Homes and property for sale in Friday Harbor Washington

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.

The harbor got its name from Joseph Poalie (Poalima?) Friday, a Kanaka - a native Hawaiian man who worked at the Hudson's Bay Company's Cowlitz farm from 1841 to 1859-60. He moved north to San Juan Island and raised sheep around the harbor.

After the peaceful settlement of the Pig War, the islands became a separate county in 1873. Friday Harbor was named the county seat of San Juan County.

Friday Harbor was officially incorporated on February 10, 1909. It is the only incorporated town in the San Juan Islands.

Sailing ships - later steamships - came in and out of the harbor of a regular basis, hauling passengers, mail and freight. They took the island's bounty: apples, pears, cherries, strawberries, peas, cream, eggs, chickens, grain, salmon, and lime.

The Great Depression, World War II, the pea weevil, and competition from Eastern Washington growers brought about the decline of traditional industries. Friday Harbor's fortunes declined with them.

The 1960's brought new industries - tourism, retirement, real estate, construction - began to take hold. Today, Friday Harbor is again busy and prosperous. Roche Harbor is another much smaller town and Marina on San Juan Island.

Source: Wikipedia

Map of Friday Harbor Washington