Ellensburg is the county seat of Kittitas County.
Ellensburg is home to both a stop on the PRCA professional rodeo circuit and
Central Washington University.
History
Long before the white man came this area was a special place for the Yakima
Indians. They gathered berries and other food throughout the winter. They
dug the camas root, hunted, and fished for salmon. Some settlers came in the
early 1860s, but the community didn't begin to develop until 1870. In 1860
Hald and Meigs established a trading post at the mouth of Manashtash Creek.
The first settlement was by Fredrick Ludi and John Galles in 1867. By 1869
the area served as summer range for cattle herds. It was also a gathering
place for herds being taken to Idaho and Montana gold mines and to Puget
Sound.
A.J. Splawn opened a trading post with Ben Burch. John Gillespie carved a
sign for the store, which read Robbers' Roost, and attached it to the store.
The name stuck and a settlement was born. Settlers were still scarce so
Splawn depended on the fur trade with Indians. He gave traps to the Indians
for free so they'd bring back the furs. They did and he did good business
that year. In the spring, he bought out Burch. Then he went to The Dalles to
trade furs for supplies, and he learned more about what to charge. In 1871,
more settlers came in. Splawn fenced a pasture adjoining the store, now
where the Northern Pacific depot is. He rented it out to travelling herds.
In 1872, the store was sold to John Shoudy who acquired with it the 160 acre
land claim. Shoudy plotted a town site and named it after his wife Mary
Ellen, thus establishing the town as Ellensburg. Prior to that, the town had
been named Allensburg for the small son of Mr. Borst.
First settlers started gardens and orchards. A Chinese man named Charlie How
had a market garden. There were many other chinese gardeners in the area.
In 1886 the Northern Pacific railroad came to town. Chinese laborers were
also used to build this track. Low grade iron ore and coal could be mined
close by and people began to talk of Ellensburg as the Pittsburgh of the
West. Also since it was centrally located, it began to think of itself as
the potential capital of the new state. In 1889, at the Admissions
convention, the territorial citizens petitioned for statehood. Ellensburg's
citizens were planning a capitol site near Helena street, and a mansion for
the governor was being built on east third street. On July 4, 1889, fire
destroyed most of the business district and many homes. No one died in the
blaze. The only major business building to survive was the Lynch block at
5th and Pearl. The Chinatown survived the fire. Most were in restaurant and
laundry businesses. The citizens quickly rebuilt, knowing that a capital
could not exist in a burned out community. The Davidson Building has a
Phoenix perched on top symbolizing the city rising from the ashes with new
strength and hope. The town didn't get to be capital but it was elected for
the state Normal School, which is now Central Washington University. It did
become the county seat.
Early pioneers were the Olmsteads. In 1875 Samuel and Sarah Olmstead came to
Ellensburg from Seattle. They brought their three children Phil, Clara, and
John. That fall and winter he built a cabin on his 160-acre lot. Coleman
Creek supplied fresh water or animals and irrigation. The Creek was a
favorite camping spot for the Indians. In 1877 and 1878 he planted apple-Russian
harvest, crabapple, sour cherry, plum, sweet crabapple trees. He also
planted currants, gooseberries, raspberries, and rhubarb. Roses and other
flowers were planted too. Many of them still produce today. They also kept
cattle in the pasture. During the Indian wars in 1877 to 78, neighbors from
isolated homes would come to stay at the Olmstead cabin for protection. Sam
died on January 27, 1881. Sarah continued to live on the ranch. Phil
Olmstead, Sam's son, operated the farm until 1938. At that time Sam's
granddaughters Clareta and Leta took over. In 1968 they donated about half
of their original homestead to the state, now operated as Olmstead Place
State Park.
The Historic Davidson Building was built in 1889 after the great fire. The
July 4, 1889, fire destroyed much of the city.
Central Washington University was established on March 28, 1890, when Gov
Elisha P. Ferry signed legislation that created the Washington State Normal
school at Ellensburg. Its purpose was defined as the training and education
of teachers in the art of isntructing and governing in the public schools of
the state. The first class of 86 entrolled in 1891. It became Central
Washington College of Education in 1937. Then became Central Washington
State College in 1961, and university status in 1977. Today hosts the
"Chimposium," in which Washoe, a chimpanzee, demonstrates her ability to
talk using American sign language.
The Cascade Canal was built in 1903-04. It diverts the Yakima about 5 miles
above Thorp. The Town Ditch was established in 1885 by the Ellensburg water
company and was the first large canal in Kittitas County.
The Daily Record has been the community paper for Kittitas County since
1909.
Ellensburg is well known for its Labor Day rodeo, the oldest (1923) and
biggest in the state.
John Clymer, artist, is probably Ellensburg's most famous resident. His art
has been on the front cover of Saturday Evening Post. His work is on display
at National Cowboy Hall of Fame, Buffalo Bill Historical Center, and the
Norman Rockwell Museum. He sold his first piece while a high school student
in Ellensburg. He was a highly successful illustrator for many yers,
including art for Field and Stream magazine and for some of the nation's
best known products. He shared covers on the Saturday Evening Post with
Norman Rockwell. He has more than 80 covers. But he always looked forward to
doing historical subjects of the old wet. He and his wife decided to visit
the sites of his proposed paintings and made careful studies to make
historically accurate paintings.
In 1974 the Kittitas County Historical Society bought the property,
renovated it, and opened the Kittitas County Museum. The Rollinger Rock and
Mineral Collection features rocks and minerals found in the valley like the
Ellensburg Blue Agate and petrified woods.
Ellensburg Blue agates first came to the attention of collectors about 1930.
The town closest to where the agates were being found naturally became
associated with the rock probably in the 1930s when the name Ellensburg blue
agate first apeared. Today called Ellensburg blue it is known popularly by
that name. A typical exposure is the highway cut on US10, 8 miles northwest
of town. The formation is about 19 million years old. But it has never
consolidated, that is it has not compressed into rock. The landslide bluffs
along the Ellensburg hills across the river from Thorp are continually
shedding stones on US10. Reecer Creek and Dry Creek are where the best finds
of the past have been found.
Geography
Ellensburg is located at 46°59'49" North, 120°32'42" West (46.997064,
-120.545119).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of
17.2 km˛ (6.6 mi˛). 17.1 km˛ (6.6 mi˛) of it is land and 0.1 km˛ (0.1 mi˛)
of it is water. The total area is 0.75% water.
Demographics
As of the census1 of 2000, there are 15,414 people, 6,249 households, and
2,649 families residing in the city. The population density is 903.1/km˛
(2,338.9/mi˛). There are 6,732 housing units at an average density of
394.4/km˛ (1,021.5/mi˛). The racial makeup of the city is 88.07% White,
1.17% African American, 0.95% Native American, 4.09% Asian, 0.16% Pacific
Islander, 2.86% from other races, and 2.69% from two or more races. 6.33% of
the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 6,249 households out of which 20.8% have children under the age of
18 living with them, 31.4% are married couples living together, 8.1% have a
female householder with no husband present, and 57.6% are non-families.
35.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.1% have someone
living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is
2.12 and the average family size is 2.84.
In the city the population is spread out with 15.8% under the age of 18,
39.3% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 12.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who
are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 24 years. For every 100
females there are 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there
are 93.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $20,034, and the median
income for a family is $37,625. Males have a median income of $31,022 versus
$22,829 for females. The per capita income for the city is $13,662. 34.3% of
the population and 18.8% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the
total people living in poverty, 29.0% are under the age of 18 and 11.2% are
65 or older.
