Chelan County, Washington

Chelan County
Chelan County
County
	Chelan County Courthouse
	Seal
	Location within the U.S. state of Washington
	Washington's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 47°53′N 120°38′W / 47.88°N 120.64°W
Country	United States
State	Washington
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)
• Total	79,074
• Estimate (2022)	79,926
• Density	26/sq mi (10/km2)
Time zone	UTC−8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (PDT)
Congressional district	8th
Website	www.co.chelan.wa.us

Chelan County (/ʃəˈlæn/, shə-LAN) is a county in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, its population was 79,074.^[1] The county seat and largest city is Wenatchee.^[2] The county was created out of Okanogan and Kittitas Counties on March 13, 1899.^[3]^[4] It derives its name from a Chelan Indian word meaning "deep water," likely a reference to 55-mile (89 km)-long Lake Chelan, which reaches a maximum depth of 1,486 feet (453 m).

Chelan County is part of the Wenatchee, Washington, Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,994 square miles (7,750 km²), of which 2,921 square miles (7,570 km²) is land and 73 square miles (190 km²) (2.5%) is water.^[5] It is the third-largest county in Washington by area.

Geographic features

Bonanza Peak, highest point in Chelan County
Cascade Mountains
Chelan Mountains
Chelan River
Chiwaukum Mountains
Columbia River
Entiat Mountains
Entiat River
Lake Chelan
Lake Wenatchee
Stuart Range
The Enchantments
Wenatchee Mountains
Wenatchee River
Columbia River Basalt

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Okanogan County - northeast
Douglas County - east
Kittitas County - south
King County - southwest
Snohomish County - west
Skagit County - northwest

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Note	%±
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%
2022 (est.)	79,926	^[6]	1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census^[7] 1790–1960^[8] 1900–1990^[9] 1990–2000^[10] 2010–2020^[1]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,^[11] there were 66,616 people, 25,021 households, and 17,364 families living in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile (8.9 people/km²). There were 30,407 housing units at an average density of 10 units per square mile (3.9 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 83.63% White, 0.26% Black or African American, 0.99% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 12.19% from other races, and 2.14% from two or more races. 19.26% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.9% were of German, 11.2% English, 9.3% United States or American and 7.1% Irish ancestry. 80.9% spoke English and 18.1% Spanish as their first language.

There were 25,021 households, out of which 34.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.40% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.60% were non-families. 25.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.00% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 13.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,316, and the median income for a family was $46,293. Males had a median income of $35,065 versus $25,838 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,273. About 8.80% of families and 12.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.00% of those under age 18 and 7.40% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 72,453 people, 27,827 households, and 18,795 families living in the county.^[12] The population density was 24.8 inhabitants per square mile (9.6/km²). There were 35,465 housing units at an average density of 12.1 units per square mile (4.7 units/km²).^[13] The racial makeup of the county was 79.3% white, 1.0% American Indian, 0.8% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 15.7% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 25.8% of the population.^[12] In terms of ancestry, 17.6% were German, 15.0% were American, 11.3% were English, and 8.3% were Irish.^[14]

Of the 27,827 households, 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.5% were non-families, and 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.10. The median age was 39.3 years.^[12]

The median income for a household in the county was $48,674 and the median income for a family was $57,856. Males had a median income of $41,076 versus $34,261 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,378. About 8.2% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.8% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.^[15]

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Blewett
Trinity

Politics

Chelan County is part of the 8th Congressional District federally, represented by Democrat Kim Schrier. Formerly a Republican Party stronghold, it has narrowed up considerably in recent years, with Donald Trump only carrying the county by around 8 points over Joe Biden in 2020.^[16]

United States presidential election results for Chelan County, Washington^[17]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	22,746	52.52%	19,349	44.68%	1,211	2.80%
2016	18,114	52.61%	13,032	37.85%	3,287	9.55%
2012	18,402	56.64%	13,112	40.36%	974	3.00%
2008	17,605	54.74%	13,781	42.85%	777	2.42%
2004	18,482	62.80%	10,471	35.58%	477	1.62%
2000	16,980	63.89%	8,412	31.65%	1,184	4.46%
1996	12,363	51.79%	8,595	36.01%	2,912	12.20%
1992	10,716	45.65%	7,860	33.48%	4,900	20.87%
1988	11,601	57.82%	8,183	40.78%	281	1.40%
1984	13,667	65.10%	6,978	33.24%	349	1.66%
1980	11,299	56.92%	6,483	32.66%	2,068	10.42%
1976	10,492	56.13%	7,623	40.78%	577	3.09%
1972	10,470	60.13%	5,889	33.82%	1,054	6.05%
1968	9,093	52.77%	6,787	39.39%	1,350	7.84%
1964	7,406	41.56%	10,295	57.77%	121	0.68%
1960	9,854	54.10%	8,177	44.89%	183	1.00%
1956	10,405	57.42%	7,600	41.94%	117	0.65%
1952	11,164	61.73%	6,867	37.97%	53	0.29%
1948	7,392	48.15%	7,702	50.17%	257	1.67%
1944	7,081	51.64%	6,557	47.82%	75	0.55%
1940	8,019	52.50%	7,181	47.02%	73	0.48%
1936	4,975	36.89%	8,030	59.54%	481	3.57%
1932	5,584	40.29%	7,316	52.79%	959	6.92%
1928	7,672	77.07%	2,239	22.49%	43	0.43%
1924	4,543	55.56%	995	12.17%	2,639	32.27%
1920	3,885	58.55%	1,540	23.21%	1,210	18.24%
1916	3,011	47.63%	2,747	43.46%	563	8.91%
1912	970	18.83%	1,331	25.84%	2,849	55.32%
1908	1,639	59.71%	871	31.73%	235	8.56%
1904	1,248	72.18%	372	21.52%	109	6.30%
1900	577	48.98%	573	48.64%	28	2.38%