Waldron Island

Waldron, also known as Waldron Island, is an unincorporated community in San Juan County, Washington, United States. Its population was 104 at the 2000 census.

Waldron
Unincorporated community
Location within the San Juan Islands
Location within the San Juan Islands
Waldron is located in Washington (state)
Waldron
Waldron
Location within the state of Washington
Coordinates: 48°41′16″N 123°2′8″W
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
CountySan Juan
Area
 • Total4.6 sq mi (11.9 km2)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total104
 • Density23/sq mi (8.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP codes
98297

Waldron is in the San Juan Islands. It is designated as a Limited Development District and commercial recreation facilities are prohibited. There is no ferry service, only one county-owned dock, and no electricity or water supply.[1]

Geography

Waldron is an island of irregular shape with a land area of 4.6 sq mi (11.9 km2).

Climate

This region experiences warm and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Waldron has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.[2]

Climate data for Waldron, Washington
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 8
(46)		 8
(47)		 11
(51)		 13
(55)		 16
(61)		 19
(66)		 21
(70)		 21
(70)		 18
(65)		 13
(56)		 9
(49)		 7
(45)		 14
(57)
Average low °C (°F) 4
(39)		 4
(39)		 6
(42)		 7
(44)		 9
(49)		 11
(52)		 13
(55)		 13
(56)		 12
(53)		 9
(48)		 6
(43)		 4
(39)		 8
(47)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 97
(3.8)		 71
(2.8)		 56
(2.2)		 48
(1.9)		 43
(1.7)		 36
(1.4)		 23
(0.9)		 28
(1.1)		 25
(1)		 64
(2.5)		 110
(4.4)		 79
(3.1)		 680
(26.9)
Source: Weatherbase [3]

History

During a Spanish expedition in 1791, Francisco Eliza named the Island "Lemos."[4] However, the current name of the island was given in May 1841 when Wilkes Expedition officer Lieutenant Case of the Vincennes and his party surveyed Puget Sound. During this survey, one of the San Juan islands was named after one or other of a pair of Waldron brothers, Richard Russell Waldron or Thomas Westbrook Waldron.[5]

In the nineteenth century Waldron Island sandstone was mined for use in various buildings.[6] Coal deposits were also discovered on Waldron Island.[7] Homesteaders settled the island in the nineteenth century, and the Krumdiack Homestead, built in 1890, is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1941 Waldron resident June Burn featured Waldron prominently in her autobiography Living High and described her family's experience building a log cabin on the island.[8] Her daughter-in-law, Doris Burn, also wrote several books while living on the island. The last store on Waldron closed in 1942 and no regular ferry service has been offered to the island. Since 1976, Waldron has been a 'limited development district'. No large-scale mining of natural resources is allowed, and no large homes or paved roads may be built.[9]

In 1997 the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted a drug raid on Waldron, confiscating 886 marijuana plants and arresting 7 people.[9]

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 104 people, 62 households, and 27 families residing in the unincorporated town. The racial makeup of the city was 95.19% White, 0.96% Asian, and 3.85% from two or more races.[10]

References
  1. Waldron Limited Development District Subarea Plan, 1995.
  2. Climate Summary for Waldron, Washington
  3. "Weatherbase.com". Weatherbase. 2014. Retrieved on June 4, 2014.
  4. The Early Exploration of Inland Washington Waters: Journals and Logs from Six Expeditions, 1786-1792 By Richard W. Blumenthal, Contributor Richard W. Blumenthal, Published by McFarland, 2004 ISBN 0-7864-1879-6, ISBN 978-0-7864-1879-4 , pg. 47
  5. Waldron Island 'was probably intended for Thomas W. Waldron, Captain's Clerk of the brig Porpoise of the expedition. However, it is possible that two men were honoured in the one name as R. R. Waldron was Purser of the Vincennes, another vessel of the expedition.' (Meany, E. S. (1923). Origin of Washington Geographic Names, University of Washington Press, Seattle. as cited in Patrick J. M. Waldron, "Waldron Family History", June 30, 2009, pp.5, 8 at: http://www.binary.co.nz/WALDRON3.PDF accessed 5 September 2010).
  6. The School of Mines Series of Rock Specimens from the State of Washington By University of Washington, Washington (State). University. School of mines, School of mines, Published by C.W. Gorham, public printer, 1906 accessed on Google Book Search on September 22, 2008
  7. A History of the Puget Sound Country: Its Resources, Its Commerce and Its People: with Some Reference to Discoveries and Explorations in North America from the Time of Christopher Columbus Down to that of George Vancouver in 1792 By William Farrand Prosser, Published by The Lewis Publishing Company, 1903
  8. June Burn, Living High: An Unconventional Autobiography (June Burn, 1941), postscript
  9. Hatcher, C. (2000 April 26). Trouble in an island paradise. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. (accessed March 27, 2010)
  10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
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