Jefferson County

Founded: December 22, 1852

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office 79 Elkins Road Port Hadlock, WA Phone: 360.385.3831 Web Site Send Email

Sheriff Tony Hernandez

Sheriff Tony Hernandez was appointed to fill the unexpired term of former Sheriff Mike Brasfield.  He is a graduate of the University of Washington and has completed his course work for a master's degree. Hernandez entered law enforcement in 1994 and is an eight-year veteran of the Sheriff's Office, where he has held several supervisory and management positions. He has attended the FBI National Academy and the state Criminal Justice Academy.

Jefferson County is named after Thomas Jefferson. As of 2007, the estimated population was 28,600. The county seat is at Port Townsend, which is also the county's only incorporated city.

Jefferson County was formed out of Thurston County on December 22, 1852 by the legislature of Oregon Territory, and included the northern 4,854 square miles portion of the Olympic Peninsula. On April 26, 1854 the legislature of Washington
Territory created Clallam County from the northwestern 2,670 square miles portion of this original area.

The Hood Canal Bridge connects Jefferson County to Kitsap County, Washington. The Keystone-Port Townsend route of the Washington State Ferries connects the county to Whidbey Island in Island County, Washington.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,184 square miles of which, 1,814 square miles of it is land and 369 square miles of it is water.  Population density is 16 per square mile.

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