Grays Harbor is an estuarine bay located 45 miles (72 km) north of the mouth of the Columbia River, on the southwest Pacific coast of Washington state, in the United States. It is a ria, which formed at the end of the last ice age, when sea levels flooded the Chehalis River. The bay is 17 miles (27 km) long and 12 miles (19 km) wide. The Chehalis River flows into its eastern end, where the city of Aberdeen stands at that river's mouth, on its north bank, with the somewhat smaller city of Hoquiam immediately to its northwest, along the bayshore. Besides the Chehalis, many lesser rivers and streams flow into Grays Harbor, such as the Hoquiam River and Humptulips River. A pair of low peninsulas separate it from the Pacific Ocean, except for an opening about two miles (3 km) in width. The northern peninsula, which is largely covered by the community of Ocean Shores, ends in Point Brown. Facing that across the bay-mouth is Point Chehalis, at the end of the southern peninsula upon which stands the town of Westport.
Grays Harbor is named after Captain Robert Gray, who entered it on May 7, 1792, in the course of his fur-trading voyages along the north Pacific coast of North America. Gray named the bay Bullfinch Harbor, but it was afterward named Gray's Harbor by Captain George Vancouver, whose contemporaneous explorations of the region—the ships of the two captains had met at sea, only days earlier—were well publicised at the time, while Gray's voyages were not. Gray's Harbor was the name that stuck (the apostrophe was omitted under US Board on Geographic Names guidelines). A few days later, on May 11, Gray found a navigable channel into the estuary of the Columbia River, and sailed into it, the first white man known to have done so.
Settlement of the area began in the early 1870s and was largely dependent on the lumber industry. As the forests of the eastern United States depleted, many loggers from the East and the Midwest migrated to the Grays Harbor area, as well as many Scandinavians and Finns from Europe.
Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge is located on 1,500 acres (6.1 km2) of intertidal mudflats, salt marsh, and uplands around Hoquiam.
The Daily Washingtonian was a daily newspaper in Grays Harbor founded by Otis M. Moore.
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Grays Harbor is the gateway to Washington's scenic coastal wonderlands, a key producer and exporter of wood and ocean products, and a vibrant and dynamic community. Come visit this gem nestled at the foot of the emerald forests of Washington State.
Grays Harbor is an estuarine bay located 45 miles (72 km) north of the mouth of the Columbia River, on the southwest Pacific coast of Washington state, in the United States. It is a ria, which formed at the end of the last ice age, when sea levels flooded the Chehalis River. The bay is 17 miles (27 km) long and 12 miles (19 km) wide. [1] .
Grays Harbor is home to 7 bodies of water; harbors, lakes, streams, channels, canals, rivers and of course, our ocean. If water isn’t what you want to experience, then hike into our enchanted forests to witness wildlife in their natural habitat.
GHC offers workforce education credit and training for community members preparing for new careers, upgrading their work skills, or furthering their individual interests. Earn a technical degree or take a short-term training to enhance your current skillset. Get to Know GHC! Copyright © 2025 Grays Harbor College.
Welcome to Grays Harbor County. © 2016 Grays Harbor County, Washington 100 W Broadway, Montesano, WA 98563
Explore the many things to do in Grays Harbor County, located on the Southwest corner of the Olympic Peninsula along the Pacific Ocean.
Area. 1,909.8 sq.miles . Ranking in State. 14th. Congressional Districts. 6. Legislative Districts. 19, 24, 35. Population . 2000 Census. 64,175 . 1999 State Estimate
Things to do, where to eat, where to stay, and Discover Grays Harbor blog. Top 10 Things To Do in Grays Harbor County, WA Watch the sun dip into the Pacific Ocean while waves roll onto the sandy shores on Washington's scenic coast.
Grays Harbor County is a county in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, the population was 75,636. [1] Its county seat is Montesano, and its largest city is Aberdeen. [2] Grays Harbor County is included in the Aberdeen Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Plan your visit to unforgettable Grays Harbor located on the Southwest corner of the Olympic Peninsula along the Pacific Ocean.
