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South Cle Elum, Washington facts for kids

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South Cle Elum, Washington
Location of South Cle Elum, Washington
Location of South Cle Elum, Washington
Country United States
State Washington
County Kittitas
Area
 • Total 0.40 sq mi (1.04 km2)
 • Land 0.40 sq mi (1.04 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
1,923 ft (586 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 559
 • Density 1,398/sq mi (537.5/km2)
Time zone UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
98943
Area code(s) 509
FIPS code 53-65765
GNIS feature ID 1526142
Website Town of South Cle Elum

South Cle Elum is a small town in Kittitas County, Washington, United States. It is located in the central part of Washington state. In 2020, about 559 people lived there. This town is known for its history with railroads.

History of South Cle Elum

How the Town Began

South Cle Elum started because of a big railway project. In 1909, the Chicago, Milwaukee & Puget Sound Railway was building a new line across the country. They needed a special stop called a "division point" near Cle Elum. This stop would help manage trains between different sections of the railway.

The railway decided to build its main line about a mile south of the city of Cle Elum. This new area was then planned out and called South Cle Elum. Workers built maintenance shops for trains and places for railway workers to live. A train station was also built. South Cle Elum officially became a town on August 28, 1911.

Geography and Location

Where is South Cle Elum?

South Cle Elum is located at coordinates 47°11′8″N 120°57′11″W / 47.18556°N 120.95306°W / 47.18556; -120.95306. It is a small town with a total area of about 0.40 square miles (1.04 square kilometers). All of this area is land.

Neighboring Towns

South Cle Elum is surrounded by other towns. Here are some of them:

Population and People

How Many People Live Here?

The number of people living in South Cle Elum has changed over the years. Here is a look at the population from different years:

Historical population
Census Pop.
1920 587
1930 338 −42.4%
1940 340 0.6%
1950 442 30.0%
1960 383 −13.3%
1970 374 −2.3%
1980 449 20.1%
1990 457 1.8%
2000 457 0.0%
2010 532 16.4%
2020 559 5.1%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2010, there were 532 people living in South Cle Elum. There were 235 households, which are groups of people living in one home. About 28.5% of these homes had children under 18. The average age of people in the town was about 42.8 years old.

Fun Places to Visit

Exploring South Cle Elum

  • Former Milwaukee Road Depot: This old train station was built in 1909. It has been fixed up and is now a museum. You can see old railway items there. There is even a cafe that looks like the old "beanery" where railway workers used to eat.
  • The Iron Horse State Park: This park used to be the path for the Milwaukee Road railway. Now, it's a great place for people to hike, ski, or ride horses. Near the old train station, there is a special trail. It shows where important railway buildings, like the roundhouse, once stood.
  • Former Milwaukee Road Bunkhouse: This building used to be where railway workers slept. Today, it is a bed and breakfast.

Famous People from South Cle Elum

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: South Cle Elum (Washington) para niños

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