Community Profile- Anacortes, Washington USA
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Introduction
Anacortes is a great place to do business and a wonderful place to live! The city, which is home to a variety of industrial, commercial, and retail companies, boasts an affluent clientele, easy access to major transportation corridors, low taxes, excess utility capacity, and an excel lent quality of life. This quaint sea port community offers the San Juan Islands to the west, with views of snow-capped mountains to the east. City government is committed to progressive economic development and appreciates your interest.
Anacortes is the principal city on Fidalgo Island, the eastern-most island in the San Juan archipelago. Anacortes, an All-American City, is the second largest city in Skagit County and its largest seaport. The City has modern educational facili ties, state-of-the-art health care, and abundant business opportunities, all in the natural beauty of an island setting. Anacortes residents and visitors enjoy 12 ½ miles of saltwater shoreline, a pristine environment, four freshwater lakes, thousands of acres of city-owned forestlands and parks (with more than 50 miles of maintained forest trails), as well as breathtaking water, island and mountain views. The natural abun dance, a vibrant community and the convenience of bridges connecting to the mainland make Anacortes a clear choice for those seeking a superior quality of life.
Anacortes is the site for Wash ington State Ferry terminal opera tions to both the San Juan Islands and Vancouver Island, BC. Approx imately one million people travel through the city annually on their way to or from the ferry terminal, which is located four miles from the city center. This traffic creates unique commercial opportunities for local businesses, as residents of the San Juan Islands come to the main land to shop.
As evidenced by crime statistics, the city is also a very safe place to live. Per an annual survey published by Farmer’s Insurance, Anacortes ranked nation-wide among the top 20 “most secure places to live” (defined as metro areas with fewer than 150,000 residents). The metro area was also rated by BusinessWeek magazine in 2009 as the top area in the country to rebound from the economic recession.
Anacortes negotiated a 50-year water agreement with state, county, and tribal authorities in the mid-90s, assuring a plentiful water supply for years to come. Other utilities are readily available and affordably priced.
Finding Anacortes
Anacortes is located on the north central coast of Washington State (USA), 80 miles north of Seattle, WA and 90 miles south of Vancouver, BC. The City is 16 miles west of the I-5 freeway (exit 230), via Highway 20. Our Zip Code is 98221 and Area Code is 360.
Demographic Characteristics
The Anacortes population is estimated at 16,800, an increase of roughly 2,200 over the 2000 census figure of 14,500 (an increase of 15 percent).
| Population | 1990 | 2000 | 2009 |
| Anacortes (city limits) | 11,757 | 14,557 | 16,790 |
| Fidalgo Island | 16,800 | 20,700 | 23,026 |
| Skagit County | 79,555 | 102,979 | 118,900 |
Demographically, Anacortes is older, relatively well-educated and affluent, and ethnically non-diverse. On the age front, 36.9 percent of residents are 55 and older. This is up from 32.2 percent of residents 55 and older in the 2000 census (an increase of 15 percent). During this period, the median age increased from 44 to 47.2.
Educationally, roughly 1/3 of residents have attained either a bachelor’s or advanced college degree.
Approximately 2/3 of residents have attended some college. There is a high level of owner-occupied housing—almost 62 percent, with a median home value of $335,000.
The city’s ethnicity is predominantly Caucasian. In 2009, 92 percent of residents were “white alone” down from 93.4 percent in 2000; 4 percent in 2009 were of Hispanic origin and roughly 3 percent of two or more races.
Summary Demographics (2008 estimates)
| 98221 Demographics | 2000 | 2009 | ||
| Population | 18,827 | 21,724 | ||
| Households | 7,915 | 9,106 | ||
| Families | 5,475 | 6,241 | ||
| Average Household Size | 2.36 | 2.36 | ||
| Owner Occupied Housing Units | 5,687 | 6,575 | ||
| Renter Occupied Housing Units | 2,228 | 2,531 | ||
| Median Age | 44.0 | 47.2 | ||
| Source: 2000 U.S. Census; 2009 ESRI Forecast | ||||
Age Distribution
| 98221 Population by Age | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | ||
| Age 0 - 4 | 936 | 5.0% | 1,042 | 4.8% | ||
| Age 5 - 9 | 1,123 | 6.0% | 1,144 | 5.3% | ||
| Age 10 -14 | 1,387 | 7.4% | 1,313 | 6.0% | ||
| Age 15 -19 | 1,184 | 6.3% | 1,315 | 6.1% | ||
| Age 20 -24 | 616 | 3.3% | 968 | 4.5% | ||
| Age 25 -34 | 1,701 | 9.0% | 1,773 | 8.2% | ||
| Age 35 -44 | 2,763 | 14.7% | 2,507 | 11.5% | ||
| Age 45 -54 | 3,036 | 16.1% | 3,653 | 16.8% | ||
| Age 55 -64 | 2,191 | 11.6% | 3,532 | 16.3% | ||
| Age 65 -74 | 1,994 | 10.6% | 2,223 | 10.2% | ||
| Age 75 -84 | 1,439 | 7.6% | 1,563 | 7.2% | ||
| Age 85+ | 458 | 2.4% | 691 | 3.2% | ||
| Source: 2000 U.S. Census; 2009 ESRI Forecast | ||||||
Education (Population 25 yrs and over)
High School Grad/Some College 6126 (52%)
College Graduate 4503 (38%)
There are more than 590,000 households and nearly 1,500,000 people within 90 minutes drive of Anacortes.
Quality of Life
Anacortes enjoys a mild, marine climate due to its island location on the
inland waters of Puget Sound. Annual average rainfall is roughly 26 inches.
Due to regional topography, this is signifcantly less than precipitation experienced elsewhere in western Washington (Everett, WA 40 miles south sees
50 inches of rain per year; Seattle 38 inches). Temperatures are mild year
around, with many sunny days.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Avg Max Temp (F) | 46 | 49 | 52 | 58 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 72 | 67 | 59 | 51 | 46 |
| Avg Min Temp (F) | 35 | 36 | 39 | 42 | 46 | 50 | 52 | 53 | 50 | 45 | 40 | 37 |
| Avg Rainfall (in.) | 3.6 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 1.4 | .9 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 3.8 | 3.8 |
| Avg # of Sunny | 11 | 16 | 17 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 17 | 12 | 10 |
Transportation
Highways/Rail
Interstate 5—the major north/south freeway in Washington State, Exit 230
to Highway 20. Anacortes is approximately 16 miles west of the interchange.
State Route 20--the major east/west highway in Skagit County. SR20 connects to Whidbey Island to the south. A spur runs through Anacortes, connecting to the ferry terminal approximately four miles west of downtown.
Anacortes/Fidalgo Island is accessible via three bridges: SR20 from the
east, through LaConner to the southeast and over Deception Pass from Whid
bey Island to the south. Most truck and package delivery lines serve Anacortes.
Skagit Transit (SKAT) provides public bus service. http://www.skat.org
Private Airporter and taxi services are available. http://www.airporter.com
AMTRAK passenger service to Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. is available
daily, with a connection in Mount Vernon’s Skagit Station.
Washington State Ferries
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/info_desk/terminals/index.cfm?terminal_
id=1
The Washington State Ferry terminal for the San Juan Islands (Lopez, Shaw, Orcas, San Juan) and Vancouver Island, B.C. is approximately four miles west of downtown.
Guemes Island Ferry
The Guemes Island ferry terminal (½ mile west of downtown) is a county
maintained local ferry service.
http://www.skagitcounty.net/Common/Asp/Default.asp?d=PublicWorksFerr
y&c=General&p=main.htm
Airports
Anacortes Airport offers regional scheduled/chartered services.
The general aviation airport about three miles west of downtown features a
3,018 ft long by 60 ft wide lighted asphalt strip. Parking facilities include 69 tiedowns and 39 hangers. http://www.airnav.com/airport/74S Skagit Regional Airport (5,474’ & 5,080’ paved runways), ten miles east of
downtown, offers chartered fights and package delivery.
Bellingham International Airport, 40 miles north of Anacortes, is a full
service airport, with a number of regional and national carriers.
Seattle Tacoma (Sea-Tac) International Airport, located approximately 90
miles south of the city, offering full service via most major carriers.
Vancouver (BC) International Airport, located approximately 90 miles north of the city, offering full service via most major carriers.
Education
Anacortes School District
The Anacortes School District comprises approximately 25 square miles, serving the community with a high school, a middle school, three elementary schools and four additional educational support groups totaling approximately 2600 students. The District employs 253 total staff. For additional information: http://www.anacortes.k12.wa.us.
The district has an annual drop-out rate of approximately 5 percent.
Current faculty has an average of 14.2 years in the classroom. More than 70 percent of teachers have at least a master’s degree.
Enrollment / Faculty for 2009-2010
| Schools | Enrollment | Teachers | |
| High School (9-12) | 1 | 850 | 48 |
| Middle School (7-8) | 1 | 450 | 22 |
| Elementary (K-6) | 3 | 1300 | 65 |
Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL, 2008-2009)
The school district performs at or above state averages in all categories.
For additional information and detail: http://reportcard.ospi.k12.wa.us.
The Anacortes School District scores above the state average in each category.
% Meeting or Exceeding Standards
| Reading | Math | Writing | Science | |
| 3rd Grade | 78.7% | 66.1% | ||
| 4th Grade | 82.2% | 69.0% | 78.7% | |
| 5th Grade | 82.7% | 73.1% | 72.6% | |
| 6th Grade | 85.6% | 76.0% | ||
| 7th Grade | 66.5% | 63.8% | 76.8% | |
| 8th Grade | 72.9% | 57.5% | 58.9% | |
| 10th Grade | 86.4% | 60.7% | 94.2% | 55.8% |
Anacortes Senior College (ASC)
Anacortes Senior College - http://www.seniorcollege.org
ASC, in partnership with the Anacortes School District, provides multi disciplinary coursework for all citizens 50 years of age and older. The college is managed and taught by qualified volunteers for the benefit of the senior community. Classes are conducted at Anacortes Middle School.
Skagit Valley College (SVC)
SVC has campuses near Anacortes (Mount Vernon (16 miles east) and Oak Harbor (20 miles south)—offering a broad curriculum of technical skills, certificated programs and two-year Associate degrees transferable to four-year institutions.
Western Washington University (WWU)
WWU is a 4-year, multi-disciplinary state university located in Bellingham, approximately 40 miles north of Anacortes.
NW Career & Technical Academy - http://www.nwtech.k12.wa.us.
NCTA provides workplace skills and education to high school juniors and seniors. The main campus, located at SVC, offers training in a number of areas, including the culinary arts, dental technology, DigiPen computer science, medical technology, and veterinary tech nology. Beginning in September 2010, Anacortes will house a satellite campus, focused on marine technology, in a new facility. Students from around the county will be exposed to a variety of marine skill-sets and certification programs.
Shannon Point Marine Center - http://www.wwu.edu/spmc
A satellite campus of WWU, Shannon Point works to promote a bet ter understanding of local marine environments and living resources through research, as well as providing innovative educational programs for undergradu ates, and supporting research by students and scientists from the University, the region, the nation, and the world.
Rosario Marine Station - http://www.wallawalla.edu/academics/depart ments/biology/rosario
A satellite campus of Walla Walla college, the Rosario Marine Station was purchased by the college in the 1950s and has provided ongoing educational opportunities to college marine biol ogy students since that time. The facility has also served as a local site for the Anacortes school district’s Home Education Partnership.
Housing
Anacortes benefits from a wide variety of housing stock—from $1M+ waterfront estates to an affordable rental market.
Over the past decade, total units increased by approximately 15 percent and as of 2009, roughly 90 percent were occupied.
In general, Anacortes’ natural beauty, island ambience, low crime rate, and amenities have contributed to housing prices that are significantly higher than in adjoining areas.
Coastal retirees have embraced the lifestyle and have moved to Fidalgo Island in increasing numbers over the past several years.
Housing construction has been a substantial economic driver. This trend eased over the past two years with the economic downturn but has bers up approximately 61 percent due in large part to a substantial begun to recover, with 1Q10 num-over the comparable period in 2009, decrease in the average home price.
| 98221 Zip Code | Census 2000 | 2009 |
| Total Housing Units | 9,144 | 10,640 |
| Occupied | 7,915 | 9,106 |
| Owner | 5,687 | 6,575 |
| Renter | 2,228 | 2,531 |
| Vacant | 1,229 | 1,534 |
Health Care
Anacortes enjoys an exceptional Level 1 trauma service to patients level of health care service usually via Harborview Medical Center in only found in larger municipalities, Seattle. incorporating Island Hospital and The hospital and local medical the supporting medical community. community include 515 profession-Island Hospital is a modern, public-als and staff, including 120 physi ly-owned facility that is recognized cians and 151 registered nurses. as one of the most innovative small hospitals in the nation.
The hospital has 43 beds, a 24-hour emergency room (level 3 trauma) and a six bed ICU. The hospital features a birthing center, a physical therapy and rehab unit, can cer care and sleep disorders centers, a state-of-the-art electronic medica tion administration system and a full complement of digital imaging technologies (x-ray, CT, Ultrasound, MRI, mammography/arteriography). An FAA-approved and lighted heli pad for air ambulance service is lo cated on hospital grounds, providing Level 1 Trauma Service to patients via Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
The hospital and local medical community include 515 professionas and staff, including 120 physicians and 151 registered nurses.
The supporting medical commu nity includes more than 24 special ties, including 12 dentists and two skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities.
Government and Economic Development
City of Anacortes http://www. cityofanacortes.org
Anacortes was named for Annie Curtis, wife of early settler Amos Bowman. The city, incorporated in 1891, encompasses about 14 square miles. There are 167 full-time and 30 part-time city employees including:
A full-time Mayor and seven City Council Members (Elected, non-partisan positions)
Fire Department - 17 Firefight ers/Paramedics; two Firefighters / EMT; eight volunteers
Police Department - 24 commissioned officers
Port of Anacortes
The Port of Anacortes is responsible for operation and economic development of our major deep-water port, 3 marine terminals, the Cap Sante Boat Haven and the Anacortes Airport.
Marine Terminals
Pier I- Home of Dakota Creek Industries Shipyards and Port of Anacortes offices
Curtis Wharf- Commercial Dock and Wharf- ships to 480 feet
Pier II- Log and dry bulk cargo loading- short term moorage to 1,133 feet
Cap Sante Boat Haven
Publicly operated moorage (1050 slips with 150-200 guest slips) adjacent to the downtown business district including a full line of marine services, fuel, launching facilities, customs port-of-entry, restrooms and showers. Slips can accommodate ships up to 120 feet in length. The extensive commercial fishing fleet and a variety of charter and sightseeing (including whale watching) boats also make their home here.
Anacortes Airport
The general aviation airport about three miles west of downtown features a 3,018 ft long by 60 ft wide lighted asphalt strip. Parking facilities include 69 tie-downs and 39 hangers.
Anacortes Chamber of
Commerce http://www.
anacortes.org/
Formed and in continuous
operation since 1912, the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce
promotes economic development
within the city. Representing almost
500 local businesses, the organization provides its membership with consistent networking
opportunities and a
“common voice” in legislative matters.
Published through
the chamber in 2009 and
available on the above
website, the Anacortes
Futures Project (AFP)
report supplements this
Profle, providing a detailed economic study of
the city and its economy.
The AFP has provided the impetus for an ongoing planning review,involving city government, the port, the chamber, and local citizens. The goal of this effort is to produce a strategic master plan for the community in 2011.
Marine Trades / Boating Industry
Anacortes is the home to four private marinas (in addition to the publicly owned Cap Sante Boat Haven) offering 1287 slips, lengths to 110 ft. The City enjoys an extensive ship building and servicing community including a major shipyard (Dakota Creek Industries), a premier fiberglass yacht builder (Northern Marine- yachts 57 to 152 feet), a number of small- and medium-sized boat builders and a broad range of boat sales and product and service companies that can meet virtually any boating need.
Tax Structure
Current sales tax rate in Anacortes is 8.2%. The current lodging tax is 4%.
Retail sales tax is collected on the sale of tangible personal property / selected services
There is no state personal or corporate income tax, no unitary tax, no inventory tax, no personal tax and no state tax on interest, dividends or capital gains.
Key Economic Drivers
There are a number of key economic drivers to the city’s economy, including the refineries, the marine trades industry, healthcare, food processing, tourism, the local school district, and the tribes.
The refinery infrastructure,
currently owned by Shell and Tesoro, has been in place under various ownership since the mid-1950s. The refineries employ roughly 750
workers, 50 percent of whom live in
town, earning an average of $90,000 annually. They are a major economic driver on many fronts—wages, taxes,
water utility purchases, construction. During annual maintenance “turnarounds,” hundreds of additional
workers are housed in local hotels and use local restaurants and catering services.
Island Hospital (IH) is the city's largest employer, with over 500 health workers and administrative staff, servicing Fidalgo Island and adjoining areas, as well as the San Juan Islands. In addition to the hospital campus, IH also operates a number of local clinics. There are also many individual practitioners in town, comprising companies are also various specialties, dental clinics, and alternative healthcare.
The city is home to two large food processors: Seabear and Trident Seafoods. Seabear operates the “Made in Washington” brand, with a host of company owned retail outlets, and is a national producer of smoked salmon. Trident is a major supplier of fish filets to the fast food industry and to supermarkets.
The marine
trades industry
comprises many
different industrial
niches, including
boat brokerage,
the construction and repair, as well as
tourism activi
ties such as whale watching, kayaking,
and bare boat charter. This highly -cyclical industry is a heavy user of skilled trades and offers competitive wages.
The Anacortes School District city’s largest employer, with over operates seven facilities: a preschool, three elementary schools (grades K-6), a middle school
(grades 7-8), a high school and an alternative high school (grades 9-12).
Current enrollment is approximately
2,600 students. Combined with the
Educational Service District headquarters in town, total employment
is roughly 700.
There are two native American tribes that impact the local economy—the Swinomish and the Samish.
The Swinomish operate Northern Lights Casino, which provides sig
nificant employment. The Samish have a more direct influence, as they
maintain a number of locations in town, operating a cultural center, an art gallery, and a headquarters building. They have also purchased
property on SR-20, which will be
developed in coming years.
Major Employers and Business Patterns
Anacortes has seen a variety
of transformations throughout its
history, from lumber and fish processing, to oil refining, recreational
boating, and tourism.
The primary employment sectors
in today’s local economy are manufacturing, accommodations and food
service, retail, and health care.
The city boasts a healthy industrial segment, including two refineries, Trident Seafoods, and a major shipyard -- Dakota Creek Industries.
Another major employer—Island
Hospital—was recently rated as one
of the 200 best small hospitals in the
nation.
In concert with the Gates Foundation, the school district has come
to be recognized as a leader in the
area of pre-K education, as well as
providing stable employment for
hundreds of local workers.
The employment trend locally
has been increasingly toward recreational boating and tourism. As a home-port to the San Juan Islands,
Fidalgo Island is ideally situated
to continue to build on its marine
heritage. Trade publications regularly
rate local waterways as among the
most scenic and navigable.
Anacortes boasts the second
largest bare-boat charter feet in the world. Anacortes offers a host of
marine-related activitiesincluding
whale watching, charter cruises,
kayaking, and eco-tourism that
support local industry, as well as providing comprehensive support for
boat purchases, repairs, and provisioning.
| Employer | Employment | Business Type |
| Island Hospital / Medical Community | 515 | Health Care |
| Shell Puget Sound Refinery | 400 | Petroleum Products |
| Anacortes School District | 380 | Education |
| Dakota Creek Industries | 360 | Shipyard |
| Tesoro Refining & Marketing | 350 | Petroleum Products |
| Swinomish Northern Lights Casino | 283 | Casino /Resort |
| Trident Seafoods | 225 | Food Products |
| City of Anacortes | 167 | Government |
| Safeway | 145 | Retail Grocery |
| Sugiyo USA, Inc | <100 | Food Products |
| Cap Sante Marine LTD | 79 | Marine Services |
| Food Pavilion | 70-95 | Retail Grocery |
| SeaBear | 50-150 | Retail Seafood |
| T. Bailey, Inc | 50-100 | Industrial Products |
| Port of Anacortes | 28 | Port Operations |
Recreation
Anacortes offers a wonderful selection of marine- and land-based recreational opportunities for individuals, families and groups. The city has a busy waterfront and an extraordinary amount of forest and parkland for a city of its size.
The natural setting of Fidalgo Island provides access to the San Juan Island archipela
go (176 named islands
in San Juan County
and 700 islands/reefs
overall, including the British Columbia Gulf Islands).
Boating, whether power, sail or paddle, is well supported in Anacortes with many marinas, boat rentals, charter services, boat launches and a full range of marine-related products and services.
The city has 12 parks totaling468 acres. Washington Park encompasses 220 acres, featuring extensive seashore areas, 75 campsites, a boat launch, picnic areas and a 2.3 mile paved road that loops through the park.
Other specialized parks include a skateboard park, an off-leash dog park, various playgrounds and the four-mile Tommy Thompson Parkway—a paved pedestrian trail that parallels some of the city waterfront.
The Anacortes Community Forest Lands (ACFL) comprises thousands of acres of forests, meadows, lakes and wetlands, entirely within the city limits. 50 miles of well-mapped trails provide opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and, on select trails, motorized trail biking.
Arts and Entertainment
Anacortes and adjoining areas offer many arts and entertainment opportunities, featuring a variety of performing and visual artists, a diverse selection of venues, as well as festivals and galleries for any taste.
Brodniak Hall, which seats 806, is Anacortes’ major performance venue.
The major Anacortes festivals include the Spring Wine Festival (April), Waterfront Festival (May), Shipwreck Day (an all-city garage sale in July), What-the-Heck Fest (independent bands in July), the Anacortes Arts Festival (August), and
the Oyster Run (a motorcycle rally
in September), the Anacortes Film Festival and an Oktoberfest (both in October).
City buildings feature more than 100 life-sized murals depicting events in the city’s history, crafted by local artist Bill Mitchell.
The City has many independent music venues, the Anacortes Community Theater, the Skagit Symphony at Brodniak Hall and a three screen, first-run movie theater.
Lodging / Hospitality
Fourteen motels and hotels totaling 365 units
Six RV parks and Campgrounds totaling 454 spaces
A variety of Bed and Breakfasts, Lodges and rental houses are also available.
A number of restaurants, halls, motel / hotels, the Port of Anacortes, Chamber of Commerce, Swinomish Casino and the Fidalgo Bay RV park have conference / meeting facilities seating from 10 to 350 people.
Anacortes has many fine restaurants featuring all types of cuisine, a number of capable caterers, equipment rentals and many musical entertainers.
Library
Almost 100 years ago, Anacortes
welcomed one of the original Carnegie libraries on the west coast, a
site that now houses the Anacortes
Museum and the city archives. The
civic library relocated a number of
times in the intervening years.
Approximately 10 years ago a library plan was proposed, a bond was passed by local voters, and a new $7 million library complex opened in 2003.
Comprising some 28,000 square
feet and more than 100,000 books,
CDs, and other items, the library
serves approximately 17,000 patrons
annually, with a circulation of over
250,000.
The building offers a free wi-fi
connection and 12 public internet stations. The library houses the
Manieri Jazz collection, a marine
collection, a meeting annex, an art
collection, periodicals, a children’s
library, and frequent exhibits and
concerts.
Transportation
Highways/Rail
Interstate 5—the major north/south freeway in Washington State, Exit 230
to Highway 20. Anacortes is approximately 16 miles west of the interchange.
State Route 20--the major east/west highway in Skagit County. SR20 connects to Whidbey Island to the south. A spur runs through Anacortes, connecting to the ferry terminal approximately four miles west of downtown.
Anacortes/Fidalgo Island is accessible via three bridges: SR20 from the
east, through LaConner to the southeast and over Deception Pass from Whid
bey Island to the south. Most truck and package delivery lines serve Anacortes.
Skagit Transit (SKAT) provides public bus service. http://www.skat.org
Private Airporter and taxi services are available. http://www.airporter.com
AMTRAK passenger service to Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. is available
daily, with a connection in Mount Vernon’s Skagit Station.
Washington State Ferries
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/info_desk/terminals/index.cfm?terminal_
id=1
The Washington State Ferry terminal for the San Juan Islands (Lopez, Shaw, Orcas, San Juan) and Vancouver Island, B.C. is approximately four miles west of downtown.
Guemes Island Ferry
The Guemes Island ferry terminal (½ mile west of downtown) is a county
maintained local ferry service.
http://www.skagitcounty.net/Common/Asp/Default.asp?d=PublicWorksFerr
y&c=General&p=main.htm
Airports
Anacortes Airport offers regional scheduled/chartered services.
The general aviation airport about three miles west of downtown features a
3,018 ft long by 60 ft wide lighted asphalt strip. Parking facilities include 69 tiedowns and 39 hangers. http://www.airnav.com/airport/74S Skagit Regional Airport (5,474’ & 5,080’ paved runways), ten miles east of
downtown, offers chartered fights and package delivery.
Bellingham International Airport, 40 miles north of Anacortes, is a full
service airport, with a number of regional and national carriers.
Seattle Tacoma (Sea-Tac) International Airport, located approximately 90
miles south of the city, offering full service via most major carriers.
Vancouver (BC) International Airport, located approximately 90 miles north of the city, offering full service via most major carriers.
Utilities
Telephone
Frontier 1-877-462-8158
Comcast 1-360-661-1334
Water & Sewer
City of Anacortes (Source- Skagit River) 360-293-1908
City of Anacortes
(Primary and Secondary Treatment) 360-299-0953
Electric
Puget Sound Energy 1-888-225-5773
Gas
Cascade Natural Gas 1-888-522-1130
High-Speed Internet
Comcast 1-360-661-1334
Frontier 1-877-462-8158
Media
Local Newspapers
| Anacortes American (weekly) | 360-293-3122 |
| Skagit Valley Herald (daily) http://www.goskagit.com/ | 360-424-3251 |
Local Magazines
| Skagit Publishing Newcomers and Visitors Guide | 360-424-3251 |
| I Love Skagit County Newcomers & Visitors Guide | 360-424-5268 |
| Clamdigger (weekly) http://www.clamdigger.com/ | 360-299-3444 |
| NW Business Monthly http://www.nwbmonline.com/ | 360-671-3933 |
| Skagit Business Pulse | 360-755-0195 |
Local Radio Stations
| KWLE 1340 AM (Anacortes) http://www.1340thewhale.com | 360-293-3141 |
| KBRC 1430 AM (Mount Vernon) | 360-424-4278 |
| KAPS 660 AM (Mount Vernon) | 360-424-7676 |
Economic Development Organizations
Anacortes Chamber of Commerce
Mitch Everton, Executive Director
819 Commercial Avenue, Suite F
Anacortes, WA 98221
360-293-7911 (Visitor Info 360-293-3832)
Fax: 360-293-1595
Website: www.anacortes.org
Email: info@anacortes.org
Port of Anacortes
Bob Hyde, Executive Director
PO Box 297
Anacortes, WA 98221
360-293-3134
Fax: 360-293-9608
Website: www.portofanacortes.com
Email: hyde@portofanacortes.com
City of Anacortes
Ryan Larsen, Director of Planning and Community Development
PO Box 547
Anacortes, WA 98221
360-293-1907
Fax: 360-293-1938
Website: www.cityofanacortes.org
Email: ryanl@cityofanacortes.org
Economic Development Association of Skagit County
Don Wick, Executive Director
PO Box 40
204 W. Montgomery
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
360-336-6114
Fax: 360-336-6116
Website: www.skagit.org/subcategorypages/mission.htm
Email: info@skagit.org
Page updated on 22-Jul-2010