoint School,

Paideia Classical School, and Spring Street International School. Also on the island is a branch of Skagit Valley College. The school district once included the Stuart Island Elementary School that was established in 1897 and was one of Washington's "remote and necessary" schools before closing in 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sjisd.wednet.edu/Page/176|title = Our District / Stuart Island School}}

The town of Friday Harbor houses the world-famous marine biology facility, Friday Harbor Laboratories, a field station of the University of Washington.

Friday Harbor has the following sister cities:{{cite web |url=http://www.ltgov.wa.gov/International/Washington%20Organizations/Sisters/ |title=Sister Relationships |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105144331/http://www.ltgov.wa.gov/International/Washington%20Organizations/Sisters/ |archive-date=November 5, 2012 }}

• {{flagicon|Netherlands}} Terschelling, Netherlands
• {{flagicon|Croatia}} Vela Luka, Croatia (shared with Anacortes)

Friday Harbor has also been seen in several films including Practical Magic, Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home, Pirate for the Sea, and Namu, the Killer Whale.{{cite web|url= https://tuckerharrisoninn.com/blog/starstruck-in-the-san-juans/|title=Starstruck in the San Juans|website=Tucker House Inn & Harrison House Suites|author=Courtney Oldwyn|date= April 20, 2017|accessdate=February 4, 2022}} The 2012 Hallmark Film called Christmas with Holly is the TV-movie adaptation of Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor, the first book in the series, and also features Friday Harbor.

File:Friday Harbor 1.JPG|Friday Harbor

File:Popeye_Seal_Statue.jpg|A statue of a seal named Popeye in Fairweather Park

File:Friday Harbor Spring Street 2.JPG|Spring Street and harbor

File:Friday Harbor Lavender and California Poppies.JPG|Friday Harbor's landscaping is rich with lavender and California poppies.

File:Friday harbor.jpg|Cars at the entrance to the ferry terminal

File:Ferry-friday-harbor.jpg|Downtown

File:San Juan County Courthouse.JPG|San Juan County District Courthouse

File:Friday Harbor 5.JPG|Marina in Friday Harbor

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category}}

{{wikivoyage|Friday Harbor}}

• [http://www.sanjuandirectory.com/ Friday Harbor and San Juan Island Web Directory / Information]
• [http://www.sanjuanislander.com/ San Juan Islander - daily news site]
• [http://www.sanjuanjournal.com The Journal of the San Juan Islands - newspaper and website]
• [http://www.sanjuanupdate.com/ Friday Harbor and San Juan Islands online news]
• [http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/schedules/current/index.cfm?route=ana-sj&direction=west Washington State Ferries Anacortes / San Juan Schedule]

{{San Juan County, Washington}}

{{Mosquito Fleet}}

{{Washington (state) county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Towns in San Juan County, Washington

Category:Port settlements in Washington (state)

Category:Towns in Washington (state)

Category:County seats in Washington (state)