Gig Harbor, Washington is located in Pierce County on a peninsula jutting into Puget Sound, across the Narrows Bridge from Tacoma. The “Peninsula” covers approximately 107 square miles, with over 100 miles of waterfront, and includes the Longbranch Peninsula, Fox Island, and the city of Gig Harbor. The harbor, around which the city is built, was named by American sailing Captain Charles Wilkes who, during a heavy storm on Puget Sound, brought a small boat into the harbor for safety. The community was populated early on by fishermen and boat builders from Sweden, Norway and Croatia, and the commerce of the young community was dependent largely upon the sea with logging being influential, as well.

Today, downtown Gig Harbor is a very active place with shopping, dining, and recreation on every block. With spectacular northwest scenery as the backdrop, it is filled with first class inns, bed & break- fasts, award-winning dining, unlimited recreation opportunities, historic shopping districts, and an authentic maritime history. Downtown parks named after early pioneers, Jersich Park and Skansie Park play host to fairs and events.

Gig Harbor is served by an excellent and award winning school district, Peninsula. The district’s students regularly place well above average on state standardized testing and SAT exams. The district serves a student population of 9,630. Tacoma Community College has a branch right in town and also nearby are several excellent four year university options such as the University of Washington Tacoma, University of Puget Sound and City University.

Surrounded by Puget Sound, state campgrounds, boating, fishing, camping, hiking, biking, horseback riding, beach combing and many other outdoor activities are quite popular. In addition, there are community basketball, soccer and softball leagues and the local Encore! Theater music, stage productions and a vibrant artist community are there to explore. Travel to the eastside of the bridge and you’ll find opera, ballet, rodeo, car shows, monster truck events, casinos and all that the Northwest Metroplex offers. If it’s a little spiritual renewal you need there are an abundance of houses of worship and many volunteer opportunities, as well.

The housing market here is very busy with new construction pushing ahead and homes snatched up as quickly as they are built. There is still a strong market for pre-owned, too. With a little looking, reasonable housing can still be found.