Community Profile – Anacortes

in Anacortes include kayaking excursions, sailing, fishing, crabbing, birding, and boating.

Anacortes Highlights Oyster Run

Since 1981 Anacortes has been the host of the largest motorcycle rally in the Pacific Northwest. If you are visiting Skagit County on the last weekend of September you are likely to see the 20,000 bikes and riders who fuel their way into the main streets of Anacortes.

Manieri Jazz and Swing Collection

An amazing collection of over 500 books and 1,500 CD’s and DVD’s available at the Anacortes Library, donated by Patricia Manieri in honor of her late husband Dominic Manieri. Headphones and CD players are available for listeners to sample varieties of classical and new recordings.

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History Fact

For thousands of years people have lived in the Fidalgo and Guemes Island areas. After the signing of the 1855 Point Elliott Treaty, several reservations were set aside including one for the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community on southeastern Fidalgo Island. In the 1700s the Spanish,British,and Russian explorers and fur traders were the first settlers to enter the Skagit region. Known as a ship harbor,Anacortes was established with a name and post office in 1879 after speculation that the site would be selected as the western terminus for the Northern Pacific Railroad; in 1890 Seattle was chosen instead. Anacortes was officially incorporated in 1891 shortly after the railroad bust when the fishing and logging industries began to dominate the town.