Editing Leavenworth, Washington

{{Short description|City in Washington, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Leavenworth
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| image_skyline      = Main_street_in_Leavenworth,_Washington_(2023-06-18)_(cropped).jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Leavenworth's main street was modeled on a Bavarian village.
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = 
| image_map          = Chelan_County_Washington_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Leavenworth_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Leavenworth, Washington
<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|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        = Carl Florea<ref>{{cite news |date=January 2, 2020 |title=New Mayor takes oath of office |url=https://www.leavenworthecho.com/news/new-mayor-takes-oath-office |work=[[Leavenworth Echo]] |access-date=January 8, 2020}}</ref>
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| established_title1 = Established
| established_date1  = 1885
| established_title2 = [[Municipal incorporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date2  = September 5, 1906
<!-- 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     = 3.81
| area_land_km2      = 3.76
| area_water_km2     = 0.05
| area_total_sq_mi   = 1.47
| area_land_sq_mi    = 1.45
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.02
<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_est     = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_footnotes = <ref name="Census2020"/>
| population_total   = 2263
| population_density_km2 = 539.20
| population_density_sq_mi = 1396.42
<!-- General information -->
| timezone           = [[Pacific Standard Time Zone|PST]]
| utc_offset         = -8
| timezone_DST       = [[Pacific Daylight Time|PDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = -7
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name="GNIS"/>
| elevation_ft       = 1168
| coordinates        = {{coord|47|35|42|N|120|39|46|W|region:US-WA_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 98826
| 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         = 53-38845
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2410814<ref name="GNIS">{{cite GNIS |id=2410814 |date=March 11, 2008 |name=City of Leavenworth |accessdate=March 20, 2025}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|https://cityofleavenworth.com/|cityofleavenworth.com}}
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Leavenworth''' is a city in [[Chelan County, Washington|Chelan County]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], United States. It is part of the [[Wenatchee, Washington|Wenatchee]]−[[East Wenatchee, Washington|East Wenatchee]] [[Wenatchee-East Wenatchee metropolitan area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. The population was 2,263 at the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census2020"/> The entire town center is modeled on a German [[Bavaria]]n village as part of a civic initiative that began in the 1960s.

==History==

The area near the confluence of [[Icicle Creek]] and the [[Wenatchee River]] in modern-day Leavenworth is within the traditional territories of the indigenous [[Wenatchi]] and [[Yakama]] peoples.<ref name="Times-Wenatchi">{{cite news |last=Heffter |first=Emily |date=July 17, 2003 |title=A forgotten tribe, a lost homeland |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=20030717&slug=wenatchi17m |work=[[The Seattle Times]] |accessdate=August 25, 2024}}</ref> The tribes had settlements on both waterways, including the villages of scəm̓ ̓áw̓s and sĭnpŭsqốĭsoḣ near modern-day Leavenworth, which was also a [[Camassia|camas]] and root-gathering area.<ref>{{cite report |date=June 2024 |title=Eightmile Dam Rebuild and Restoration |chapter=Chapter 13: Historic and Cultural Resources |page=13{{hyphen}}13 |url=https://apps.ecology.wa.gov/publications/documents/2412004.pdf |publisher=[[Washington State Department of Ecology]] |accessdate=August 25, 2024}}</ref> The Wenatchi and Yakama were signatories to the 1855 [[Treaty of Walla Walla]]; an [[Indian reservation]] for the Wenatchi covering {{convert|36|sqmi|sqkm}} around a fishery at the confluence was promised in the treaty but never surveyed by the federal government. Most members of the Wenatchi relocated to the [[Colville Indian Reservation]] and [[Yakama Indian Reservation]] in the early 20th century, while few remained in the Leavenworth and [[Cashmere, Washington|Cashmere]] area.<ref name="Times-Wenatchi"/><ref>{{cite web |last=Arksey |first=Laura |date=September 6, 2009 |title=Indians and non-Indians attend three-day powwow at Cashmere beginning on August 20, 1931. |url=https://www.historylink.org/File/9147 |work=[[HistoryLink]] |accessdate=August 25, 2024}}</ref>

The first non-native settlers in the area were John Emig and Nicholas Kinscherf, who staked their [[Homestead Acts|homestead claims]] near Icicle Creek in 1885.<ref>{{cite book |last=Roe |first=Joann |year=1995 |title=Stevens Pass: The Story of Railroading and Recreation in the North Cascades |page=3 |publisher=[[Mountaineers Books]] |location=Seattle |isbn=0898863716 |oclc=32199366}}</ref> A community named "Icicle Flats" was established by other settlers on the south side of the Wenatchee River in 1891.<ref name="Banel">{{cite news |last=Banel |first=Feliks |date=August 27, 2019 |title=All Over the Map: How Leavenworth became the PNW's own slice of Bavaria |url=https://mynorthwest.com/1488483/all-over-the-map-leavenworth-history/ |publisher=[[KIRO-FM|KIRO Radio]] |access-date=September 6, 2019}}</ref> According to surveyor [[Albert Hale Sylvester]], the "Icicle" name was derived from the indigenous name "Nasikelt", which translates to a narrow canyon or gorge.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Sylvester |first=A. H. |author-link=Albert Hale Sylvester |date=December 1943 |title=Place-Naming in the Northwest |page=247 |journal=[[American Speech]] |volume=XVIII |issue=4 |publisher=[[Duke University Press]] |doi=10.2307/486635 |jstor=486635}}</ref><ref name="Brokenshire">{{cite book |last=Brokenshire |first=Doug |year=1993 |title=Washington State Place Names from Alki to Yelm |pages=112–113 |publisher=[[Caxton Press (United States)|Caxton Printers]] |location=Caldwell, Idaho |url=https://archive.org/details/washingtonstatep00brok_0 |via=[[The Internet Archive]] |accessdate=August 25, 2024}}</ref> The [[Great Northern Railway (U.S.)|Great Northern Railway]] purchased land on the north side of the river for a [[divisional point|division point]] and railyard for its route across [[Stevens Pass]] in October 1892, which prompted residents to move across the river. A new town was established there in 1893 and named Leavenworth for Charles Leavenworth, a [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]]-based land investor with the Okanogan Investment Company who surveyed the site and laid its streets.<ref name="HistoryLink">{{cite web |last=Arksey |first=Laura |date=July 5, 2010 |title=Leavenworth — Thumbnail History |url=https://www.historylink.org/file/9475 |work=HistoryLink |accessdate=August 25, 2024}}</ref><ref name="World-Centennial">{{cite news |last=Steigmeyer |first=Rick |date=September 3, 2006 |title=Leavenworth 100: It's the centennial of the town that's gone from boom to bust to a bustling, tourist-filled bit of Bavaria |page=A1 |url=https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/local/leavenworth-100-its-the-centennial-of-the-town-thats-gone-from-boom-to-bust-to/article_a3ca3f9c-684b-5529-9472-24a647d582fe.html |work=[[The Wenatchee World]] |url-access=subscription |accessdate=August 25, 2024}}</ref> Leavenworth was a relative of U.S. Army colonel [[Henry Leavenworth]], the founder of [[Fort Leavenworth]] and namesake of [[Leavenworth, Kansas]].<ref name="Brokenshire"/> The Stevens Pass route, which connected [[Seattle]] to [[Wenatchee, Washington|Wenatchee]], was completed in January 1893 and was the final section of the transcontinental Great Northern Railway.<ref>{{cite book |last=Schwantes |first=Carlos A. |year=1993 |title=Railroad Signatures Across the Pacific Northwest |page=78 |publisher=[[University of Washington Press]] |location=Seattle |isbn=9780295972107 |oclc=27266208}}</ref>

By February 1893, the new town of Leavenworth had grown to approximately 700 people and over 40 businesses, including hotels, [[general store]]s, and [[Western saloon|saloon]]s.<ref>{{harvp|Roe|1995|p=104}}</ref> Lafayette Lamb arrived in 1903 from [[Clinton, Iowa]], to build the second largest [[sawmill]] in [[Washington (state)|Washington]].{{citation needed|date=August 2024}} The settlement had three major fires at the turn of the 20th century that destroyed several buildings.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 29, 1904 |title=Six Buildings Burned; Leavenworth Again the Victim of a Destructive Fire |page=1 |work=[[The Leavenworth Echo]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-leavenworth-echo-six-buildings-burne/154017748/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |accessdate=August 25, 2024}}</ref> Leavenworth was officially [[Municipal incorporation|incorporated]] as a city on September 5, 1906. A small timber community, it became a regional office of the Great Northern Railway in the early 1900s. The railroad relocated to [[Wenatchee, Washington|Wenatchee]] in 1925, greatly affecting Leavenworth's economy. The city's population declined well into the 1950s as the lumber mills closed and stores relocated.<ref name="World-1965">{{cite news |last=Partridge |first=Michelle |date=March 21, 1999 |title=In 1965, the first busload of tourists arrived to see Bavarian Leavenworth |page=14 |work=The Wenatchee World}}</ref>

The city looked to tourism and recreation as a major economy as early as 1929, when they opened a [[ski jump]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Prochnau |first=Bill |date=January 27, 1961 |title=Leavenworth Folk Deserted Stove For Skis 30 Years Ago |page=11 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> In 1962, the Project LIFE (Leavenworth Improvement For Everyone) Committee was formed in partnership with the University of Washington to investigate strategies to revitalize the struggling logging town. The idea to create a "[[Bavaria]]n-Swiss" alpine theme town came from two Seattle businessmen, Ted Price and Bob Rodgers, who had bought a failing cafe at Coles Corner in 1960.<ref name="LATimes">{{cite news |last=Green |first=Emily |date=March 11, 2003 |title=One Couple's Defining Moments: To the Pacific Northwest, They Gave 'Bavarianization' |page=A1 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-mar-11-na-leavenworth11-story.html |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=January 9, 2020}}</ref> Price and Rodgers had chosen the theme based on the latter's experience in Bavaria while deployed by the U.S. Army during [[World War II]]; the cafe was renamed The Squirrel Tree and expanded with a motel and gift shop.<ref name="Times-Martinez">{{cite news |last=Martinez |first=Xavier |date=August 29, 2024 |title=How Leavenworth became mini-Bavaria |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/life/culture/60-years-into-bavarian-kitsch-where-does-leavenworth-go-from-here/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=August 29, 2024}}</ref> Price was chair of the Project LIFE tourism subcommittee, and in 1965 the pair led a trip to a Danish-themed town, [[Solvang, California]], to build support for the idea.<ref name="HistoryLink"/>

The Project LIFE members acquired properties in Leavenworth and were joined by architects Earl Petersen, who designed Solvang's Danish buildings, and Germany-born designer Heinz Ulbricht.<ref name="HistoryLink"/> The first building to be rebuilt in the Bavarian style was the Chikamin Hotel, which had been damaged in a fire and reopened as the Edelweiss Hotel (named for the [[Leontopodium nivale|state flower of Bavaria]]) on July 1, 1965.<ref name="HistoryLink"/><ref name="Times-1965">{{cite news |last=Lane |first=Bob |date=August 29, 1965 |title=Town Seeks 'Bavarian Look' |page=4 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> Several buildings were renovated later that year after business loans were secured to prepare the city for the 1966 Washington Autumn Leaf Festival.<ref name="Times-1965"/><ref name="Times-Magazine">{{cite news |last=Jenks |first=Jayson |date=October 14, 2014 |title=Leavenworth: small town, big idea and 1 remarkable revival |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/leavenworth-small-town-big-idea-and-1-remarkable-revival/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=August 25, 2024}}</ref> By 1970, Leavenworth was hosting several annual festivals and had formed a [[design review board]] to enforce and maintain the standards set by Project LIFE.<ref name="LATimes"/><ref name="Times-Magazine"/>

On July 28, 1994, the [[Rat Creek Fire]] was ignited in the Icicle Creek basin and grew to {{convert|24,371|acre|ha}} over the next three weeks as it moved towards northeast Leavenworth.<ref>{{cite news |date=September 13, 2014 |title=The 1994 Fires |work=The Wenatchee World |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F1505262671D3DFE8 |via=[[NewsBank]] |accessdate=August 25, 2024}}</ref> It was one of 34 fires in the Hatchery Complex Fire that were ignited in late July by thunderstorms and other causes.<ref name="Echo-Wildfires">{{cite news |last=Menna |first=Caroline |date=August 12, 2024 |title=Reflecting on an inferno: 30 years since the devastating 1994 fires surrounded and threatened Leavenworth |url=https://www.leavenworthecho.com/stories/reflecting-on-an-inferno-30-years-since-the-devastating-1994-fires-surrounded-and-threatened,91435 |work=The Leavenworth Echo |accessdate=August 25, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=July 31, 1994 |title=Fire Skirts Washington State Tourist Town |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-31-mn-22062-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |accessdate=August 25, 2024}}</ref> The city was placed under an evacuation alert for several days as the fire surrounded parts of the valley and shut down U.S. Route 2.<ref>{{cite news |last=Craig |first=John |date=August 1, 1994 |title=Fire shuts down Leavenworth businesses |page=A6 |work=[[The Spokesman-Review]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Penhale |first1=Ed |last2=Maier |first2=Scott |last3=Hopkins |first3=Jack |date=August 1, 1994 |title=Fire rages near Leavenworth |page=A1 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref> The evacuation alert in Leavenworth was lifted by August 10, coinciding with the reopening of U.S. Route 2.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Varner |first1=Lynne K. |last2=Jamieson Jr. |first2=Robert L. |date=August 10, 1994 |title=Weather helps quell blazes |page=A11 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref> Later fires in 2001, 2004, and 2012 burned areas around Leavenworth.<ref>{{cite web |date=August 2018 |title=Leavenworth Area Community Wildfire Protection Plan |page=1 |url=https://www.dnr.wa.gov/publications/rp_burn_cwpp_leavenworth.pdf |publisher=Chumstick Wildfire Stewardship Coalition |via=[[Washington State Department of Natural Resources]] |accessdate=August 25, 2024}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Bavarian Ritz Hotel (Leavenworth, WA).jpg|thumb|Bavarian Ritz Hotel]]
[[File:Leavenworth from above.jpg|thumb|right|Downtown Leavenworth, {{convert|1500|ft|m}} below, as viewed from the adjacent Icicle Ridge on an August afternoon]]

Leavenworth is situated in the Cascade Mountains at an elevation of {{convert|1,168|ft|m}} above sea level and is surrounded by mountains that range from {{convert|5,000 to 8,000|ft|m}} in height.<ref name="GNIS"/><ref>{{cite book |last=Price |first=Ted |year=1997 |title=Miracle Town: Creating America's Bavarian Village in Leavenworth, Washington |page=5 |publisher=Price & Rodgers |location=Vancouver, Washington |isbn=0965120600 |oclc=35275204 |url=https://archive.org/details/miracletowncreat0000pric |via=The Internet Archive |accessdate=March 20, 2025}}</ref> The city lies along the [[Wenatchee River]] near its confluence with [[Icicle Creek]].<ref>{{cite map |year=2017 |title=Leavenworth Quadrangle, Washington—Chelan Co. |type=Topographic map |scale=1:24,000 |url=https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/ht-bin/tv_browse.pl?id=50a0e6af26d0a27cae23adc3e47ccf52 |publisher=United States Geological Survey |accessdate=March 20, 2025}}</ref> According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|1.25|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which, {{convert|1.23|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.02|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/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=2012-07-02 }}</ref>

===Geology===
{{unreferenced section|date=October 2021}}

Leavenworth sits on the southeast side of the [[North Cascades]] collage, a group of [[terrane]]s that accreted to North America approximately 90 million [[years before present]] during the [[Cretaceous]] period. The presence of marine [[fossil]]s in the terranes indicates that they may have been a group of islands originating in the [[South Pacific Ocean|South Pacific]]. They originally were oriented into north–south slices until further accretion cut the terranes into horizontal, east–west slices.

During the [[Eocene]] epoch about 50 million years before present, the area was once again cut into north–south slices that created several local [[fault line]]s, including the Leavenworth fault and the Entiat fault. The Chiwaukum [[graben]] was created between these faults; it is about {{convert|12|mi|km}} wide and trends northwest from Wenatchee for about {{convert|50|mi|km}}. As the graben dropped, it began to fill with [[clastic]] sediment from the surrounding hills, creating the Chumstick formation. About 30 million years before present in the Oligocene epoch, the Chiwaukum graben underwent compressional deformation creating several folds in the region that are visible today. Leavenworth is on the western edge of the graben; the Leavenworth fault runs through the western edge of town. The area to the west and southwest of Leavenworth was created in the middle Cretaceous period with the uplift of the [[Mount Stuart]] [[batholith]], forming the granite rock seen today in Icicle Ridge and [[Tumwater Mountain]].

During the [[Pleistocene]] and into the [[Holocene]] epochs, an [[alpine glacier]] originating from the southwest in the Mount Stuart range made its way to where the town is today. Leavenworth sits on the [[terminal moraine]] of that glacier and has many glacial erratics that originated 20 miles up the Icicle Valley near Mount Stuart. Approximately 19,000 years before present, a large rock slide dammed the [[Columbia River]] near [[Rock Island, Washington|Rock Island]], just south of Wenatchee. The temporary dam, in conjunction with one of the [[Lake Missoula]] floods, caused the water to flow back up the Wenatchee Valley, where it was stopped by the glacier at Leavenworth. As the leading edge of the glacier interacted with the flood, ice rafts formed carrying granite [[Glacial erratic|erratic]]s from the Stuart batholith, which ended up in the town of Dryden about 15 miles down the valley from Leavenworth. As the glacier retreated, the south side of Leavenworth was a lake dammed up by the moraine.

===Climate===
Leavenworth has a [[continental Mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Dsb'') with summers characterized by hot, sunny days and chilly nights, and cold, snowy winters.

During the summer, the weather is typically anticyclonic due to the presence of the [[North Pacific High|North Pacific anticyclone]], with resultant clear skies and large [[diurnal temperature range]]s. Rainfall is limited by the Cascade [[rain shadow]] as well as by the anticyclone, and all months from May to October have recorded zero precipitation on occasions, including 114 consecutive days without precipitation from June to October 2003. When a continental flow enters the Columbia Basin, the temperature can be very hot during the day, with the hottest temperature being {{convert|110|F|C|1|disp=or}} during the heatwave of July 1941. However, on cooler, stiller days, summer nights can still be cold and frosts have been recorded as early as August 29 in 1980.

The fall months have steady cooling and a gradual increase in the frequency of frontal storms producing rainfall, while winter weather is typically cold and snowy, with an annual mean snowfall of {{convert|90.1|in|m|2|disp=or}} and a maximum monthly total of {{convert|92.3|in|m|2}} recorded in December 1996. The snowiest season has been from July 1968 to June 1969 with {{convert|217.2|in|m|2}} and the least snowy from July 1962 to June 1963 when just {{convert|19.4|in|m|2}} of snow fell. The lowest temperature recorded in Leavenworth was {{convert|-36|F|C|1}} on December 30, 1968, but typically five mornings per year will fall at or below {{convert|0|F|C|1|disp=or}}.{{cn|date=February 2025}} Approximately {{convert|4|ft|m}} of snow fell in a 48-hour period in January 2022, causing widespread disruption and a shortage of space to store plowed and collected snow.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gutman |first=David |date=January 11, 2022 |title=Leavenworth is running out of places to put its record-breaking snowfall |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/weather/leavenworth-is-running-out-of-places-to-put-its-record-breaking-snowfall/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=February 10, 2025}}</ref>

The wettest "rain year" was recorded from July 1955 to June 1956 with a total of {{convert|41.13|in|mm|1}} and the driest was from July 1929 to June 1930 with {{convert|11.77|in|mm|1}}. The spring months see gradual warming and drying, though frosts remain frequent well into the start of April. During an average year, over 168 mornings see temperatures fall to freezing or below. May 16 is the average date of last freeze; 2016 was the first year to record a last frost in March.

{{Weather box
|location = Leavenworth, Washington (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1914-present)
|single line = Y
|collapsed = yes
| Jan high F = 33.5
| Feb high F = 42.4
| Mar high F = 52.0
| Apr high F = 61.3
| May high F = 71.0
| Jun high F = 77.2
| Jul high F = 87.0
| Aug high F = 86.9
| Sep high F = 77.9
| Oct high F = 62.1
| Nov high F = 43.9
| Dec high F = 33.6
|year high F = 
|Jan mean F = 26.4
|Feb mean F = 31.7
|Mar mean F = 39.2
|Apr mean F = 46.7
|May mean F = 55.4
|Jun mean F = 61.5
|Jul mean F = 69.0
|Aug mean F = 68.6
|Sep mean F = 59.8
|Oct mean F = 47.6
|Nov mean F = 35.0
|Dec mean F = 26.8
|year mean F = 
| Jan low F = 19.4
| Feb low F = 21.1
| Mar low F = 26.3
| Apr low F = 32.0
| May low F = 39.7
| Jun low F = 45.8
| Jul low F = 51.0
| Aug low F = 50.3
| Sep low F = 41.7
| Oct low F = 33.1
| Nov low F = 26.2
| Dec low F = 20.0
|year low F = 
|Jan avg record high F = 48.5
|Feb avg record high F = 56.2
|Mar avg record high F = 67.2
|Apr avg record high F = 77.6
|May avg record high F = 89.4
|Jun avg record high F = 93.6
|Jul avg record high F = 100.9
|Aug avg record high F = 100.9
|Sep avg record high F = 93.7
|Oct avg record high F = 80.4
|Nov avg record high F = 59.1
|Dec avg record high F = 46.9
|year avg record high F = 102.5
|Jan avg record low F = 4.0
|Feb avg record low F = 10.0
|Mar avg record low F = 18.5
|Apr avg record low F = 26.6
|May avg record low F = 31.4
|Jun avg record low F = 38.2
|Jul avg record low F = 44.0
|Aug avg record low F = 43.5
|Sep avg record low F = 34.5
|Oct avg record low F = 24.7
|Nov avg record low F = 15.6
|Dec avg record low F = 8.6
|year avg record low F = -0.8
|Jan record high F = 64
|Feb record high F = 66
|Mar record high F = 79
|Apr record high F = 92
|May record high F = 101
|Jun record high F = 109
|Jul record high F = 110
|Aug record high F = 108
|Sep record high F = 104
|Oct record high F = 91
|Nov record high F = 74
|Dec record high F = 66
|year record high F =
|Jan record low F = -27
|Feb record low F = -25
|Mar record low F = -6
|Apr record low F = 19
|May record low F = 24
|Jun record low F = 24
|Jul record low F = 34
|Aug record low F = 30
|Sep record low F = 19
|Oct record low F = 11
|Nov record low F = -7
|Dec record low F = -36
|year record low F =
|precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 4.12
| Feb precipitation inch = 2.90
| Mar precipitation inch = 2.46
| Apr precipitation inch = 1.22
| May precipitation inch = 1.40
| Jun precipitation inch = 1.04
| Jul precipitation inch = 0.45
| Aug precipitation inch = 0.37
| Sep precipitation inch = 0.76
| Oct precipitation inch = 2.37
| Nov precipitation inch = 4.08
| Dec precipitation inch = 4.52
|year precipitation inch = 
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 14.0
| Feb precipitation days = 10.6
| Mar precipitation days = 9.3
| Apr precipitation days = 7.0
| May precipitation days = 6.7
| Jun precipitation days = 5.6
| Jul precipitation days = 2.8
| Aug precipitation days = 2.4
| Sep precipitation days = 4.0
| Oct precipitation days = 8.9
| Nov precipitation days = 13.7
| Dec precipitation days = 14.0
| year precipitation days = 99.0
|Jan snow inch = 22.1
|Feb snow inch = 12.6
|Mar snow inch = 4.7
|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 = 0.3
|Nov snow inch = 8.1
|Dec snow inch = 32.4
|year snow inch =
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 8.7
|Feb snow days = 5.1
|Mar snow days = 2.7
|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 = 0.2
|Nov snow days = 3.3
|Dec snow days = 8.9
|year snow days =

|Jan snow depth inch = 25.0
|Feb snow depth inch = 20.0
|Mar snow depth inch = 10.8
|Apr snow depth inch = 0.1
|May snow depth inch = 0.0
|Jun snow depth inch = 0.0
|Jul snow depth inch = 0.0
|Aug snow depth inch = 0.0
|Sep snow depth inch = 0.0
|Oct snow depth inch = 0.2
|Nov snow depth inch = 4.5
|Dec snow depth inch = 18.5
|year snow depth inch = 30.1

|source 1 = NOAA<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00454572&format=pdf
| title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991&ndash;2020
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| accessdate = August 9, 2023
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/
| title = xmACIS2
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| accessdate = August 9, 2023
}}</ref> }}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 1551
|1920= 1791
|1930= 1415
|1940= 1608
|1950= 1503
|1960= 1480
|1970= 1322
|1980= 1522
|1990= 1692
|2000= 2074
|2010= 1965
|2020= 2263
|2020n= <ref name="Census2020">{{Cite web|language=en|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile/Leavenworth_city,_Washington?g=1600000US5338845|title=Leavenworth city, Washington|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=2020|access-date=October 3, 2022}}</ref>
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|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=July 10, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019182931/https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2015/SUB-EST2015-3.html|archive-date=October 19, 2016 }}</ref>
}}

As of the [[2010 U.S. 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 1,965 people, 908 households, and 500 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was about {{convert|1598|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,241 housing units at an average density of about {{convert|1009|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 92.9% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.4% [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black]], 0.5% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.6% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.2% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 3.9% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.6% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 10.8% of the population.

There were 908 households, of which about 24% had children under the age of 18 living with them, about 42% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, about 10% had a female householder with no husband present, 3% had a male householder with no wife present, and about 45% were non-families. About 37% of all households were made up of individuals, and about 20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.84.

The median age in the city was about 42 years. About 20% of residents were under the age of 18; about 8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25% were from 25 to 44; about 27% were from 45 to 64; and about 20% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.7% male and 53.3% female.

==Culture and tourism==
[[File:9th Street (Alpen Strasse) in Leavenworth, Washington - 2019.jpg|thumb|right|9th Street (Alpen Strasse) in Leavenworth]]

Leavenworth was designed with an Alpine German theme from the 1960s onward, with most buildings modeled after Bavarian settlements and adopting stereotypical fonts and names.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Morton |first1=Caitlin |title=The 28 Most Beautiful Towns in America |url=https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/the-most-beautiful-towns-in-america |publisher=CN Traveler |access-date=14 August 2024}}</ref> However the town retains wide streets and large parking lots which are atypical of Bavaria.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}} The Alpine German architectural theme is regulated by a design review board that approves plans for all new businesses, including chain establishments, leading to unusual designs for local [[fast-food]] restaurants and other retailers.<ref name="Times-Martinez"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Hale |first=Jamie |date=October 18, 2018 |title=20 reasons to love Leavenworth, a cute Bavarian village in the Pacific Northwest |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/life-and-culture/erry-2018/10/78e4ede34d1469/20-reasons-to-love-leavenworth.html |work=[[The Oregonian]] |accessdate=February 12, 2024}}</ref> Leavenworth's transformation into a theme town was inspired, and assisted, by [[Solvang, California]]. Later, the Washington town of [[Winthrop, Washington|Winthrop]] followed Leavenworth's example and adopted a Western town theme.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kirk |first1=Ruth |first2=Carmela |last2=Alexander |year=1990 |title=Exploring Washington's Past: A Road Guide to History |pages=80, 105 |publisher=University of Washington Press |location=Seattle |isbn=0-295-97443-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BNAYPXb22sYC |via=Google Books |access-date=September 13, 2009}}</ref>

The Bavarianization of the town waned by the 1990s but was revived through the establishment of annual events, including an [[Oktoberfest celebrations|Oktoberfest]] begun in 1998.<ref>{{cite news |last=Banel |first=Feliks |date=August 23, 2019 |title=All Over the Map: How Leavenworth became the PNW's own slice of Bavaria |url=https://mynorthwest.com/1488483/all-over-the-map-leavenworth-history/ |work=MyNorthwest.com |accessdate=October 6, 2021}}</ref> The Oktoberfest was later cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Washington (state)|COVID-19 pandemic]] before the original was moved to Wenatchee beginning in 2022, and the city's Chamber of Commerce started their own Oktoberfest event that remained in town.<ref>{{cite news |last=Craighead |first=Callie |date=October 6, 2021 |title=Leavenworth Oktoberfest to move to new venue in Wenatchee in 2022 after city denies permit |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/local/seattlenews/article/leavenworth-oktoberfest-moves-to-wenatchee-2022-16508349.php |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |accessdate=October 6, 2021}}</ref> A [[Krampusnacht]] celebration was held in December 2020 and 2021 but later moved out of Leavenworth following complaints from religious groups.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hoang |first=Mai |date=December 30, 2022 |title=Krampus' holiday frights proved too scary for Leavenworth |url=https://www.cascadepbs.org/culture/2022/12/krampus-holiday-frights-proved-too-scary-leavenworth |work=Crosscut.com |accessdate=August 29, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Lacitis |first=Erik |date=December 18, 2021 |title=In Leavenworth, Christmas skirmish breaks out over rebranding and Krampus Drink Crawl |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/the-war-on-christmas-rebranding-even-krampus-stirs-up-leavenworth/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=August 29, 2024}}</ref>

Leavenworth is home to the [[Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum]], which opened in 1995 and contains more than 7,000 [[nutcracker]]s dating from the 16th and 17th centuries to modern examples.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hale |first=Jamie |date=October 19, 2018 |title=Nutcracker Museum is an eye-popping attraction in Leavenworth |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/life-and-culture/erry-2018/10/af6da5688b3709/nutcracker-museum-is-an-eyepop.html |work=The Oregonian |accessdate=February 12, 2024}}</ref> The city hosts an annual [[Christmas tree]] lighting celebration in December that draws thousands of visitors and causes congestion on local highways.<ref name="Times-Martinez"/><ref>{{cite news |last=McDaniels |first=Nevonne |date=May 21, 2024 |title='Always on': Leavenworth switches festival strategy to avoid crowds, improve experience |url=https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/local/always-on-leavenworth-switches-festival-strategy-to-avoid-crowds-improve-experience/article_03c20294-bce0-11eb-b1f1-6753d098906a.html |work=The Wenatchee World |url-access=subscription |accessdate=August 29, 2024}}</ref> By 2001, Leavenworth had 19 annual weekend festivals and events,<ref>{{cite news |date=December 31, 2001 |title=In a Town Built Almost Entirely on Tourism, Business Booms |page=A9 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/31/us/in-a-town-built-almost-entirely-on-tourism-business-booms.html |work=The New York Times |accessdate=February 12, 2024}}</ref> including a [[Maifest]] and Autumn Leaf Festival.<ref name="Times-Martinez"/>

In November 2007, ''[[Good Morning America]]'' went to Leavenworth for ''Holiday Gifts for the Globe'' where GMA helped light up the town for the Christmas Holiday. Leavenworth was named the Ultimate Holiday Town USA by [[A&E Network]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/ChristmasCountdown/story?id=3926427&page=1|title=Holiday Gifts for the Globe|work=ABC News|date=19 February 2009}}</ref>

The city has also focused on outdoor recreation to draw tourists, including skiing, hiking, and mountain biking. The increased reliance on outdoor tourism has brought non-themed businesses to Leavenworth.<ref name="Times-Martinez"/> The [[Leavenworth Ski Hill]] north of downtown was designated a [[Historic districts in the United States|U.S. historic district]] in 2013 due to its significance as a [[ski jump]]ing area and its surviving [[Civilian Conservation Corps]] architecture.<ref>{{cite web |date=April 17, 2013 |title=National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Leavenworth Ski Hill Historic District |pages=1, 15–16 |url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/53dd8633-ca38-4b9e-8e88-a4a30362ee1a |publisher=[[National Park Service]] |accessdate=August 29, 2024}}</ref> An adventure park that comprises a climbing wall and [[alpine coaster]] with {{convert|2,700|ft|m}} of track and opened in 2023 on a hill on the southwest side of the city.<ref>{{cite news |last=Phair |first=Vonnai |date=June 1, 2023 |title=WA's first alpine roller coaster opens in Leavenworth |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/was-first-alpine-roller-coaster-opens-in-leavenworth/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=August 29, 2024}}</ref> {{As of|2021}}, Leavenworth had a total hotel capacity of 4,288 rooms.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kiley |first=Brendan |date=December 1, 2021 |title=To reduce tourist rush hour, Leavenworth makes changes to annual Christmas lights festival |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/events/to-reduce-tourist-rush-hour-leavenworth-makes-changes-to-annual-christmas-lights-festival/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=August 29, 2024}}</ref>

===Media===

The city's weekly newspaper, the ''[[Leavenworth Echo]]'', was founded in 1904 and independently operated until it was acquired in 2023 by Ward Media.<ref>{{cite news |last=Riggs |first=Dee |date=February 22, 2010 |title=The Worm: Digital program gives old Echoes new life |url=https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/local/the-worm-digital-program-gives-old-echoes-new-life/article_a0d88971-e0c8-59a7-bc72-e99e6edff1fd.html |work=The Wenatchee World |url-access=subscription |accessdate=November 24, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Dudley |first=Brier |date=August 16, 2023 |title=Leavenworth-area papers held on long enough to find new owners |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/leavenworth-area-papers-held-on-long-enough-to-find-new-owners/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=November 24, 2024}}</ref> Jazz radio station [[KOHO-FM]] was founded in 1999 and broadcast from Leavenworth until it switched to [[Northwest Public Radio]]'s feed in 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ramella |first=Sueann |date=April 23, 2022 |title=NW Philanthropist and Founder of KOHO Harriet Bullitt Dies |url=https://www.nwpb.org/2022/04/23/elementor-122133/ |work=[[Northwest Public Broadcasting]] |accessdate=November 24, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=April 11, 2022 |title=Wenatchee's KOHO radio switching to an all-jazz format |url=https://www.ncwlife.com/news/wenatchee-s-koho-radio-switching-to-an-all-jazz-format/article_e5d48d8f-4d1e-5856-8c0f-da89a9932137.html |publisher=NCWLife |accessdate=November 24, 2024}}</ref> Leavenworth is also part of the [[Media in Seattle|Seattle–Tacoma]] television [[media market]] as defined by [[Nielsen Media Research]].<ref>{{cite map |year=2018 |title=Nielsen DMA—Designated Market Area Regions, 2018–2019 |publisher=[[Nielsen Media Research]] |url=https://thevab.com/storage/app/media/Toolkit/DMA_Map_2019.pdf |via=Video Advertising Bureau |accessdate=November 24, 2024}}</ref>

Leavenworth's [[public library]] is operated by the [[NCW Libraries]] system, which serves five counties in Central Washington. The library occupies {{convert|3,000|sqft|sqm}} inside the [[city hall]] building on U.S. Route 2; a study to move the library to a closed elementary school was approved by the Leavenworth city council in 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last=Garcia |first=Gabriel |date=February 9, 2024 |title=Leavenworth Public Library could find new home in old elementary school |url=https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/leavenworth-public-library-could-find-new-home-in-old-elementary-school/article_4fbd95fe-c77e-11ee-9b63-e3a5826ada27.html |work=The Wenatchee World |url-access=subscription |accessdate=November 24, 2024}}</ref>

==Government and politics==

Leavenworth has a [[mayor–council government|mayor–council]] form of government with a [[mayor]] and seven [[city council]]members all elected to four-year terms.<ref>{{cite web |date=April 2022 |title=City Administrator |url=https://cityofleavenworth.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Brochure-City-Administrator-April-2022.pdf |publisher=City of Leavenworth |accessdate=February 10, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=October 17, 2023 |title=Leavenworth City Council Election 2023 |url=http://leavenworthecho.staging.communityq.com/stories/leavenworth-city-council-election-2023,50940 |work=The Leavenworth Echo |accessdate=February 10, 2025}}</ref> Former councilmember Carl Florea was elected mayor in 2019 and re-elected in 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last=Propst |first=Quinn |date=February 4, 2025 |title=Meet Carl Florea, Mayor of Leavenworth |url=https://www.ncwbusiness.com/stories/meet-carl-florea-mayor-of-leavenworth,110427 |work=Wenatchee Business Journal |accessdate=February 10, 2025}}</ref> The day-to-day operations of the city government is led by an appointed [[city administrator]]; {{As of|2022|lc=y}}, the city government has 44 employees.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 18, 2024 |title=Accountability Audit Report: City of Leavenworth |page=6 |url=https://portal.sao.wa.gov/ReportSearch/Home/ViewReportFile?arn=1033933&isFinding=false&sp=false |publisher=[[Washington State Auditor|Office of the Washington State Auditor]] |accessdate=February 10, 2025}}</ref>

Leavenworth is within the [[Washington's 8th congressional district|8th congressional district]] and [[Washington's 12th legislative district|12th legislative district]], which both encompass most of Chelan County and parts of neighboring King and Snohomish counties.<ref>{{cite map |date=July 2024 |title=Washington State Legislative & Congressional District Map |url=https://www.sos.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-07/Road%20Map_01.pdf |at=[https://www.sos.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-07/Road%20Map%20Inset_01.pdf Puget Sound inset] |publisher=[[Washington State Redistricting Commission]] |accessdate=October 24, 2024}}</ref> Unlike the rest of Chelan County, Leavenworth has voted for the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]'s candidate by wide margins in presidential elections since 2012. The city had a 41-point margin for [[Kamala Harris]] in the [[2024 United States presidential election|2024 presidential election]], while [[Donald Trump]] won the county's overall vote.<ref name="Times-Cross">{{cite news |last=Roberts |first=Paul |date=February 9, 2025 |title=Plans for 70-foot lighted cross above Leavenworth divide mountain town |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/plans-for-70-foot-lighted-cross-above-leavenworth-divide-mountain-town/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=February 10, 2025}}</ref>

==Education==

Public schools in Leavenworth and the surrounding area are operated by the [[Cascade School District (Washington)|Cascade School District]], which has over 1,100 students and serves the upper Wenatchee Valley.<ref>{{cite web |title=Public School District Directory Information: Cascade School District |url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_detail.asp?Search=2&ID2=5300950 |work=Common Core of Data |publisher=[[National Center for Education Statistics]] |access-date=August 25, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Rodas |first=Jenni |date=May 3, 2024 |title=Cascade School District adjusts budget due to declining enrollment |url=https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/education/cascade-school-district-adjusts-budget-due-to-declining-enrollment/article_21dde22e-0716-11ef-9ec0-f3d83b67c3e7.html |work=The Wenatchee World |url-access=subscription |accessdate=August 25, 2024}}</ref> The district has one [[high school]], located in Leavenworth, that was rebuilt in 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last=McDaniels |first=Nevonne |date=May 20, 2019 |title=Cascade High School dedication, tours planned for Tuesday |url=https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/education/cascade-high-school-dedication-tours-planned-for-tuesday/article_bdc925d4-7b45-11e9-891e-cba0b6b4d845.html |work=The Wenatchee World |url-access=subscription |access-date=September 6, 2019}}</ref>

The city is also home to the Upper Valley Christian School, a private K–12 school operated by the Leavenworth Church of the Nazarene. It was established in 1979 and has 52 students.<ref>{{cite news |last=Avey |first=Ann |date=November 15, 2019 |title=The Upper Valley Christian School celebrates 40th anniversary |url=https://www.leavenworthecho.com/stories/the-upper-valley-christian-school-celebrates-40th-anniversary,53636 |work=The Leavenworth Echo |accessdate=August 25, 2024}}</ref>

==Infrastructure==

===Transportation===
[[File:Link Transit bus in Leavenworth, WA.jpg|thumb|right|[[Link Transit]] provides transit service within Leavenworth]]

Leavenworth is located on [[U.S. Route 2 in Washington|U.S. Route 2]], which continues west across [[Stevens Pass]] to [[Snohomish County, Washington|Snohomish County]] and east towards Wenatchee.<ref name="Times-Amtrak">{{cite news |last=Cantwell |first=Brian J. |date=October 29, 2009 |title=Amtrak to Leavenworth: nice ride to Oompahtown, with a few hiccups |page=D6 |url=http://old.seattletimes.com/html/outdoors/2010155461_nwwtrain29.html |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 6, 2019}}</ref> The highway has [[turn lane]]s through most of the city and ranges from two to four lanes wide;<ref>{{cite report |date=October 7, 2020 |title=Transportation Element |page=6 |url=https://cityofleavenworth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Leavenworth-Transportation-Element_FINAL.pdf |publisher=City of Leavenworth |accessdate=December 20, 2024}}</ref><ref name="WSDOT-Corridor">{{cite web |date=April 5, 2018 |title=Corridor Sketch Summary – US 2: Gold Bar to US 2 & US 97 Interchange (Big Y) |url=https://wsdot.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-10/CSS229-US2-GoldBar-US97InterchangeBigY.pdf |publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation |accessdate=August 29, 2024}}</ref> it is highly congested during seasonal events,<ref name="WSDOT-Corridor"/> which has sometimes required law enforcement to direct traffic.<ref>{{cite news |last=Robbins |first=Jefferson |date=December 19, 2015 |title=Silent bright: Leavenworth's Christmas Lighting draws dazzling crowds |url=https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/local/silent-bright-leavenworths-christmas-lighting-draws-dazzling-crowds/article_227c6e85-539c-5cad-b007-4a5677795b29.html |work=The Wenatchee World |url-access=subscription |accessdate=August 29, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Buhr |first=Tony |date=December 6, 2018 |title=Slow sleigh traffic expected in Leavenworth |url=https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/local/slow-sleigh-traffic-expected-in-leavenworth/article_7231cc9c-3593-5abd-ac73-366c18adb96a.html |work=The Wenatchee World |url-access=subscription |accessdate=August 29, 2024}}</ref> The Chumstick Highway (former [[Washington State Route 209|State Route 209]]) travels north from Leavenworth to [[Plain, Washington|Plain]] and [[Lake Wenatchee State Park]].<ref>{{cite news |date=August 19, 2011 |title=US 2 still closed for 15 miles near Leavenworth due to wildfire |url=https://www.krem.com/article/news/local/northwest/us-2-still-closed-for-15-miles-near-leavenworth-due-to-wildfire/293-413464903 |publisher=[[KREM (TV)|KREM]] |accessdate=August 24, 2024}}</ref>

The city is served by [[Amtrak]]'s ''[[Empire Builder]]'' train, which stops daily at [[Icicle Station]] near downtown.<ref name="Times-Amtrak"/> [[Link Transit]] provides local and inter-city [[public transit]] services that connect Leavenworth to Wenatchee, as well as local [[paratransit]] and a downtown shuttle.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 20, 2019 |title=Link Transit adds new routes for Chelan and Leavenworth |url=https://www.ncwlife.com/link-transit-adds-new-routes-for-chelan-and-leavenworth/ |publisher=[[NCWLife]] |access-date=September 6, 2019}}</ref> A [[park-and-ride]] lot in downtown Leavenworth with 30 stalls is served by Link Transit,<ref>{{cite news |last=Dunn |first=Ian |date=February 15, 2017 |title=New Link Park and Ride could help alleviate River Bend traffic |url=https://www.leavenworthecho.com/stories/new-link-park-and-ride-could-help-alleviate-river-bend-traffic,66293 |work=The Leavenworth Echo |accessdate=August 24, 2024}}</ref> along with the Wilkommen Park and Ride opened in June 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last=Drago |first=Kalie |date=June 28, 2019 |title=Leavenworth celebrates new Park and Ride |url=https://www.leavenworthecho.com/stories/leavenworth-celebrates-new-park-and-ride,53725 |work=The Leavenworth Echo |accessdate=August 24, 2024}}</ref> The city also has several private [[taxi]] companies and inter-city bus operators, including stops for [[Northwestern Trailways]] and [[Amtrak Thruway]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Leavenworth |url=http://northwesterntrailways.com/CitiesonSpokaneTacoma/Leavenworth/tabid/280/Default.aspx |publisher=[[Northwestern Trailways]] |access-date=September 6, 2019}}</ref>

===Utilities===

[[Electric power]] in Leavenworth and surrounding communities is provided by [[Chelan County Public Utility District]], a nonprofit municipal corporation which serves the entire county.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dunn |first=Ian |date=January 23, 2014 |title=Chelan County PUD to compensate city $30,000 for tax collection mistakes |url=https://www.leavenworthecho.com/stories/chelan-county-pud-to-compensate-city-30000-for-tax-collection-mistakes,63484 |work=The Leavenworth Echo |accessdate=August 24, 2024}}</ref> Over 80&nbsp;percent of the utility's electricity is sourced from [[hydroelectric dam]]s.<ref>{{cite report |date=June 3, 2024 |title=Washington Electric Utility 2023 Fuel Mix Disclosure Report |page=10 |url=https://www.commerce.wa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/CY2022-Energy-Washington-State-Electric-Utility-Fuel-Mix-Disclosure-Report-with-Utility-Fuel-Mix-Summary.pdf |publisher=[[Washington State Department of Commerce]] |accessdate=August 24, 2024}}</ref>

The Leavenworth city government provides [[tap water]] to over 1,404 residential and commercial customers with an estimated annual use of {{convert|320|e6gal|e9L|abbr=off}}.<ref name="WaterPlan">{{cite report |author=Varela Engineering and Management |date=February 2018 |title=Water System Plan |pages=1–5, 13 |url=https://cityofleavenworth.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2018-Water-System-Plan-final.pdf |publisher=City of Leavenworth |accessdate=August 24, 2024}}</ref> Its primary source is [[Icicle Creek]], which originates in the Cascades near [[Stevens Pass]] and also serves a federal [[fish hatchery]] and nearby orchards.<ref>{{cite news |last=Stang |first=John |date=September 15, 2015 |title=The search for peace on Icicle Creek |url=https://www.cascadepbs.org/2015/09/the-search-for-peace-on-icicle-creek |work=[[Crosscut.com]] |accessdate=August 24, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Chasan |first=Daniel Jack |date=July 17, 2016 |title=Orchards, wilderness, a mountain town: Who gets the water? |url=https://www.cascadepbs.org/2016/07/orchards-wilderness-a-mountain-town-who-gets-the-water |work=Crosscut.com |accessdate=August 24, 2024}}</ref> The city's use of Icicle Creek was the subject of a decade-long dispute with the [[Washington State Department of Ecology]] and conservationists that was settled in 2023 with a revised water rights agreement.<ref>{{cite news |last=Worthen |first=Kalie |date=December 22, 2023 |title=Department of Ecology, Leavenworth reach settlement over Icicle Creek Basin water rights |url=https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/department-of-ecology-leavenworth-reach-settlement-over-icicle-creek-basin-water-rights/article_d0054a26-9e0d-11ee-a32e-f3b7538e4a94.html |work=The Wenatchee World |url-access=subscription |accessdate=August 24, 2024}}</ref> Leavenworth also sources a portion of its tap water from three [[well]]s near the Wenatchee River that were constructed from 1989 to 2014.<ref name="WaterPlan"/>

All curbside collection of [[municipal solid waste|garbage]], [[single-stream recycling|recycling]], and [[yard waste]] has been contracted by the city government to [[Waste Management (company)|Waste Management]] since 2019. Prior to the agreement, Waste Management only collected recycling while the city government disposed of garbage.<ref>{{cite news |last=Drago |first=Kalie |date=January 14, 2019 |title=The city prepares to transition trash service |url=https://www.leavenworthecho.com/stories/the-city-prepares-to-transition-trash-service,54188 |work=The Leavenworth Echo |accessdate=August 24, 2024}}</ref>

===Healthcare===

Leavenworth has one [[public hospital]], Cascade Medical Center, with 12 beds designated for [[acute care]] and an on-site rural health clinic. The hospital is operated by the Chelan County Public Hospital District No. 1 and has 150 employees.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 15, 2018 |title=Accountability Audit Report: Chelan County Public Hospital District No. 1 (Cascade Medical Center) |page=6 |url=https://portal.sao.wa.gov/ReportSearch/Home/ViewReportFile?isFinding=false&arn=1020785 |publisher=[[Washington State Auditor's Office]] |accessdate=August 25, 2024}}</ref> The hospital was established in 1923 as the Cascade Sanitarium with 26 beds and was expanded to 32 beds in 1947 with the construction of a new wing.<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Bigelow |editor-first=John |date=November 1957 |title=Washington Hospitals: A Century of Service, 1858–1958 |page=41 |url=https://www.wsha.org/wp-content/uploads/Washington-Hospitals-Century-of-Service.pdf |publisher=[[Washington State Hospital Association]] |accessdate=August 25, 2024}}</ref> A public hospital district was formed in 1965 to fund a new building, which opened in the following decade with 33 beds and was named the Cascade Medical Center.<ref name="World-Cacscade">{{cite news |last=Irwin |first=Mike |date=October 3, 2016 |title=Smaller health facilities depend dedication of the community |url=https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/business/smaller-health-facilities-depend-dedication-of-the-community/article_2fa033a9-613b-56e9-a0e7-be38032c1293.html |work=The Wenatchee World |url-access=subscription |accessdate=August 25, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=May 29, 1996 |title=State delays decision on hospital satellite |page=10 |work=The Wenatchee World}}</ref>

A 16-bed satellite facility for the Cascade Medical Center in Wenatchee opened in July 1997 through a partnership with the [[Wenatchee Valley Clinic]]; the rooms included Bavarian-style artwork that was donated by Leavenworth residents.<ref>{{cite news |last=Marantos |first=Jeanette |date=July 25, 1997 |title=A chance to smile while in the hospital |page=14 |work=The Wenatchee World}}</ref> The satellite hospital was intended to improve revenues for Cascade, which had few patients in Leavenworth, but instead left the hospital with $4.7&nbsp;million in debt.<ref>{{cite news |last=Patridge |first=Michelle |date=March 25, 1998 |title=Clinic offers to purchase Cascade Medical: Leavenworth center can't pay its bills |page=2 |work=The Wenatchee World}}</ref> Cascade sold its bed licenses to the Wenatchee Valley Clinic in 2001 for $2.5&nbsp;million to resolve its remaining debt and end the partnership.<ref>{{cite news |last=Feeney |first=Ryan |date=August 2, 2001 |title=Clinic buys hospital bed licenses |page=A2 |work=The Wenatchee World}}</ref> Funding for a new, $14&nbsp;million facility for Cascade in Leavenworth was approved by voters in 2005 through a $8.8&nbsp;million [[bond measure]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Steigmeyer |first=Rick |date=November 7, 2008 |title=Man who saved Leavenworth's hospital to retire |url=https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/local/man-who-saved-leavenworth-s-hospital-to-retire/article_11cf89e8-101f-531d-8277-5910b361dc75.html |work=The Wenatchee World |url-access=subscription |accessdate=August 25, 2024}}</ref> The new hospital opened in November 2010 with a new acute care unit;<ref name="World-Cacscade"/> it was followed by renovations in 2011 to the existing building to house lab space and a larger lobby.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dunn |first=Ian |date=November 17, 2010 |title=New hospital and clinic now open at CMC |url=https://www.leavenworthecho.com/stories/new-hospital-and-clinic-now-open-at-cmc,59737 |work=The Leavenworth Echo |accessdate=August 25, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Robbins |first=Jefferson |date=November 12, 2011 |title=Leavenworth hospital revels in its redesign |work=The Wenatchee World |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=C12EB6BE1393489FA580F5880B8B058E&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F13AFCA32CF4E4238 |via=NewsBank |accessdate=August 25, 2024}}</ref>

==Notable people==

* [[Cleo Baldon]], architect and furniture designer<ref>{{cite news |last=Hillier |first=Bevis |date=February 24, 1985 |title=Designing Women |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-02-24-ho-24531-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |accessdate=August 29, 2024}}</ref>
* [[George Boomer]], newspaper editor and political activist
* [[Martin R. Bradley]], state legislator in Michigan<ref>{{cite news |date=December 23, 1975 |title=Death notices: Martin R. Bradley |page=10 |work=[[Daily Press (Michigan)|Escanaba Daily Press]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-escanaba-daily-press-martin-r-bradl/1582733/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=August 29, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Dean Derby]], professional American football player<ref>{{cite web |title=Dean Derby |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DerbDe00.htm |work=[[Pro Football Reference]] |accessdate=August 29, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Maria Newman]], composer and violinist<ref>{{cite news |last=Magruder |first=Melonie |date=May 15, 2008 |title=Chamber music, ballet tell Oscar Wilde's 'Birthday of the Infanta' |url=https://malibutimes.com/article_3ced97f0-cdf1-56c5-9138-c962d44aea0chttps://malibutimes.com/article_3ced97f0-cdf1-56c5-9138-c962d44aea0c |work=[[The Malibu Times]] |accessdate=August 29, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Jack Parnell (politician)|Jack Parnell]], former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture<ref>{{cite book |year=1990 |title=Rural Development, Agriculture, and Related Agencies Appropriations for 1991 |page=1 |publisher=[[Government Printing Office]] |location=Washington, D.C. |oclc=21632600 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vZgcAAAAMAAJ |via=Google Books |accessdate=August 29, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Felipe Pulido]], Catholic priest<ref>{{cite press release |date=June 6, 2023 |title=Resignations and Appointments, 06.06.2023 |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2023/06/06/230606a.html |publisher=[[Holy See Press Office]] |location=Vatican City |accessdate=August 29, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Belle Reeves]], state legislator and Washington Secretary of State<ref name="HL-Reeves">{{cite web |last=Hood |first=Michael |date=February 20, 2009 |title=Reeves, Anna Belle Culp (1871-1948) |url=https://www.historylink.org/File/8938 |work=HistoryLink |accessdate=August 29, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Frank Reeves]], state legislator and newspaper publisher<ref name="HL-Reeves"/>

==See also==
* [[Frankenmuth, Michigan]]
* [[Helen, Georgia]]
* [[Solvang, California]]
* [[Tudorbethan architecture]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

===Further reading===

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041225073118/http://wrgis.wr.usgs.gov/wgmt/pacnw/nc/chelan2.html Generalized geologic map of the Chelan 1:100,000 quadrangle]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20040310202620/http://192.211.16.13/curricular/MN/swauk_formation.htm Swauk Formation] (Caroline J. Cloudas, 1998)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140714001718/http://academic.evergreen.edu/curricular/geologyandart/Central%20WA%20Field%20Trip%20Guide.pdf Field Trip Guide: Geology and Art]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20021123101615/http://192.211.16.13/curricular/MN/chiwaukum_schist.htm Chiwaukum Schist in the Nason Terrane] (Jessy Ryan)
*''A geological trip along Snoqualmie, Swauk, and Stevens Pass Highways.'' Washington state geology department, 1963
*''Northwest Exposures.'' David Alt and Donald W. Hyndman
*''Roadside Geology of Washington.'' David Alt and Donald W. Hyndman
*''Genealogy of Chelan County.'' Wayne and Linda McGahuey
* {{cite book |last1=Price |first1=Ted |last2=Miller |first2=John |title=Miracle Town: Creating America's Bavarian Village in Leavenworth, Washington |year=1997 |publisher=Price & Rodgers |isbn=978-0965120609}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{wikivoyage inline|Leavenworth (Washington)|Leavenworth, Washington}}
* [https://cityofleavenworth.com/ City website]
* [https://www.leavenworthchamber.org/ Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce]
{{Chelan County, Washington}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Cities in Chelan County, Washington]]
[[Category:German communities in the United States]]
[[Category:Wenatchee–East Wenatchee metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1906]]
[[Category:1906 establishments in Washington (state)]]