FAQs:

How often does the ferry between Clinton and Mukilteo run?

Most of the time, we're fortunate enough to have service every thirty minutes until about 8:30pm and then it goes to every hour. If you've missed the last ferry, you're just a little early for the next one.

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What are the property taxes like in Island County?

I always suggest planning on $800.00 per $100,000 in value. There are always exceptions, but this is a good, solid number to use to budget for your expenses.

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Are there traffic jams, particularly around Langley, during the summer season?

I actually saw four cars come to the same intersection at the same time ONCE about three years ago. No, traffic is not an issue around Langley. The only traffic we have, really, is twice each hour (lasting about five minutes) when you're trying to cross the highway and traffic is heading north from the ferry dock.

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What about communications? Isn't Whidbey Island served by an independent telephone company?

Yes, Whidbey Telecom, serving the South end of the Island, is small and independent, but they've made great strides over the years to keep us up-to-date with just about anything you might require in terms of communications. Most, if not all lines, are fiber optic. For our Internet services, Whidbey Telecom is state of the art. We really have the tools and toys anyone could possibly want.

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What about health care? Hospital facilities?

Over the past ten years, we've made major strides in facilities here on Whidbey Island. Whidbey General Hospital is conveniently located at Coupeville, with many doctors and clinics located throughout the Island.

If there's something requiring care not available at the hospital, they do offer helicopter service to either Seattle or Everett, depending on the medical condition. In addition, there are great EMT's available, associated with either the Island County Fire District or the Langley Fire Department, depending on your location.

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What if I choose to commute? How long does it take to get to Seattle?

Unless you choose to travel at the height of the traffic, travel to Seattle is about 50 minutes from the time the ferry leaves (remember, they run every thirty minutes). Bellevue's the same travel time, using Interstate 405 down the east side of Lake Washington.

Bus service is more and more convenient for a lot of people. The Island Transit System is operated free of charge and there are many convenient park-n-ride lots throughout the Island. The schedules are keyed to the ferry schedule, and Snohomish County transit, serving Mukilteo, is there to pick you up for travel to either the Everett area, or connecting to downtown Seattle and beyond.

I have a friend in Langley who takes the bus regularly to Sea-Tac Airport, which I regard as an hour and twenty minute trip by car. She does the Airport by bus in two hours and five minutes! And, being a senior citizen, it costs something like ninety cents!

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What's the population of Island County?

1998 estimates place the county's population at 78,200. That's basically Camano and Whidbey Island. The three incorporated cities on Whidbey Island stack up this way:

Oak Harbor - 20,200
Coupeville - 1,650
Langley - 1,150

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How big is the labor force on Whidbey?

According to recent estimates, there are 28,390 (nonmilitary) people in the labor force. Of these, 88% have a high school diploma, 7.8% an Associates degree, 14.4% Bachelor's degree, and 5.6% graduate/professional degrees.

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