South Cle Elum is a town in

Kittitas County Kittitas County () is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. At the 2020 census, its population was 44,337. Its county seat and largest city is Ellensburg. The county was created in November 1883 when it was carved out of Yakima Coun ...

Washington Washington commonly refers to: * Washington (state), United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A metonym for the federal government of the United States ** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...

, United States. The population was 532 at the 2010 census.

History

In 1909, the Chicago, Milwaukee & Puget Sound Railway chose Cle Elum as a division point between the Coast and Columbia divisions on its future transcontinental line."Milwaukee Divisions Set" ''

The Oregonian ''The Oregonian'' is a daily newspaper based in Portland, Oregon, United States, owned by Advance Publications. It is the oldest continuously published newspaper on the U.S. west coast, founded as a weekly by Thomas J. Dryer on December 4, 18 ...

'' 01 Jul. 1909. When it was determined that Milwaukee's mainline would end up running one mile south of the city, South Cle Elum was platted. Maintenance shops and workers' bunkers were built as well as a train station. South Cle Elum was officially incorporated on August 28, 1911.

Geography

South Cle Elum is located at (47.185633, −120.953019). According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the town has a total area of , all land.

Climate

Demographics

2010 census

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...

of 2010, there were 532 people, 235 households, and 145 families residing in the town. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...

was . There were 271 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 93.2%

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, 0.4%

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 1.5% Native American, 0.8%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, 1.5% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, and 2.6% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race were 5.1% of the population. There were 235 households, of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.3% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.80. The median age in the town was 42.8 years. 21.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24% were from 25 to 44; 28.3% were from 45 to 64; and 18.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.6% male and 50.4% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census, there were 457 people, 185 households and 123 families residing in the town. The

was 1,089.5 per square mile (420.1/km²). There were 210 housing units at an average density of 500.6 per square mile (193.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.09%

, 1.31% Native American, 0.22%

, 2.41% from

, and 1.97% from two or more races.

of any race were 4.38% of the population. There were 185 households, of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.03. Age distribution was 29.5% under the age of 18, 3.3% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.3 males. The median household income was $45,833, and the median family income was $53,750. Males had a median income of $35,625; females, $21,625. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the town was $22,375. About 8.1% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

Points of Interest in South Cle Elum

* Former Milwaukee Road depot: This depot, originally built in 1909, has been restored and now houses a museum of railroad artifacts. The telegrapher's desk and equipment have been set up to show visitors how messages were communicated in the early days. There is also a cafe with fixtures that represent the original "beanery;" a place for railroad workers to eat. * The

Iron Horse State Park Iron Horse State Park, part of the Washington State Park System, is a state park located in the Cascade Mountains and Yakima River Valley, between Cedar Falls on the west and the Columbia River on the east. The park is contiguous with a ...

: This former right-of-way for the Milwaukee Road today serves as a path for hikers, cross-country skiers and horseback riders. An interpretive trail, near the former depot, shows locations of important structures, such as the roundhouse. From I-90 at exit #84, follow signs to South Cle Elum. Once in town, follow signs to parking area. * Former Milwaukee Road Bunkhouse: Now a B&B.

Notable people

Douglas Albert Munro Douglas Albert Munro (October 11, 1919 – September 27, 1942) was a United States Coast Guardsman who was posthumously decorated with the Medal of Honor for an act of "extraordinary heroism" during World War II. He is the only person to have r ...

, the first, and so far only,

United States Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, military, mult ...

recipient of the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valo ...

, for service during the

Battle of Guadalcanal The Guadalcanal campaign, also known as the Battle of Guadalcanal and codenamed Operation Watchtower by American forces, was a military campaign fought between 7 August 1942 and 9 February 1943 on and around the island of Guadalcanal in the ...

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. * The Smith family of S & S Logging, stars of

Ax Men ''Ax Men'' is an American reality television series that premiered on March 9, 2008 on History. The program follows the work of several logging crews in the second-growth forests of Northwestern Oregon, Washington and Montana and the rivers of ...

on the

History Channel History (formerly The History Channel from January 1, 1995 to February 15, 2008, stylized as HISTORY) is an American pay television network and flagship channel owned by A&E Networks, a joint venture between Hearst Communications and the Disney ...

, reside in South Cle Elum.

References

{{Authority control Towns in Kittitas County, Washington Towns in Washington (state)