Anderson Island History - Anderson Island, Washington

LOCATION

Anderson Island is the southern most island in the Puget Sound opposite to the Nisqually Reach, west of Interstate 5, and south of Tacoma and the historical Town of Steilacoom. You can reach Anderson Island by boarding the Anderson Island Ferry at the Steilacoom dock. Purchase your ticket at the dock restaurant for a 20 minute ride across the Sound. The first ferry leaves Steilacoom at 5:45 AM and the last ferry leaves Steilacoom at 7:30 PM Monday through Thursday.  There are extended runs on weekends and holidays with the first ferry leaving Steilacoom at 8:40 AM and the last ferry leaving Steilacoom at 10:00 PM.

COMMUNITY

Driving through a park like setting on the Island, you will climb rolling hills, wind around on country roads lined with rich green foliage and mature trees. Puget Sound and mountain view properties are available on the Island. The 25 year old Riviera Development offers to its members a nine-hole Executive Golf Course; a salt water Marina, two fresh water lakes that contain bass and trout, tennis courts, beautiful parks for a wide variety of recreation. The Anderson Island Park District provides the public with parks for swimming, trails to explore, picnicking, tennis, and playgrounds in five different locations. For your dining pleasure, the Riviera Lakeshore restaurant offers warm and friendly service. The island grocery store also has deli foods and gifts for purchase. On summer weekends, you can visit the Anderson Island Historical Society Museum on Otso Point Road which features museum items of the island and a gift shop. Adding to the charm of the island is a two room schoolhouse, five churches, two salt water marina's, and an RV park and campground for the Riviera members. Anderson Island has a volunteer fire department and is serviced by the Pierce County Police Department. There are numerous bed and breakfasts, and several weekend rentals are available.

HISTORY

Mail did arrive addressed to Settler' Island, Washington Territory, at one time, and to some it was Wallace Island named supposedly for a Leander Wallace, who, some say, lived here once, but who made his mark in history when he was shot in a ruckus at Fort Steilacoom (from a short story: ANNA ERIKA CHRISTINA ANDERSON by Bettymae Anderson). The island was then renamed by Commander Charles Wilkes of the U.S. Expedition sent out to explore the northwest country. Given a warm reception and assistance to aid in his operations at Fort Nisqually by Mr. Anderson and Captain McNeil, Wilkes repaid the kindness shown him by naming the two nearby islands after these two men. In 1870, Andrew N. Christensen, hailing from Denmark, came to the Island. His wife had a strong hand in the development of the Island community. The primary industry began with the sale or cordwood to the wood-burning steamers, and then later to the gathering of island ferns for the florae industry.

POPULATION

The island has approximately 1500 year-round residents, the seasonal and weekenders may increase that number to over 2,500 over the summer months. The community has a small town atmosphere, with steady growth rate for the last few years. The island residents work together to keep the Island clean, and a safe place to live and play.

CLIMATE

The Pacific Northwest has winter temperatures that range from 30 degrees in the evenings to 50 degrees in the daytime with approximately 25 inches of precipitation. The summer temperatures rise to comfortable 75 degrees to an occasional 85 degrees, with a mean annual average of 50 degrees.

ISLAND ORGANIZATIONS

There are several organizations that have been developed to address the needs of the community, namely: Fire Commissioners, Historical Society, Homeowners Associations, Island Arts, Parks and Recreation Board, Red Hap Society, Rivera Women's Club, Fire Fighters Association, Women's Club, Christian Fellowship, Solo Club, Men's Golf Club, Anderson Island Citizen Advisory Board to Pierce County and the Volunteer Island Patrol.

CHURCHES

Catholic service held Saturday; Faith Lutheran, 2 Non-denominational, and Mormon services are held Sunday morning.

SCHOOL

The Steilacoom School District provides a school on the island for kindergarten through the fifth grade. The sixth through twelfth grade students ride the early morning ferry to Pioneer Middle School and Steilacoom High School.

LIBRARY

The Community Club houses a small county library that is open on Wednesday. The library stocks new books as well as videos and the popular talking books.

MEDICAL

District 27 has supplied the island with their own Fire Station and equipment to provide emergency and medical treatment for island residents. The help of trained volunteer Emergency Medical Technicians have served the island for over 20 years. A helicopter is radioed when an emergency necessitates immediate transport for a patient; for less critical situations they may be transported by County ferry or by the District fire boat.