Chelan County, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chelan County
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Chelan County Courthouse
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Location within the U.S. state of Washington
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 Washington's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Washington |
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| Founded | March 13, 1899 | |
| Seat | Wenatchee | |
| Largest city | Wenatchee | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 2,994 sq mi (7,750 km2) | |
| • Land | 2,921 sq mi (7,570 km2) | |
| • Water | 73 sq mi (190 km2) 2.5%% | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 79,074 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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79,997  |
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| • Density | 26/sq mi (10/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) | |
| Congressional district | 8th | |
Chelan County (pronounced shə-LAN) is a county in the state of Washington, USA. It is located in the central part of the state.
As of the 2020 census, about 79,074 people lived there. The biggest city and the main government center is Wenatchee.
Chelan County was created on March 13, 1899. It was formed from parts of Okanogan and Kittitas Counties. The name "Chelan" comes from a word used by the Chelan Native American tribe. It means "deep water." This name probably refers to Lake Chelan, which is 55 miles (89 km) long and very deep, reaching 1,486 feet (453 m) down!
Chelan County is part of the Wenatchee, Washington, Metropolitan Statistical Area. This means it's part of a larger area that includes Wenatchee and nearby towns.
Contents
About Chelan County
Where is Chelan County?
Chelan County covers a total area of 2,994 square miles (7,750 km²). Most of this area, 2,921 square miles (7,565 km²), is land. The rest, 73 square miles (189 km²), is water, which is about 2.5% of its total size. It is the third-largest county in Washington state by area.
Cool Places to See
Chelan County is known for its beautiful natural features, including:
- Bonanza Peak: This is the highest point in Chelan County.
- Cascade Mountains: A large mountain range that runs through the county.
- Chelan Mountains: Another mountain range.
- Chelan River: A river flowing from Lake Chelan.
- Chiwaukum Mountains: More mountains in the area.
- Columbia River: A very large river that forms part of the county's border.
- Entiat Mountains: Yet another mountain range.
- Entiat River: A river in the Entiat Valley.
- Lake Chelan: The long, deep lake that the county is named after.
- Lake Wenatchee: Another beautiful lake.
- Stuart Range: A rugged mountain range popular for hiking.
- The Enchantments: A famous and stunning wilderness area with many alpine lakes.
- Wenatchee Mountains: Mountains near the city of Wenatchee.
- Wenatchee River: A river that flows into the Columbia River.
Main Roads
You can get around Chelan County using these major highways:
U.S. Route 2
U.S. Route 97
Neighboring Counties
Chelan County shares borders with several other counties:
- Okanogan County to the northeast
- Douglas County to the east
- Kittitas County to the south
- King County to the southwest
- Snohomish County to the west
- Skagit County to the northwest
Protected Natural Areas
A lot of Chelan County's land is protected to keep its natural beauty safe. These areas include:
- Lake Chelan National Recreation Area
- Part of North Cascades National Park
- Part of Wenatchee National Forest
- Alpine Lakes Wilderness
People of Chelan County
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 3,931 | — | |
| 1910 | 15,104 | 284.2% | |
| 1920 | 20,906 | 38.4% | |
| 1930 | 31,634 | 51.3% | |
| 1940 | 34,412 | 8.8% | |
| 1950 | 39,301 | 14.2% | |
| 1960 | 40,744 | 3.7% | |
| 1970 | 41,355 | 1.5% | |
| 1980 | 45,061 | 9.0% | |
| 1990 | 52,250 | 16.0% | |
| 2000 | 66,616 | 27.5% | |
| 2010 | 72,453 | 8.8% | |
| 2020 | 79,074 | 9.1% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 79,997 | 10.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020 |
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The population of Chelan County has grown a lot over the years. In 1900, there were only 3,931 people. By 2020, the population had grown to 79,074.
According to the 2010 census, about 72,453 people lived in the county. Most people (79.3%) were white. About 25.8% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino background. Many families live in Chelan County, with about 32.4% of households having children under 18.
Towns and Cities
Chelan County has several towns and cities where people live.
Cities
- Cashmere
- Chelan
- Entiat
- Leavenworth
- Wenatchee (the county seat)
Other Communities
There are also smaller communities, some of which are called "census-designated places" (CDPs) and others are "unincorporated communities." CDPs are like towns but don't have their own local government. Unincorporated communities are even smaller.
Old Towns (Ghost Towns)
Some places that used to be towns are now "ghost towns," meaning no one lives there anymore.
- Blewett
- Trinity
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Chelan para niños
