We don’t really think of Kitsap County, with its blue collar reputation, as a hotbed of entrepreneurship. However figures from the Washington State Department of Licensing tell another story.

Although no exact figures are available, there are roughly 2,750 businesses licensed in Poulsbo — a city with a population of about 6,500. That’s approximately one licensed business for every 2.36 residents. Port Orchard boasts an even higher ratio of business licenses to population — roughly 4,300 for about 7,300 people or one business for every 1.7 residents.

On Bainbridge Island the ratio drops significantly to around 3,000 licensed businesses for its 20,000 people and in Bremerton the figures are about 5,400 businesses compared to 36,200 folks. That works out to around one business for every 6.7 people in each place.

The numbers drop drastically in the unincorporated areas of the county with some 5,650 licensed businesses for 160,000 people or a ratio of one business for every 28.3 residents.

These figures only take into account the numbers of legally licensed businesses, and for the most part ignore those types of businesses which either don’t necessarily require a business license (such as a consultant) or those operating illegally.