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2025 Hazard Mitigation Plan <br />Kittitas County, Washington <br />CHAPTER 3. COMMUNITY PROFILE <br />Kittitas County is located at the geographic center of Washington State, 100 miles east of Seattle across <br />the Cascade Mountain range. The County covers 2,315 square miles (1 ,481,814 acres) of highly varied <br />terrain..s lt is the 24th most populous county in the State.6 and the eighth largest in area.7 Kittitas County <br />is bounded to the north by Chelan and Douglas counties, to the south by Yakima County, to the east by <br />Grant County, and to the west by King and Pierce counties. The Pacific Crest Trail in the Cascade Range <br />forms its western boundary, and the Columbia River forms its eastern boundary. <br />The County is a geographically diverse area which offers a number of recreational opportunities (e.9., <br />biking, birdwatching, camping, fishing, golf, hiking, horseback riding, rockhounding, snow activities, and <br />swimming). Additionally, the City of Ellensburg is home to CentralWashington University (CWU) and the <br />Ellensburg Rodeo. <br />The City of Ellensburg, located in the southeast part of the County, is the Kittitas County seat. Kittitas <br />County contains 10 United States Census recognized communities, five (5) of which are incorporated <br />jurisdictions - Cle Elum, Ellensburg, Kittitas, Roslyn, and South Cle Elum. The other areas include the <br />towns of Easton, Ronald, Snoqualmie Pass, Thorp, and Vantage..s <br />Like most locations in the United States, Kittitas County is vulnerable to natural hazards that threaten life <br />safety, public health, business, economy, and its critical infrastructure. Figure 3-l illustrates the Kittitas <br />County planning area. <br />5 Kittitas County. (2021). Kittitas County Comprehensive Plan. Retrieved from <br />https;//www.co.kittitas.wa.us/uploads/documents/cds/comp-planl2021/2021 %20Comprehensive%20Plan.pdf . <br />6 Washington Demographics. (n.d.). Washington Counties by Population. Retrieved from https://www.washinqton- <br />demoqraphics.com/counties bv population. <br />7 Washington Land Area County Rank. http://www.usa.com/rank/washington-state:land-area--countv-rank.htm. <br />8 HomeTownlocator. (n.d.). Kittitas County WA Cities, Towns, & Neighborhoods. Retrieved from <br />https://washinqton,hometownlocator.com/countiesicities.cfips,03T.c,kittitas.cfm. <br />Chapter 3: Community Profile 16