Kitsap County boasts 283 miles of scenic saltwater front, in the form of bays and inlets, around the Hood Canal, Dyes Inlet, Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It comprises a total landmass of 393 square miles with a population of over 280,000 people. Kitsap enjoys a relatively moderate climate due to its proximity to Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountain Range, which provides a buffer from the stronger weather systems coming off the Pacific Ocean. Temperatures are mild throughout the year with highs averaging in the 70’s during the summer and 40’s in the winter.

Kitsap County encompasses the ancestral lands of the Suquamish and Port Gamble S’Klallam people who have lived in Kitsap for thousands of years. European settlers started to arrive in the mid-1850s, interested in the peninsula’s growing timber industry and other natural resources. In 1891, the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard was established, becoming a major economic contributor in the county.

Today, Kitsap is an accumulation of its Indigenous heritage and military history, hosting vibrant communities across the peninsula. With natural splendor and an array of shopping and dining opportunities, there is something happening in Kitsap on any day or night of the week. If that’s not enough, Seattle and Tacoma are both short distances away offering a slice of “Big City” life.

Bremerton
Bremerton is the largest city in Kitsap County with an estimated population of just over 45,000 in 2025. Bremerton is home to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the Bremerton Annex of Naval Base Kitsap. The city is connected to downtown Seattle by two ferries: a 60-minute ferry that carries both vehicles and walk-on passengers, and a 28-minute Fast Ferry that carries passengers and a limited number of bicycles.

Every third Saturday in May, Bremerton celebrates Armed Forces Day with the Armed Forces Day Festival and Parade. This event is the largest and longest-running Armed Forces celebration west of the Mississippi.

Silverdale
Silverdale sits almost in the geographic center of Kitsap County. The central core encompasses an area of roughly 6 square miles.

Every year in July, Silverdale plays hosts to “Whaling Days.” This weekend event includes canoe races, a parade, entertainment, arts and crafts as well as the “Great Kitsap Duck Race.”

The Kitsap Fair and Rodeo takes place in late August. 4-H animal exhibitions, a carnival midway, arts and crafts displays, big-name entertainment and more await visitors each year. The Stampede Rodeo, which takes place during the fair, has been consistently ranked as one of the best on the Columbia PRCA circuit. In 2023, the Kitsap Fair & Stampede celebrated 100 years in Kitsap County.

The Greater Kitsap Chamber is pleased to have a number of fine lodging and eating establishments as members. To find one suiting your needs and tastes, visit our Business Directory.