Yakima, Washington

Yakima, Washington
City
Yakima as viewed from Lookout Point
Seal
Nickname(s):  The Palm Springs of Washington; The Heart of Central Washington
Location of Yakima in Yakima County
Yakima, Washington Location in the United States
Coordinates: 46°36′07″N 120°30′21″W / 46.60194°N 120.50583°W / 46.60194; -120.50583
Country	United States
State	Washington
County	Yakima
Incorporated	December 10, 1883
Government
• Type	Council–manager
• Body	City council
• Mayor	Patricia Byers[1]
• City manager	Vacant[1]
Area [2]
• City	28.32 sq mi (73.35 km2)
• Land	27.86 sq mi (72.16 km2)
• Water	0.46 sq mi (1.19 km2)  1.84%
Elevation [3]	1,070 ft (326 m)
Population  (2020)[4]
• City	96,968
• Estimate  (2023)[5]	96,750
• Rank	US: 350th WA: 11th
• Density	3,473.0/sq mi (1,341.0/km2)
• Urban	133,145 (US: 257th)
• Metro	256,643 (US: 193rd)
Demonym	Yakimanian[6]
Time zone	UTC–8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC–7 (PDT)
ZIP Codes	98901–98904, 98907–98909
Area code	509
FIPS code	53-80010
GNIS feature ID	1509643[3]
Website	yakimawa.gov

Yakima (/ˈjækɪmɑː/ or /ˈjækɪmə/) is a city in, and the county seat of, Yakima County, Washington, United States, and the state's 11th most populous city. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 96,968 and a metropolitan population of 256,728.^[4] The unincorporated suburban areas of West Valley and Terrace Heights are considered a part of greater Yakima.^[7]

Yakima is about 60 miles (100 kilometers) southeast of Mount Rainier in Washington. It is situated in the Yakima Valley, a productive agricultural region noted for apple, wine, and hop production. As of 2011, the Yakima Valley produces 77% of all hops grown in the United States.^[8] The name Yakima originates from the Yakama Nation Native American tribe, whose reservation is located south of the city.

The Yakama people were the first known inhabitants of the Yakima Valley. In 1805, the Lewis and Clark Expedition came to the area and encountered abundant wildlife and rich soil, prompting the settlement of homesteaders.^[9] A Catholic Mission was established in Ahtanum, southwest of present-day Yakima, in 1847.^[10] The arrival of settlers and their conflicts with the natives resulted in the Yakima War. The U.S. Army established Fort Simcoe in 1856 near present-day White Swan as a response to the uprising. The Yakamas were defeated and forced to relocate to the Yakama Indian Reservation.^[11][12]

Yakima County was created in 1865. When bypassed by the Northern Pacific Railroad in December 1884, over 100 buildings were moved with rollers and horse teams to the nearby site of the depot. The new city was dubbed North Yakima and was officially incorporated and named the county seat on January 27, 1886. The name was changed to Yakima in 1918. Union Gap was the new name given to the original site of Yakima.^[13]

On May 18, 1980, the eruption of Mount St. Helens caused a large amount of volcanic ash to fall on the Yakima area. Visibility was reduced to near-zero conditions that afternoon, and the ash overloaded the city's wastewater treatment plant.^[13][14]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 28.32 square miles (73.35 km²), of which 27.86 square miles (72.16 km²) is land and 0.46 square miles (1.19 km²), or 1.84% is water.^[2] Yakima is 1,095 feet above mean sea level.

The city of Yakima is located in the Upper Valley of Yakima County. The county is geographically divided by Ahtanum Ridge and Rattlesnake Ridge into two regions: the Upper (northern) and Lower (southern) valleys. Yakima is located in the more urbanized Upper Valley, and is the central city of the Yakima Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The unincorporated suburban areas of West Valley and Terrace Heights are considered a part of greater Yakima. Other nearby cities include Moxee, Tieton, Cowiche, Wiley City, Tampico, Gleed, and Naches in the Upper Valley, as well as Wapato, Toppenish, Zillah, Harrah, White Swan, Parker, Buena, Outlook, Granger, Mabton, Sunnyside, and Grandview in the Lower Valley.

The Yakima River runs through the city from its source at Lake Keechelus in the Cascade Range to the Columbia River at Richland. It is the primary irrigation source for the Yakima Valley and also used for both fishing and recreation. The Naches River, a tributary of the Yakima River, forms the northern border of the city.

The Yakima Greenway is a 20-mile (32 km) system of parks, paved pathways, and nature reserves along the Yakima and Naches rivers.^[15] The community project was formed in 1983 with work to reclaim a former city landfill into a park, which opened in 1990 as Sarg Hubbard Park.^[16]

Several small lakes flank the northern edge of the city, including Myron Lake, Lake Aspen, Bergland Lake (private) and Rotary Lake (also known as Freeway Lake). These lakes are popular with fishermen and swimmers during the summer.

Yakima has a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk) with a Mediterranean precipitation pattern. Winters are cold, with December the coolest month, with a mean temperature of 28.5 °F (−1.9 °C).^[17] Annual average snowfall is 21.6 in (55 cm),^[17] with most occurring in December and January, when the snow depth averages 2 to 3 in (5.1 to 7.6 cm). There are 18.9 days per year in which the high does not surpass freezing, and 1.6 mornings where the low is 0 °F (−18 °C) or lower.^[17] Springtime warming is very gradual, with the average last freeze of the season May 13. Summer days are hot, but the diurnal temperature variation is large, averaging 34.9 °F (19.4 °C) in July, sometimes reaching as high as 50 °F (27.8 °C) during that season; there are 40.2 afternoons of maxima reaching 90 °F (32 °C) or greater annually and 5.7 afternoons of 100 °F (38 °C) maxima. Autumn cooling is very rapid, with the average first freeze of the season occurring on September 30. Due to the city's location in a rain shadow, precipitation, at an average of 8.01 in (203 mm) annually, is low year-round,^[17] but especially during summer. Extreme temperatures have ranged from −25 °F (−32 °C) on February 1, 1950,^[a] to 113 °F (45 °C) on June 29, 2021.^[19]

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As of the 2020 census, there were 96,968 people, 35,752 households, 22,858 families residing in the city.^[26] The population density was 3,487.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,346.5/km²). There were 37,192 housing units at an average density of 1,286.0 inhabitants per square mile (496.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 51.80% (50,234) White, 1.45% (1,405) African American, 2.53% (2,453) Native American, 1.46% (1,418) Asian, 0.18% (171) Pacific Islander, 27.66% (26,824) from some other races and 14.92% (14,463) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 45.46% (42,947) of the population.^[27]

Of the 35,752 households, 32.6% had children under the age of 18; 42.8% were married couples living together; 31.1% had a female householder with no husband present. Of all households, 29.1% consisted of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.7 and the average family size was 3.4.

27.3% of the population was under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 96.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 95.7 males.

The 2018–2022 five-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $55,734 (with a margin of error of +/- $7,514) and the median family income $57,296 (+/- $3,722). Males had a median income of $31,188 (+/- $828) versus $26,018 (+/- $1,183) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $28,697 (+/- $1,619). Approximately, 14.7% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.4% of those under the age of 18 and 10.0% of those ages 65 or over.

As of the 2010 census, there were 91,067 people with 33,074 households, and 21,411 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,350.6 inhabitants per square mile (1,293.7/km²). There were 34,829 housing units at an average density of 1,281.4 inhabitants per square mile (494.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 67.1% (61,065) White, 1.7% (1,556) African American, 2.0% (1,838) Native American, 1.5% (1,347) Asian, 0.1% (83) Pacific Islander, 23.3% (21,216) from some other races and 4.4% (3,962) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 41.3% (37,587) of the population.^[28][29] 19.1% of the population had a bachelor's degree or higher.^[30]

There were 33,074 households, of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.7% were married couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.3% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.3.

People under the age of 18 accounted for 28.3% of the population, while 13.1% were 65 years or older. The median age was 33.9 years, and 50.7% of the population was female.

The median household income was $39,706. The per capita income was $20,771. 21.3% of the population were below the poverty line.

Yakima's growth in the 20th century was fueled primarily by agriculture. The Yakima Valley produces many fruit crops, including apples, peaches, pears, cherries, and melons. Many vegetables are also produced, including peppers, corn and beans. Most of the nation's hops, a key ingredient in the production of beer, are also grown in the Yakima Valley. Many of the city's residents have come to the valley out of economic necessity and to participate in the picking, processing, marketing and support services for the agricultural economy.

According to the City's 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report,^[31] the largest employers in the city are:

Downtown Yakima, long the retail hub of the region, has undergone many changes since the late 1990s. Three major department stores, and an entire shopping mall that is now closed, have been replaced by a Whirlpool Corporation facility (shut down in 2011), an Adaptis call center, and several hotels. The region's retail core has shifted to the town of Union Gap to a renovated shopping mall and other new retail businesses. The Downtown Futures Initiative promotes the downtown area as a center for events, services, entertainment, and small, personal shopping experiences.^[32] The DFI has provided for street-to-storefront remodeling along Yakima Avenue throughout the entire downtown core, and includes new pedestrian-friendly lighting, water fountains, planters, banner poles, new trees and hanging baskets, and paver-inlaid sidewalks.

Events held downtown include Yakima Downtown New Year's Eve, a Cinco de Mayo celebration, Yakima Live music festival, Yakima Summer Kickoff Party, Fresh Hop Ale Fest,^[33] a weekly Farmers' Market,^[34] and the Hot Shots 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament.^[35]

Over ninety wineries are in the Yakima Valley.^[36]

The Yakima Training Center, between Yakima and Ellensburg, is a United States Army training center. It is used primarily for maneuver training and land warrior system testing, and has a live-fire area. Artillery units from the Canadian Armed Forces based in British Columbia, as well as the Japan Ground Self Defense Force, conduct annual training in Yakima. Japanese soldiers train there because it allows for large-scale live-fire maneuvers not available in Japan. Similarly, it is the closest impact area for the Canadian Gunners, the next closest being in Wainwright, Alberta.

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In the early 2000s, the city of Yakima, in conjunction with multiple city organizations, began revitalization and preservation efforts in its historic downtown area. The Downtown Yakima Futures Initiative was created to make strategic public investments in sidewalks, lighting and landscaping to encourage further development. As a result, local businesses featuring regional produce, wines, and beers, among other products, have returned to the downtown area. Many of these businesses are located on Front Street, Yakima Avenue and 1st Street.

During the summer, a pair of historic trolleys operate along five miles (8 km) of track of the former Yakima Valley Transportation Company through the Yakima Gap connecting Yakima and Selah. The Yakima Valley Trolleys organization, incorporated in 2001, operates the trolleys and a museum for the City of Yakima.

The City of Yakima expanded the Convention Center in 2020.

Cultural activities and events take place throughout the year. The Yakima Valley Museum houses exhibits related to the region's natural and cultural history, a restored soda fountain, and periodic special exhibitions. Downtown Yakima's historic Capitol Theatre and Seasons Performance Hall, as well as the West-side's Allied Arts Center, present numerous musical and stage productions. Larson Gallery housed at Yakima Valley College present six diverse art exhibitions each year. The city is home to the Yakima Symphony Orchestra. The Yakima Area Arboretum is a botanical garden featuring species of both native and adapted non-native plants. Popular music tours, trade shows, and other large events are hosted at the Yakima SunDome in State Fair Park.

The film The Hanging Tree (1959) was shot entirely in and around Yakima.^[37]

• Central Washington State Fair, held each year in late September at State Fair Park.
• Yakima Folklife Festival,^[38] held the second week of July at Franklin Park.
• Fresh Hop Ale Festival,^[33] held each October in Downtown Yakima.
• A Case of the Blues and All That Jazz,^[39] held in August in Sarg Hubbard Park.
• Yakima Pride Festival is a celebration of LGBT pride held in June.^[40]

• The Yakima Mavericks are a minor league football team in the Pacific Football League and play at Marquette Stadium.
• The Yakima Beetles American Legion baseball team, 3-time World Champions.
• The Yakima Canines of the American West Football Conference.
• The Yakima Valley Pippins are a collegiate wood bat baseball team that play in the West Coast League.

Former professional teams

• The Yakima Valley Warriors were an indoor football team. Play ended in 2010.
• The Yakima Sun Kings was a Continental Basketball Association franchise that won 5 CBA championships and disbanded in 2008. The team was reinstituted in 2018 as part of the North American Premier Basketball league.
• The Yakima Bears minor league baseball team, moved to Hillsboro, Oregon after the 2011 season.
• The Yakima Reds soccer team played in the USL Premier Development League, disbanded in 2010.

Yakima is one of the ten first class cities, those with a population over 10,000 at the time of reorganization and operating under a home rule charter.

The Yakima City Council operates under the council–manager form of government. The city council has seven members, elected by district and the mayor is elected by the council members.^[1] Yakima's city manager serves under the direction of the City Council, and administers and coordinates the delivery of municipal services. The city of Yakima is a full-service city, providing police, fire, water and wastewater treatment, parks, public works, planning, street maintenance, code enforcement, airport and transit to residents.

In 1994 and 2015, the City of Yakima received the All-America City Award, given by the National Civic League. Ten U.S. cities receive this award per year.

The city council was elected at-large until a 2012 lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union was ruled in the favor of Latino constituents on the grounds of racial discrimination.^[41] The council's four district-based and three at-large seat arrangement was also removed in favor of seven districts—of which two have a Latino majority.^[1] The city manager position has been vacant since January 2024, when the new city council removed incumbent Bob Harrison.^[1] Several attempts were made in the early 2020s to move Yakima to a mayor–council form of government.^[1]

The citizens of Yakima are represented in the Washington Senate by Republicans Curtis King in District 14, and Nikki Torres in District 15, and in the Washington House of Representatives by Republicans Chris Corry and Gina Mosbrucker in District 14, and Republicans Bruce Chandler and Bryan Sandlin in District 15.

At the national level, Yakima is part of Washington's US Congressional 4th District, currently represented by Republican Dan Newhouse.

The city of Yakima has three K–12 public school districts, several private schools, and three post-secondary schools.

There are four high schools in the Yakima School District:

• Davis High School, a 4A high school with about 2,100 students
• Eisenhower High School, a 4A high school with about 2,300 students
• Stanton Academy
• Yakima Online High School

Outside the city:

• West Valley High School, in the West Valley School District, is a division 4A school with a student population of around 1,500.
• East Valley High School, just east of Terrace Heights on the city's eastern side, is in the East Valley School District. It is a 2A school with about 1,000 students.

• La Salle High School in Union Gap is a Catholic high school in the 1A division and enrolls about 200 students.
• Riverside Christian School, near East Valley High School, is a private K–12 Christian school. Riverside Christian is a 1B school with around 400 students in grades K–12.
• Yakima Adventist Christian School

Yakima Valley College (YVC) is one of the oldest community colleges in the state of Washington. Founded in 1928, YVC is a public, four-year institution of higher education, and part of one of the most comprehensive community college systems in the nation. It offers programs in adult basic education, English as a Second Language, lower-division arts and sciences, professional and technical education, transfer degrees to in-state universities, and community services.^[42]

Perry Technical Institute is a private, nonprofit school of higher learning located in the city since 1939. Perry students learn trades such as automotive technology, instrumentation, information technology, HVAC, electrical, machining, office administration, medical coding, and legal assistant/paralegal.

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences opened in the fall of 2008,^[43] and graduated its first class of osteopathic physicians (D.O.) in 2012. The first college on the 42.5-acre (172,000 m²) campus is home to the first medical school approved in the Pacific Northwest in over 60 years, and trains physicians with an osteopathic emphasis. The school's mission is to train primary-care physicians committed to serving rural and underserved communities throughout the Pacific Northwest. It is housed in a state-of-the-art 45,000 sq ft (4,200 m²) facility.^[44]

The Yakima Herald-Republic is the primary daily newspaper in the area.

According to Arbitron, the Yakima metropolitan area is the 197th largest radio market in the US, serving 196,500 people.^[45]

Yakima is part of the U.S.'s 114th largest television viewing market, which includes viewers in Pasco, Richland and Kennewick.^[46]

Interstate 82 is the main freeway through the Yakima Valley, connecting the region to Ellensburg and the Tri-Cities, with onward connections to Seattle and Oregon. U.S. Route 12 crosses northern Yakima, joining I-82 and U.S. Route 97 along the east side of the city. State Route 24 terminates in Yakima and is the primary means of reaching Moxee City and agricultural areas to the east. State Route 821 terminates in northern Yakima and traverses the Yakima River canyon, providing an alternate route to Ellensburg that bypasses the I-82 summit at Manastash Ridge.

City-owned Yakima Transit serves Yakima, Selah, West Valley and Terrace Heights, as well as several daily trips to Ellensburg. There are also free intercity bus systems between adjacent Union Gap and nearby Toppenish, Wapato, White Swan, and Ellensburg.^[47]

Yakima is served by the Yakima Air Terminal, a municipal airport located on the southern edge of the city and is used for general aviation and commercial air service. The FAA identifier is YKM. It has two asphalt runways: 9/27 is 7,604 by 150 feet (2,318 x 46 m) and 4/22 is 3,835 by 150 feet (1,169 x 46 m). Yakima Air Terminal is owned and operated by the city.

Yakima is served by one scheduled air carrier (Alaska Airlines) and two non-scheduled carriers (Sun Country Airlines and Xtra Airways). Alaska Airlines provides multiple daily flights to and from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Sun Country Airlines provide charter flights to Laughlin, NV and Xtra Airways provide charter flights to Wendover, NV. During World War II the airfield was used by the United States Army Air Forces.

The airport at is home to numerous private aircraft, and is a test site for military jets and Boeing test flights.

• Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico^[59]
• Itayanagi, Aomori, Japan^[60]

• United States portal
• Japantown

• Lyman, William Denison (1919). History of the Yakima Valley, Washington: Comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties. S. J. Clarke.Available online through the Washington State Library's Classics in Washington History collection

• City of Yakima – Official Website