Crane Island (Washington)
Encyclopedia
Crane Island is one of the San Juan Islands
in San Juan County, Washington, USA. It lies just off the southwestern shore of Orcas Island
, between it and the northwest corner of Shaw Island
. Crane Island has a land area of 0.956 km² (0.369 sq mi, or 236.27 acre
s). The 2000 census
reported a population of 20 permanent residents.
As of 2010 many of the original full time residents of Crane Island have moved off the island and have been replaced by younger, part time residents. The number of permanent residents on Crane Island may be as few as 3 to 5 persons.
Crane Island is the largest of a group of islands known as the Wasp Islands. The name was given by Charles Wilkes
during the Wilkes Expedition of 1838-1842, in honor of the sloop Wasp, a sloop of war commanded by Jacob Jones during the War of 1812. The Wasp Islands are often locally called "the rock pile" due to the large number of rocks near the shorelines of the various islands. The Washington State ferry passes south of Crane Island through Wasp Passage on its trip to and from Orcas Island and San Juan Island.
Crane Island was first settled in 1879 by Walter P. Cadwell, a member of a pioneer family living near Pole Pass (a passage between the eastern side of Crane Island and Orcas Island). Cadwell operated a fruit and vegetable farm on Crane Island. In 1906 Cadwell sold the island to John C. Hammond of Seattle. Other activities conducted on Crane Island in the past have included a lime quarry on the west side of the island, a pheasantry business, sheep ranching and logging activities until 1959. (from "Around and About Crane Island", 8/1989)
In 1960, Island Properties began development and subdivision of Crane Island.
The center of the island is largely owned by the Crane Island Nature Preserve. The majority of the homes on Crane Island are located near the island's shore line. A small, private community dock is located on the east side of the island near Pole Pass. There are no public services on Crane Island. The original development of Crane Island included the construction of an airstrip. The airstrip is a private field limited to use by the island's residences. The airstrip consists of a 1500 feet (457.2 m) grass runway. Landing can be tricky because the prevailing wind is often across the runway and the wind can decrease suddenly when you drop below the tree tops due to wind shear.
San Juan Islands
The San Juan Islands are an archipelago in the northwest corner of the contiguous United States between the US mainland and Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The San Juan Islands are part of the U.S...
in San Juan County, Washington, USA. It lies just off the southwestern shore of Orcas Island
Orcas Island
Orcas Island is the largest of the San Juan Islands, which are located in the northwestern corner of Washington state in San Juan County, Washington.-History:...
, between it and the northwest corner of Shaw Island
Shaw Island
Shaw Island is the smallest of the four San Juan Islands served by the Washington State Ferries. The island has a land area of 19.952 km² and a small year-round population of 240 , with only a slight increase during tourist season. The Wilkes Expedition, in 1841, named the island after John Shaw,...
. Crane Island has a land area of 0.956 km² (0.369 sq mi, or 236.27 acre
Acre
The acre is a unit of area in a number of different systems, including the imperial and U.S. customary systems. The most commonly used acres today are the international acre and, in the United States, the survey acre. The most common use of the acre is to measure tracts of land.The acre is related...
s). The 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
reported a population of 20 permanent residents.
As of 2010 many of the original full time residents of Crane Island have moved off the island and have been replaced by younger, part time residents. The number of permanent residents on Crane Island may be as few as 3 to 5 persons.
Crane Island is the largest of a group of islands known as the Wasp Islands. The name was given by 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...
during the Wilkes Expedition of 1838-1842, in honor of the sloop Wasp, a sloop of war commanded by Jacob Jones during the War of 1812. The Wasp Islands are often locally called "the rock pile" due to the large number of rocks near the shorelines of the various islands. The Washington State ferry passes south of Crane Island through Wasp Passage on its trip to and from Orcas Island and San Juan Island.
Crane Island was first settled in 1879 by Walter P. Cadwell, a member of a pioneer family living near Pole Pass (a passage between the eastern side of Crane Island and Orcas Island). Cadwell operated a fruit and vegetable farm on Crane Island. In 1906 Cadwell sold the island to John C. Hammond of Seattle. Other activities conducted on Crane Island in the past have included a lime quarry on the west side of the island, a pheasantry business, sheep ranching and logging activities until 1959. (from "Around and About Crane Island", 8/1989)
In 1960, Island Properties began development and subdivision of Crane Island.
The center of the island is largely owned by the Crane Island Nature Preserve. The majority of the homes on Crane Island are located near the island's shore line. A small, private community dock is located on the east side of the island near Pole Pass. There are no public services on Crane Island. The original development of Crane Island included the construction of an airstrip. The airstrip is a private field limited to use by the island's residences. The airstrip consists of a 1500 feet (457.2 m) grass runway. Landing can be tricky because the prevailing wind is often across the runway and the wind can decrease suddenly when you drop below the tree tops due to wind shear.