CHELAN COUNTY, WASHINGTON

'Chelan County' is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. Its population was 66,616 at the 2000 U.S. census. It is part of the 'Wenatchee, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area'. The county seat is at Wenatchee, which is also the county's largest city. "Chelan" (pronounced ) derives from a Chelan Indian word meaning "deep water," likely a reference to 55-mile-long Lake Chelan, which reaches a maximum depth of 1,486 feet (453 m).
Chelan County was created out of Okanogan and Kittitas Counties on March 13, 1899.[1][2]

Contents

Geography

Geographic features

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Census-recognized communities

Other communities

Further Reading

See also

External links

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 7,753 km² (2,994 mi²). 7,566 km² (2,921 mi²) of it is land and 187 km² (72 mi²) of it (2.41%) is water.

Geographic features

★ Cascade Mountains

★ Chelan River

★ Chiwaukum Mountains

★ Columbia River

★ Stuart Range

★ The Enchantments

★ Bonanza Peak, highest point in Chelan County

Major highways

★ U.S. Route 2

★ U.S. Route 97

Adjacent counties

★ Okanogan County, Washington northeast

★ Douglas County, Washington east

★ Kittitas County, Washington south

★ King County, Washington southwest

★ Snohomish County, Washington west

★ Skagit County, Washington northwest

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 66,616 people, 25,021 households, and 17,364 families residing in the county. The population density was 9/km² (23/mi²). There were 30,407 housing units at an average density of 4/km² (10/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 83.63% White, 0.26% Black or African American, 0.99% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 12.19% from other races, and 2.14% from two or more races. 19.26% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.9% were of German, 11.2% English, 9.3% United States or American and 7.1% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 80.9% spoke English and 18.1% Spanish as their first language.
There were 25,021 households out of which 34.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.40% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.60% were non-families. 25.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the county, the population was spread out with 28.00% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 13.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,316, and the median income for a family was $46,293. Males had a median income of $35,065 versus $25,838 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,273. About 8.80% of families and 12.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.00% of those under age 18 and 7.40% of those age 65 or over.

Census-recognized communities

★ Cashmere (2,965)

★ Chelan (3,522)

★ Entiat (957)

★ Leavenworth (2,074)

★ South Wenatchee (1,991)

★ Sunnyslope (2,521)

★ Wenatchee (27,856)

★ West Wenatchee (1,681)

Other communities

★ Appleyard

★ Ardenvoir

★ Blewett

★ Chelan Falls

★ Chiwaukum, 47°41'25"N 120°44'09"W; (Post Office 1896-1912)

★ Chumstick

★ Dryden

★ Grant Road Addition

★ Holden Village

★ Kenroy

★ Lakeside

★ Lucerne

★ Malaga

★ Manson

★ Merritt

★ Mission Square

★ Monitor

★ Pearcot

★ Peshastin

★ Plain

★ Stehekin

★ Telma, 47°50'35"N 120°48'56"W; (Post Office 1905-1938)

★ Wenatchee Heights

★ Winton

Further Reading

★ An illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, State of Washington, , , , Western Historical Pub. Co., 1904, Available online through the Washington State Library's Classics in Washington History collection

See also

★ USS ''Chelan County'' (LST-542)

★ Wenachee Valley College

★ Wenatchee School District

★ Chelan County Public Utility District

External links

★ Chelan County

★ Chelan County Emergency Management

★ Chelan County directory