Omak (
[ Merriam (1997), p. 869]) is a city located in the foothills of the
Okanogan Highlands in north-central
Washington
Washington most commonly refers to:
* George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States
* Washington (state), a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A ...
, United States. With a population of 4,860 residents as of
2020
The year 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of even ...
, distributed over a land area of , Omak is the largest municipality of
Okanogan County
Okanogan County () is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington along the Canada–U.S. border. As of the 2020 census, the population was 42,104. The county seat is Okanogan, while the most populous city is Omak. It is the largest c ...
and the largest municipality in
Central Washington
Central Washington is a region of the U.S. state of Washington between the western and eastern parts of the state extending from the border with the Canadian province of British Columbia in the north to the border with the U.S. state of Oregon i ...
north of
Wenatchee
Wenatchee ( ) is the county seat and most populous city of Chelan County, Washington, United States. The population within the city limits in 2010 was 31,925, and has increased to 35,508 as of 2020. Located in the north-central part of the stat ...
. The Greater Omak Area of around 8,229 inhabitants as of the
2010 census is the largest
urban cluster in the
Okanogan Country region, encompassing most of its
twin city of
Okanogan. The population has increased significantly since the
1910 census
The 1910 United States census, conducted by the Census Bureau on April 15, 1910, determined the resident population of the United States to be 92,228,496, an increase of 21 percent over the 76,212,168 persons enumerated during the 1900 census. ...
, reporting 520 residents just prior to
incorporation in 1911.
The land that is now Omak had been inhabited by various
Native American tribes before the arrival of non-
indigenous
Indigenous may refer to:
*Indigenous peoples
*Indigenous (ecology)
In biogeography, a native species is indigenous to a given region or ecosystem if its presence in that region is the result of only local natural evolution (though often populari ...
settlers in the early 19th century. The city began to develop after the completion of the Okanogan Irrigation Project affecting the
Grand Coulee Dam
Grand Coulee Dam is a concrete gravity dam on the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington, built to produce hydroelectric power and provide irrigation water. Constructed between 1933 and 1942, Grand Coulee originally had two powerhous ...
and other nearby electric facilities. The housing and municipal infrastructure, along with regional infrastructure connecting the
new town
New or NEW may refer to:
Music
* New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz (South Korean band), The Boyz
* New (album), ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013
** New (Paul McCartney song), "New" (Paul McCartney song), 2013
* New (EP), ''New'' (EP), ...
to other municipalities, were built simultaneously in 1908 supported by the local
agricultural industry
Agriculture encompasses crop and livestock production, aquaculture, and forestry for food and non-food products. Agriculture was a key factor in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food ...
. The name Omak comes from the
Okanagan
The Okanagan ( ), also called the Okanagan Valley and sometimes the Okanagan Country, is a region in the Canadian province of British Columbia defined by the basin of Okanagan Lake and the Canadian portion of the Okanagan River. It is part of ...
placename
mák or the
Salishan
The Salishan languages ( ), also known as the Salish languages ( ), are a family of languages found in the Pacific Northwest in North America, namely the Canadian province of British Columbia and the American states of Washington, Oregon, Ida ...
term ''Omache''which is said to mean "good medicine" or "plenty", referring to its favorable climate, with an annual high of around . Omak acts as the gateway to the
Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest
The Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in Okanogan County, Washington, Okanogan County in north-central Washington (state), Washington, United States.
The forest is bordered on the north by British Columbia, ...
and consists of a
central business district
A central business district (CBD) is the Commerce, commercial and business center of a city. It contains commercial space and offices, and in larger cities will often be described as a financial district. Geographically, it often coincides wit ...
and residential neighborhoods.
Omak is a
code city governed by a seven-member
council
A council is a group of people who come together to consult, deliberate, or make decisions. A council may function as a legislature, especially at a town, city or county/shire level, but most legislative bodies at the state/provincial or natio ...
and located in the state's
4th congressional district. Omak's economy is dominated by the
primary sector
The primary sector of the economy includes any industry involved in the extraction and production of raw materials, such as farming, logging, fishing, forestry and mining.
The primary sector tends to make up a larger portion of the economy in d ...
industries of agriculture and forestry, although economic diversification has occurred with sawmills and recreational tourism. Nearby recreational destinations include walking trails,
state parks
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the sub-national level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural ...
and
national forests National Forest may refer to:
* National forest or state forest, a forest administered or protected by a sovereign state
** National forest (Brazil)
** National forest (France)
** National forest (United States)
** State Forests (Poland)
** The N ...
, such as
Conconully State Park,
Bridgeport State Park and
Osoyoos Lake State Park. The city is home to a weekly newspaper, the ''Omak–Okanogan County Chronicle'', and a
Wenatchee Valley College
Wenatchee Valley College (WVC) is a public community college in Wenatchee, Washington. The college provides students with adult education classes, certifications, associate degrees, and four bachelor's degrees.
The school consists of two campu ...
campus. Standards for education in Omak are higher than the state's average, though drugs and alcohol remain a problem among students.
U.S. Route 97 passes through the town, while
Washington State Route 155, as well as
Washington State Route 215
State Route 215 (SR 215) is a state highway serving Okanogan County in the U.S. state of Washington. The highway travels northeast parallel to the Okanogan River from SR 20 in Okanogan to SR 155 Spur in Downtown Om ...
, connects the city to
Okanogan and
Nespelem, respectively. By road, Omak is located approximately from
Seattle, Washington
Seattle ( ) is the List of municipalities in Washington, most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the List of Unit ...
, from
Spokane, Washington
Spokane ( ) is the most populous city in eastern Washington and the county seat of Spokane County, Washington, United States. It lies along the Spokane River, adjacent to the Selkirk Mountains, and west of the Rocky Mountain foothills, south o ...
and from
Kelowna, British Columbia
Kelowna ( ) is a city on Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. It serves as the head office of the Regional District of Central Okanagan. The name Kelowna derives from the Okanagan word ', ...
.
History
Origin
The Okanogan Valley was the traditional homeland of the
Syilx
The Syilx () people, also known as the Okanagan, Suknaqinx, or Okinagan people, are a First Nations in Canada, First Nations and Native Americans in the United States, Native American people whose traditional territory spans the Canada–United St ...
(also called Okanogan) Native Americans, whose territory extended north into what is now
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...
. The Syilx acquired horses in the mid-18th century, which helped them expand northward. They first met non-native traders and missionaries in the early 19th century. The Syilx participated in trade fairs held at
Kettle Falls
Kettle Falls ( Salish: Shonitkwu, meaning "roaring or noisy waters", also Schwenetekoo translated as "Keep Sounding Water") was an ancient and important salmon fishing site on the upper reaches of the Columbia River, in what is today the U.S. s ...
and at the mouth of the
Fraser River
The Fraser River () is the longest river within British Columbia, Canada, rising at Fraser Pass near Blackrock Mountain (Canada), Blackrock Mountain in the Rocky Mountains and flowing for , into the Strait of Georgia just south of the City of V ...
. Trading networks strengthened after the acquisition of horses in the mid-18th century.
In 1811,
Fort Okanogan
Fort Okanogan (also spelled Fort Okanagan but only by nonresident Canadians) was founded in 1811 on the confluence of the Okanogan and Columbia Rivers as a fur trade outpost. Originally built for John Jacob Astor’s Pacific Fur Company, it was ...
was built by the
Pacific Fur Company
The Pacific Fur Company (PFC) was an American fur trade venture wholly owned and funded by John Jacob Astor that functioned from 1810 to 1813. It was based in the Pacific Northwest, an area contested over the decades among the United Kingdom of G ...
at the confluence of the Okanogan and Columbia Rivers. The fort's ownership passed to the
North West Company
The North West Company was a Fur trade in Canada, Canadian fur trading business headquartered in Montreal from 1779 to 1821. It competed with increasing success against the Hudson's Bay Company in the regions that later became Western Canada a ...
, then the
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), originally the Governor and Company of Adventurers of England Trading Into Hudson’s Bay, is a Canadian holding company of department stores, and the oldest corporation in North America. It was the owner of the ...
.
Fort Colvile, near Kettle Falls, was another important fur trading outpost. The Okanogan River was used by fur brigades traveling between Fort Okanogan and
Kamloops
Kamloops ( ) is a city in south-central British Columbia, Canada, at the confluence of the North Thompson River, North and South Thompson Rivers, which join to become the Thompson River in Kamloops, and east of Kamloops Lake. The city is the ad ...
. In the late 1850s this route became known as the
Okanagan Trail
The Okanagan Trail was an inland route to the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush from the Lower Columbia region of the Washington and Oregon Territories in 1858–1859. The route was essentially the same as that used by the Hudson's Bay Company fur brig ...
and was widely used as an inland route to the
Fraser Canyon Gold Rush
The Fraser Canyon Gold Rush, (also Fraser Gold Rush and Fraser River Gold Rush) began in 1858 after gold was discovered on the Thompson River in British Columbia at its confluence with the Nicoamen River a few miles upstream from the Thompson's ...
.
In the 1850s, European-Americans settled in the area that is now Omak and built houses and inaugurated mining, logging and agricultural activities. As more white settlers arrived, a dispute about land ownership arose between them and the Native Americans.

In response, a treaty stating that an
Indian reservation
An American Indian reservation is an area of land land tenure, held and governed by a List of federally recognized tribes in the contiguous United States#Description, U.S. federal government-recognized Native American tribal nation, whose gov ...
would be formed on some of the disputed land while the European-Americans would own the remaining land was signed. The Indian land was later reduced to about .
Colville Indian Reservation
The Colville Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation located in Washington (state), Washington state, U.S. It is inhabited and managed by the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, which are List of federally recognized tribes in ...
was developed around 1872 during the
Presidency of Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant's tenure as the 18th president of the United States began on March 4, 1869, and ended on March 4, 1877. Grant, a Republican, took office after winning the 1868 election, and secured a second term in 1872. He presided over t ...
. In 1887, the
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation () is the federally recognized tribe that controls the Colville Indian Reservation, which is located in northeastern Washington, United States. It is the government for its people.
The Confedera ...
, a
federally recognized tribe
A federally recognized tribe is a Native American tribe recognized by the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs as holding a government-to-government relationship with the US federal government. In the United States, the Native American tribe ...
, was formed by executive order from 12 individual bands as per the
General Allotment Act of 1887. The
federal government
A federation (also called a federal state) is an entity characterized by a political union, union of partially federated state, self-governing provinces, states, or other regions under a #Federal governments, federal government (federalism) ...
decided to move Colville Indian Reservation's location west of
Columbia River
The Columbia River (Upper Chinook language, Upper Chinook: ' or '; Sahaptin language, Sahaptin: ''Nch’i-Wàna'' or ''Nchi wana''; Sinixt dialect'' '') is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river headwater ...
, reducing its area to . It would continue to be reduced for the next 60 years.
Nearby Alma was
plat
In the United States, a plat ( or ) (plan) is a cadastral map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. United States General Land Office surveyors drafted township plats of Public Lands Survey System, Public Lands Surveys to ...
ted as an
unincorporated community
An unincorporated area is a parcel of land that is not governed by a local general-purpose municipal corporation. (At p. 178.) They may be governed or serviced by an encompassing unit (such as a county) or another branch of the state (such as th ...
around 1886. Alma was renamed Pogue in honor of orchardist J.I. Pogue, and was later renamed
Okanoganthe present name. J.I. Pogue was upset that his name was replaced, and requested that surveyor, civil engineer and settler Ben Ross establish another town to the north.
Born in
Bureau County, Illinois
Bureau County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 33,244. Its county seat is Princeton. Bureau County is part of the Ottawa, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area, and the He ...
, Ross worked for the Great Northern Railroad shortly before moving to Okanogan County.
He decided to found a new community at Pogue's proposed location during 1907.
It was named Omak, supposedly for the Salishan word ''Omache''said to mean "good medicine" or "plenty"and referring to the town's favorable climate;
although according to
William Bright
William Oliver Bright (August 13, 1928 – October 15, 2006) was an American linguist and toponymist who specialized in Native American and South Asian languages and descriptive linguistics.
Biography
Bright earned a bachelor's degree in lin ...
the name comes from the
Okanagan
The Okanagan ( ), also called the Okanagan Valley and sometimes the Okanagan Country, is a region in the Canadian province of British Columbia defined by the basin of Okanagan Lake and the Canadian portion of the Okanagan River. It is part of ...
placename
mák Ross sold various items on the present townsite, trying to have his town recognized,
and built a cabin in 1907 to provide shelter for his daughter, son and grandchildrenbecoming one of the first white men to settle the area.
Growth

The town began to develop after the completion of the Okanogan Irrigation Project, which was designed to facilitate farming. At this time, many farmers came to Omak looking for homes. Fruits including apples, berries, peaches, plums and watermelons were cultivated after 1910. Omak served as a
census-designated place
A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only.
CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counte ...
(CDP) in 1910,
and incorporated as a city on February 11, 1911. Omak and Okanogan have shared a rivalry in
high school sports. During the
Great Depression of 1933, several residents of Omak were forced to work in nearby communities. As a result, the
United States Bureau of Reclamation
The Bureau of Reclamation, formerly the United States Reclamation Service, is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior, which oversees water resource management, specifically as it applies to the oversight and operatio ...
promoted work which was available as part of an improvement project at
Grand Coulee Dam
Grand Coulee Dam is a concrete gravity dam on the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington, built to produce hydroelectric power and provide irrigation water. Constructed between 1933 and 1942, Grand Coulee originally had two powerhous ...
in nearby
Coulee Dam, which employed approximately 5,000 people between 1933 and 1951 when the
megaproject
A megaproject is an extremely large-scale construction and investment project.
A more general definition is "Megaprojects are temporary endeavours (i.e. projects) characterised by: large investment commitment, vast complexity (especially in org ...
ended.
By 1950, the city was home to various buildings and structures including the St. Mary Mission church, which satisfied residential needs.

In the 1910s, Omak was chosen as the location for a sawmill to expand
economic growth
In economics, economic growth is an increase in the quantity and quality of the economic goods and Service (economics), services that a society Production (economics), produces. It can be measured as the increase in the inflation-adjusted Outp ...
. Omak Fruit Growers controlled the mill and a nearby orchard processing factory. The Biles-Coleman Lumber Company bought out the organization and built a sawmill outside municipal boundaries on the nearby Omak Mountain in 1924. A secondary sawmill was constructed in the Omak area. The company and their mills were purchased in 1975 by
Crown Zellerbach and thus an associated organizationCavenham Forest Industriesacquired the mills. The company ultimately went bankrupt, and in response, employees purchased the mill for 45 million dollars and renamed it Omak Wood Products in an attempt to save their jobs.
Omak Woods Products' payroll decreased to 480 in the early 1990s and later went bankrupt themselves, along with Quality Veneer, who later owned the property for 19 million dollars until 2000.
The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation later purchased the mill for 6.6 million dollars, having closed in 2009 because of low demand, ending over 130 jobs. As of 2013, there are proposals to reopen the mills during the summer season. The mill has since partially burned down in the Cold Springs Fire on September 8, 2020.
Geography
Topography

The
Canada–United States border
The international border between Canada and the United States is the longest in the world by total length. The boundary (including boundaries in the Great Lakes, Atlantic, and Pacific coasts) is long. The land border has two sections: Canada' ...
with an official
crossing into
Osoyoos
Osoyoos (, ) is the southernmost town in the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia between Penticton and Omak. The town is north of the United States border in the Washington State and is adjacent to the Osoyoos Indian reserve. The origin of ...
,
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...
from
Orovillelies approximately to the north. The
Idaho
Idaho ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest and Mountain states, Mountain West subregions of the Western United States. It borders Montana and Wyoming to the east, Nevada and Utah to the south, and Washington (state), ...
border lies about southeast. The state's largest city,
Seattle
Seattle ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the 18th-most populous city in the United States. The city is the cou ...
, lies southwest of Omak.
The Okanogan River, coming out of the town of
Riverside, defines the city's northern border, while the southern border is defined by the city of Okanogan; the terrain here is mountainous and forested. The nearest
primary statistical area
The United States federal government defines and delineates the nation's metropolitan areas for statistical purposes, using a set of standard statistical area definitions. the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) defined and delineated 393 ...
is the
Wenatchee – East Wenatchee metropolitan area. A CDP located northeast of the city was named
North Omak because of its proximity to Omak. It is part of two
census county division
A Census County Division (CCD) is a country subdivision, subdivision of a county (United States), county used by the United States Census Bureau for the purpose of presenting data, statistical data. A CCD is a relatively permanent statistical area ...
s: Omak (western half) and Colville Reservation (eastern half).
Omak, situated in the foothills of the Okanogan Highlands in central Okanogan County,
is part of the
Okanogan Country region, extending into British Columbia. It also lies within the
Inland Northwest
The Inland Northwest, historically and alternatively known as the Inland Empire, is a region of the Northwestern United States centered on the Greater Spokane, Washington Area, encompassing all of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho. Under ...
, centered on
Spokane
Spokane ( ) is the most populous city in eastern Washington and the county seat of Spokane County, Washington, United States. It lies along the Spokane River, adjacent to the Selkirk Mountains, and west of the Rocky Mountain foothills, south ...
, and the
Columbia Plateau
The Columbia Plateau is an important geology, geologic and geography, geographic region that lies across parts of the U.S. states of Washington (state), Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. It is a wide flood basalt plateau between the Cascade Range a ...
ecoregion
An ecoregion (ecological region) is an ecological and geographic area that exists on multiple different levels, defined by type, quality, and quantity of environmental resources. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of land or water, and c ...
near the Okanogan Drift Hills. The Okanogan River, a tributary of the Columbia River, flows through the central portion of the city, and receives Omak Creek from the east just outside municipal boundaries. Known for its
balancing Omak Rock, the
Omak Lake above sea levelis the largest saline
endorheic
An endorheic basin ( ; also endoreic basin and endorreic basin) is a drainage basin that normally retains water and allows no outflow to other external bodies of water (e.g. rivers and oceans); instead, the water drainage flows into permanent ...
lake in Washington. The
Crawfish Lake is located about northeast of Omak at the border of the Colville Indian Reservation and
Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest
The Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in Okanogan County, Washington, Okanogan County in north-central Washington (state), Washington, United States.
The forest is bordered on the north by British Columbia, ...
.
The forest comprises varied terrain and several mountain peaks.

Elevations around the area range from above sea level at the mouth of the Okanogan River to above sea level at the Moses Mountain.
The average elevation is above sea level according to the
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey (USGS), founded as the Geological Survey, is an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior whose work spans the disciplines of biology, geography, geology, and hydrology. The agency was founded on Mar ...
(USGS). The Moses Mountain, with a summit, sits east of the city,
[ Cushman (1918), p. 14.] while Little Moses Mountain, located above sea level, and Omak Mountain, located above sea level, are adjacent to the Moses Mountain.
West of the city are the
North Cascades
The North Cascades are a section of the Cascade Range of western North America. They span the border between the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of British Columbia and the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington and ...
, anchored by the
Cascade Range
The Cascade Range or Cascades is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington (state), Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as m ...
. Mountain peaks on the western portion of the Omak area range between and .
The Coleman Butte mountain summit above sea levelis located directly adjacent to municipal boundaries.
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the city encompasses a total area of , including of water, accounting for two percent of the overall area.
The area expanded in April 2010, when of land formerly within the city of Okanogan was accumulated.
Omak is the fourth largest settlement in Okanogan County by area after
Nespelem Community (), North Omak () and
Disautel ().
Omak covers percent of the county's total area. Its
urban cluster, the Greater Omak Area, includes the city of Okanogan and the CDP of North Omak.
The surrounding
metropolitan region
A metropolitan area or metro is a region consisting of a densely populated urban agglomeration and its surrounding territories which share industries, commercial areas, transport network, infrastructures and housing. A metropolitan area usually ...
comprises a total area of , although it has not officially been designated as a
statistical area.
Climate
The city experiences a
semi-arid climate
A semi-arid climate, semi-desert climate, or steppe climate is a dry climate sub-type. It is located on regions that receive precipitation below potential evapotranspiration, but not as low as a desert climate. There are different kinds of se ...
(
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
''
BSk BSK is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:
Sports
* OFK Beograd, Serbian football club
* FK BSK Borča, Serbian football club
* FK BSK Batajnica, Serbian football club
* FK BSK Banja Luka, Bosnian-Herzegovinian football club
* FK BSK ...
''), with little precipitation, hot summers and cold winters. Average temperatures in Omak range from a minimum in January to a maximum in July. The lowest temperature recorded was on February 1, 1950, and the highest was on June 27, 2021. The annual daily mean temperature is . Average monthly precipitation ranges from in August to in December.
[
] Despite Omak's geographical location further north and very close to the Canadian border, the city of Wenatchee, further to the south has almost the same average annual temperature. as well as several other southern communities.
Omak experiences four distinct seasons.
Summers are hot and relatively dry, with a daily average of in July, while winter is the wettest season of the year, with of snowfall between November and February. Spring and autumn are mild seasons with little precipitation.
The city is located in
plant hardiness zone
A hardiness zone is a geographic area defined as having a certain average annual minimum temperature, a factor relevant to the survival of many plants. In some systems other statistics are included in the calculations. The original and most widely ...
6a, according to the
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an executive department of the United States federal government that aims to meet the needs of commercial farming and livestock food production, promotes agricultural trade and producti ...
(USDA). In July 2012, a severe thunderstorm occurred in Omak, producing heavy rainfall, gusty winds and hail, and forced the temporary closure of
U.S. Route 97 and requiring repairs to public streets. Omak was affected by the
1872 North Cascades earthquakethe state's largest historical earthquakewhich occurred on December 14, 1872. The epicenter was at Omak Lake. The earthquake had a magnitude of between 6.5 and 7.0 and was followed by an aftershock. Another earthquake with minor shaking affected the city in November 2011.
Cityscape
Omak is a
planned city
A planned community, planned city, planned town, or planned settlement is any community that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed on previously undeveloped land. This contrasts with settlements that evolve ...
. Throughout the 20th century, Ross designed what would become the city of Omak.
Within a year of its establishment, the town had a central business district with a public bank and hotel supported by the local agricultural industry.
The town was provided with a post office, previously known as ''Epley''. Ross founded
Omak School District in 1906; soon after this its first school, Omak Schoolhouse, was built. In 1910, a meat market, hardware shop, law office, stationery and confectionery store were constructed in Downtown Omak. A steel bridge built the following year collapsed into the Okanogan River upon initial use. It was quickly rebuilt with no further problems.
The city consists of a central business district and residential areas.
Downtown Omak, the central business district, is the economic center for Omak and Okanogan County. There are several functional churches in the city. The post office in Omakmanaged by
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or simply the Postal Service, is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the executive branch of the federal governmen ...
(USPS)is the city's only listing of the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
(NRHP). The Breadline Cafe is a notable restaurant and music venue in Downtown Omak.
The City of Omak maintains the Omak Memorial Cemetery, comprising around 3,747 graves in a region located adjacent to
Washington State Route 215
State Route 215 (SR 215) is a state highway serving Okanogan County in the U.S. state of Washington. The highway travels northeast parallel to the Okanogan River from SR 20 in Okanogan to SR 155 Spur in Downtown Om ...
, having been formerly known as Okanoma Cemetery. The North Omak Business Park, the city's business park, is bordered by U.S. Route 97 from the east.
The city's residential neighborhoods are encompassed by East Omak and South Omak.
Demographics
The
1910 United States census
The 1910 United States census, conducted by the Census Bureau on April 15, 1910, determined the resident population of the United States to be 92,228,496, an increase of 21 percent over the 76,212,168 persons enumerated during the 1900 census ...
, before the city's incorporation, recorded 520 residents. The following
1920 census
The 1920 United States census, conducted by the Census Bureau during one month from January 5, 1920, determined the resident population of the United States to be 106,021,537, an increase of 15.0 percent over the 92,228,496 persons enumerated d ...
the first to define Omak as a distinct subdivisioncounted 2,500 residents, making it the most populous municipality of Okanogan County, having surpassed Okanogan (1,519 residents).
Subsequent census counts documented an increase to 4,000 residents before a shrink in population at the
1980 census
The 1980 United States census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 226,545,805, an increase of 11.4% over the 203,184,772 persons enumerated during the 1970 census. It was the first ce ...
, when fruit prices rose, land was lost, and major employers were shut down.
After this decline, the population steadily increased, approaching approximately 5,000 residents by the
2000 census. Between 1990 and 2000, the city's population experienced a
boom of 14.7 percent,
while between 2000 and 2010, the population increased by around 2.6 percent.
The United States Census Bureau estimated that there were 4,792 residents in 2013, representing a 0.6 percent increase over the
2010 census,
while an estimate from
Office of Federal Financial Management
The Office of Federal Financial Management (OFFM) is a component of the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which is part of the Executive Office of the President of the United States
The Executive Office of the President of ...
in 2013 documented a population decrease of 0.3 percent to 4,830 people. A 2011 study from the United States Census Bureau showed that there were 4,881 residents, a 0.7 percent increase over the 2010 census.

According to the 2010 census, Omak had 4,845 residents living in 2,037 households, with . These residents created an average age of 38one year higher than that of the entire state.
About 15 percent of residents were single and 13 percent were lone-parent households. With 2,168 housing units at an average density of , the city's populace consisted of 2,540 females and 2,305 males, giving it a gender balance close to national averages with 14.8 percent male and 11.9 percent female. The racial makeup was dominated by white people, with 71 percent of the population. Between the 2000 and 2010 censuses, Omak had an increase of 10 families to 1,230 and a decrease of 21 lone-parent families. Omak had an urbanized population of 8,229 people, with and around 20 percent of the county's residents.
The last complete census in 2000 found that the average household consisted of around two residents and the average family consisted of approximately three people.
Approximately 89.5 percent of residents over the age of five spoke English at home, according to the 2007–2011
American Community Survey
The American Community Survey (ACS) is an annual demographics survey program conducted by the United States Census Bureau. It regularly gathers information previously contained only in the long form of the United States census, decennial census ...
. It was then estimated that 889 people, comprising 18.5 percent of local inhabitants have German ancestrythe largest ethnicity in Omakand 15.3 percent have Irish ancestry. The Omak area has a relatively high percentage of people of
American Indian and Mexican ancestries; there were over 800 American Indians and over 535 Mexican immigrants, with a combined percentage of 28 percent of residents. Conversely, the city has a small Asian population, making up less than one percent of Omakians. The 2010 census showed that approximately 35 percent of residents lived alone, most of whom were female. Those over the age of 65 comprised about 16 percent of the population.
There have been several efforts to provide service to the homeless people of Omak, although official population figures have not been released.
Economy
Omak is the commercial center for the rural communities of Okanogan County and other nearby settlements.
It is the regional center for services and trade in the county. , the city's economy is experiencing significant growth, according to the County of Okanogan.
It is an agricultural community with a reliant forestry industry. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, almost 90 percent of Omak's manufacturing jobs were in the city's two sawmills. Infrastructure services and retail trades were also major industries. About 425 private firms employed a total of 3,332 workers in local industries including manufacturing, retail and infrastructure, at this time.
Located within Greater Omak, the adjacent city of Okanogan serves as the administrative center for Okanogan County, the region's largest employer.
, there are 1,859 civilians over the age of 16 employed in the city of Omak. Despite its recognition as an agricultural community, there were only 26 inhabitants employed in the agriculture and forestry industries, but the surrounding area has more agricultural jobs. Office and sale services were the largest occupation in Omak, comprising approximately 30 percent of the city's total employees, followed by business occupations, with 26.5 percent. Majority of residents work in public services.
Approximately seven percent of people in Omak are unemployed, while 25 percent live 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 ...
, including 34 percent of those under 18 and 10 percent of those aged 65 or over. The
cost of living
The cost of living is the cost of maintaining a certain standard of living for an individual or a household. Changes in the cost of living over time can be measured in a cost-of-living index. Cost of living calculations are also used to compare t ...
rate is 85.5 per unit, less than state and national averages. During the 2007–2011 American Community Survey, the city had a
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year.
In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
of $17,785 and an average income of $31,649 per household.
Omak's 98841 zip code maintained 265 businesses in 2011, with an average payroll of $78,884.
The city has a
Walmart
Walmart Inc. (; formerly Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.) is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets (also called supercenters), discount department stores, and grocery stores in the United States and 23 other ...
store, which was built in 1993 as the state's first such store,
serving over 60,000 residents.
The process of opening the retail facility took various discussions and approvals. Proposals in Omak began around 1992, in which of land were expropriated from the Omak Planning Commission. Local retailers feared that the chain would devastate their businesses, although other people felt that it would increase business at other shopping regions in the city.
Shortly after its opening, numerous shoppers came to the Omak area looking for items. Walmart hired approximately 200 employees, boosting the city's economy significantly and becoming among Okanogan County's largest retailer for a short period.
The store was later allowed to remain open for 24 hours per day.
Omak's economy is also driven by a mixture of tourism. Nearby recreational destinations, with their mild climate, increase the local economy significantly. The local
Harbor Freight,
Big 5 Sporting Goods
Big 5 Sporting Goods Corporation is a sporting goods retailer headquartered in El Segundo, California, with 434 stores in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Steven G. Miller is ...
, North 40 and Walmart retail stores maintain license vendors for recreational activities. There is a shopping mall, the Omache Shopping Center, located in North Omak Business Park along U.S. Route 97,
which attracts residents from nearby rural communities. Established in 1987, the mall is home to 12 stores and services.
Omak is the headquarters of two infrastructure organizations: Okanogan County Transportation & Nutrition and
Cascade and Columbia River Railroad.
Culture
Nicknames
The municipality has been named a "
tree city" for ten consecutive years since April 2007. The
Washington Department of Natural Resources
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages over of forest, range, agricultural, and commercial lands in the U.S. state of Washington. The DNR also manages of aquatic areas which include shorelines, tidelands, lands und ...
announced on April 11, 2013, that Omak had again been named a "tree city" because of their continuous efforts to "keep urban forests healthy and vibrant" for 15 years. The City of Omak brands itself as the "Heart of the Okanogan"—referring to its significant economic importance in the Okanogan. The Okanogan County Tourism Council uses the same branding to define the Greater Omak region.
It is officially recognized as the ''City of Omak'';
Omak residents are known as ''
Omakians''.
Tourism

The Omak Stampede, which operates the
Suicide Race
The Suicide Race, also promoted as the World Famous Suicide Race, is a horse race in the northwest United States in Omak, Washington. It is part of the Omak Stampede, an annual rodeo in early to mid-August.
First held in 1935, the race is known ...
, has been hosted at a local rodeo facility, the Stampede Arenarenovated in 2009since 1933. The Omak Stampede occurs annually on the second weekend of August. During the event, the city has an estimated population of approximately 30,000 people. As part of the Suicide Race, horses and riders run down Suicide Hilla 62-degree slope that runs for to the Okanogan River. Horses must pass a veterinarian examination to ensure they are physically healthy, and a swim test to ensure they can cross the river, to demonstrate their ability to run the race and navigate the river. Several animal rights groups, including Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS),
In Defense of Animals
In Defense of Animals (IDA) is an animal protection organization founded in 1983 in San Rafael, California, United States. The group's slogan is "working to protect the rights, welfare, and habitats of animals".
IDA has become known, in particul ...
and
Humane Society of the United States
Humane World for Animals, formerly the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and Humane Society International (HSI), is a global nonprofit organization that focuses on animal welfare and opposes animal-related cruelties of national scop ...
(HSUS), have expressed concerns about the horses' welfare and have opposed the specific event.
Other significant events include the Omak Film Festival, inclusive of a variety of films at the
Wenatchee Valley College
Wenatchee Valley College (WVC) is a public community college in Wenatchee, Washington. The college provides students with adult education classes, certifications, associate degrees, and four bachelor's degrees.
The school consists of two campu ...
and Omak Theater, the Okanogan County Fair, an annual carnival at the County Fairgrounds and the Omak Western and Native Art Show, a Native American carnival. In an attempt to increase tourism, the City of Omak operates a Main Street Historical Tour in the central business district. A local recreational complex comprises a Native American wooden sculpture area. Two functional movie theaters, the single screen Omak Theater, built in 1928, and the Mirage Theater with three screens, built in 2004, service the city. A
drive-in theater
A drive-in theater/theatre or drive-in cinema is a form of movie theater, cinema structure consisting of a large outdoor movie screen, a projection booth, a concession stand, and a large parking area for automobiles. Within this enclosed area, c ...
, with a capacity of 250 automobiles, was proposed in 1948, but never built.
The Omak Visitor Information Centerdeemed the "best little information center in the west"has historical images and a gift shop offering pamphlets regarding Okanogan County and surrounding regions.
The Okanogan County Historical Museum comprises a historic fire hall, research center, genealogical area and a display of historical photographs or the area. The Omak Performing Arts Centera 500-seat venue which hosts presentations, ceremonies, and performanceswas built by Omak School District in 1989.
There is a casino operated by the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation since 2008, incorporating over 400 gaming machines, a
convention center
A convention center (American and British English spelling differences, American English; or conference centre in British English) is a large building that is designed to hold a Convention (meeting), convention, where individuals and groups ...
, and an arcade. Nearby Okanogan Bingo Casino, along U.S. Route 97, also primarily serves Omak, consisting of approximately 360 gaming machines.
Recreation
The area's mild climate and its close proximity to lakes, rivers, and mountains make Omak an outdoor recreational destination. The city maintains eight general recreational complexes, of which the
Eastside Park, with an enclosed skate park, municipal pool, seven baseball diamonds, four soccer fields and tennis courts, and two basketball courts, is the largest. Civic League Park is the municipality's oldest park, while Dalton Klessig Park is the newest. The Omak City Park Board has been formed to protect these public spaces. Omak has several beaches at the north–south shores of Omak Lake on the Colville Indian Reservation, comprising over of sandy land. Fishing and boating are available at Omak Lake,
and at the Fry Lake and Duck Lake—near the city's local airport—and Conconully Lake,
Crawfish Lake and the Okanogan River, all of which are home to several species.
The Valley Lanes bowling alley serves the city and has hosted intrastate competitions, while the Okanogan Valley Golf Cluba country club with golf coursesis located in Omak.

The
Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest
The Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in Okanogan County, Washington, Okanogan County in north-central Washington (state), Washington, United States.
The forest is bordered on the north by British Columbia, ...
, the largest forest on the
West Coast, provides residents with trails for walking, hiking and cycling close to home and encompasses several skiing regions.
It received approximately 397,000 visitors in 2005, most of whom came from over away. Numerous general recreational opportunities, such as hunting and rock scenery, are available nearby.
There are various hiking trails in nearby hilly areas, including Omak Mountain and its look-out tower, and Moses Mountain. The Granite Mountain Trail is located between the forests about away from the city. There is skiing available about west of town at the
Loup Loup Ski Bowl. Nearby state parks include
Conconully State Park ( northwest),
Bridgeport State Park ( south),
Osoyoos Lake State Park ( north), and
Alta Lake State Park ( southwest).
Birdwatchers can see quail, anatidae, turkey buzzard, wild turkey and bald eagles in the Omak area.
Camping is available at local
recreational vehicle parks (RV parks). There are over a half-dozen
campground
Campsite, campground, and camping pitch are all related terms regarding a place used for camping (an overnight stay in an outdoor area). The usage differs between British English and American English.
In British English, a ''campsite'' is an ...
s in proximity to Omak. The Omak–Okanogan region has been well known for its rock climbing structures since the early 1970s. Nearby communities in Okanogan County offer horseback riding and hunting.
Fishing and boating is achievable within short distance,
at the nearby Omak Lake.
The Omak Pioneers represent
Omak High School as their baseball, basketball,
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
, soccer, volleyball, and wrestling teams. There are separate teams based on age and gender. There are
all-terrain vehicle
An all-terrain vehicle (ATV), also known as a light utility vehicle (LUV), a quad bike or quad (if it has four wheels), as defined by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), is a vehicle that travels on low-pressure tires, has a seat ...
(ATV) courses located nearby, specifically in the Loup Loup Ski Bowl.
Media

In 1910, C.P. Scates established the Omak Chronicle. Three years later, it was renamed ''
The Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle'' and expanded its coverage to the whole county as its primary newspaper. In February 1998, an online version was established,
which had approximately 170,000 viewers in April 2013. Since then, the newspaper has been expanded to serve nearby
Ferry County.
The ''Okanogan Valley Gazette–Tribune'', based in Oroville, and ''The Wenatchee World'', based in Wenatchee, serve Omak as alternative publications. Okanogan Living, a monthly lifestyle magazine based in Tonasket, also serves the region.
John P. and Becki Andrist own three licensed radio stations in the city. Branded as "Radio Okanogan",
KOMW broadcasts an oldies format and serves the entire valley floor, while country music station
KNCW (branded as "Okanogan Country Radio" features programming from
Citadel Media
Cumulus Media Networks was an American radio network owned and operated by Cumulus Media. From 2011 until its merger with Westwood One, it controlled many of the radio assets formerly belonging to the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), whi ...
and
Dial Global
Westwood One, Inc. is an American radio network owned by Cumulus Media. The company syndicates talk, music, and sports programming.
The company takes its name from an earlier network also named Westwood One, a company founded in 1976. The c ...
.
KZBE also broadcasts programming from Dial Global in the adult contemporary format, while
KQWS operates from
Washington State University
Washington State University (WSU, or colloquially Wazzu) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Pullman, Washington, United States. Founded in 1890, WSU is also one of the oldest Land-grant uni ...
as
Northwest Public Radio
Northwest Public Broadcasting is the public radio and public television service of Washington State University. It is an affiliate of National Public Radio, Public Radio Exchange and American Public Media. It operates 19 radio stations and 13 tr ...
.
Omak is well-served by television and radio, with all major U.S. networks and at least five other English-language stations available. Omak cable viewers can also receive
CHAN-DT
CHAN-DT (channel 8), branded Global British Columbia or Global BC (formerly British Columbia Television or BCTV), is a television station in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, serving as the West Coast flagship of the Global Television Networ ...
(
Global Television Network
The Global Television Network (more commonly called Global, or occasionally Global TV) is a Television in Canada, Canadian English language, English-language terrestrial television, terrestrial television network. It is currently Canada's se ...
) from
Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the cit ...
. The nearest major television
market area A market area is a geographic zone containing the people who are likely to purchase a firm's goods or services.Wade, T. and Sommer, S. eds. A to Z GIS'
See also
* GIS
* Media market
A media market, broadcast market, media region, designated ...
is based in the
Seattle metropolitan area
The Seattle metropolitan area is an urban conglomeration in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington that comprises Seattle, its surrounding Satellite city, satellites and suburbs. The United States Census Bureau defines the Seattle–T ...
. The Omak–Okanogan market area includes several broadcast television stations that can be received in the city. K17EV-D, channel 17a
broadcast translator
A broadcast relay station, also known as a satellite station, relay transmitter, broadcast translator (U.S.), re-broadcaster (Canada), repeater (two-way radio) or complementary station (Mexico), is a broadcast transmitter which repeats (or tran ...
of
KSPS-TV
KSPS-TV (channel 7) is a PBS member television station in Spokane, Washington, United States, owned by KSPS Public Television. The station's studios are located on South Regal Street in the Southgate, Spokane, Washington, Southgate neighborhood ...
is branded as
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcaster and non-commercial, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia
Arlington County, or simply Arlington, is a County (United States), county in the ...
(PBS), while K07DG, channel 7, rebroadcasts
KREM, a
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS (an abbreviation of its original name, Columbia Broadcasting System), is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainme ...
affiliate, in the municipality. An
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) is an American Commercial broadcasting, commercial broadcast Television broadcaster, television and radio Radio network, network that serves as the flagship property of the Disney Entertainment division ...
(ABC) affiliate,
KXLY-TV
KXLY-TV (channel 4) is a television station in Spokane, Washington, United States, affiliated with American Broadcasting Company, ABC and owned by Morgan Murphy Media. Its studios are located on West Boone Avenue in Spokane, and its transmitter ...
is translated as K09DG in Omak. K11DM, channel 11, is a translator of
National Broadcasting Company
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It is one of NBCUniversal's ...
(NBC)'s KHQ-TV,
Community television
Community television is a form of mass media in which a television station is owned, operated or programmed by a community group to provide television programs of local interest known as local programming.
Community television stations are most ...
stations, K19AU-D and the
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, LLC (commonly known as Fox; stylized in all caps) is an Television in the United States, American commercial broadcasting, commercial broadcast television broadcaster, television network serving as the flagship proper ...
translator at
K31AH-D, are owned by Mountain Licenses and operate from Omak,
in addition to a
Three Angels Broadcasting Network
The Three Angels Broadcasting Network (3ABN) is a Christian media television and radio network which broadcasts Seventh-day Adventist religious, music and health-oriented programming, based in West Frankfort, Illinois, United States. Although ...
-owned station, K26GV-D. The Riverside market area is nearby and contains three licensed television stations which can be received, including K08CY, K10DM, and K12CV.
Government and politics
The City of Omak's
mayor–council government
A mayor–council government is a system of local government in which a mayor who is directly elected by the voters acts as chief executive, while a separately elected city council constitutes the legislative body. It is one of the two most comm ...
comprises a mayorwho also represents north-central Washington's separate economic development districtand a seven-member council.
These positions, stipulated by the Omak City Code, are subject to
at-large
At large (''before a noun'': at-large) is a description for members of a governing body who are elected or appointed to represent a whole membership or population (notably a city, county, state, province, nation, club or association), rather tha ...
elections every two years, rather than by geographic subdivisions. Like most portions of the United States, government and laws are run by a series of ballot initiatives whereby citizens can pass or reject laws, referendums whereby citizens can approve or reject legislation already passed, and propositions where specific government agencies can propose new laws or tax increases directly to the people. Federally, Omak is part of
Washington's 4th congressional district, represented by Republican
Dan Newhouse
Daniel Milton Newhouse (born July 10, 1955) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for . The district covers much of the central third of the state, including Yakima and the Tri-Cities. Before his election to Congress, Newh ...
, who was sworn in on January 3, 2015. The current mayor, Cindy Gagne, was first elected in 2000 as a councilwomen, and was appointed in May 2009.
The State of Washington operates a
public government administration office in Omak for access to
social and health assistance. Omak is considered to be a code city, based on proposals to provide the local government with more authority from its previous second-class city status. With a functional court for traffic, parking and civil infractions, the city maintains the sewer, water, local road, sidewalk, street lighting, animal control, building inspection, park, and recreation services. It also funds a volunteer fire department which services Omak and nearby rural communities.
Omak is also governed by an eight-member planning commissionpart of the Omak City Councilwhich also operates the Greater Omak Comprehensive Plan, adopted in April 2004 and consisting of improvements considered for the city and surrounding communities.
The five-member Omak Library Board and Tree Board are also divisions of the Omak City Council, with public meetings taking place at the Omak Public Library.
With four-year terms for participants, the local
Civil Service Commission
A civil service commission (also known as a Public Service Commission) is a government agency or public body that is established by the constitution, or by the legislature, to regulate the employment and working conditions of civil servants, overse ...
services Omak. Shortly after being incorporated in 1911, Omak unsuccessfully contested Okanogan to become the administrative center of Okanogan County, after
Conconully lost its status. During the temperance movement before national prohibition, Omak residents favored the banishment of alcohol in Washington, which was opposed by those of Okanogan.
The
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...
(USA) operates two military recruiting centers in Omak, although a historical military band, the Omak Military Band, also operated around 1910.
The five-officer Omak Police Department detachment, which covered the municipality and nearby rural communities, reported over 180
criminal code
A criminal code or penal code is a document that compiles all, or a significant amount of, a particular jurisdiction's criminal law. Typically a criminal code will contain offences that are recognised in the jurisdiction, penalties that might ...
offenses in 2010. The city's crime rate of 154 offenses per 100,000 people is 28 percent higher than the 2010 state average and one percent higher than the 2010 federal average. According to
Uniform Crime Report statistics compiled by the
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic Intelligence agency, intelligence and Security agency, security service of the United States and Federal law enforcement in the United States, its principal federal law enforcement ag ...
(FBI) in 2011, there were 19 violent crimes and 166 property crimes. The violent crimes consisted of one forcible rape, three robberies and 15 aggravated assaults, while 32 burglaries, 104 larceny-thefts, eight motor vehicle thefts and one arson defined the property crimes. The FBI classifies Omak as having 4,921 people located within the Omak Police Department area. The city's highest crime rate was recorded in 2004, with 413 incidents per 100,000 people. Until 2013, when a murder and motor-vehicle theft occurred in the city, there had not been a homicide for over ten consecutive years. The crime in Omak has decreased throughout the past decade. Before marijuana was legalized in Washington, marijuana users were arrested, per
state law State law refers to the law of a federated state, as distinguished from the law of the federation of which it is a part. It is used when the constituent components of a federation are themselves called states. Federations made up of provinces, cant ...
. Growers,
drug lord
A drug lord, drug baron, kingpin, or lord of drugs is a type of crime boss in charge of a drug trafficking network, organization, or enterprise.
Crime barons may be difficult to bring to justice: usually, they do not possess illegal goods. Ra ...
s and international smugglers residing in the Omak area are still arrested.
Education

The 2010 census estimated that 1,057 people in Omak have attended college, while 504 residents received an academic degree; more than five percent higher than the state average. Approximately 91.5 percent graduated from high school or a more advanced institution; two percent higher than the state average.
Omak's schools are administered by the county's largest educational district, Omak School District, which operate two mainstream high schools, one mainstream middle school, two mainstream elementary schools and three
virtual school
An online school (virtual school, e-school, or cyber-school) teaches students entirely or primarily online and offline, online or through the Internet. Online education exists all around the world and is used for all levels of education (K–12 ...
s. Omak High School, built in 1919, had a 2010–11 enrollment of 435 students, while the Omak Alternative High School had an enrollment of 48 students. Omak Middle School had an enrolment of 339 children. The city's primary schools are East Omak Elementary and North Omak Elementary which had a combined 2010–11 enrollment of 748 children.
In February 2010, Omak became the third settlement in Washington to have a virtual school. During the 2010–11 year, Washington Virtual Academy Omak Elementary, Washington Virtual Academy Omak Middle School, and Washington Virtual Academy Omak High School had a combined enrollment of 969 pupils. The private Omak Adventist Christian School, which operates outside of Omak School District, had 16 pupils in 2011. It is affiliated with the nearby
General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The Veritas Classical Christian School has also operated in the Omak region.
The Omak Public Library, managed by
NCW Libraries (formerly North Central Regional Library), was established in 1956 under provisions of state law passed by the City of Omak. The library is open daily, except on Sundays in the summer season.
The
community college
A community college is a type of undergraduate higher education institution, generally leading to an associate degree, certificate, or diploma. The term can have different meanings in different countries: many community colleges have an open enr ...
, Wenatchee Valley College, maintains a campus in Omak,
which had an enrollment increase of 19 percent between the 2009–10 and 2010–11 educational seasons. Located approximately from the main campus in Wenatchee, it was established in the 1970s,
and offers adult education classes and two-year associate degrees. Based in
Toppenish about away,
Heritage University
Heritage University (formerly named Holy Names College and Fort Wright College) is a private university on the Yakama Indian Reservation in Toppenish, Washington, United States. It offers associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees.
History ...
operates an Omak campus consolidated with Wenatchee Valley College's, providing degrees in several academic subjects.
Infrastructure
The 2010 census estimated that 89.3 percent of residents in Omak commuted to work by automobile; more than the state average of 72.4 percent. Four percent of residents
carpool
Carpooling is the sharing of Automobile, car journeys so that more than one person travels in a car, and prevents the need for others to have to drive to a location themselves. Carpooling is considered a Demand-Responsive Transport (DRT) serv ...
ed; fewer than Washington's average. 3.8 percent walked; close to the state average. The median time to travel to work was 11.5 minutes, less than the state average of 25.5 minutes. In the late 1960s, U.S. Route 97 was rerouted to the east and Downtown Omak was bypassed. Large signs located just off U.S. Route 97 promote the city's central business district.
Washington State Route 215 runs north–south through Omak, connecting the city to Okanogan to the south. U.S. Route 97 and
State Route 20 also run north–south through Omak, connecting the municipality to Okanogan south along this route and
Brewster south,
Nespelem southeast is connected to the community by the east–west
State Route 155, before it becomes a spur route and continues west along Omak Avenue to terminate into State Route 215.
The residential areas are separated from the industrial sector and the highway by backroads near the major highways. Omak's central business district is connected by several spur routes along municipal roads, such as Riverside Drive, Main Street and Okoma Drive.

Omak has rail, air, and bus services for regional and state transportation. Rail lines from Cascade and Columbia River Railroad enter Omak from Oroville in the north and Wenatchee in the south. The line interchanges with
BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway is the largest freight railroad in the United States. One of six North American Class I railroads, BNSF has 36,000 employees, of track in 28 states, and over 8,000 locomotives. It has three Transcontinental railroad, transcontine ...
in the Wenatchee area.
[ Kirk (2003), p. 69] The City of Omak operates the
general
A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air force, air and space forces, marines or naval infantry.
In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colone ...
Omak Airport. The paved runway is the third largest in central Washington. The airport provides three daily charter flights, except on Saturdays and Sundays.
Wings for Christ Airport and
Mid-Valley Hospital EMS Heliport are private aviation ports. The closest commercial airports are located in Penticton and
East Wenatchee
East Wenatchee is a city in Douglas County, Washington, Douglas County, Washington (state), Washington, United States. The population at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census was 13,190, a 129.1% increase on the 2000 census, having annexed ...
. Okanogan County Transportation & Nutrition provides bus services in the city, and the federal
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Trade name, doing business as Amtrak (; ), is the national Passenger train, passenger railroad company of the United States. It operates intercity rail service in 46 of the 48 contiguous United Stat ...
and
Greyhound Lines
Greyhound Lines, Inc. is an American operator of Intercity bus service, intercity bus services. Greyhound operates the largest intercity bus network in the United States, and also operates charter and Amtrak Thruway services, as well as interci ...
maintain bus stops there.
The 30-bed
Mid-Valley Hospital provides medical services, including a 24-hour emergency medical service, ambulance service, nursing care, a birthing center, and a trauma center.
The facility employs 10 physicians and dentists, 20 registered nurses and two licensed practical nurses.
Established in July 2000, Okanogan Behavioral Healthcare serves the city as an alternative medical facility. Numerous nursing homes, including Rosegarden Care Center, New LifeStyles and The Source for Seniors, operate in Omak. The city's clinic was constructed in 1996 using $4,800,000 of local funds. The City of Omak measures residents' drinking water use and provides storm drains, solid waste, and garbage services since 1984. Residents under 60 are charged a 10 percent utility tax on purchases. Electricity is supplied by Okanogan County Public Utility District, and natural gas by
Amerigas. Other utility companies serving Omak include
AT&T
AT&T Inc., an abbreviation for its predecessor's former name, the American Telephone and Telegraph Company, is an American multinational telecommunications holding company headquartered at Whitacre Tower in Downtown Dallas, Texas. It is the w ...
(telephone); and
Comcast
Comcast Corporation, formerly known as Comcast Holdings,Before the AT&T Broadband, AT&T merger in 2001, the parent company was Comcast Holdings Corporation. Comcast Holdings Corporation now refers to a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation, not th ...
(telephone, Internet, and cable television).
Notable people
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Joe Feddersen
Joe Feddersen (born 1953) is a Colville sculptor, painter, photographer and mixed-media artist. He is known for creating artworks strong in geometric patterns reflective of what is seen in the environment, landscape and his Native American herita ...
, sculptor, painter and photographer of
Colville cultures
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Marv Hagedorn, state legislator in Idaho
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Don McCormack
Donald Ross McCormack (born September 18, 1955) is a former professional baseball player and coach. He was a fourth round draft pick (75th overall) in the 1974 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1974 Major League Baseball draft took place prior t ...
, professional baseball player
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William Stephen Skylstad, Roman Catholic Bishop
International relations
According to the
Lieutenant Governor of Washington
The lieutenant governor of Washington is an elected office in the U.S. state of Washington. The incumbent is Denny Heck, a Democrat who began his term in January 2021. The lieutenant governor serves as president of the Washington State Senate, ...
, Omak is a
sister municipality with
Summerland, British Columbia
Summerland is a district municipality on the west side of Okanagan Lake in the interior of British Columbia, Canada. The district is between Peachland to the north and Penticton to the south. The largest centre in the region is Kelowna, ap ...
, a
district
A district is a type of administrative division that in some countries is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or county, counties, several municipality, municip ...
with a population of 11,280 people according to the
2011 Canadian census
The 2011 Canadian census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population on May 10, 2011. Statistics Canada, an agency of the Canadian government, conducts a nationwide census every five years. In 2011, it consisted of a mandatory short form ...
. Located on
Okanagan Lake
Okanagan Lake () is a lake in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Canada. The lake is long, between wide, and has a surface area of 348 km2 (135 sq. mi.).
Hydrography
Okanagan Lake is called a fjord lake as it has been carved o ...
in the adjacent
Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District, Summerland was incorporated on December 21, 1906,
and is located north of Omak.
See also
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National Register of Historic Places listings in Okanogan County, Washington
References
Bibliography
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External links
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Omak Chamber of Commerce
{{Use American English, date=May 2013
1911 establishments in Washington (state)
Cities in Washington (state)
Populated places established in 1907
Populated places in Greater Omak
Cities in Okanogan County, Washington
Washington (state) populated places on the Okanogan River
Washington (state) placenames of Native American origin