Sequim Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce

Welcome to a very special place, a place unlike any other in the world. Sequim (pronounced Skwim) lies in the Dungeness Valley, nestled between the majestic Olympic Mountains and the serene waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Highway 101 runs south of town with three exits into Sequim. This makes the city the gateway to the attractions of the North Olympic Peninsula. Sequim enjoys mild weather, truly spectacular scenery, and the bounty of land and sea. What makes the city really special though is the people. Whether long-term resident or “Jimmie-Come-Lately”, you’ll find our citizens friendly, relaxed and happy to be here.

Download our PDF map of the Sequim area.

Location and Climate
The Sequim-Dungeness Valley area is located on the north coast of the Olympic Peninsula. We are about an hour and a half from the Seattle ferries, and half an hour from the ferry to Victoria, British Columbia. The town of Sequim is about 4 miles from the shore and the famous Dungeness Spit.

Due to a unique location in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains, the weather in Sequim is noticeably dryer than the rest of the area. The Olympics block the rains that soak the rest of the area. Sequim averages only 16 inches of rain a year. This “rain shadow” and mild temperatures have made Sequim a very popular retirement and recreation area, as well as a pleasant tourist destination. To view current Sequim weather click here.

History
The area was home to the S’Klallam tribe long before the arrival of Europeans. The descendants of these Native Americans still make their home on Sequim Bay. First homesteaded in 1854, the arid valley had a good natural port and abundant seafood. No doubt early pioneers thought they’d found paradise when they discovered this low rainfall valley. They soon discovered that the same sunshine and lack of water made the area difficult to farm. In 1896, a visionary pioneer proposed to irrigate the valley using water from the Dungeness River. The residents were organized and dug irrigation ditches by hand. These soon spread across the valley bringing life-giving water and prosperity. The town of Sequim flourished. Every year since, Sequim has honored the memory of that first surge of water delivered to the thirsty Dungeness Valley with the Irrigation Festival, the oldest continuous community festival in the state.

Today, about 25,000 wonderful folks live in Sequim and the surrounding Dungeness Valley. Since the city has attracted retirees from all over, an increasing percentage are senior citizens. Even with our growth, we are proud of our home-town sense of community. For more informaiton please visit the City of Sequim’s web site.

Education
Kids from kindergarten through 12th grade receive a quality education in Sequim’s fine, growing school system. Peninsula College offers several adult courses in Sequim, and the main campus in Port Angeles is just a short drive away. Some four-year degrees are offered through an arrangement with Western Washington University. The Sequim branch library of the North Olympic Library System is well stocked, with over 120,000 volumes available.

Sequim School District No. 323
http://www.sequimschools.wednet.edu

Administration
503 N. Sequim Ave.
Sequim, WA 98382
(360) 582-3260

High School
Sequim High School
601 N. Sequim Ave.
(360) 582-3600

Middle School
Sequim Middle School
220 W. Alder St.
(360) 582-3500
Elementary Schools
Greywolf Elementary
171 Carlsborg Road
(360) 683-0609

Helen Haller Elementary
350 W. Fir St.
(360) 582-3200

Medical Facilities
Sequim’s hospital needs are provided by Olympic Medical Center, a 126-bed full service Medical Center in Port Angeles. OMC also maintains a number of healthcare facilities in Sequim itself. Services available in Sequim through OMC include laboratory services, physical therapy, radiation oncology, and health education.

Organizations
We have more than 160 service, fraternal, and special interest groups in the area. Many national associations have active branches here. There is a senior drop-in center with a wide range of interest groups. We are proud of the volunteer attitude of our people. Whatever your interest, you’ll find plenty of activities in which to get involved.

We also have more than 20 churches in Sequim, representing most major denominations. Others are available in communities nearby. Our churches are very active in a variety of community programs and are centers for many social events as well.
Click here for the Chamber’s listing of organizations.

Seniors
Our older citizens enjoy the many activities and opportunities available locally. You are invited to our very active Senior Center, where something is always going on. The Center offers tours, activities, social events and much more! You’ll find this a very friendly area towards seniors. You’ll ride free on the bus, and you will find many local businesses offer senior discounts. No wonder Sequim has been chosen as one of the country’s best retirement locations!
Learn more about retiring in Sequim. See Chamber’s membership directory for retirement related businesses.

Taxes
There is NO state income tax! Sales tax is collected on all non-food purchases. Property tax is a little over one percent of assessed value.

Utilities
The City of Sequim provides water, sewer and garbage service. There are many rural properties in the Dungeness Valley where wells and septic systems prevail and trash is picked up by a private contractor. There is no natural gas service, but oil and propane are available from private firms. Electric power is provided by Clallam County P.U.D.

For more information please visit the City of Sequim’s web site.