Coupeville Map

Description: This map shows streets, roads, beaches, buildings, hospitals, parking lots, shops, trails, and parks in Coupeville.

Description: This map shows streets, trails, houses, buildings, cafes, bars, restaurants, hotels, playgrounds, restrooms, parking lots, shops, churches, points of interest, and parks in Downtown Coupeville.

Coupeville is a small town located on Whidbey Island in Island County, Washington, serving as the county seat. With a population of approximately 2,000 residents, it is one of the oldest towns in Washington State. Founded in the 1850s, Coupeville is situated on Penn Cove along the central portion of Whidbey Island's eastern shore. The town is notable for its well-preserved historic district, which forms the core of Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, the first national historical reserve in the United States.

History

Coupeville was established in 1852 by Captain Thomas Coupe, who built the area's first wharf. The town became an early commercial center for central Whidbey Island, serving the agricultural communities in the surrounding prairies. It was designated as the county seat when Island County was created in 1853. During the late 19th century, Coupeville prospered as a port for shipping agricultural products and as a commercial hub. Many of the town's historic buildings date from this period, including several structures along Front Street overlooking Penn Cove.

The town's historic significance was recognized with the establishment of Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve in 1978. This designation aimed to preserve the rural historic landscape and cultural heritage of central Whidbey Island, with Coupeville's historic district forming a key component. The reserve includes historic farms, defensive fortifications at Fort Casey and Fort Ebey, Coupeville's historic waterfront, and scenic landscapes.

Geography and Economy

Coupeville is located on the shore of Penn Cove, a large bay on the eastern side of Whidbey Island. The cove is known for mussel farming, with aquaculture operations producing Penn Cove mussels, a regionally recognized shellfish product. The town itself occupies a small area, with historic Front Street running parallel to the waterfront and residential streets extending up the hillside.

The local economy is based primarily on tourism, government services (as the county seat), small businesses, and agriculture in the surrounding area. The town's historic character attracts visitors who come to explore the preserved 19th-century buildings, museums, shops, and waterfront. The Island County Historical Museum, located in a historic building, displays artifacts and exhibits related to local history. The town hosts several annual events, including the Penn Cove Mussel Festival and various heritage celebrations.

Notable Features

Coupeville's historic district includes numerous buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Front Street features Victorian-era commercial buildings, many now housing shops, galleries, and restaurants. The Alexander Blockhouse, built in 1855, is one of the few remaining coastal defense blockhouses from the Indian War period in Washington Territory.

Fort Casey Historical State Park, located south of town, preserves a former coastal defense installation built in the 1890s as part of the harbor defense of Puget Sound. The park features historic gun batteries, underground bunkers, and the Admiralty Head Lighthouse. The Outlying Field Coupeville, part of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, is located west of town and is used for aircraft carrier landing practice, generating periodic noise that has been a subject of community discussion.

Main sights in Coupeville