Editing Selah, Washington

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Selah, Washington
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|motto                    = 
|image_skyline            = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_map                = Yakima_County_Washington_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Selah_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Selah, Washington
<!-- Location ------>
|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        = [[Yakima County, Washington|Yakima]]
<!-- Government ------>
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = [[Mayor–council government|Mayor–council]]
|governing_body           = [[City council]]
|leader_title1            = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title1       = Founded
|established_date1        = 1871
|established_title2       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date2        = March 17, 1919
<!-- 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|accessdate=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 12.01
|area_land_km2            = 11.86
|area_water_km2           = 0.15
|area_total_sq_mi         = 4.64
|area_land_sq_mi          = 4.58
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.06
<!-- Population ------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 8208
|pop_est_as_of            = 2021
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2021"/>
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
|population_total         = 8153
|population_density_km2   = 681.62
|population_density_sq_mi = 1765.34
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Pacific Time Zone|PST]]
|utc_offset               = -8
|timezone_DST             = PDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -7
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 1293
|coordinates              = {{coord|46|38|15|N|120|32|28|W|region:US-WA_type:city|display=it}}
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 98942
|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               = 53-63280
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2411862<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2411862}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://selahwa.gov/|selahwa.gov}}
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Selah''' is a city in [[Yakima County, Washington|Yakima County]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], United States. It is north of [[Yakima, Washington|Yakima]] and part of its metropolitan area. The city's population was 8,153 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile/Selah_city,_Washington?g=1600000US5363280 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=September 13, 2022}}</ref>

==History==

The name Selah originates from an indigenous word meaning "still water" or "smooth water".<ref>{{cite book |last=Meany |first=Edmond S. |author-link=Edmond S. Meany |year=1923 |title=Origin of Washington Geographic Names |page=265 |publisher=[[University of Washington Press]] |location=Seattle |oclc=1963675 |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015027074981 |via=[[HathiTrust]] |accessdate=November 14, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Meyers |first=Donald W. |date=March 31, 2019 |title=The name game |url=https://www.yakimaherald.com/the-name-game/article_f7366628-53b4-11e9-b3f9-7f913e57313c.html |work=[[Yakima Herald-Republic]] |accessdate=November 14, 2024}}</ref>

Selah was incorporated as a city on March 17, 1919.<ref name="HistoryLink">{{cite web |last=Stein |first=Alan J. |date=July 12, 2013 |title=Selah — Thumbnail History |url=https://www.historylink.org/file/10425 |work=[[HistoryLink]] |accessdate=January 10, 2020}}</ref> The [[Tree Top]] apple processor co-operative (established in 1960) has its headquarters and two processing plants in Selah. In 2004, the [[Yakama|Yakama Tribe]] bought the old Hi-Country juicing plant, which it operated until 2010. Currently, the facility is owned and operated by [[Sun-Rype]], the U.S. arm of Western Canada's largest juice and fruit snack distributor. It continues to produce store brand apple juice and other beverages. In addition a number of fruit companies have warehouses there, due to the proximity of fruit orchards in the nearby Wenas Valley and access to regional railroad and roadway systems for shipment to markets. Selah and the Wenas Valley increasingly serve as a "bedroom community" of the larger city of [[Yakima, Washington|Yakima]] to the south. Because of the nearby orchards and juice processing plants, Selah is often referred to as "The Apple Juice Capital of the World"

Each Memorial Day weekend, the Washington State chapter of the [[National Audubon Society]] holds a campout some 22 miles north of Selah at the Hazel Wolf Bird Sanctuary in the upper Wenas Valley near Wenas, Washington. The upper valley also holds Wenas Lake, an irrigation reservoir. Wenas Creek flows from the reservoir through the agricultural lower Wenas Valley. This is where the Wenas Creek Mammoth was found. The creek is a tributary of the [[Yakima River]].

In July 2020, the city was the subject of a [[New York Times]] story examining small town reaction to [[George Floyd protests|non-violent protests about racial inequality]] which noted anecdotal evidence of uneven enforcement of laws and rules to people of color.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/16/us/sidewalk-chalk-police-selah-washington.html?referringSource=articleShare |title=Seeing 'Black Lives Matter' Written in Chalk, One City Declares It a Crime |work=The New York Times |date=July 16, 2020 |last1=Baker |first1=Mike}}</ref>

[[File:Selah WA from Lookout Point.jpg|thumb|none|700px|Selah, Washington viewed from Lookout Point.]]

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|4.52|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which, {{convert|4.44|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.08|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]]|accessdate=December 19, 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archivedate=July 2, 2012}}</ref>

===Climate===
This region experiences hot and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6&nbsp;°F. According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Selah has a [[Mediterranean climate#Warm-summer Mediterranean climate|warm-summer Mediterranean climate]], abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=805254&cityname=Selah%2C+Washington%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Selah, Washington]</ref>

{{Weather box 
|location = Selah, Washington (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1998–present)
|single line = Y
|collapsed = Y
|Jan record high F = 62
|Feb record high F = 66
|Mar record high F = 79
|Apr record high F = 87
|May record high F = 99
|Jun record high F = 105
|Jul record high F = 109
|Aug record high F = 104
|Sep record high F = 101
|Oct record high F = 88
|Nov record high F = 70
|Dec record high F = 61
|year record high F = 109
|Jan avg record high F = 53.5
|Feb avg record high F = 58.7
|Mar avg record high F = 69.0
|Apr avg record high F = 78.6
|May avg record high F = 89.0
|Jun avg record high F = 95.7
|Jul avg record high F = 101.6
|Aug avg record high F = 100.5
|Sep avg record high F = 92.4
|Oct avg record high F = 78.2
|Nov avg record high F = 64.5
|Dec avg record high F = 52.9
|year avg record high F = 102.6
|Jan high F = 37.4
|Feb high F = 45.4
|Mar high F = 54.2
|Apr high F = 62.4
|May high F = 71.8
|Jun high F = 78.5
|Jul high F = 87.8
|Aug high F = 87.2
|Sep high F = 78.0
|Oct high F = 63.5
|Nov high F = 47.8
|Dec high F = 36.5
|year high F = 62.5
|Jan mean F = 29.5
|Feb mean F = 34.5
|Mar mean F = 41.3
|Apr mean F = 48.2
|May mean F = 57.2
|Jun mean F = 63.5
|Jul mean F = 70.9
|Aug mean F = 69.7
|Sep mean F = 61.0
|Oct mean F = 48.9
|Nov mean F = 37.1
|Dec mean F = 28.8
|year mean F = 49.2
|Jan low F = 21.6
|Feb low F = 23.7
|Mar low F = 28.4
|Apr low F = 34.1
|May low F = 42.7
|Jun low F = 48.4
|Jul low F = 54.0
|Aug low F = 52.3
|Sep low F = 44.0
|Oct low F = 34.4
|Nov low F = 26.4
|Dec low F = 21.1
|year low F = 35.9
|Jan avg record low F = 7.8
|Feb avg record low F = 11.7
|Mar avg record low F = 18.6
|Apr avg record low F = 22.9
|May avg record low F = 28.7
|Jun avg record low F = 36.9
|Jul avg record low F = 43.6
|Aug avg record low F = 42.3
|Sep avg record low F = 32.9
|Oct avg record low F = 22.3
|Nov avg record low F = 13.7
|Dec avg record low F = 8.0
|year avg record low F = 1.4
|Jan record low F = -14
|Feb record low F = -5
|Mar record low F = 5
|Apr record low F = 18
|May record low F = 20
|Jun record low F = 33
|Jul record low F = 37
|Aug record low F = 29
|Sep record low F = 25
|Oct record low F = 5
|Nov record low F = -6
|Dec record low F = -7
|year record low F = -14
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.07
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.72
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.68
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.65
|May precipitation inch = 0.85
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.78
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.23
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.16
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.28
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.73
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.92
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.36
|year precipitation inch = 8.43
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 9.5
|Feb precipitation days = 7.4
|Mar precipitation days = 7.3
|Apr precipitation days = 5.9
|May precipitation days = 7.8
|Jun precipitation days = 5.5
|Jul precipitation days = 2.1
|Aug precipitation days = 2.4
|Sep precipitation days = 3.1
|Oct precipitation days = 7.5
|Nov precipitation days = 9.9
|Dec precipitation days = 11.5
|year precipitation days = 79.9
|source = [[NOAA]]<ref name = NOAA >{{cite web
|url = http://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=pdt
|title = NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = June 5, 2023}}</ref><ref name=NOAApdf>{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00457522&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|title = SELAH 2 NE, WA US USC00457522
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = June 5, 2023
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230605081110/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00457522&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|archive-date = June 5, 2023}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1930= 767
|1940= 1130
|1950= 2489
|1960= 2824
|1970= 3311
|1980= 4500
|1990= 5113
|2000= 6310
|2010= 7147
|2020= 8153
|estyear=2021
|estimate=8208
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2021">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |date=September 13, 2022|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 13, 2022}}</ref>
|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|accessdate=July 22, 2014}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 7,147 people, 2,658 households, and 1,861 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1609.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 2,759 housing units at an average density of {{convert|621.4|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 85.8% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.5% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.3% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.7% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.2% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 8.4% 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 16.4% of the population.

There were 2,658 households, of which 42.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.0% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.12.

The median age in the city was 31.5 years. 29.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.9% were from 25 to 44; 22.8% were from 45 to 64; and 10.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.2% male and 51.8% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], there were 5,314 people, 2,269 households, and 1,688 families living in the city. The population density was 1,444.2 people per square mile (557.5/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 2,408 housing units at an average density of 551.1 per square mile (212.8/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the city was 88.42% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.60% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.22% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.82% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.08% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 6.40% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.46% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 11.05% of the population.

There were 2,269 households, out of which 44.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.4% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.6% were non-families. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 31.7% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $42,386, and the median income for a family was $49,477. Males had a median income of $39,241 versus $28,067 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $18,595. About 9.0% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 13.4% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
Lince, Robert S. ''The Selah Story''. Selah, Washington: Selah Valley Optimist Printing, 1984.

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.ci.selah.wa.us/ City of Selah]

{{Yakima County, Washington}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Cities in Yakima County, Washington]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1919]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Yakima River]]