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ABOUT JEFFERSON COUNTY
Jefferson County is located in northwestern Washington State on the Olympic Peninsula. Port Townsend, the only incorporated city in Jefferson County, is the county seat.
Jefferson County was established in 1852 at which time it covered all of the Olympic Peninsula. In 1854, Clallam County was carved out of the northwestern part of Jefferson County.
Jefferson County can be thought of as two geographically distinct areas, separated by the Olympic Mountains. East Jefferson County which borders on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Admiralty Inlet and Hood Canal was settled as early as 1851. West Jefferson County which borders on the Pacific Ocean was very sparsely settled starting about 1895.
The Jefferson County Place Names includes existing and abandoned town-sites, settlements and other locations of historic interest. If a post office existed at a location, the dates it was opened and closed are provided. Between 1850 and 1920, the dates of operation of post offices provide a clue as to how long an area was settled. About 1909, Rural Free Delivery was established, eliminating the need for small, rural post offices. Since 1920, the growth of the highway system has continuously reduced the need for smaller local post offices.