Holidays in Upper County
The holidays are fast approaching! Be sure to check our event calendar for all the latest upcoming family-fun activities!Ah, Kittitas County!
Breathing life from the very heart of central Washington. From a spectacular alpine entrance on her western border at Snoqualmie Pass, her accessible highways take you through the upper Yakima River valley. Enjoy the spectacular mountain scenery, forest lands, abundant wildlife, and many lakes and streams, interspersed with farm and ranch land in the valley bottoms.
With history-rich, close-knit communities, plenty of space and beautiful weather that expresses the seasons perfectly, it is no wonder that more people are discovering upper Kittitas County as the place to play, work, and live.
History
In the 1880s, in conjunction with the building of the Northern Pacific Railroad, coal was discovered and the cities of Roslyn and Cle Elum were founded. Between 1886 and 1929, coal miners representing over 20 different nationalities worked and lived in the Upper County. In 1963 the last coal mine closed and the area's most important industry became logging, which had been expanding since original settlement.
The Upper County has three museums that depict area history. Because of the rich ethnic background, the area still celebrates and honors its past.
Population
2009 Estimates
- Kittitas County:
- 39,400
- Cle Elum:
- 1,865
- Roslyn:
- 1,015
- South Cle Elum:
- 580
2000
- Kittitas County:
- 33,362
- Cle Elum:
- 1,755
- Roslyn:
- 1,017
- South Cle Elum:
- 457
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Weather
Averages
| Month |
High (f | c) |
Low (f | c) |
Precip (in | cm) |
| January | 34.4 | 1.3 | 18.4 | -7.6 | 3.5 | 8.9 |
| February | 40.3 | 4.6 | 22.1 | -5.5 | 2.5 | 6.4 |
| March | 49.7 | 9.8 | 27.7 | -2.4 | 2.3 | 5.8 |
| April | 59.8 | 15.4 | 32.9 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 2.5 |
| May | 68.9 | 20.5 | 38.8 | 3.8 | 1.0 | 2.5 |
| June | 74.1 | 23.4 | 45.3 | 7.4 | 1.0 | 2.5 |
| July | 83.2 | 28.4 | 50.5 | 10.3 | 0.3 | 0.8 |
| August | 81.4 | 27.4 | 48.2 | 9.0 | 0.5 | 1.3 |
| September | 74.6 | 23.7 | 41.2 | 5.1 | 1.0 | 2.5 |
| October | 61.0 | 16.1 | 34.5 | 1.4 | 2.0 | 5.1 |
| November | 45.0 | 7.2 | 27.4 | -2.6 | 3.5 | 8.9 |
| December | 37.9 | 3.3 | 24.1 | -4.4 | 4.0 | 10.2 |
| Total Precipitation | 22.5 in | 57.2 cm | ||
| Total Snowfall | 77.0 in | 195.6 cm | ||
Current Conditions
