Clallam Bay, Washington Explained

Clallam Bay, Washington
Settlement Type:Census-designated place
Pushpin Map:USA Washington
Pushpin Label:Clallam
Bay
Pushpin Label Position:bottom
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within the state of Washington
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Washington
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Clallam
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Jaiden Tanner
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Total Km2:1.46
Area Land Km2:1.46
Area Water Km2:0.0
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:386
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone:Pacific (PST)
Utc Offset:-8
Timezone Dst:PDT
Utc Offset Dst:-7
Elevation Ft:31
Coordinates:48.2547°N -124.2583°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:98326
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:53-12525
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:1517797

Clallam Bay is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Clallam County, Washington, United States, at the mouth of the Clallam River into Clallam Bay. Known for its natural environment and hunting, Clallam Bay is partially reliant on tourism. Clallam Bay is considered the twin city of nearby Sekiu. As of the 2020 census, the population of Clallam Bay was 386,[1] up from 363 at 2010.[2]

History

Clallam Bay was founded in the 1880s as a steamboat stop. It became a mill town in 1890. Two years later, the mill burned, and making barrels for West Clallam Bay's tanning extract became its main industry. In 1905, the lighthouse at Slip Point was lighted on April Fool's Day.

Sekiu Point (pronounced "See'-kew"), the western cape of Clallam Bay, was first charted by Captain Henry "OG" Kellett in 1847. The town of Sekiu was founded as "West Clallam" in 1870, by A.J. Martin who built a salmon cannery to be nearer the fishing grounds. The area boomed before the turn of the century when a leather tanning extract was produced here by the Pacific Tanning Extract Company established in 1887. Sekiu crashed in 1893 when the demand for the extract ceased, and hundreds of men were left unemployed. People turned to fishing, and later logging. From 1902 to 1907, D.A. Robinson logged here, building a railroad with what was then the longest railroad bridge in the world. The 808feet long, 202feet high bridge spanned Charlie Creek.

Geography and climate

The community of Clallam Bay is located in northwestern Clallam County, where the Clallam River enters the southeastern side of Clallam Bay, a small indentation in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Washington State Route 112 passes through the community, leading south via Washington State Route 113 to Sappho on US 101. To the west, Route 112 leads 2miles to Sekiu at the west end of Clallam Bay, and to Neah Bay.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: May 2023 . Census Bureau profile: Clallam Bay, Washington . May 10, 2024 . United States Census Bureau.
  2. Web site: Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Clallam Bay CDP, Washington. U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. August 27, 2015.