Port Townsend is a city located in Jefferson County, Washington. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 8,334. It is the county seat of Jefferson CountyTemplate:GR. The town is known for its many Victorian buildings, and for its many independent boatbuilders and other marine industries.

Originally named 'Port Townshend' by Captain George Vancouver (for his friend the Marquis of Townshend) in 1792, Port Townsend was immediately recognized as a good, safe harbor, which it remains to this day. The official settlement of the city took place on the 24th of April, 1851. American Indian tribes located in what is now Jefferson County in the mid-19th century included the Chemakum (or Chimacum), Hoh (a group of the Quileute), Klallam (or Clallam), Quinault and Twana (the Kilcid band - Anglicized: Quilcene).

Port Townsend is also called the "City of Dreams" because of the early speculation that the city would be the largest harbor on the west coast of the United States.

By the late 1800's Port Townsend was a well-known seaport, very active and banking on the future. Many homes and buildings were built during that time, with most of the architecture ornate Victorian.

Railroads were built to reach more areas in the 1870-1890's and Port Townsend was the northwest extension of the rail lines. Its port was large and frequented by overseas vessels, so shipping of goods and timber from the area was a major part of the economy. Much of the buildings were built on the speculation that Port Townsend would become a booming shipping port and major city. When the depression hit, those plans lost the capital to continue and rail lines ended on the east side of Puget Sound, mainly in Tumwater, Tacoma and Seattle. With the other Puget Sound ports growing in size, Port Townsend saw a rapid decline in population when the Northern Pacific Railroad failed to connect the city to the eastern Puget Sound city of Tacoma. By the late 1890's the boom was over. Without the railroad to spur economic growth, the town shrank and investors looked elsewhere to make a good return.

Many people left the area and many buildings were abandoned. Port Townsend's economy was very weak until the 1920s when a paper mill was built on the edge of the town. The town experienced a renaissance beginning in the 1970s as new residents, including many retirees, moved to town. Because of the speed at which the economy fell in the 1890s and the non-existence of any industry or economy to replace it, none of the Victorian buildings were torn down or built over in the intervening period. They were in essence preserved as time capsules for the next 100 years when the value of keeping them intact was appreciated and fostered.

Noted for a vast collection of Victorian homes, the city also has more than a dozen larger buildings that are well preserved, including the Carnegie Library, the US Post Office, and The Rose Movie Theater.

The Rose Theatre is a cinema downtown which shows contemporary American and foreign films. They also sell China Cola. [Centrum] is a culture and art organization that hosts a multitude of workshops at Fort Worden State Park.

Port Townsend is located at 48°6'59" North, 122°46'31" West (48.116514, -122.775254)Template:GR. It is situated at the extreme northeastern end of the Olympic Peninsula, on the north end of a large, protected harbor, also called Port Townsend, and is at the entrance from the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Puget Sound.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 24.5 km² (9.4 mi²). 18.1 km² (7.0 mi²) of it is land and 6.4 km² (2.5 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 26.03% water.

In addition to road links to the south and west, Port Townsend is accessible via ferry from the Washington State Ferry system, which links Port Townsend with the Keystone ferry terminal on Whidbey Island, on the east side of Puget Sound.

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 8,334 people, 3,917 households, and 2,201 families residing in the city. The population density is 460.3/km² (1,191.8/mi²). There are 4,250 housing units at an average density of 234.8/km² (607.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 93.27% White, 0.58% African American, 1.25% Native American, 1.27% Asian, 0.23% Pacific Islander, 0.89% from other races, and 2.52% from two or more races. 2.30% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 3,917 households out of which 23.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.4% are married couples living together, 11.2% have a female householder with no husband present, and 43.8% are non-families. 36.3% of all households are made up of individuals and 16.2% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.09 and the average family size is 2.67.

In the city the population is spread out with 19.6% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 32.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.8% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 47 years. For every 100 females there are 85.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 82.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $34,536, and the median income for a family is $47,027. Males have a median income of $38,013 versus $27,753 for females. The per capita income for the city is $22,395. 14.0% of the population and 8.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 19.0% of those under the age of 18 and 10.2% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Port Townsend operates with a Council/Manager form of government. Administrative offices are located in the recently renovated Waterman & Katz Building at 181 Quincy Street in downtown Port Townsend.

Port Townsend is twinned with Ichikawa in Japan. A group of local students participate in an exchange with this city during the summer.

Template:Mapit-US-cityscale Guide to Port Townsend

• http://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/webcam/FerryCam.htm Live cam of the ferry terminal:

• http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/ Washington State Ferries: