:''For the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, or simply Yakama Nation (formerly Yakima) see
Yakama.''
'Yakima' (
IPA: ) is a city in central
Washington and the
county seat of
Yakima County,
USA. As of the
2000, the city had a total population of 71,845 and a metropolitan population of 229,094.
[1] Yakima is situated in the Yakima Valley, which is noted for being one of the best
apple-producing areas in the world, as well as a prime location for the production of
hops. The name originates from the
Yakama Nation. The Yakama
Indian Reservation is located to the south and southeast of the city of Yakima.
History
The
Yakama people were the first inhabitants of the Yakima Valley. In 1805 the
Lewis and Clark Expedition came to the area and discovered abundant wildlife and rich soil, prompting the settlement of homesteaders.
[2] A
Catholic Mission was established in
Ahtanum, southwest of present-day Yakima, in 1847.
[3] The arrival of settlers and their conflicts with the natives resulted in the
Yakama Indian War of 1855. The U.S. Army established
Fort Simcoe in 1856 near present-day
Toppenish as a response to the uprising. The Yakamas were defeated and forced onto the
Yakama Indian Reservation.
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.
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 53.4
km² (20.6
mi²). 52.1 km² (20.1 mi²) of it is land and 1.2 km² (0.5 mi²) of it (2.33%) is water. Yakima is 344.392 meters above mean sea level.
Yakima region
Yakima, Washington as seen from the west.
Cities surrounding Yakima include Selah, White Swan, Union Gap, Gleed, Esbauch, Harrah, Moxee City, Tieton, Cowiche, Wiley City, Ahtanum, Wapato, Zillah, Granger and Toppenish. Two unincorporated areas, West Valley and Terrace Heights, are sometimes considered part of Yakima and rely on many city services, despite not being part of the city. The population of the Yakima metropolitan area according to the Census Bureau 2004 estimate is 229,094.
Bodies of water
The primary irrigation source for the Yakima Valley, the
Yakima River, runs through Yakima from its source at
Lake Keechelus in the
Cascade Range to the
Columbia River at
Richland. In Yakima, the river is used for both fishing and recreation. A 10-mile walking and cycling trail, a park, and a wildlife sanctuary are located at the river's edge.
The
Naches River forms the northern border of the city. 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.
Climate
| Yakima Climate Monthly Averages |
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high (°F) | 37 | 46 | 56 | 64 | 73 | 80 | 88 | 86 | 78 | 64 | 48 | 38 | 63 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average low (°F) | 21 | 26 | 30 | 35 | 42 | 49 | 53 | 52 | 44 | 35 | 28 | 23 | 36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average precipitation (in) | 1.28 | 0.77 | 0.65 | 0.52 | 0.53 | 0.67 | 0.19 | 0.32 | 0.34 | 0.54 | 1.02 | 1.34 | 8.28 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average snowfall (in) | 8.1 | 3.0 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 2.8 | 8.3 | 23.7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Source:' Western Regional Climate Center | |||||||||||||
Demographics
City of Yakima
Population by year [4] |
|---|
| 1890 | 1,535 |
| 1900 | 3,154 |
| 1910 | 14,082 |
| 1920 | 18.539 |
| 1930 | 22,101 |
| 1940 | 27,221 |
| 1950 | 38,486 |
| 1960 | 42,284 |
| 1970 | 45,588 |
| 1980 | 49,826 |
| 1990 | 54,843 |
| 2000 | 71,845 |
| est. 2005 | 81,214 |
As of the
census of 2000, there were 71,845 people, 26,498 households, and 16,826 families residing in the city. The
population density was 1,378.0/km² (3,569.9/mi²). There were 28,643 housing units at an average density of 549.4/km² (1,423.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 68.77%
White, 1.99%
African American, 2.00%
Native American, 1.20%
Asian, 0.14%
Pacific Islander, 21.97% from
other races, and 3.92% from two or more races.
Hispanic or
Latino of any race were 33.70% of the population.
There were 26,498 households out of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.2% were
married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.4% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 18.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,475, and the median income for a family was $34,798. Males had a median income of $29,647 versus $23,629 for females. The
per capita income for the city was $15,920. About 17.1% of families and 22.4% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 32.3% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.
Sports teams and events
★ The
Yakima Bears are a
Northwest League (Class A
minor league baseball) team that plays at
Yakima County Stadium. The team was reestablished in 1990 after being inactive since 1966.
★ The
Yakama Sun Kings are a
Continental Basketball Association team that playes home games at the
Yakima SunDome. The team was moved from
Topeka, Kansas in 1990 and renamed the Sun Kings. CBA champions: '95/'00/'03/'06/'07
★ The
Yakima Mavericks are a
football team in the
Evergreen Football League that plays at
Zaepfel Stadium.
★ The
Yakima Reds are a
soccer team in the
USL Premier Development League that plays at
Marquette Stadium.
★ The
Yakima Beetles American Legion baseball team, 3-time World Champions.
★ The
Yakima Valley Community College Yaks. (various sports)
The Yakima SunDome currently is the host of the 2A/1A girls' high school state
volleyball championships in the fall and the 1A/1B boys' & girls' high school state basketball championships in the winter. Yakima County Stadium presently hosts the 2B/1B boys' high school state baseball championships each spring.
Transportation
Roads and highways
Interstate 82 is the primary way of reaching Yakima, but
U.S. Highway 12 crosses through the city from White Pass.
U.S. Highway 97 joins I-82 from Yakima for approximately 40 miles north to Ellensburg.
State Route 24 terminates at Yakima and is the primary means of reaching Moxee City and many of the area's agricultural areas to the east.
State Route 821 terminates near Yakima and is also called Canyon Road because it passes through the
Yakima River canyon. It is an alternate route to
Ellensburg which bypasses the I-82 summit at
Manastash Ridge.
Airport
Yakima's airport,
McAllister Field, operates commercial air flights via
Horizon Airlines to
Seattle and
Delta Connection operated by
SkyWest to
Salt Lake City. Numerous private aircraft call the Yakima Airport home and several freight companies operate out of the airport. It is also a popular test site for military jets.
Economy
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. 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.
The abandonment by retailers and other businesses of Yakima's downtown core is symbolic of the city's overall economic downturn. In the last five years, three major
department stores and an entire
shopping mall have closed for business. While several theories to "revitalize" the city's downtown have been put forth by civic leaders, none has proven effective. Presently, a hotel has been constructed in the place of the abandoned mall. The retail core of the city has now shifted to the city of
Union Gap, where a renovated shopping mall and other new retail businesses are flourishing. While some see big-box retail leaving the downtown area as a loss, others see it as an opportunity to recast the downtown area as a center for events, services, entertainment and smaller, more personal shopping experiences.
A bright spot in the economy of the Yakima Valley is the burgeoning
wine industry, due in part to the Yakima Valley soil, which is very similar to the soil conditions of
France. Over fifty wineries dot the Yakima Valley, covering more than 11,000 acres (45 km²).
The
Japan Ground Self Defence Force conducts training annually in Yakima. Japanese soldiers train in Yakima because it allows for large-scale live fire maneuvers not available in
Japan.
While there has been an economic downturn in downtown Yakima in recent years, the first phase of the
Downtown Futures Initiative is nearly complete. The DFI has provided for a street to storefront remodel along Yakima Avenue throughout the entire downtown core, and includes new pedestrian-friendly lighting, water fountains, planters, banner poles, new trees and hanging baskets, all of which complement the new paver-inlaid sidewalks.
The early 2000s have seen the return to the downtown of the Sports Center Tavern, a local landmark, as well as the opening of The Hilton Garden Inn, The Speakeasy Bar, Grill & Nightclub,
Kana Winery,
Donitelia Winery,
Yakima Cellars Winery, Seasons Performance Hall, Essencia Bakery, De Siga Gallery, and The Barrel House. Developers are aiming for an early 2008 completion for condominiums in the Bon Marche building of the former Yakima Mall.
[6]
The 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, a weekly
Farmers' Market, and the
Hot Shots 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament.
One tourist attraction is a pair of
historic trolleys that operates each summer along five miles of tracks of the former Yakima Valley Transportation Company thru the Yakima Gap connecting Yakima and Selah.
Yakima has a large illegal immigrant community, which was drawn here largely by the agricultural aspect of the local economy. The effects of illegal immigration are routinely debated in the local paper and on local TV and radio stations.
Education
The city of Yakima is served in the field of education by six high schools (four public, two private) and soon-to-be three colleges (one
community college, one technical institute, and one soon-to-be one
medical school). The two main high schools are
Davis High School and
Eisenhower High School. They are both division 4A high schools with nearly 2000 students each.
The next biggest school is
West Valley High School, a division 3A school with the total student population numbering about 1200.
On the outskirts of the east side is East Valley High School, a 2A School numbering about 900 or so students.
Christa McAuliffe Academy, and it's Washington ALE Public School
ACHIEVE Online, offer World-Wide K-12 on-line education from their offices in Yakima. Christa McAuliffe Academy was founded to honor the
"first teacher in space", and the tragic loss of the
Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986. Students and staff at Christa McAuliffe Academy are actively engaged in carrying on what Christa started: education that ventures beyond the normal boundaries and empowers the drive for discovery of things unknown. They salute Christa McAuliffe and Barbara Morgan, the teacher-turned-astronaut on the August 8, 2007 flight of the
Space Shuttle Endevaour, as great role models.
Yakima also boasts two smaller, private schools.
La Salle High School, located in Union Gap, is a Catholic high school in the 2B division and enrolls about 200 students.
Riverside Christian School is a private Christian school that enrolls students from Kindergarten to Twelfth Grade. Riverside Christian is also a 2B school with students in grades 9-12 numbering about 150. There are also a number of alternative high schools in Yakima offered to students for various reasons such as Stanton Academy and O.I.C. Alternative.
Located in the middle of Yakima is the Yakima Valley Community College, otherwise known as YVCC, or just YVC. It is an average-size
junior college made up of several buildings with dorms and two main lecture halls. The sports teams are called the Yaks and participate in athletics with various other community colleges in the area.
Perry Technical Institute, or Perry Tech, is another school of higher learning located in the city. Students there can learn trades such as
refrigeration and
electrical engineering.
Construction has begun on a new
osteopathic medical school, named Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences The 80,000 square foot facility will be located on a 30-acre campus in the
Terrace Heights area
[7]. It is expected to open in the fall of 2008.
[8]
Media
Radio
★ 88.5 FM - KYVT, College radio
★ 89.5 FM - KSOH, Christian radio
★ 90.3 FM - KNWY, National Public Radio
★ 91.1 FM - KYPL, Christian radio
★ 91.9 FM - KDNA, Noncommercial Spanish Language Public Radio
★ 92.9 FM - KDBL, Country
★ 94.5 FM - KATS, Active Rock
★ 96.9 FM - KZTA, Regional Mexican
★ 98.7 FM - KLES, Spanish Contemporary
★ 99.3 FM - KQSN, Spanish Oldies
★ 99.7 FM - KHHK, Urban Contemporary
★ 100.9 FM - KARY, Oldies
★ 104.1 FM - KXDD, Country
★ 105.7 FM - KRSE, Modern adult contemporary
★ 107.3 FM - KFFM, Contemporary Hit Radio
★ 930 AM - KYAK, Christian radio
★ 980 AM - KUSA, Talk radio
★ 1020 AM - KYXE, Regional Mexican
★ 1280 AM - KIT, Talk radio
★ 1390 AM - KJOX, Sports radio
★ 1460 AM - KUTI, Classic country
|
Television
★ Channel 23 - KNDO, NBC
★ Channel 27 - KCWK, CW
★ Channel 29 - KIMA, CBS
★ Channel 35 - KAPP, ABC
★ Channel 41 - KCYU, FOX
★ Channel 43 - KCJT, HispanaVision
★ Channel 47 - KYVE, PBS
★ Channel 2 - KKFQ-CA Univision
Print
★ Yakima Herald-Republic
★ Yakima Valley Business Times
|
Notable current and former residents
★
Oleta Adams, singer
★
Phil Beachler, Inventor of the baby jogger. Started
Racing Strollers, Inc. in Yakima.
★
Glen Bonner,
NFL Football player(1974-75)
★
Yakima Canutt, Hollywood stuntman
★
Raymond Carver, author
★
Charles Carter, Olympic and Professional Boxer
★
Beverly Cleary, author
★
Harlond Clift, Major League Baseball player(1934-45)
★
Cary Conklin,
NFL Football player(1992-1995)
★
Mike Cragg,
Duke University Associate AD / Legacy Fund Director
★
Dr. Dan Doornink,
NFL football player(1978-1985)
★
William O. Douglas, U.S. Supreme Court associate justice
★
Dave Edler, Former Major League Baseball Player, City of Yakima Mayor, Pastor
★
Scott Hatteberg, Major League Baseball player
★
Joe Hipp, Professional Boxing (former NABF Heavyweight Champion 1994)
★
Damon Huard,
NFL Football player(1998-Current)
★
Bob Ivers, Actor, local TV personality
★
Basil James, Jockey (won the 1942 Preakness)
★
Harry Jefferson, NASCAR Winston Cup driver(1973-77)
★
Sam Kinison, actor/comedian
★
Hub Kittle, Major League Baseball player and coach.
★
Jake Kupp,
NFL Football player (1964-1975) and 1969 Pro Bowl player
★
Craig Kupp,
NFL Football player (1991) Phoenix Cardinals
★
Barbara La Marr, actor/writer
★
Kyle MacLachlan, actor
★
Kent MacLachlan, actor
★
Debbie Macomber, author
★
Phil Mahre, Olympics medal-winning skier and twin brother of Steve Mahre
★
Steve Mahre, Olympic medal-winning skier and twin brother of Phil Mahre
★
Mitch Meluskey, Major League Baseball player
★
Colleen Miller, actress
★
Arvo Ojala, Hollywood actor and quick-draw artist
★
Jim Pomeroy,
Motocross racer, elected to
AMA Hall of Fame in 1999.
★
Will Sampson, actor/artist
★
Kurt Schulz, NFL football player
★
Mel Stottlemyre, Major League Baseball player for the Yankees, Mets and Astros
★
Mel Stottlemyre Jr., Major League Baseball player and son of Mel Stottlemyre Sr.
★
Todd Stottlemyre, Major League Baseball player with the Blue Jays, Athletics and Cardinals, son of Mel Stottlemyre Sr. and brother of Mel Stottlemyer Jr.
★
Christopher Wiehl, actor
★
Chief Yowlachie (Daniel Simmons), actor
★
Jamie McMurry, Performance artist
Sister cities
★
Morelia, Mexico
★
Itayanagi, Japan
★
Derbent, Russia
★
Keelung, Taiwan
★
Burley Idaho, USA
References
1. State and City Quickfacts
2. City of Yakima History
3. St. Joseph's Mission, Ahtanum Valley, Tampico vicinity, Yakima County, WA
4.
5. The Yakima Economy
6. Unused Mall To Become Upscale Apartments
7. New osteopathic school planned for Yakima
8. Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences
Further reading
★
History of the Yakima Valley, Washington : comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton counties, Lyman, William Denison, , , S.J. Clarke, 1919, Available online through the Washington State Library's Classics in Washington History collection
External links
★
Official City Website
★
Yakima Herald-Republic, the area's principal newspaper
★
Yakima Valley Visitor & Convention Bureau, the official Yakima Valley visitor information organization
★
Yakima Valley Museum
★
Photographs of the area from the library and local museum presented online
★
Virtual Valley - Yakima
★
Wine Yakima Valley
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