Central Whidbey survey results

This information is brought to you by the Island County Health Department

Central Whidbey lies within the Coupeville School District, beginning just north of Coupeville and extending south to the community of Greenbank. The Town of Coupeville has a 1997 estimated population of 1610. Major employers in Central Whidbey are Whidbey General Hospital, Island County Government, and the Coupeville School District. The ferry to Port Townsend and the Olympic Peninsula leaves from Keystone in Central Whidbey and carried 842,324 passengers and 378,787 vehicles in 1996.

Population characteristics of Central Whidbey are shown in the following chart. Central Whidbey has a greater percentage of elderly residents than other parts of the county with a slight population "bulge" beginning at age 60. There is no single predominant age grouping.

More than 100 Central Whidbey residents were contacted in the 1996 health telephone survey of Island County residents. Their responses were similar to others in Island County with the following exceptions:

Survey participants were read a list of environmental factors and were asked if any area may be affecting their health. Central Whidbey residents were more likely (30%) to cite drinking water as a concern than were residents of the rest of the county (18%).

As a general question to begin the survey, residents were asked to rate their own health as excellent, very good, good, fair or poor. Central Whidbey residents were more likely to rate their health as poor or fair (14%) than all other Island County residents (8%).

Drinking Water

The residents of Central Whidbey are all dependent upon ground water for a source of drinking water. The Town of Coupeville and other public water systems are the main providers of drinking water. This area also experiences salt water intrusion problems, as well as, water with very high levels of dissolved minerals.

ICPH

CHAB

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reviewed Apr-08 ICPH web control Jan '98

reviewed Apr-08
ICPH web control
Jan '98