Olympic National Park visitors increase 10 percent in 2014

PORT ANGELES, Wash. (AP) — A study by the National Park Service shows that Olympic National Park visitors increased in 2014, contributing $2.6 million to the area economy.

The Peninsula Daily News reports that 3.2 million visitors came to the park in 2014, a 10 percent increase from the year before. Spending by park visitors supported more than 3,500 jobs in the area.

The increase in visitors was the largest jump since 2002. It was also the largest jump in visits for any of the 470 national parks surveyed by 7 percent, which Barb Maynes, a Park Service spokeswoman, said shows increased awareness of the Olympic Peninsula.

Visitation was tracked by traffic counters, multiplying each vehicle by 2.6 people per vehicle.