{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Ellensburg, Washington
|settlement_type = City
|image_skyline = 2008-1019-01-Ellensburg01.jpg
|imagesize =
|image_caption = The historic Davidson Building, completed in 1890
|image_seal = City of Ellensburg - Logo.png
|image_map = Kittitas County Washington Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Ellensburg Highlighted.svg
|mapsize = 250px
|map_caption = Location of Ellensburg, Washington
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = United States
|subdivision_type1 = State
|subdivision_name1 = Washington
|subdivision_type2 = County
|subdivision_name2 = Kittitas
|government_footnotes =
|government_type = Council–manager
|leader_title = Mayor
|leader_name = Rich Elliott
|leader_title1 = City Manager
|leader_name1 = Heidi Behrends Cerniwey
|established_title = Incorporated
|established_date = November 26, 1883
|unit_pref = Imperial
|area_footnotes =
|area_total_km2 = 21.83
|area_land_km2 = 21.55
|area_water_km2 = 0.27
|area_total_sq_mi = 8.43
|area_land_sq_mi = 8.32
|area_water_sq_mi = 0.11
|population_as_of = 2020
|population_footnotes =
|population_total = 18666
|population_density_km2 = 867.9
|population_density_sq_mi = 2248
|population_urban = 21518
|population_density_urban_km2 = 939.9
|population_density_urban_sq_mi = 2434
|population_metro = 45189 (US: 266th)
|population_density_metro_km2 = 7595
|population_density_metro_sq_mi = 19670
|population_est = 20996
|pop_est_as_of = 2024
|pop_est_footnotes =
|timezone = Pacific (PST)
|utc_offset = –8
|timezone_DST = PDT
|utc_offset_DST = –7
|elevation_footnotes =
|elevation_ft = 1565
|coordinates =
|postal_code_type = ZIP Code
|postal_code = 98926
|area_code = 509
|blank_name = FIPS code
|blank_info = 53-21240
|blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
|blank1_info = 2410430
|website =
|footnotes =
}}
Ellensburg is a city in and the county seat of Kittitas County, Washington, United States. It is located just east of the Cascade Range near the junction of Interstate 90 and Interstate 82. The population was 18,666 at the 2020 census, and was estimated to be 20,996 in 2024.
The city is located along the Yakima River in the Kittitas Valley, an agricultural region that extends east towards the Columbia River. The valley is a major producer of timothy hay, which is processed and shipped internationally. Ellensburg is also the home of Central Washington University (CWU).
Ellensburg, originally named Ellensburgh for the wife of town founder John Alden Shoudy, was founded in 1871 and grew rapidly in the 1880s following the arrival of the Northern 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.
History
thumb|left|Barge Hall at Central Washington University
John Alden Shoudy arrived in the Kittitas 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.
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 the Kittitas 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 the United States Postal Service and Board of Geography Names.Kirk (1995:123) Ellensburg was an early center of commerce in Washington and was among the first cities in the state to have electrical 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 chose Olympia. The state legislature selected Ellensburg as the location for the State Normal School (now Central Washington University).Ruth Kirk, Carmela Alexander. Exploring Washington's Past: A Road Guide to History. University of Washington Press, 1995. p.124
There were several early newspapers in Ellensburg. The Daily Record, which started in 1909, is the publication which serves the city and county today. Concerns over the state of Ellensburg's historic downtown led to the formation of the Ellensburg Downtown Association to work on revitalizing the area.
Geography
Ellensburg lies in the Kittitas Valley east of the Cascade Mountains and at the edge of the Columbia Plateau. The Yakima River runs through the area and continues south into the Yakima River Canyon, which cuts through the Manastash Ridge. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.
Climate
Owing to the strong Cascade rain shadow, Ellensburg experiences a typical Intermountain cool semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk). The hottest temperature recorded in Ellensburg was on July 26, 1928, while the coldest temperature recorded was on December 12, 1919.
{{Weather box
| location = Ellensburg, Washington, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1892–present
| single line = Yes
| collapsed = Yes
| Jan record high F = 64
| Feb record high F = 66
| Mar record high F = 80
| Apr record high F = 94
| May record high F = 99
| Jun record high F = 108
| Jul record high F = 110
| Aug record high F = 107
| Sep record high F = 98
| Oct record high F = 87
| Nov record high F = 71
| Dec record high F = 65
| Jan avg record high F = 60.7
| Feb avg record high F = 61.6
| Mar avg record high F = 69.4
| Apr avg record high F = 77.4
| May avg record high F = 88.0
| Jun avg record high F = 95.2
| Jul avg record high F = 102.6
| Aug avg record high F = 101.0
| Sep avg record high F = 92.6
| Oct avg record high F = 80.0
| Nov avg record high F = 66.5
| Dec avg record high F = 59.9
| year avg record high F = 104.2
| Jan high F = 35.0
| Feb high F = 42.6
| Mar high F = 52.1
| Apr high F = 60.1
| May high F = 69.3
| Jun high F = 75.6
| Jul high F = 84.8
| Aug high F = 84.5
| Sep high F = 76.1
| Oct high F = 61.5
| Nov high F = 45.5
| Dec high F = 35.0
| year high F =
| Jan mean F = 27.6
| Feb mean F = 32.5
| Mar mean F = 39.8
| Apr mean F = 46.9
| May mean F = 55.7
| Jun mean F = 61.9
| Jul mean F = 69.2
| Aug mean F = 68.2
| Sep mean F = 59.8
| Oct mean F = 47.5
| Nov mean F = 35.7
| Dec mean F = 27.7
| year mean F =
| Jan low F = 20.2
| Feb low F = 22.4
| Mar low F = 27.6
| Apr low F = 33.7
| May low F = 42.1
| Jun low F = 48.2
| Jul low F = 53.6
| Aug low F = 51.9
| Sep low F = 43.4
| Oct low F = 33.5
| Nov low F = 25.9
| Dec low F = 20.3
| year low F =
| Jan avg record low F = 11.7
| Feb avg record low F = 15.8
| Mar avg record low F = 23.1
| Apr avg record low F = 28.5
| May avg record low F = 33.5
| Jun avg record low F = 41.2
| Jul avg record low F = 47.2
| Aug avg record low F = 46.0
| Sep avg record low F = 37.8
| Oct avg record low F = 25.7
| Nov avg record low F = 18.8
| Dec avg record low F = 12.1
| year avg record low F = 3.7
| Jan record low F = -29
| Feb record low F = -23
| Mar record low F = -5
| Apr record low F = 14
| May record low F = 18
| Jun record low F = 30
| Jul record low F = 30
| Aug record low F = 29
| Sep record low F = 16
| Oct record low F = 9
| Nov record low F = -17
| Dec record low F = -31
|precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 1.19
| Feb precipitation inch = 0.82
| Mar precipitation inch = 0.80
| Apr precipitation inch = 0.63
| May precipitation inch = 0.81
| Jun precipitation inch = 0.55
| Jul precipitation inch = 0.31
| Aug precipitation inch = 0.18
| Sep precipitation inch = 0.33
| Oct precipitation inch = 0.82
| Nov precipitation inch = 1.10
| Dec precipitation inch = 1.45
| year precipitation inch =
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 9.5
| Feb precipitation days = 7.4
| Mar precipitation days = 7.8
| Apr precipitation days = 6.6
| May precipitation days = 7.4
| Jun precipitation days = 6.0
| Jul precipitation days = 2.5
| Aug precipitation days = 2.3
| Sep precipitation days = 3.0
| Oct precipitation days = 7.1
| Nov precipitation days = 9.2
| Dec precipitation days = 10.6
| Jan snow inch = 6.9
| Feb snow inch = 2.6
| Mar snow inch = 0.7
| Apr snow inch = 0.0
| May snow inch = 0.0
| Jun snow inch = 0.0
| Jul snow inch = 0.0
| Aug snow inch = 0.0
| Sep snow inch = 0.0
| Oct snow inch = trace
| Nov snow inch = 3.4
| Dec snow inch = 7.5
| year snow inch =
| unit snow days = 0.1 in
| Jan snow days = 4.9
| Feb snow days = 1.9
| Mar snow days = 0.6
| Apr snow days = 0.0
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.0
| Nov snow days = 1.8
| Dec snow days = 6.2
| Jan snow depth inch = 2.4
| Feb snow depth inch = 2.6
| Mar snow depth inch = 1.0
| Apr snow depth inch = 0.0
| May snow depth inch = 0.0
| Jun snow depth inch = 0.0
| Jul snow depth inch = 0.0
| Aug snow depth inch = 0.0
| Sep snow depth inch = 0.0
| Oct snow depth inch = 0.0
| Nov snow depth inch = 0.7
| Dec snow depth inch = 3.0
| year snow depth inch = 4.9
| source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00452505&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Ellensburg, WA (1991–2020)
|accessdate = November 1, 2022
}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly&stations=USC00452505&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Ellensburg, WA (1981–2010)
|accessdate = November 1, 2022
}}
</ref>
| source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=pdt
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Pendleton
|accessdate = November 1, 2022
}}</ref>
| source =
}}
Economy
In 2024, WinCo Foods, a regional supermarket chain, began construction of a distribution center and cold storage facility in Ellensburg. It is scheduled to be fully completed in 2031 and encompass .
Demographics
{{US Census population
|1870= 150
|1880= 150
|1890= 2768
|1900= 1737
|1910= 4209
|1920= 3967
|1930= 4621
|1940= 5944
|1950= 8430
|1960= 8625
|1970= 13568
|1980= 11752
|1990= 12361
|2000= 15414
|2010= 18174
|2020= 18666
|estyear=2024
|estimate=20996
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census2020 Census
| align = right
}}
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 18,666 people, 8,110 households, and 3,541 families residing in the city.
The census recorded a median age of 27.3 years; 16.8% of residents were under the age of 18, and 13.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.9 males age 18 and over.
99.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 1.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 8,110 households in Ellensburg, of which 21.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 30.0% were married-couple households, 26.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 33.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 37.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 8,924 housing units, of which 9.1% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.0%.
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census
! Race !! Number !! Percent
|-
| White || 14,391 || 77.1%
|-
| Black or African American || 315 || 1.7%
|-
| American Indian and Alaska Native || 313 || 1.7%
|-
| Asian || 675 || 3.6%
|-
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 64 || 0.3%
|-
| Some other race || 1,133 || 6.1%
|-
| Two or more races || 1,775 || 9.5%
|-
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 2,498 || 13.4%
|}
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 18,174 people, 7,301 households, and 2,889 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 7,867 housing units at an average density of . 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% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino 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.
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 15,414 people, 6,249 households, and 2,649 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 6,732 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 88.07% White, 1.17% Black or African American, 0.95% Native American, 4.09% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 2.86% from other races, and 2.69% from two or more races. 6.33% of the population were Hispanic or Latino 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.
Arts and culture
The City of Ellensburg has several local art museums and galleries:
- Kittitas County Historical Museum
- The Goodey Gallery
- Clymer Museum and Gallery
- Gallery One Visual Arts Center
- 420 Loft Art Gallery
- Sarah Spurgeon Gallery, Central Washington University (CWU) Department of Art
- Museum of Culture & Environment, Central Washington University
- Dick and Jane's Spot
Events
- The Ellensburg Farmers Market is held every Saturday from May to October in downtown Ellensburg.
- Ellensburg hosts the annual Winterhop Brewfest in January. Over 21 micro breweries from around the Pacific Northwest serve their product at various venues in the downtown buildings.
- Every June, Ellensburg hosts Dachshunds on Parade. Events include a parade, Dachshund races, pet tricks, and a dog costume contest.
- Ellensburg hosts the annual Jazz in the Valley music festival on the last weekend in July.
- Ellensburg is a stop on the PRCA professional rodeo circuit, occurring each year on Labor Day weekend. The Ellensburg Rodeo has been a town tradition since 1923, and is the largest rodeo in Washington state. The rodeo arena is encompassed by the Kittitas County Fair, also held during Labor Day weekend. The Kittitas County Fair officially began in 1885, and has been held at its current location since 1923.
- Downtown Ellensburg hosts Buskers in the Burg the last Saturday in September. It included street performers (buskers), giant puppet art parade, tasting halls, children's activities, and an outdoor evening concert.
Government and politics
The City of Ellensburg uses the council–manager form of government with a city manager hired by the city council. The seven-member city council is elected at-large and serve four-year terms. The City Council elects a Mayor and Deputy Mayor from the council to serve 2-year terms.
The city lies within the 13th legislative district, which elects one senator and two representatives to serve in the Washington State Legislature. At the congressional level, Ellensburg is within the 8th district, which includes all of Kittitas and Chelan counties, along with the eastern portions of the Seattle metropolitan area.
Media
Kittitas County is served by the Daily Record, a newspaper published in Ellensburg five days a week.
The city maintains its own public library, which opened on January 20, 1910, using funds donated by Andrew Carnegie.
Education
Higher education
The main campus of Central Washington University in Ellensburg covers over and is the only four-year university in the region. It was established in 1891 as the Washington State Normal School, a teachers' college, and later renamed as it expanded to offer bachelor's and master's degrees in various programs. Central Washington had 8,509 total enrolled student in 2024, ranking sixth among post-secondary institutions in Washington state.
Public schools
Public schools are operated by Ellensburg School District 401. The district includes one high school (Ellensburg High School), one middle school, and four elementary schools.
Infrastructure
Transportation
Ellensburg lies at the intersection of several major highways that cross Washington state. Interstate 82 connects the city to the Yakima Valley and crosses over the Manastash Ridge. Interstate 90 carries east–west traffic from Seattle to Spokane and crosses the Cascades at Snoqualmie Pass. 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 operates Central Transit, which has five bus routes, 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 around cities in Kittitas County. 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. Several intercity bus operators also serve stops in Ellensburg, including FlixBus and the Travel Washington Apple Line. Yakima Transit also provides intercity commuter service from Ellensburg to Yakima with a state grant.
Notable people
- Byron Beck, American Basketball Association player
- Drew Bledsoe, National Football League player
- John Brotherton, actor
- Daryl Chapin, physicist best known for co-inventing solar cells
- John Clymer, painter and illustrator
- Gary Lee Conner, singer-songwriter, guitarist, co-founder of Screaming Trees band
- Van Conner, singer-songwriter, bassist, co-founder of Screaming Trees band
- Brian Habib, National Football League player
- Brian Haley, actor, comedian
- John Haughm, founder, guitarist, and vocalist of the band Agalloch, and later Pillorian.
- Dave Heaverlo, Major League baseball pitcher
- Stevin John, known as "Blippi", YouTube creator, children's entertainer, and educator
- Jon Kitna, National Football League player
- Mark Lanegan, singer-songwriter, co-founder and lead singer of Screaming Trees band
- Ron Magers, television news anchor
- Michael Mina, American chef and restaurateur
- Mark Pickerel, singer-songwriter acoustic guitar percussionist, co-founder of Screaming Trees band
- Brian Thompson, actor
- David Wilkie, NHLer for the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning.
- Nick Zentner, a geology professor at Central Washington University, also known for online videos covering the geology of the Northwestern United States.
References
Further reading
- Caveness, Andrew (2009). Images of America: Ellensburg. Mount Pleasant, S.C.: Arcadia Publishing. '
- Kirk, Ruth, and Carmela Alexander (1990, revised edition 1995). Exploring Washington's Past. Seattle: University of Washington Press. .
External links
- Ellensburg official website
- Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce
- Ellensburg Downtown Association
- Ellensburg Public Library's Historic Local Photograph Collection hosted by the CWU Brooks Library