Information about Kitsap County
Kitsap county was formed from the King and Jefferson Counties on January 16, 1857. It is named for Chief Kitsap of the Suquamish Peoples. It was originally named Slaughter County in honor of Lt. William Slaughter, who died in 1855 during the Indian Wars. However, a few weeks later the county name changed to Kitsap in honor of Chief Kitsap, whose name means "Brave." The county seat is Port Orchard.