Fox Island is an island and census-designated place in Pierce County, Washington, situated in Puget Sound off the southern end of the Gig Harbor peninsula, roughly five miles from the city of Gig Harbor. The island spans about 5.2 square miles and is separated from the mainland by Hale Passage to the north, with the Fox Island Bridge connecting its road network to the mainland at Artondale. Its population is roughly 3,300, up dramatically from just 120 residents in 1956, reflecting the transformation brought by bridge access and the island's appeal as a residential retreat. The island was named by Charles Wilkes during the United States Exploring Expedition in honor of J.L. Fox, an assistant surgeon on the expedition. Long before that, the island was used by Native Americans for seasonal gatherings and fishing. Just off its northern shore lies Tanglewood Island, a small island with a historic lighthouse that remains a local point of interest. The island's own Fox Island School, built with Works Progress Administration aid in 1934, later merged into the Peninsula School District in 1959, which now serves the island along with Gig Harbor, Purdy, and the Key Peninsula. Today Fox Island is a semi-rural residential community with a distinctly water-oriented character. Its shoreline and bluff homes command sweeping views of Puget Sound, Mount Rainier, the Olympic Mountains, and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, and there is little commercial development on the island itself. Residents rely on nearby Gig Harbor for services and shopping. For those seeking a quiet, scenic island setting with genuine waterfront access and strong schools, Fox Island offers a rare combination of privacy and proximity to the South Sound's amenities, all within a short drive of Tacoma and the region's highway network.