# Kittitas County, Washington

Kittitas County (/ˈkɪtɪtæs/) 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 (or Upper Yakima) 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 (Cle Elum, Kachess, Keechelus).
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 2,333 square miles (6,040 km$^2$), of which 2,297 square miles (5,950 km$^2$) is land and 36 square miles (93 km$^2$) (1.5%) is water. The highest point in the county is Mount Daniel at 7,959 feet (2,426 m) 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 (part)
* Wenatchee National Forest (part)

### Flora and fauna

There are a variety of species represented within Kittitas County. These include a diversity of grasses, herbs, trees, birds, mammals and amphibians. The genus of ricegrass known as Oryzopsis was one of the earliest grasses classified within the county. Among the amphibian species found are the Cascades frog and the rough-skinned newt, the latter being a common far western USA taxon; in fact, examples of neoteny have been found in individual newts of this species within the county.

## Demographics
### 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 17.8 inhabitants per square mile (6.9/km$^2$). There were 21,900 housing units at an average density of 9.5 units per square mile (3.7 units/km$^2$). 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 14 people per square mile (5.4 people/km$^2$). There were 16,475 housing units at an average density of 7 units per square mile (2.7 units/km$^2$). 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

United States presidential election results for Kittitas County, Washington :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 14,645 | 55.27% | 10,810 | 40.79% | 1,044 | 3.94% |
| 2020 | 14,105 | 53.50% | 11,421 | 43.32% | 838 | 3.18% |
| 2016 | 10,100 | 51.49% | 7,489 | 38.18% | 2,026 | 10.33% |
| 2012 | 9,782 | 53.47% | 7,949 | 43.45% | 562 | 3.07% |
| 2008 | 9,471 | 52.68% | 8,030 | 44.67% | 476 | 2.65% |
| 2004 | 9,052 | 56.17% | 6,731 | 41.77% | 331 | 2.05% |
| 2000 | 7,727 | 54.86% | 5,516 | 39.16% | 843 | 5.98% |
| 1996 | 5,224 | 41.58% | 5,707 | 45.42% | 1,633 | 13.00% |
| 1992 | 4,078 | 32.93% | 5,432 | 43.86% | 2,875 | 23.21% |
| 1988 | 5,048 | 48.09% | 5,318 | 50.67% | 130 | 1.24% |
| 1984 | 6,580 | 57.06% | 4,830 | 41.89% | 121 | 1.05% |
| 1980 | 5,359 | 49.86% | 4,075 | 37.91% | 1,314 | 12.23% |
| 1976 | 4,765 | 47.57% | 4,858 | 48.50% | 394 | 3.93% |
| 1972 | 5,464 | 53.96% | 4,299 | 42.46% | 363 | 3.58% |
| 1968 | 4,212 | 48.25% | 3,921 | 44.92% | 596 | 6.83% |
| 1964 | 3,200 | 37.24% | 5,383 | 62.65% | 9 | 0.10% |
| 1960 | 4,640 | 51.83% | 4,303 | 48.06% | 10 | 0.11% |
| 1956 | 5,097 | 57.72% | 3,726 | 42.20% | 7 | 0.08% |
| 1952 | 5,201 | 56.69% | 3,937 | 42.91% | 36 | 0.39% |
| 1948 | 3,446 | 41.28% | 4,588 | 54.96% | 314 | 3.76% |
| 1944 | 3,423 | 44.54% | 4,227 | 55.00% | 36 | 0.47% |
| 1940 | 3,401 | 39.27% | 5,203 | 60.08% | 56 | 0.65% |
| 1936 | 1,941 | 26.89% | 5,044 | 69.88% | 233 | 3.23% |
| 1932 | 1,963 | 29.37% | 4,266 | 63.82% | 455 | 6.81% |
| 1928 | 3,207 | 59.48% | 2,136 | 39.61% | 49 | 0.91% |
| 1924 | 2,360 | 47.22% | 455 | 9.10% | 2,183 | 43.68% |
| 1920 | 2,837 | 54.54% | 1,119 | 21.51% | 1,246 | 23.95% |
| 1916 | 2,310 | 43.74% | 2,609 | 49.40% | 362 | 6.85% |
| 1912 | 1,157 | 22.44% | 1,407 | 27.29% | 2,592 | 50.27% |
| 1908 | 1,752 | 56.23% | 985 | 31.61% | 379 | 12.16% |
| 1904 | 1,787 | 64.86% | 523 | 18.98% | 445 | 16.15% |
| 1900 | 1,139 | 52.88% | 934 | 43.36% | 81 | 3.76% |
| 1896 | 1,044 | 43.39% | 1,336 | 55.53% | 26 | 1.08% |
| 1892 | 855 | 37.83% | 800 | 35.40% | 605 | 26.77% |
Kittitas County is directed by a three-member Board of Commissioners.
The current County Commissioners are:
* District 1: Cory Wright (term: January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2024)
* District 2: Laura Osiadacz (term: January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2024)
* District 3: Brett Wachsmith (term: January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2026)
In presidential elections, it is a conservative county which has voted in the majority for the Republican candidate since the beginning of the 21st century.

## 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.

## Communities
### Cities

* Cle Elum
* Ellensburg (county seat)
* Kittitas
* Roslyn

### Town

* South Cle Elum

### Ghost towns

* Liberty

### Census-designated places

* Easton
* Ronald
* Snoqualmie Pass (including Hyak)
* Thorp
* Vantage

### Unincorporated communities

* Suncadia
* Teanaway
* Thrall

## Events

* The Kittitas County Fair and Ellensburg Rodeo occur every Labor Day Weekend. The Kittitas County Fair began in 1885, and moved to its current location (North Maple and East 8th Avenue in Ellensburg) in 1923.