History
The Yakama people were the first inhabitants of the Yakima Valley. In 1805 the Lewis and Clark Expedition came to the valley and discovered abundant wildlife and rich soil, prompting the settlement of homesteaders. A Catholic Mission was established in Ahtanum, southwest of present-day Yakima, in 1847. The arrival of settlers and their conflicts with the natives resulted in the Yakama Indian War of 1855.
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, Washington was the new name given to the original site of Yakima.
Geography
Yakima is located at 46°35'48" North, 120°31'47" West (46.596728° N 120.529657° W).According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 53.4 km (20.6 mi). 52.1 km (20.1 mi) of it is land and 1.2 km (0.5 mi) of it is water. The total area is 2.33% water.
The Yakima region
Cities surrounding Yakima include Selah, White Swan, Moxee City, Cowiche, Wiley City, Ahtanum, Wapato and Toppenish. Two unincorporated areas, West Valley and Terrace Heights, are sometimes unofficially considered part of Yakima and rely on many city services, despite not having yet been officially annexed. 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 all found 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 and Lake Aspen. These lakes are popular with swimmers during Yakima's hot summers.
Demographics
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/km (3,569.9/mi). There were 28,643 housing units at an average density of 549.4/km (1,423.2/mi). 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. 33.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
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. 22.4% of the population and 17.1% of families were below the poverty line. 32.3% of those under the age of 18 and 12.0% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
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