Belfair is an unincorporated community in Mason County, Washington, United States. Located at the head of the Hood Canal, a branch of Puget Sound, it serves as the commercial center of North Mason. The population of the surrounding area swells in the summertime as tourists and nature lovers flock to the Canal and Olympic National Park. The population within the Urban Growth Area (UGA) is an estimated 700.

Belfair is located on an isthmus connecting the Kitsap and Olympic Peninsula. It receives an average rainfall of 60" yearly and has a growing season of 212 days.

Mason Lake is eight miles southwest of Belfair.

Belfair is the home of congressman Norm Dicks a member of the Democratic Party . Belfair was also home to Noah Ashenhurst, a teacher and award-winning author of the novel Comfort Food and the accomplished hard rock band [Pain's Run][1] .

Belfair is generally considered to be the largest community in Washington to not be recognised by the US Census in any form, even under the Census-designated place form. It is considered a topic candidate to become a CDP for the 2010 US Census.

Belfair was originally called Clifton, as were several other WA towns. To avoid confusion, it was renamed in 1925 by Mrs. Murray, the postmaster, who submitted the name Belfair from a book that she was then reading.

Belfair is home to The Taste of Hood Canal, an annual event falling on the second Saturday in August. This festival features local artists, foods, a classic car show and is sponsored by the North Mason Rotary Club.

Belfair has a high school (North Mason High School) and a middle school (Hawkins Middle School) and two elementary schools (Sand Hill Elementary is located on Sand Hill Road and Belfair Elementary is located across from the Mary E. Theler Commumity Center in town.

The town has major grocery stores, gift stores and shopping, lodging, postal services, a medical clinic and various doctors' offices, a library and other amenities of a town its size.

The Theler Center, at the southern end of Belfair, hosts a community hall, exhibit center, four separate walking trails meandering through 135 acres of tidal wetlands, offering boardwalks and well-groomed paths with scenic views of Hood Canal, Union River, and a tidal estuary. Birders flock to the area to view kingfishers, heron, bald eagles and other birds. The wetlands and surrounding lowland forest are also home to fox, deer, and other creatures.

State Highway 3 is the main road leading into Belfair, from Bremerton and Gorst in the north, and Allyn in the south. State Route 106 also starts at the south end of Belfair, leading toward Union, the next town along the south shore of Hood Canal. State Route 300 begins in Belfair and runs along the north shore of Hood Canal, providing access to Tahuya and Dewatto Bay.

Belfair serves as a gateway town for the Hood Canal region, and is the last town with services before visitors reach Tahuya State Forest, famed for its miles of off-road vehicle (ORV) and mountain biking trails.

External links

This article or section needs sources or references that appear in reliable, third-party publications. Primary sources and sources affiliated with the subject of the article are generally not sufficient for a Wikipedia article. Please include more appropriate citations from reliable sources, or discuss the issue on the talk page. This article has been tagged since November 2006.

• Mason County Government
• Map of Area
• North Mason Chamber
• Theler Center
• Taste of Hood Canal
• Hood Canal Tourism
• Belfair page at Official Mason County Tourism website

v â€¢ d â€¢ e Municipalities and communities of Mason County, Washington County seat: Shelton City Shelton CDPs Allyn-Grapeview | Skokomish Unincorporated communities Allyn | Belfair | Eldon | Harstine Island | Hoodsport | Kamilche | Lake Cushman | Lilliwaup | Matlock | Potlatch | Tahuya | Union

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Coordinates: 47°27′02″N, 122°49′33″W