Chelan County (, ) is a county in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, its population was 79,074. The county seat and largest city is Wenatchee. The county was created out of Okanogan and Kittitas Counties on March 13, 1899. It derives its name from a Chelan Indian word meaning "deep water," likely a reference to -long Lake Chelan, which reaches a maximum depth of .
Chelan County is part of the Wenatchee, Washington, Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (2.5%) is water. It is the third-largest county in Washington by area.
Geographic features
- Bonanza Peak, highest point in Chelan County
- Cascade Mountains
- Chelan Mountains
- Chelan River
- Chiwaukum Mountains
- Columbia River
- Entiat Mountains
- Entiat River
- Lake Chelan
- Lake Wenatchee
- Stuart Range
- The Enchantments
- Wenatchee Mountains
- Wenatchee River
- Columbia River Basalt
Major highways
- 20px U.S. Route 2
- 20px U.S. Route 97
- 20px U.S. Route 97 Alternate
Adjacent counties
- Okanogan County - northeast
- Douglas County - east
- Kittitas County - south
- King County - southwest
- Snohomish County - west
- Skagit County - northwest
National protected areas
- Lake Chelan National Recreation Area
- North Cascades National Park (part)
- Wenatchee National Forest (part)
- Alpine Lakes Wilderness