Kittitas County, Washington
Kittitas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. At the 2020 census, its population was 44,337. Its county seat and largest city is Ellensburg. The county was created in November 1883 when it was carved out of Yakima County. Kittitas County comprises the Ellensburg, Washington, Micropolitan Statistical Area.
There are numerous interpretations of the county's name, which is from the language of the Yakama Nation. According to one source, it "has been said to mean everything from 'white chalk' to 'shale rock' to 'shoal people' to 'land of plenty'". Most anthropologists and historians concede that each interpretation has some validity depending upon the particular dialect spoken.
History
The county was organized in November 1883 by the Washington Territorial Legislature, carved from the northern part of Yakima County.Indigenous peoples known as Kittitas occupied the lands along the Yakima River for hundreds of years before the present era. The Kittitas Valley was a traditional gathering place for tribes east of the Cascades.
White settlers began pouring into the Kittitas Valley in the late 1850s. Their arrival forced dislocation and displacement of the native inhabitants, who were eventually forced into the Yakama Indian Reservation. White settlers introduced livestock raising, crop farming, dairying, logging, lumber processing, and mining. The abundant grassland and the generally-favorable terrain made beef and cattle production become the county's mainstay. That was assisted by the introduction of railways into the area and the large-scale irrigation systems introduced in the 1930s.
Wheat planting in Kittitas Valley began in 1868. The county's first flour mill was established near Ellensburg in 1873. Production of alfalfa was also seen from the county's early days.
Lumber extraction was an important county activity from its early days, mostly in the west end. Logging camps were established near the county's three largest lakes.
Mining for coal and minerals was established by the mid-1880s.
The southeastern corner of the county is part of the U.S. Army's Yakima Training Center.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water. The highest point in the county is Mount Daniel at above mean sea level.Geographic features
- Cascade Mountains
- Yakima River
- Manastash Ridge
- Wenatchee Mountains
Adjacent counties
- Chelan County - north
- Douglas County - northeast
- Grant County - east
- Yakima County - south
- Pierce County - west
- King County - northwest
National protected areas
- Snoqualmie National Forest
- Wenatchee National Forest
Flora and fauna
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 44,337. Of the residents, 18.5% were under the age of 18 and 18.5% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 37.2 years. For every 100 females there were 101.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 101.2 males. 57.2% of residents lived in urban areas and 42.8% lived in rural areas.| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | % 2000 | % 2010 | ||
| White alone | 29,825 | 35,214 | 35,323 | 89.40% | 86.07% | 79.67% |
| Black or African American alone | 227 | 339 | 380 | 0.68% | 0.83% | 0.86% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone | 287 | 353 | 407 | 0.86% | 0.86% | 0.92% |
| Asian alone | 714 | 795 | 907 | 2.14% | 1.94% | 2.05% |
| Pacific Islander alone | 44 | 56 | 87 | 0.13% | 0.14% | 0.20% |
| Other race alone | 54 | 52 | 246 | 0.16% | 0.13% | 0.55% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial | 543 | 985 | 2,393 | 1.63% | 2.41% | 5.40% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,668 | 3,121 | 4,594 | 5.00% | 7.63% | 10.36% |
| Total | 33,362 | 40,915 | 44,337 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
The racial makeup of the county was 82.3% White, 0.9% Black or African American, 1.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1% Asian, 4.9% from some other race, and 8.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 10.4% of the population.
There were 18,650 households in the county, of which 23.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 23,743 housing units, of which 21.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 60.8% were owner-occupied and 39.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.2%.
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 40,915 people, 16,595 households, and 9,225 families living in the county. The population density was. There were 21,900 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 89.3% white, 2.0% Asian, 1.0% American Indian, 0.9% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 3.7% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 7.6% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 26.2% were German, 15.4% were Irish, 12.7% were English, 8.2% were Norwegian, 5.1% were Italian, 5.0% were Swedish, and 3.4% were American.Of the 16,595 households, 24.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.7% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 44.4% were non-families, and 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.87. The median age was 31.9 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $41,232 and the median income for a family was $61,276. Males had a median income of $45,916 versus $35,380 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,467. About 10.3% of families and 21.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.8% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 33,362 people, 13,382 households, and 7,788 families living in the county. The population density was. There were 16,475 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 91.77% White, 0.71% Black or African American, 0.91% Native American, 2.19% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 2.30% from other races, and 1.97% from two or more races. 5.00% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 19.4% were of German, 11.7% English, 9.0% Irish, 7.8% United States or American, 6.6% Norwegian, 3.8% Italian, 3.2% Swedish, 3.1% French, 3.0% Dutch, 1.7% Polish, and 1.3% Danish ancestry. 93.2% spoke English and 4.5% Spanish as their first language.There were 13,382 households, out of which 26.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.80% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.80% were non-families. 28.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.60% under the age of 18, 21.60% from 18 to 24, 24.60% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 98.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,546, and the median income for a family was $46,057. Males had a median income of $36,257 versus $25,640 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,928. About 10.50% of families and 19.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.60% of those under age 18 and 8.20% of those age 65 or over.
Government and politics
Kittitas County has been a Republican-leaning county since the turn of the 21st Century; prior to that, it was a swing county.Kittitas County is directed by a three-member Board of Commissioners.
The current County Commissioners are:
- District 1: Cory Wright
- District 2: Laura Osiadacz
- District 3: Brett Wachsmith
Transportation
Kittitas County is bisected by several major highways, including two Interstate Highways: Interstate 82 connects Ellensburg to the Yakima Valley and crosses over the Manastash Ridge; and Interstate 90 carries east–west traffic and crosses the Cascades at Snoqualmie Pass west of Cle Elum. U.S. Route 97 travels north–south from Yakima to the Wenatchee Valley with onward connections to the British Columbia Interior in the north and Central Oregon to the south.The city government of Ellensburg operates Central Transit, the largest public transit system in the county. It has five routes that operate on weekdays and weekends, with the exception of major federal holidays, as well as paratransit and on-demand medical transport. The system is fare-free and primarily funded by a sales tax within the designated public transportation benefit area. Central Transit also partners with HopeSource, a non-profit organization, to operate the Kittitas County Connector, which connects Ellensburg to outlying communities in the county. The service launched in 2019 with service to Cle Elum and Roslyn and was expanded to Kittitas in 2025.
Several intercity bus operators also serve stops in Kittitas County, including FlixBus and the Travel Washington Apple Line. Yakima Transit also provides intercity commuter service from Ellensburg to Yakima with a state grant.