The story of Poulsbo begins in the 1880s, when Norwegian immigrant Jorgen Eliason arrived in what is now known as Washington’s Kitsap Peninsula. Imagine his delight when he discovered a land that fondly resembled his native country.  Soon other Norwegian settlers arrived and established a thriving fishing, logging and farming community.

** FUN FACT **

In 1886, I. B. Moe, one of the earliest Norwegian immigrants, proposed that their new community required a post office and a name. He chose “Paulsbo,” meaning “Paul’s Place,” for the name of the town. The townspeople granted Moe the position of postmaster, but there was one problem. Due to his unreadable handwriting, officials in Washington D.C. misspelled the name, calling it Poulsbo. Nonetheless, the Town of Poulsbo was officially incorporated on December 18, 1907 and despite its unusual spelling, “Paulsbo” is the correct pronunciation.