Sequim Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce

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.

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.