Editing Chelan, Washington

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Chelan, Washington
| settlement_type    = [[City government in Washington (state)|City]]
| image_skyline      = Chelan, WA - Riverwalk_02.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Chelan Riverwalk
| image_flag         = 
<!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = Chelan_County_Washington_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Chelan_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Chelan, Washington
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Washington|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Chelan County, Washington|Chelan]]
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Erin McCardle <ref>{{cite web|title=Chelan County November 7, 2023 General Election|url=https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20231107/chelan/}}</ref>
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = 
<!-- Area -->
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_53.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 17.78
| area_land_km2      = 17.32
| area_water_km2     = 0.45
| area_total_sq_mi   = 6.86
| area_land_sq_mi    = 6.69
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.17
<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>
| population_total   = 4222
| population_density_km2 = 244.57
| population_density_sq_mi = 633.43
<!-- General information -->
| timezone           = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific (PST)]]
| utc_offset         = &minus;8
| timezone_DST       = PDT
| utc_offset_DST     = &minus;7
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 1772
| coordinates        = {{coord|47|50|04|N|120|01|17|W|type:city_region:US-WA|display=it}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 98816
| area_code          = [[Area code 509|509]]
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 53-11615
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2409440<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2409440}}</ref>
| website            = [http://www.cityofchelan.com/ City of Chelan]
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Chelan''' ({{IPAc-en|ʃ|ə|ˈ|l|æ|n}} {{respell|shə|LAN|'}}) is a [[city]] in [[Chelan County, Washington|Chelan County]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], United States. The estimated population was 4,222 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Chelan%20city,%20Washington&t=Population%20Total&tid=ACSDT5Y2010.B01003 |access-date=2022-03-23 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>  It lies on the southeast tip of [[Lake Chelan]], where the lake flows into the [[Chelan River]].

Chelan is part of the [[Wenatchee, Washington|Wenatchee]]−[[East Wenatchee, Washington|East Wenatchee]] [[Wenatchee-East Wenatchee metropolitan area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
The original inhabitants of the Chelan area were the [[Chelan tribe|Chelan]], a tribe of [[Salishan languages|Salish]]-speaking [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]]. Relatively little is known about the culture and lifestyle of the early Chelan, as the tribe had adopted the dress, beadwork, and equestrian culture of the [[Plains Indians]] by the time of European contact. Infectious diseases including smallpox and measles arrived sometime prior to white settlement of the area, and had killed an estimated 90% of the Indians by the time explorer [[David Thompson (explorer)|David Thompson]] arrived on the Columbia in 1811.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=J. Gottfred |author2=A. Gottfred |journal=Northwest Journal |issn=1206-4203 |title=The Life of David Thompson |url=http://www.northwestjournal.ca/V1.htm}}</ref>

Until this point tribal decision-making had been carried out by small family groups as opposed to a single chief. But as whites began to settle in the area, the Indians recognized that consolidation of power in a single representative would help them maintain control of their ancestral lands. Though not a Chelan Indian himself, [[Chief Moses]] (a Shahaptin, not Salish speaker from the Columbia Basin and Okanagan) agreed to represent the tribe and was nearly successful in securing them a large [[Indian reservation]]. However, the tribe's relatively low population meant that they were largely unable to defend their territory from the ever-increasing number of miners looking for riches in the mountains.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}} As the unrest continued into the 1870s, Lt. Colonel [[Henry Clay Merriam]] of the [[United States Army]] established Camp Chelan at the foot of [[Lake Chelan]] to control and safeguard the Indian population on the Moses Columbia Reservation. The lake was largely inaccessible because of its sheer cliffs on most sides, so a makeshift road was built from the fort to the [[Columbia River]] where a courier and mail service from [[Walla Walla, Washington|Walla Walla]] were established and the small village of [[Chelan Falls, Washington|Chelan Falls]] would later develop. The fort operated for about a year and was abandoned in October 1880 when the troops relocated to Fort [[Spokane]].

The first European settlers in the area were William Sanders (after whom one of main streets in Chelan is named) and Henry Dumpke, who arrived in 1886. After traversing several cliffs and streams and losing their horse, they safely arrived at the foot of the lake and were welcomed by the natives who encouraged them to stake claims. The presence of these settlers paved the way for more settlers to move to the valley. In 1888, [[Minneapolis]] realtor and lumber broker L.H. Woodin, after whom another street is now named, arrived in the valley and paddled up the lake in a skiff. Impressed by the area, Woodin constructed a sawmill at the foot of the lake. At the same time, local ranchers were beginning to discover that orchards could be planted without the need of irrigation.

The town was [[plat]]ted and lots sold quickly. A [[post office]] was established in 1890. A school was built in 1892, followed by a resort hotel which took advantage of the area's natural beauty. Following the [[Panic of 1893]], Chelan fell on hard times but fared better than some other towns.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}} The town's first bank was established in 1893. Chelan was officially incorporated on May 7, 1902. In 1903, the city gained electric lights and water service via nearby Donaldson Springs. Chelan's first town hall was constructed in 1904 and destroyed by fire in 1927. The town continues to grow as an agricultural center and resort community which helps it thrive to this day.

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|6.35|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which, {{convert|6.29|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.06|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2012-12-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=2012-01-25 }}</ref>

===Climate===
Chelan's climate is typical for [[Eastern Washington]]. Located behind the [[rain shadow]] of the [[Cascade Mountains]], it receives a near-desert amount of precipitation each year.

{{Weather box
|width=auto
|location = Chelan, Washington (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1891–present)
|single line = Y
|collapsed = yes
|Jan record high F = 62
|Feb record high F = 63
|Mar record high F = 74
|Apr record high F = 88
|May record high F = 98
|Jun record high F = 111
|Jul record high F = 109
|Aug record high F = 106
|Sep record high F = 97
|Oct record high F = 88
|Nov record high F = 72
|Dec record high F = 65
|year record high F = 111
|Jan avg record high F = 47.8
|Feb avg record high F = 52.1
|Mar avg record high F = 63.4
|Apr avg record high F = 74.9
|May avg record high F = 86.4
|Jun avg record high F = 90.3
|Jul avg record high F = 98.5
|Aug avg record high F = 98.6
|Sep avg record high F = 89.2
|Oct avg record high F = 75.0
|Nov avg record high F = 57.9
|Dec avg record high F = 48.3
|year avg record high F = 100.1
|Jan high F = 34.3
|Feb high F = 41.7
|Mar high F = 51.9
|Apr high F = 62.1
|May high F = 71.9
|Jun high F = 77.9
|Jul high F = 86.6
|Aug high F = 87.0
|Sep high F = 77.2
|Oct high F = 62.2
|Nov high F = 45.7
|Dec high F = 34.9
|year high F = 61.1
|Jan mean F = 28.0
|Feb mean F = 33.0
|Mar mean F = 41.1
|Apr mean F = 49.8
|May mean F = 59.0
|Jun mean F = 65.4
|Jul mean F = 72.8
|Aug mean F = 72.5
|Sep mean F = 63.2
|Oct mean F = 50.5
|Nov mean F = 37.6
|Dec mean F = 28.7
|year mean F = 50.1
|Jan low F = 21.6
|Feb low F = 24.3
|Mar low F = 30.3
|Apr low F = 37.5
|May low F = 46.2
|Jun low F = 53.0
|Jul low F = 59.1
|Aug low F = 58.1
|Sep low F = 49.2
|Oct low F = 38.8
|Nov low F = 29.5
|Dec low F = 22.6
|year low F = 39.2
|Jan avg record low F = 10.7
|Feb avg record low F = 16.0
|Mar avg record low F = 23.5
|Apr avg record low F = 32.1
|May avg record low F = 38.7
|Jun avg record low F = 46.6
|Jul avg record low F = 52.4
|Aug avg record low F = 51.7
|Sep avg record low F = 42.4
|Oct avg record low F = 30.2
|Nov avg record low F = 21.0
|Dec avg record low F = 13.8
|year avg record low F = 6.8
|Jan record low F = -18
|Feb record low F = -15
|Mar record low F = 4
|Apr record low F = 21
|May record low F = 28
|Jun record low F = 33
|Jul record low F = 35
|Aug record low F = 42
|Sep record low F = 26
|Oct record low F = 3
|Nov record low F = -3
|Dec record low F = -18
|year record low F = -18
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.52
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.22
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.09
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.75
|May precipitation inch = 1.05
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.87
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.42
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.32
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.34
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.04
|Nov precipitation inch = 1.51
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.83
|year precipitation inch = 11.96
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 inch
|Jan precipitation days = 9.3
|Feb precipitation days = 7.2
|Mar precipitation days = 7.1
|Apr precipitation days = 5.1
|May precipitation days = 6.2
|Jun precipitation days = 4.6
|Jul precipitation days = 2.7
|Aug precipitation days = 2.0
|Sep precipitation days = 2.4
|Oct precipitation days = 6.3
|Nov precipitation days = 8.5
|Dec precipitation days = 9.5
|year precipitation days = 70.9
|Jan snow inch = 7.7
|Feb snow inch = 2.0
|Mar snow inch = 0.7
|Apr snow inch = 0.0
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 1.4
|Dec snow inch = 8.7
|year snow inch = 20.5
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 5.0
|Feb snow days = 1.9
|Mar snow days = 0.8
|Apr snow days = 0.0
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 1.5
|Dec snow days = 5.4
|year snow days = 14.6

|source 1 = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name = NOAAChelan>
{{cite web
|url = http://www.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=otx
|title = NowData&nbsp;– NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
|accessdate = 7 August 2022}}</ref><ref name=NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00451350&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access
|access-date = August 12, 2023
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230812011028/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00451350&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|archive-date = 2023-08-12
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1910 = 682
| 1920 = 896
| 1930 = 1403
| 1940 = 1738
| 1950 = 2157
| 1960 = 2402
| 1970 = 2837
| 1980 = 2802
| 1990 = 2969
| 2000 = 3522
| 2010 = 3890
| 2020 = 4222
| align-fn = center
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 29, 2013}}</ref><br />2015 Estimate<ref name="2015 Pop Estimate">{{cite web|title=Population Estimates|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2015/SUB-EST2015-3.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=June 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019182931/https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2015/SUB-EST2015-3.html|archive-date=2016-10-19|url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}

[[Image:Chelan, WA - St. Andrews Episcopal Church interior 02.jpg|thumb|left|upright|St. Andrews Episcopal Church, an 1890s log church on Woodin Avenue in downtown Chelan, is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] (NRHP).]]

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]],<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2012-12-19}}</ref> there were 3,890 people, 1,602 households, and 1,031 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|618.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 2,516 housing units at an average density of {{convert|400.0|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 80.1% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.4% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.4% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.9% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 14.1% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 3.1% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 24.2% of the population.

There were 1,602 households, of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.6% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.91.

The median age in the city was 44.1 years. 22.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.9% were from 25 to 44; 30.2% were from 45 to 64; and 18.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.9% male and 50.1% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], there were 3,522 people, 1,471 households, and 939 families residing in the city. The population density was 933.9 people per square mile (360.7/km{{sup|2}}). There were 2,058 housing units at an average density of 545.7 per square mile (210.8/km{{sup|2}}). The racial makeup of the city was 85.69% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.11% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.53% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.48% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.11% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 9.23% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.84% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 14.45% of the population.

There were 1,471 households, out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 25.3% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 88.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,047, and the median income for a family was $33,662. Males had a median income of $31,900 versus $21,397 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $16,511. About 17.3% of families and 20.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 31.3% of those under age 18 and 12.5% of those age 65 or over.

==Transportation==

Chelan is served by two state highways: [[U.S. Route 97 Alternate (Washington)|U.S. Route 97 Alternate]], which runs south to Wenatchee, and [[Washington State Route 150|State Route 150]], which runs west to [[Manson, Washington|Manson]]. Bus services to the city are operated by [[Link Transit]].

== Newspaper ==

* [[Lake Chelan Mirror|''Lake Chelan Mirror'']]

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="180px" class="center">
Image: Chelan, WA - Riverwalk Pavilion 02.jpg|Riverwalk Pavilion
Image: Chelan, WA - R. W. Little Building 02.jpg|R. W. Little Building
Image: Chelan, WA - Campbell's.jpg|Campbell's
Image: Chelan_Indian_women_on_horseback.jpg|Native women on horseback, 1912
Image: Chelan, WA - Woodin Avenue 01.jpg|Woodin Avenue
</gallery>

==References==
;Specific
{{Reflist}}

;General
* {{cite book |editor=Hull, Lindley M. |title=A History of Central Washington: Including the Famous Wenatchee, Entiat, Chelan and the Columbia Valleys, with an Indexed Eighty Scenic Historical Illustrations |location=Spokane, Washington |publisher=Shaw & Borden Company |date=1929 |type=Print}}

==External links==
{{Portal|United States}}
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.cityofchelan.com/ City of Chelan official website]
* [http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=10160 Chelan, City of] at [[HistoryLink]]
{{Chelan County, Washington}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Chelan, Washington| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Chelan County, Washington]]
[[Category:Cities in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Populated places in the Okanagan Country]]
[[Category:Washington (state) placenames of Native American origin]]
[[Category:Wenatchee–East Wenatchee metropolitan area]]