Guemes Island

[6] Guemes Island was named by the Spanish explorer José María Narváez as Isla de Güemes during the 1791 expedition of Francisco de Eliza, in honor of the Viceroy of Mexico, Juan Vicente de Güemes Padilla Horcasitas y Aguayo, 2nd Count of Revillagigedo.

[7][8] In 1841 Charles Wilkes of the United States Exploring Expedition gave the name "Lawrence Island" to Guemes Island, to honor the American naval officer James Lawrence.

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 605 people, 292 households, and 180 families residing in the block group.

30.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 39.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

Out of the total population, 36.1% of those under the age of 18 and 0.0% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Nautical and aeronautical charts note a magnetic disturbance off the southeastern tip of Guemes Island.

The disturbance affects compasses enough to cause as much as 2° discrepancy from average local variation.