The Origin of Colby’s Name.

Almost all American towns have names that are completely logical — a family name, geological feature, or historical event – but the origin of “Colby” isn’t without a bit of debate.

Many historical accounts offer the theory that the town got its name from the fact that coal was discovered nearby in the late 19th Century, and in the early goings the area was referred to as “Coal Bay.” Earl Witner, who was raised in Colby in the 1930’s shares this anecdote:

“Old Man Locker who has a road named after him, always claimed that at one time there was a coal mine up the hill somewhere and that’s how Colby got its name.  From Coal Bay to Colby.  He would stand in front of Grant’s store and tell this story to anyone who would listen and when he talked you could hear him at our house a quarter mile up the beach. This eventually was shortened to ‘Colby,’ as the story goes.”

With all due respect to Mr Locker, that version isn’t given much credence.

The more likely origin — one that we’ve been able to document through various sources and which is noted in Book Five of the Kitsap County Historical record — says that the town was indirectly named after a local Native American, Chief Colby.

Apparently, the businessman who would eventually become the first postmaster, William Morgan, realized that the then-informal collection of businesses and houses — a mill, store, etc – needed a formal name, and brought up the discussion with a Capt Creswell. Creswell owned several steamers and one of them was the Colby, named for his Indian friend. It doesn’t take a great deal of imagination to realize the politics of the transaction. It was, clearly, in Morgan’s best interests to be on good terms with the captain — he encouraged and needed steamers to frequent the area because it promoted commerce. One thing led to another, presumably, and Morgan and the townspeople adopted the name of the steamer that had taken it’s name from the chief. A little practical flattery went a long way to promote the fledgling town.

On a related subject — that of names for the region — it is interesting to note that the area now known as Yukon Harbor was originally designated as “Barron’s Bay” by the United States Exploring Expedition of 1841. It was sometime later that it was changed to it’s present name.