Clallam County is a county in the U.S. state of Washington.
As of the 2010 census, the population was 71,404. The county seat and largest city is Port Angeles. The name is a Klallam word for “the strong people”. The county was formed on April 26, 1854. Located on the Olympic Peninsula, it is south from the Strait of Juan de Fuca, which forms the Canada–US border, as British Columbia’s Vancouver Island is across the strait. Clallam County comprises the Port Angeles, WA Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Geography : According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,671 square miles (6,920 km2), of which 1,738 square miles (4,500 km2) is land and 932 square miles (2,410 km2) (35%) is water.
Located in Clallam County is Cape Alava, the westernmost point in both Washington and the continental United States, with a longitude of 124 degrees, 43 minutes and 59 seconds West (?124.733). Near Cape Alava is Ozette, the westernmost town in the continental United States (see Extreme points of the United States for more information).
Communities : Cities : Forks , Port Angeles (county seat) , Sequim
Census-designated places : Bell Hill , Blyn ,Carlsborg ,Clallam Bay , Jamestown
Neah Bay , Port Angeles East ,River Road ,Sekiu
Other communities : Agnew , Beaver , Crane ,Diamond Point ,Dungeness ,Elwha ,Fairholm ,Joyce ,La Push ,Maple Grove ,Ozette
Pysht ,Piedmont ,Sappho ,Schoolhouse Point
Geographic features
Mount Angeles
Cape Flattery
Clallam River
Dungeness Spit
Elwha River
Hoh River
Hoko River
Lake Crescent
Lake Ozette
Lyre River
Pacific Ocean
Pysht River
Seven Lakes Basin
Sol Duc Hot Springs
Sol Duc River
Strait of Juan de Fuca
Tatoosh Island
Waadah Island
Adjacent counties
Jefferson County – south, east
Capital Regional District, British Columbia – north
Cowichan Valley Regional District, British Columbia – northwest
National protected areas
Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail (part)
Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge
Flattery Rocks National Wildlife Refuge
Olympic National Forest (part)
Olympic National Park (part)
Quillayute Needles National Wildlife Refuge (part)
Popular culture : The popular Twilight Saga novels and film series are set in Clallam County. The main storyline is set in Forks; however, the characters also visit neighboring Port Angeles. The fictional counterpart to the county, Clallan County, contains Cape Flattery, the town in the rural-comedy film series, Ma and Pa Kettle (1949–1957), as well as the original Kettle farm.
Access : Coordinates: 48.1125, -123.440833 / Major highways : US 101 U.S. Route 101 / Airports : The following public use airports are located in the county:
William R. Fairchild International Airport (CLM) – Port Angeles
Forks Airport (S18) – Forks
Quillayute Airport (UIL) – Quillayute / Forks
Sekiu Airport (11S) – Sekiu
Sequim Valley Airport (W28) – Sequim
By Bus
Greyhound Line services Sequim and Port Angeles to and from Seatac airport. Call ahead for the schedule and reservations at (360) 417-0700.
In addition, door-to-door SeaTac airport shuttle service to and from eastern Jefferson and all of Clallam Counties by reservation is available, along with private hire service throughout the area, from Rocket Transportation. Contact them at (360) 683-8087.
Public bus service throughout Clallam County is provided by Clallam Transit. Contact them at (800) 858-3747. Note: All Clallam Transit buses have front bike racks. Clallam Transit now provides service to and from the Bainbridge Island ferry terminal with a stop in Sequim on the Strait Shot.
By Ferry
Traveling from the Seattle area, Washington State Ferries are available.
Traveling from Victoria, British Columbia, take the Coho Ferry and passenger and car ferry that runs between Port Angeles and Victoria. A rental car agency is directly across from the terminal.
By Boat : John Wayne Marina operated by the Port of Port Angeles is located on the western shore of Sequim Bay. It is a full-service marina with a restaurant and 22 transient slips. For reservations, please call (360) 417-3440.
Highlights :
- Olympic National Park and Hoh Rainforest
- Clallam Bay and Sekiu
- Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail
- Salt Creek Recreational Area
- Flattery Rocks National Wildlife Refuge
- shi-shi-beach
Activities : With access to miles of coastline, rivers, and forests, the area is packed with opportunities for outdoor play , Kayak Tours – Sea Kayaking / hike or bike Port Angeles’ 6.5-mile Waterfront Trail. It’s part of the longer Olympic Discovery Trail / walk the Ediz Hook spit /
Events : Peninsula getaway. In May, take in the Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts in Port Angeles. Celebrate the 4th of July in Port Angeles or tour the lavender fields during the Sequim Lavender Festival.
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