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<br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />Kittitas County, WA <br />From the Cascades to the Columbia <br />Kittitas County is located at the center of the state of <br />Washington between the Cascade Mountains and the <br />Columbia River. Ellensburg serves as the county seat and <br />is accompanied by four other incorporated cities which <br />include Cle Elum, Kittitas, Roslyn, and South Cle Elum. <br />Almost 50,000 people call Kittitas County home. <br /> <br />The county is rich in natural resources and boasts a history <br />of supporting its communities through its lands and <br />beauty. The Kittitas Valley served as a traditional gathering <br />place for tribes who occupied the lands along the Yakima <br />River for thousands of years. Later, the nutrient-rich soils <br />and abundant water in the Valley supported livestock, <br />farming, dairies, logging, lumber processing, and mining. <br />To this day, agriculture remains one of the top industries <br />for the county’s economy. <br /> <br />Approximately 64% of Kittitas County is owned and <br />managed by Federal and State Agencies. These lands <br />include the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area within the <br />Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and the U.S. Army’s <br />Yakima Training Center. Kittitas County is also the home <br />of Central Washington University located in Ellensburg <br />which supports a highly educated workforce. The <br />University hosts approximately 12,000 undergraduate and <br />graduate students each year and remains a top priority for <br />investment from the State of Washington. <br /> <br />The natural beauty and diverse climate of the county also <br />provides robust recreational opportunities for residents <br />and tourists including skiing, biking, hiking, fishing, and <br />outdoor events. <br />Board of Commissioners <br />Cory Wright – District 1 <br />Laura Osiadacz – District 2 <br />Brett Wachsmith – District 3 <br /> <br />Year Organized <br />1883 <br /> <br />County Seat <br />Ellensburg <br /> <br />Population <br />47,935 <br /> <br />Area <br />2,314 sq. miles <br />1,481,600 acres <br /> <br />Elevation <br />From 478’ to 7881’ <br /> <br />Did you know? <br />Upper Kittitas County was a <br />significant coal mining area <br />in the early 20th century and <br />still has estimated reserves <br />of over 200 million tons. <br /> <br />Did you know? <br />The Ellensburg Rodeo is <br />considered one of the <br />nation’s top rodeos and has <br />been held every Labor Day <br />Weekend since 1923. <br /> <br />