Kittitas County, Washington
Kittitas County | |
|---|---|
Kittitas County Courthouse in Ellensburg | |
Location within the U.S. state of Washington | |
Washington's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 47°07′28″N 120°40′36″W / 47.12444°N 120.67667°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| Founded | November 24, 1883 |
| Seat | Ellensburg |
| Largest city | Ellensburg |
| Area | |
• Total | 2,333 sq mi (6,040 km2) |
| • Land | 2,297 sq mi (5,950 km2) |
| • Water | 36 sq mi (90 km2) 1.5% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 44,337 |
• Estimate (2024) | 48,172 |
| • Density | 20/sq mi (8/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| Congressional district | 8th |
| Website | co.kittitas.wa.us |
Kittitas County (/ˈkɪtɪtæs/) is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. At the 2020 census, its population was 44,337. Its county seat and largest city is Ellensburg. The county was created in November 1883 when it was carved out of Yakima County. Kittitas County comprises the Ellensburg, Washington, Micropolitan Statistical Area.
There are numerous interpretations of the county's name, which is from the language of the Yakama Nation. According to one source, it "has been said to mean everything from 'white chalk' to 'shale rock' to 'shoal people' to 'land of plenty'". Most anthropologists and historians concede that each interpretation has some validity depending upon the particular dialect spoken.