Mason County Information

The county was formed on March 13, 1854.
Originally named Sawamish County, its name was changed in 1864 in honor of Charles H. Mason, the first Secretary of Washington Territory.

The Coast Salish peoples who made their homes along the watershed of upper Hood Canal called themselves Tuanook (also Twana Twanoh, and Skokomish Twana). They lived in six permanent winter villages along the Skokomish River, at other small settlements along Hood Canal at Hoodsport, Tahuya, and Vance Creek, and as far north as Port Gamble Bay.

American settlers arrived in Puget Sound country in the 1840s and in about 1852, Thomas Webb (aka Wells) took land around the fur traders’ block house on Hood Canal. He was joined in the area by his father-in-law, Moses Kirkland, and by his son-in-law, Frank Purdy. The family established three prosperous farms in the Skokomish Valley.

Mason County encompasses the southern reach of Hood Canal and many bays and inlets of southern Puget Sound and once extended to the Pacific Ocean. After settlement, the mainstay of the economy was logging.

The county seat and only incorporated city is Shelton.

Shelton was officially incorporated in 1890 and was named after David Shelton, a delegate to the territorial legislature.
Shelton was first known as Sheltonville.



City
Shelton

Census-designated Places
Allyn-Grapeview * Belfair * Hoodsport * Kamilche * Skokomish * Union

Unincorporated Communities
Eldon * Harstine Island * Lake Cushman * Lilliwaup * Matlock * Potlatch * Tahuya

 

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Adjacent Counties
Jefferson County - northwest
Kitsap County - northeast
Pierce County - east/southeast
Thurston County - southeast
Grays Harbor County - southwest

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