Browns Point is a

census-designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the count ...

(CDP) in Pierce County,

Washington Washington commonly refers to: * Washington (state), United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A metonym for the federal government of the United States ** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...

, United States, bordered by Tacoma on the east and

Puget Sound Puget Sound ( ) is a sound of the Pacific Northwest, an inlet of the Pacific Ocean, and part of the Salish Sea. It is located along the northwestern coast of the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected ma ...

on all other sides. The population was 1,198 at the 2010 census. The Tacoma neighborhood immediately adjacent to Browns Point is also referred to locally as "Browns Point" (although it is also often referred to as Northeast Tacoma).

Geography

Browns Point is located at (47.305833, -122.443889). According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of t ...

, the CDP has a total area of 0.403 square miles (1.04 km), all land.

History

Originally named Point Harris, after Alvin Harris, a

sailmaker A sailmaker makes and repairs sails for sailboats, kites, hang gliders, wind art, architectural sails, or other structures using sails. A sailmaker typically works on shore in a sail loft; the sail loft has other sailmakers. Large ocean-going sa ...

on the

Wilkes Expedition The United States Exploring Expedition of 1838–1842 was an exploring and surveying expedition of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding lands conducted by the United States. The original appointed commanding officer was Commodore Thomas ap Catesby ...

, Browns Point was later renamed by residents for an early landowner.

Culture

Browns Point is home to the Browns Point Lighthouse, which, although now fully automated, was once fully staffed and was first lit on December 12, 1887. The community is supported by the local Browns Point Improvement Club, which owns much of the land adjacent to the lighthouse. The club is best known in the Pacific Northwest for its fundraiser, the Browns Point Salmon Bake. Started in the 1940s by Browns Point pioneer and Puyallup tribal member Jerry Meeker, the festival is held in the first weekend of August in even-numbered years.

Education

The area is served by

Tacoma Public Schools Tacoma School District No. 10, commonly called Tacoma Public Schools, is a school district headquartered in Tacoma, Washington, United States. Composed of 35 elementary schools, 11 middle schools, 10 high schools, and 4 early learning centers. It ...

, a public school district. It is zoned to Browns Point Elementary School, Meeker Middle School, and

Stadium High School Stadium High School is a public high school in Tacoma, Washington, and a historic landmark. It is part of Tacoma Public Schools, or Tacoma School District No. 10 and is located in the Stadium District, near downtown Tacoma. The original buildin ...

References

External links

Points Northeast Historical SocietyLighthouse Friends
entry about Browns Point
Browns Point Lighthouse ParkHistory Link
article about the lighthouse station Unincorporated communities in Pierce County, Washington Unincorporated communities in Washington (state) {{PierceCountyWA-geo-stub