Ellensburg, Washington

Ellensburg, Washington
City

Historic Davidson Building, completed in 1890

Seal

Location of Ellensburg, Washington
Coordinates: 46°59′49″N 120°32′42″W / 46.99694°N 120.54500°W
Country United States
State Washington
County Kittitas
Incorporated November 26, 1883
Government
 • Type Council-Manager
 • City Manager John Akers
 • Mayor Rich Elliot[1]
Area[2]
 • City 6.97 sq mi (18.05 km2)
 • Land 6.92 sq mi (17.92 km2)
 • Water 0.05 sq mi (0.13 km2)
Elevation 1,542 ft (470 m)
Population (2010)[3]
 • City 18,174
 • Estimate (2013)[4] 18,363
 • Density 2,626.3/sq mi (1,014.0/km2)
 • Metro 41,672
Time zone Pacific (PST) (UTC-8)
 • Summer (DST) PDT (UTC-7)
ZIP codes 98926
Area code(s) 509
FIPS code 53-21240
GNIS feature ID 1519305[5]
Website City of Ellensburg

Ellensburg is a city in, and the county seat of, Kittitas County, Washington, United States.[6] The population was 18,174 at the 2010 census.[7] Ellensburg is located just east of the Cascade Range on Interstate 90 and is known as the most centrally located city in the state. Ellensburg is the home of Central Washington University (CWU).

The surrounding Kittitas Valley is internationally known for the timothy-hay that it produces. There are several local hay brokering and processing operations that ship to Pacific Rim countries. Downtown Ellensburg has many historic buildings, many of which were constructed in the late 19th century. This is a legacy of its bid to be the state capital, which it lost to Olympia.[8] CWU being placed there is another product of that legacy. The state legislature selected Ellensburg as the location for the then Normal School as a consolation prize.[9] Eastern Washington has a much drier climate than Western Washington, and some Seattle-area residents have moved to the city and commute over Snoqualmie Pass on Interstate 90 to jobs located in the Puget Sound region.

History

Barge Hall, Central Washington University

Ellensburg was officially incorporated on November 26, 1883. John Alden Shoudy came to 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, other than the early trading that occurred among American Indians, cattle drivers, trappers, and miners. Robber's Roost was located on the present-day 3rd Avenue, just west of Main Street near the alley. There is a placard on the wall commemorating the location, as well as a small stone monument against the wall on the sidewalk. Shoudy named the town after his wife, Mary Ellen Shoudy, and officially began the city of Ellensburgh around 1872. Shoudy was not the first settler in the Kittitas Valley, nor was he the first businessperson, but he was responsible for platting the city of Ellensburgh in the 1870s, and he was the person who named the streets in the downtown district.

The city was originally named Ellensburgh, until the final -h was dropped under standardization pressure from the United States Postal Service and Board of Geography Names in 1894.[10]

There were several early newspapers in Ellensburg. The Daily Record, however, began in 1909 and is the name of the local newspaper today.[11]

Concerns over the state of Ellensburg's historic downtown led to the formation of the Ellensburg Downtown Association to work on revitalizing the area.[12]

Events

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.97 square miles (18.05 km2), of which 6.92 square miles (17.92 km2) is land and 0.05 square miles (0.13 km2) is water.[2]

Climate

Ellensburg experiences a semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk).

Climate data for Ellensburg (1971–2000)
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)		 103
(39)		 110
(43)		 103
(39)		 97
(36)		 87
(31)		 79
(26)		 59
(15)		 110
(43)
Average high °F (°C) 33.7
(0.9)		 41.3
(5.2)		 52.3
(11.3)		 60.4
(15.8)		 68.3
(20.2)		 75.0
(23.9)		 82.7
(28.2)		 82.9
(28.3)		 74.5
(23.6)		 61.5
(16.4)		 44.1
(6.7)		 33.7
(0.9)		 59.2
(15.12)
Daily mean °F (°C) 26.2
(−3.2)		 32.3
(0.2)		 40.5
(4.7)		 47.4
(8.6)		 55.1
(12.8)		 61.6
(16.4)		 67.8
(19.9)		 67.6
(19.8)		 58.9
(14.9)		 47.4
(8.6)		 35.6
(2)		 26.8
(−2.9)		 47.27
(8.48)
Average low °F (°C) 18.6
(−7.4)		 23.2
(−4.9)		 28.7
(−1.8)		 34.3
(1.3)		 41.9
(5.5)		 48.2
(9)		 52.8
(11.6)		 52.2
(11.2)		 43.3
(6.3)		 33.3
(0.7)		 27.0
(−2.8)		 19.8
(−6.8)		 35.28
(1.83)
Record low °F (°C) −29
(−34)		 −23
(−31)		 −5
(−21)		 15
(−9)		 18
(−8)		 30
(−1)		 35
(2)		 29
(−2)		 16
(−9)		 9
(−13)		 −17
(−27)		 −31
(−35)		 −31
(−35)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 1.23
(31.2)		 0.92
(23.4)		 0.77
(19.6)		 0.56
(14.2)		 0.56
(14.2)		 0.63
(16)		 0.37
(9.4)		 0.36
(9.1)		 0.46
(11.7)		 0.57
(14.5)		 1.20
(30.5)		 1.47
(37.3)		 9.1
(231.1)
Source: NOAA (normals, 1971–2000)[19]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1870150—
18801500.0%
18902,7681,745.3%
19001,737−37.2%
19104,209142.3%
19203,967−5.7%
19304,62116.5%
19405,94428.6%
19508,43041.8%
19608,6252.3%
197013,56857.3%
198011,752−13.4%
199012,3615.2%
200015,41424.7%
201018,17417.9%
Est. 201318,3631.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[20]
2013 Estimate[4]

2010 census

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 18,174 people, 7,301 households, and 2,889 families residing 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% 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 census of 2000, there were 15,414 people, 6,249 households, and 2,649 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,338.9 people per square mile (903.1/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 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.

Politics and government

The City of Ellensburg uses the Manager/Council form of government with a City Manager hired by the City Council. The seven-member City Council is elected at large and serve 4-year terms. The City Council elects a Mayor and Deputy Mayor from the Council to serve 2-year terms. The Council meets the first and third Monday of each month, at 7:00 pm, in the City Council Chambers at City Hall.

On the state legislative level, Ellensburg is in the 13th district. As of 2013, its state senator is Republican Janéa Holmquist Newbry, and its two state representatives are Republicans Judy Warnick and Matt Manweller. On the congressional level, Ellensburg is located in Washington's 8th congressional district and is represented by Republican Dave Reichert.

Kittitas County supported Senator John McCain of Arizona over then-Senator Barack Obama of Illinois in the 2008 presidential election, with both receiving 53 and 45 percent of the vote, respectively.[21] Then, in the 2010 Senate race, Republican Dino Rossi carried the city over Democratic Senator Patty Murray with 50.7 percent of the vote to Murray's 49.3 percent.

Education

Higher education

Public schools

Public schools are operated by Ellensburg School District 401. The district includes one high school (Ellensburg High School), one middle school, and three elementary schools.[22]

Notable people

Rock musicians

Ellensburg produced the grunge / alternative rock band Screaming Trees, which included members:

References

Further reading

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ellensburg, Washington.

Coordinates: 46°59′49″N 120°32′42″W / 46.997064°N 120.545119°W