Ellensburg, Washington | |
|---|---|
 The historic Davidson Building, completed in 1890 | |
 Seal | |
 Location of Ellensburg, Washington | |
| Coordinates:47°00′01″N120°32′48″W / 47.00028°N 120.54667°W /47.00028; -120.54667 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Kittitas |
| Incorporated | November 26, 1883 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–manager |
| • Mayor | Rich Elliott[1] |
| • City Manager | Heidi Behrends Cerniwey |
| Area | |
• City | 8.43 sq mi (21.83 km2) |
| • Land | 8.32 sq mi (21.55 km2) |
| • Water | 0.10 sq mi (0.27 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,565 ft (477 m) |
| Population | |
• City | 18,666 |
• Estimate (2024)[5] | 20,996 |
| • Density | 2,248/sq mi (867.9/km2) |
| • Urban | 21,518 |
| • Urban density | 2,434/sq mi (939.9/km2) |
| • Metro | 45,189 (US:266th) |
| • Metro density | 19,670/sq mi (7,595/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC–8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC–7 (PDT) |
| ZIP Code | 98926 |
| Area code | 509 |
| FIPS code | 53-21240 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2410430[3] |
| Website | ci.ellensburg.wa.us |
Ellensburg is a city in and thecounty seat ofKittitas County, Washington, United States. It is located just east of theCascade Range near the junction ofInterstate 90 andInterstate 82. The population was 18,666 at the2020 census.[4] and was estimated to be 20,996 in 2024.[5]
The city is located along theYakima River in theKittitas Valley, an agricultural region that extends east towards theColumbia River. The valley is a major producer oftimothy hay, which is processed and shipped internationally. Ellensburg is also the home ofCentral Washington University (CWU).
Ellensburg, originally named Ellensburgh for the wife of town founderJohn Alden Shoudy, was founded in 1871 and grew rapidly in the 1880s following the arrival of theNorthern Pacific Railway. The city was once a leading candidate to become the state capital of Washington, but its campaign was scuppered by a major fire in 1889.
John Alden Shoudy arrived in theKittitas Valley in 1871 and purchased a small trading post from Andrew Jackson "A.J." Splawn, called "Robber's Roost". Robber's Roost was the first business in the valley, aside from the early trading that occurred among Native Americans, cattle drivers, trappers, and miners. A small stone monument to Robber's Roost with a placard can be found at its original location, present-day 3rd Avenue, just west of Main Street near the alley.[6]
Shoudy named the new town after his wife, Mary Ellen, thus officially starting the city of Ellensburgh around 1872. Shoudy had not been the first settler nor the first business person in theKittitas Valley, but he was responsible for platting the city of Ellensburgh in the 1870s and also named the streets in the downtown district. Ellensburgh was officially incorporated on November 26, 1883. In 1894, the final -h was dropped under standardization pressure from theUnited States Postal Service andBoard of Geography Names.[7] Ellensburg was an early center of commerce in Washington and was among the first cities in the state to haveelectrical service.
The city launched a bid to become Washington state's capital in 1889, preparing a site in the Capital Hill neighborhood for government offices. On July 4 that year, however, a major fire destroyed much of the downtown area and stalled the campaign, which resumed with a series of referendums, in which Washington voters choseOlympia.[8] The state legislature selected Ellensburg as the location for the State Normal School (nowCentral Washington University).[9]
There were several early newspapers in Ellensburg.The Daily Record, which started in 1909, is the publication which serves the city and county today.[10] Concerns over the state of Ellensburg's historic downtown led to the formation of the Ellensburg Downtown Association to work on revitalizing the area.[11]
Ellensburg lies in theKittitas Valley east of theCascade Mountains and at the edge of theColumbia Plateau.[12] TheYakima River runs through the area and continues south into theYakima River Canyon, which cuts through theManastash Ridge.[13] According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.43 square miles (21.83 km2), of which 8.32 square miles (21.55 km2) is land and 0.11 square miles (0.28 km2) is water.[2]
Owing to the strong Cascade rain shadow, Ellensburg experiences a typical Intermountaincool semi-arid climate (KöppenBSk). The hottest temperature recorded in Ellensburg was 110 °F (43.3 °C) on July 26, 1928, while the coldest temperature recorded was −31 °F (−35.0 °C) on December 12, 1919.[14]
| Climate data for Ellensburg, Washington, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1892–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 64 (18) | 66 (19) | 80 (27) | 94 (34) | 99 (37) | 108 (42) | 110 (43) | 107 (42) | 98 (37) | 87 (31) | 71 (22) | 65 (18) | 110 (43) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 60.7 (15.9) | 61.6 (16.4) | 69.4 (20.8) | 77.4 (25.2) | 88.0 (31.1) | 95.2 (35.1) | 102.6 (39.2) | 101.0 (38.3) | 92.6 (33.7) | 80.0 (26.7) | 66.5 (19.2) | 59.9 (15.5) | 104.2 (40.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 35.0 (1.7) | 42.6 (5.9) | 52.1 (11.2) | 60.1 (15.6) | 69.3 (20.7) | 75.6 (24.2) | 84.8 (29.3) | 84.5 (29.2) | 76.1 (24.5) | 61.5 (16.4) | 45.5 (7.5) | 35.0 (1.7) | 60.2 (15.7) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 27.6 (−2.4) | 32.5 (0.3) | 39.8 (4.3) | 46.9 (8.3) | 55.7 (13.2) | 61.9 (16.6) | 69.2 (20.7) | 68.2 (20.1) | 59.8 (15.4) | 47.5 (8.6) | 35.7 (2.1) | 27.7 (−2.4) | 47.7 (8.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 20.2 (−6.6) | 22.4 (−5.3) | 27.6 (−2.4) | 33.7 (0.9) | 42.1 (5.6) | 48.2 (9.0) | 53.6 (12.0) | 51.9 (11.1) | 43.4 (6.3) | 33.5 (0.8) | 25.9 (−3.4) | 20.3 (−6.5) | 35.2 (1.8) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 11.7 (−11.3) | 15.8 (−9.0) | 23.1 (−4.9) | 28.5 (−1.9) | 33.5 (0.8) | 41.2 (5.1) | 47.2 (8.4) | 46.0 (7.8) | 37.8 (3.2) | 25.7 (−3.5) | 18.8 (−7.3) | 12.1 (−11.1) | 3.7 (−15.7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −29 (−34) | −23 (−31) | −5 (−21) | 14 (−10) | 18 (−8) | 30 (−1) | 30 (−1) | 29 (−2) | 16 (−9) | 9 (−13) | −17 (−27) | −31 (−35) | −31 (−35) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 1.19 (30) | 0.82 (21) | 0.80 (20) | 0.63 (16) | 0.81 (21) | 0.55 (14) | 0.31 (7.9) | 0.18 (4.6) | 0.33 (8.4) | 0.82 (21) | 1.10 (28) | 1.45 (37) | 8.99 (228.9) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 6.9 (18) | 2.6 (6.6) | 0.7 (1.8) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | trace | 3.4 (8.6) | 7.5 (19) | 21.1 (54) |
| Average extreme snow depth inches (cm) | 2.4 (6.1) | 2.6 (6.6) | 1.0 (2.5) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.7 (1.8) | 3.0 (7.6) | 4.9 (12) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 9.5 | 7.4 | 7.8 | 6.6 | 7.4 | 6.0 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 3.0 | 7.1 | 9.2 | 10.6 | 79.4 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 4.9 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 6.2 | 15.4 |
| Source 1: NOAA[15][16] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service[14] | |||||||||||||
In 2024,WinCo Foods, a regionalsupermarket chain, began construction of adistribution center andcold storage facility in Ellensburg. It is scheduled to be fully completed in 2031 and encompass 700,000 square feet (65,000 m2).[17]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 150 | — | |
| 1880 | 150 | 0.0% | |
| 1890 | 2,768 | 1,745.3% | |
| 1900 | 1,737 | −37.2% | |
| 1910 | 4,209 | 142.3% | |
| 1920 | 3,967 | −5.7% | |
| 1930 | 4,621 | 16.5% | |
| 1940 | 5,944 | 28.6% | |
| 1950 | 8,430 | 41.8% | |
| 1960 | 8,625 | 2.3% | |
| 1970 | 13,568 | 57.3% | |
| 1980 | 11,752 | −13.4% | |
| 1990 | 12,361 | 5.2% | |
| 2000 | 15,414 | 24.7% | |
| 2010 | 18,174 | 17.9% | |
| 2020 | 18,666 | 2.7% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 20,996 | [5] | 12.5% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[18] 2020 Census[4] | |||
As of the2020 census, there were 18,666 people and 8,110 households, and 3,541 families residing in the city.[19]
As of the2010 census, there were 18,174 people, 7,301 households, and 2,889 families living in the city. The population density was 2,626.3 inhabitants per square mile (1,014.0/km2). There were 7,867 housing units at an average density of 1,136.8 per square mile (438.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 85.7%White, 1.5%African American, 1.0%Native American, 3.2%Asian, 0.2%Pacific Islander, 4.6% fromother races, and 3.7% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 9.7% of the population.
There were 7,301 households, of which 19.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 28.2% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 60.4% were non-families. 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.86.
The median age in the city was 23.5 years. 14.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 41.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.8% were from 25 to 44; 13.9% were from 45 to 64; and 8.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.1% male and 49.9% female.
As of the2000 census, there were 15,414 people, 6,249 households, and 2,649 families living in the city. The population density was 2,338.9 people per square mile (903.1 people/km2). There were 6,732 housing units at an average density of 1,021.5 per square mile (394.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 88.07%White, 1.17%Black orAfrican American, 0.95%Native American, 4.09%Asian, 0.16%Pacific Islander, 2.86% fromother races, and 2.69% from two or more races. 6.33% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 6,249 households, of which 20.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.4% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 57.6% were non-families. 35.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 15.8% under the age of 18, 39.3% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 12.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $20,034, and the median income for a family was $37,625. Males had a median income of $31,022 versus $22,829 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,662. About 18.8% of families and 34.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.0% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.
The City of Ellensburg has several local art museums and galleries:
The City of Ellensburg uses thecouncil–manager form of government with acity manager hired by the city council. The seven-member city council is electedat-large and serve four-year terms. The City Council elects a Mayor and Deputy Mayor from the council to serve 2-year terms.[35]
The city lies within the13th legislative district, which elects one senator and two representatives to serve in theWashington State Legislature.[36] At thecongressional level, Ellensburg is within the8th district, which includes all of Kittitas and Chelan counties, along with the eastern portions of theSeattle metropolitan area.[37]
Kittitas County is served by theDaily Record, a newspaper published in Ellensburg five days a week.
The city maintains its ownpublic library, which opened on January 20, 1910, using funds donated byAndrew Carnegie.[38]
The main campus ofCentral Washington University in Ellensburg covers over 226 acres (91 ha) and is the only four-year university in the region. It was established in 1891 as the Washington State Normal School, ateachers' college, and later renamed as it expanded to offer bachelor's and master's degrees in various programs.[39] Central Washington had 8,509 total enrolled student in 2024, ranking sixth among post-secondary institutions in Washington state.[40]
Public schools are operated byEllensburg School District 401. The district includes one high school (Ellensburg High School), one middle school, and four elementary schools.[41]
Ellensburg lies at the intersection of several major highways that cross Washington state.Interstate 82 connects the city to theYakima Valley and crosses over theManastash Ridge.Interstate 90 carries east–west traffic fromSeattle toSpokane and crosses the Cascades atSnoqualmie Pass.U.S. Route 97 travels north–south from Yakima to theWenatchee Valley with onward connections to theBritish Columbia Interior in the north andCentral Oregon to the south.[42]
The city government operates Central Transit, which has five bus routes,paratransit, and on-demand medical transport. The system isfare-free and primarily funded by asales tax within the designatedpublic transportation benefit area around cities in Kittitas County.[43] Central Transit also partners with HopeSource, a non-profit organization, to operate the Kittitas County Connector, which launched in 2019 and connects Ellensburg to outlying communities in the county.[44] Several intercity bus operators also serve stops in Ellensburg, includingFlixBus and theTravel Washington Apple Line.Yakima Transit also provides intercity commuter service from Ellensburg to Yakima with a state grant.[43][45]
Municipalities and communities ofKittitas County, Washington,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Town | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
