View source for Yakima, Washington

{{Redirect|Yakima}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Yakima, Washington
|settlement_type          = [[City government in Washington (state)|City]]
|nicknames                 = The Palm Springs of Washington; The Heart of Central Washington
|motto                    = 
|image_skyline            = Yakima, Washington as seen from Lookout Point.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_alt                = Yakima as viewed from Lookout Point
|image_caption            = Yakima as viewed from Lookout Point
|image_flag               =
|image_seal               = Seal of Yakima, Washington.svg
|image_map                = Yakima_County_Washington_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Yakima_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Yakima in Yakima County
|pushpin_map              = USA
|pushpin_map_caption      = Location in the United States
<!-- 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          = [[Council–manager government|Council–manager]]
|governing_body           = [[City council]]
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Patricia Byers<ref name="YHR-Council2024"/>
|leader_title1            = [[City manager]]
|leader_name1             = Vacant<ref name="YHR-Council2024"/>
|established_title        = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date         = December 10, 1883
<!-- Area -------->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2023">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2023_Gazetteer/2023_gaz_place_53.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 20, 2024}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 73.35
|area_land_km2            = 72.16
|area_water_km2           = 1.19
|area_total_sq_mi         = 28.32
|area_land_sq_mi          = 27.86
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.46
|area_water_percent       = 1.84
<!-- Population ------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 97390
|pop_est_as_of            = 2024
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="Census-Estimate2024">{{cite web |date=May 2025 |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places of 20,000 or More, Ranked by July 1, 2024 Population: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024 |url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2024/cities/totals/SUB-IP-EST2024-ANNRNK.xlsx  |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=November 3, 2025}}</ref>
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
|population_total         = 96968
|population_rank          = US: 351st<br>WA: [[List of municipalities in Washington|11th]]
|population_density_km2   = 1341.0
|population_density_sq_mi = 3473.0
|population_urban         = 133145 (US: [[List of United States urban areas|257th]])
|population_metro         = 256643 (US: [[Metropolitan statistical area|193rd]])
|population_demonym       = Yakimanian<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://kimatv.com/news/local/museum-honors-yakimanians-with-permanent-exhibit |title=Museum honors Yakimanians with permanent exhibit |last=Engel |first=Samina |date=November 14, 2013 |work=KIMA |access-date=October 20, 2019 |archive-date=October 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020135345/https://kimatv.com/news/local/museum-honors-yakimanians-with-permanent-exhibit |url-status=live}}</ref>
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific (PST)]]
|utc_offset               = –8
|timezone_DST             = PDT
|utc_offset_DST           = –7
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 1207
|coordinates              = {{coord|46|36|07|N|120|30|21|W|region:US-WA_type:city|display=inline,title}}
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]s
|postal_code              = 98901–98904, 98907–98909
|area_code                = [[Area code 509|509]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 53-80010
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2412314<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2412314}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://www.yakimawa.gov/|yakimawa.gov}}
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Yakima''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|j|æ|k|ᵻ|m|ɑː}} or {{IPAc-en|ˈ|j|æ|k|ᵻ|m|ə}}) is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Yakima County, Washington]], United States, and the state's [[List of cities in Washington|11th most populous city]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the city had a total population of 96,968 and a metropolitan population of 256,728.<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Yakima_city,_Washington?g=160XX00US5380010 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=November 5, 2023}}</ref> The unincorporated suburban areas of [[West Valley, Washington|West Valley]] and [[Terrace Heights, Washington|Terrace Heights]] are considered a part of greater Yakima.<ref>{{cite web |title=State and City Quickfacts |publisher=United States Census Bureau |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/53/5380010.html |access-date=November 13, 2006 |archive-date=September 22, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060922183410/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/53/5380010.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Yakima is about {{convert|60|mi|km|sigfig=1|abbr=off|sp=us}} southeast of [[Mount Rainier National Park|Mount Rainier]] in Washington. It is situated in the [[Yakima River Valley|Yakima Valley]], a productive agricultural region noted for apple, wine, and [[hops|hop]] production. As of 2011, the Yakima Valley produces 77% of all hops grown in the United States.<ref name=AHM>{{cite web |title=Hop Economics Working Group |url=http://impact.wsu.edu/WorkingGroups/Hops.html |access-date=October 19, 2013 |archive-date=October 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131019171811/http://impact.wsu.edu/WorkingGroups/Hops.html |url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref> The name Yakima originates from the [[Yakama Nation]] Native American tribe, whose reservation is located south of the city.

==History==
The [[Yakama Nation|Yakama]] people were the first known inhabitants of the Yakima Valley. In 1805, the [[Lewis and Clark Expedition]] came to the area and encountered abundant wildlife and rich soil, prompting the settlement of homesteaders.<ref>{{cite web |title=City of Yakima History |publisher=City of Yakima |url=http://www.ci.yakima.wa.us/tour/history/ |access-date=December 28, 2006 |archive-date=September 28, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928072437/http://www.ci.yakima.wa.us/tour/history/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> A [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] [[List of Spanish missions|Mission]] was established in [[Ahtanum, Washington|Ahtanum]], southwest of present-day Yakima, in 1847.<ref>{{cite web |title=St. Joseph's Mission, Ahtanum Valley, Tampico vicinity, Yakima County, WA |publisher=[[Historic American Buildings Survey]]/[[Historic American Engineering Record]] |url=http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=pphhdatapage&fileName=wa/wa0100/wa0127/data/hhdatapage.db&recNum=1&itemLink=D?hh:24:./temp/~pp_uYcR:: |access-date=January 11, 2007 |archive-date=June 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140629215120/http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=pphhdatapage&fileName=wa%2Fwa0100%2Fwa0127%2Fdata%2Fhhdatapage.db&recNum=1&itemLink=D%3Fhh%3A24%3A.%2Ftemp%2F~pp_uYcR%3A%3A |url-status=live}}</ref> The arrival of settlers and their conflicts with the natives resulted in the [[Yakima War]]. The U.S. Army established [[Fort Simcoe]] in 1856 near present-day White Swan as a response to the uprising. The Yakamas were defeated and forced to relocate to the [[Yakama Indian Reservation]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/it-happened-here-treaty-of-took-land-created-the-yakama/article_99aed30c-49af-11e7-8f10-9f5f13ca79e6.html |title=It Happened Here: Treaty of 1855 took land, created the Yakama Nation |last=Meyers |first=Donald W. |work=Yakima Herald-Republic |date=June 4, 2017 |language=en |access-date=February 6, 2020 |archive-date=February 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206045303/https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/it-happened-here-treaty-of-took-land-created-the-yakama/article_99aed30c-49af-11e7-8f10-9f5f13ca79e6.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1588.html |title=Yakama Indian Nation |website=www.u-s-history.com |language=en |access-date=February 6, 2020 |archive-date=February 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206045302/https://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1588.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

Yakima County was created in 1867. When bypassed by the [[Northern Pacific Railway|Northern Pacific Railroad]] in December 1884, over 100 buildings were moved with rollers and horse teams to the nearby site of the depot. The new city was dubbed North Yakima and was officially incorporated and named the county seat on January 27, 1886. The name was changed to Yakima in 1918. [[Union Gap, Washington|Union Gap]] was the new name given to the original site of Yakima.<ref name="HistoryLink">{{cite web |last=Kershner |first=Jim |date=October 16, 2009 |title=Yakima — Thumbnail History |url=https://www.historylink.org/File/9187 |work=[[HistoryLink]] |access-date=March 1, 2019 |archive-date=March 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302210505/https://www.historylink.org/File/9187 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On May 18, 1980, the [[1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens|eruption]] of [[Mount St. Helens]] caused a large amount of [[volcanic ash]] to fall on the Yakima area. Visibility was reduced to near-zero conditions that afternoon, and the ash overloaded the city's [[wastewater treatment]] plant.<ref name="HistoryLink"/><ref>{{cite news |date=May 17, 2015 |title=Ash and aftermath of Mount St. Helens: Our readers remember |url=https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/ash-and-aftermath-of-mount-st-helens-our-readers-remember/article_9d5e133a-fc6a-11e4-969a-37af86c094a1.html |work=Yakima Herald-Republic |access-date=March 1, 2019 |archive-date=July 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717002752/https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/ash-and-aftermath-of-mount-st-helens-our-readers-remember/article_9d5e133a-fc6a-11e4-969a-37af86c094a1.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|28.32|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|27.86|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.46|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, or 1.84% is water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2023"/> Yakima is 1,095 feet above mean sea level.

The city of Yakima is located in the Upper Valley of Yakima County. The county is geographically divided by [[Ahtanum Ridge]] and Rattlesnake Ridge into two regions: the Upper (northern) and Lower (southern) valleys. Yakima is located in the more urbanized Upper Valley, and is the central city of the Yakima Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The unincorporated suburban areas of West Valley and Terrace Heights are considered a part of greater Yakima. Other nearby cities include Moxee, [[Tieton, Washington|Tieton]], Cowiche, Wiley City, [[Tampico, Washington|Tampico]], Gleed, and Naches in the Upper Valley, as well as [[Wapato, Washington|Wapato]], [[Toppenish, Washington|Toppenish]], [[Zillah, Washington|Zillah]], Harrah, [[White Swan, Washington|White Swan]], Parker, Buena, Outlook, [[Granger, Washington|Granger]], Mabton, [[Sunnyside, Washington|Sunnyside]], and [[Grandview, Washington|Grandview]] in the Lower Valley.

===Bodies of water===
The [[Yakima River]] runs through the city from its source at [[Lake Keechelus]] in the [[Cascade Range]] to the [[Columbia River]] at [[Richland, Washington|Richland]]. It is the primary irrigation source for the Yakima Valley and also used for both fishing and recreation. The [[Naches River]], a tributary of the Yakima River, forms the northern border of the city.

The Yakima Greenway is a {{convert|20|mi|km|adj=mid}} system of parks, paved pathways, and nature reserves along the Yakima and Naches rivers.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sundeen |first=Jasper Kenzo |date=December 15, 2023 |title=Upgrades planned to Yakima Greenway at 16th Avenue |url=https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/upgrades-planned-to-yakima-greenway-at-16th-avenue/article_24b1b228-9ab0-11ee-a54f-2f12517ca815.html |work=Yakima Herald-Republic |accessdate=April 24, 2024}}</ref> The community project was formed in 1983 with work to reclaim a former city [[landfill]] into a park, which opened in 1990 as Sarg Hubbard Park.<ref name="YHR 2019-06-23">{{Cite news |last=Meyers |first=Donald W. |date=June 23, 2019 |title=It Happened Here: Greenway Park named for businessman, civic fixture Sarg Hubbard |url=https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/happened/it-happened-here-greenway-park-named-for-businessman-civic-fixture-sarg-hubbard/article_8cc12f63-5cfd-5094-bc13-d1feb989bcb7.html |work=Yakima Herald-Republic |accessdate=April 23, 2024}}</ref>

Several small lakes flank the northern edge of the city, including Myron Lake, Lake Aspen, Bergland Lake (private) and Rotary Lake (also known as Freeway Lake). These lakes are popular with fishermen and swimmers during the summer.

===Climate===
[[File:Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020) - Yakima Area, WA(ThreadEx).svg|thumb|left|Climate chart for Yakima]]
Yakima has a [[Semi-arid climate|cold semi-arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''BSk'') with a [[Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean]] precipitation pattern. Winters are cold, with December the coolest month, with a mean temperature of {{cvt|28.5|°F|1}}.<ref name = NOAA/> Annual average snowfall is {{cvt|21.6|in|cm|0}},<ref name= NOAA/> with most occurring in December and January, when the snow depth averages {{cvt|2|to|3|in|cm}}. There are 18.9 days per year in which the high does not surpass freezing, and 1.6 mornings where the low is {{cvt|0|F|0}} or lower.<ref name= NOAA/> Springtime warming is very gradual, with the average last freeze of the season May 13. Summer days are hot, but the [[diurnal temperature variation]] is large, averaging {{cvt|34.9|F-change|1}} in July, sometimes reaching as high as {{cvt|50|F-change|1}} during that season; there are 40.2 afternoons of maxima reaching {{cvt|90|°F|0}} or greater annually and 5.7 afternoons of {{cvt|100|°F|0}} maxima. Autumn cooling is very rapid, with the average first freeze of the season occurring on September 30. Due to the city's location in a [[rain shadow]], precipitation, at an average of {{cvt|8.01|in|mm|0}} annually, is low year-round,<ref name= NOAA/> but especially during summer. Extreme temperatures have ranged from {{cvt|−25|F|0}} on February 1, 1950,{{efn|Low temperature record from February 1, 1950 has been hidden by [[NOAA]]<ref name=1950Februarylowesttemperature>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/attachments/CCD-2018.pdf|title=Comparative Climatic Data For the United States Through 2018|publisher=[[NOAA]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016180505/https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/attachments/CCD-2018.pdf|archive-date=2020-10-16}}</ref>}} to {{cvt|113|F|0}} on [[2021 Western North America heat wave|June 29, 2021]].<ref name= NOWData/>

{{Weather box
| location= [[Yakima Airport]], Washington (1991–2020 normals,{{efn|Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.}} extremes 1946–present{{efn|For more information, see [http://threadex.rcc-acis.org/ ThreadEx]}})
|collapsed = 
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 68
|Feb record high F = 70
|Mar record high F = 80
|Apr record high F = 92
|May record high F = 102
|Jun record high F = 113
|Jul record high F = 109
|Aug record high F = 110
|Sep record high F = 100
|Oct record high F = 91
|Nov record high F = 73
|Dec record high F = 72
|Jan avg record high F = 56.3
|Feb avg record high F = 59.1
|Mar avg record high F = 70.0
|Apr avg record high F = 79.7
|May avg record high F = 89.9
|Jun avg record high F = 95.8
|Jul avg record high F = 101.5
|Aug avg record high F = 100.3
|Sep avg record high F = 92.1
|Oct avg record high F = 78.3
|Nov avg record high F = 64.9
|Dec avg record high F = 54.4
|year avg record high F = 102.9
|Jan high F = 39.5
|Feb high F = 47.2
|Mar high F = 56.6
|Apr high F = 64.7
|May high F = 74.1
|Jun high F = 80.7
|Jul high F = 89.9
|Aug high F = 88.5
|Sep high F = 79.4
|Oct high F = 64.4
|Nov high F = 48.9
|Dec high F = 38.2
|year high F = 64.3
|Jan mean F = 31.7
|Feb mean F = 36.6
|Mar mean F = 43.4
|Apr mean F = 49.9
|May mean F = 58.8
|Jun mean F = 65.1
|Jul mean F = 72.4
|Aug mean F = 70.9
|Sep mean F = 62.2
|Oct mean F = 49.8
|Nov mean F = 38.0
|Dec mean F = 30.6
|year mean F = 50.8
|Jan low F = 24.0
|Feb low F = 26.1
|Mar low F = 30.2
|Apr low F = 35.2
|May low F = 43.5
|Jun low F = 49.5
|Jul low F = 55.0
|Aug low F = 53.3
|Sep low F = 44.9
|Oct low F = 35.3
|Nov low F = 27.2
|Dec low F = 23.1
|year low F = 37.3
|Jan avg record low F = 7.4
|Feb avg record low F = 11.4
|Mar avg record low F = 19.7
|Apr avg record low F = 23.9
|May avg record low F = 30.2
|Jun avg record low F = 36.8
|Jul avg record low F = 43.8
|Aug avg record low F = 42.3
|Sep avg record low F = 33.8
|Oct avg record low F = 21.3
|Nov avg record low F = 13.2
|Dec avg record low F = 8.1
|year avg record low F = 0.5
|Jan record low F = −21
|Feb record low F = −25
|Mar record low F = −1
|Apr record low F = 18
|May record low F = 25
|Jun record low F = 30
|Jul record low F = 34
|Aug record low F = 35
|Sep record low F = 24
|Oct record low F = 4
|Nov record low F = −13
|Dec record low F = −17
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.19
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.81
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.64
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.55
|May precipitation inch = 0.74
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.50
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.20
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.21
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.23
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.64
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.86
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.44
|year precipitation inch = 8.01
|precipitation colour= green
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.1
|Nov snow inch = 3.0
|Dec snow inch = 7.7
|Jan snow inch = 6.2
|Feb snow inch = 2.7
|Mar snow inch = 0.6
|Apr snow inch = 0.0
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|year snow inch = 20.3
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 9.5
|Feb precipitation days = 7.3
|Mar precipitation days = 6.6
|Apr precipitation days = 5.6
|May precipitation days = 6.3
|Jun precipitation days = 4.6
|Jul precipitation days = 2.2
|Aug precipitation days = 2.2
|Sep precipitation days = 3.0
|Oct precipitation days = 5.9
|Nov precipitation days = 8.3
|Dec precipitation days = 10.3
|year precipitation days = 71.8
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.1
|Nov snow days = 1.5
|Dec snow days = 5.5
|Jan snow days = 4.4
|Feb snow days = 2.0
|Mar snow days = 0.7
|Apr snow days = 0.1
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|year snow days = 14.3
|Jan sun = 64
|Feb sun = 113
|Mar sun = 186
|Apr sun = 210
|May sun = 279
|Jun sun = 300
|Jul sun = 341
|Aug sun = 310
|Sep sun = 240
|Oct sun = 186
|Nov sun = 60
|Dec sun = 62
|year sun = 
|Jand sun = 2
|Febd sun = 4
|Mard sun = 6
|Aprd sun = 7
|Mayd sun = 9
|Jund sun = 10
|Juld sun = 11
|Augd sun = 10
|Sepd sun = 8
|Octd sun = 6
|Novd sun = 2
|Decd sun = 2
|yeard sun = 
|Jan percentsun = 22
|Feb percentsun = 38
|Mar percentsun = 50
|Apr percentsun = 51
|May percentsun = 60
|Jun percentsun = 63
|Jul percentsun = 71
|Aug percentsun = 71
|Sep percentsun = 64
|Oct percentsun = 55
|Nov percentsun = 21
|Dec percentsun = 23
|year percentsun = 
|Jan uv = 1
|Feb uv = 2
|Mar uv = 3
|Apr uv = 5
|May uv = 6
|Jun uv = 7
|Jul uv = 8
|Aug uv = 7
|Sep uv = 5
|Oct uv = 3
|Nov uv = 1
|Dec uv = 1
|year uv = 
|Jan humidity = 77.7
|Feb humidity = 72.7
|Mar humidity = 60.6
|Apr humidity = 51.6
|May humidity = 48.2
|Jun humidity = 46.8
|Jul humidity = 44.3
|Aug humidity = 48.2
|Sep humidity = 55.6
|Oct humidity = 63.4
|Nov humidity = 74.5
|Dec humidity = 79.8
|year humidity = 60.3
|Jan dew point C = -5.1
|Feb dew point C = -2.6
|Mar dew point C = -1.8
|Apr dew point C = -0.6
|May dew point C = 2.6
|Jun dew point C = 5.9
|Jul dew point C = 7.8
|Aug dew point C = 8.3
|Sep dew point C = 5.7
|Oct dew point C = 1.7
|Nov dew point C = -1.1
|Dec dew point C = -4.5
|Dec dew point F = 
|source 1= NOAA (relative humidity, and dew point 1961–1990)<ref name= NOAA>{{cite web 
|url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/us-climate-normals/#dataset=normals-monthly&timeframe=30&station=USW00024243 
|title=NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access 
|publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] 
|access-date=August 6, 2021 
|archive-date=May 5, 2021 
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505115421/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/us-climate-normals/#dataset=normals-monthly&timeframe=30&station=USW00024243 
|url-status=live }}</ref><ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=pdt
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Pendleton
|access-date = April 14, 2023
}}
</ref><ref name = NOAA61-90>{{cite web 
|url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP4/72781.TXT 
|title = WMO Climate Normals for YAKIMA/YAKIMA AIR TERMINAL, WA 1961–1990 
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230627105037/ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP4/72781.TXT
|archive-date = 2023-06-27
|url-status = dead
|access-date = June 27, 2023
}}</ref><ref name=1950Februarylowesttemperature/>
|source 2= Weather Atlas (sun and uv)<ref name= "Weather Atlas">{{cite web 
|url=https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/washington-usa/yakima-climate 
|title=Monthly weather forecast and climate - Yakima, WA 
|access-date=March 28, 2020 
|archive-date=March 28, 2020 
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328172024/https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/washington-usa/yakima-climate 
|url-status=live }}</ref>
|date= March 28, 2020
|source= 
}}
{{Graph:Weather monthly history
| table=Ncei.noaa.gov/weather/Yakima.tab
| title=Yakima monthly weather statistics
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1890= 1535
|1900= 3154
|1910= 14082
|1920= 18539
|1930= 22101
|1940= 27221
|1950= 38486
|1960= 43284
|1970= 45588
|1980= 49826
|1990= 54827
|2000= 71845
|2010= 91067
|2020= 96968
|estyear=2024
|estimate=97390
|estref=<ref name="Census-Estimate2024"/>
|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|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" 
|+'''Yakima, Washington – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Yakima city, Washington |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US5380010&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=February 25, 2024}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Yakima city, Washington|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2010.P2?q=p2&g=160XX00US5380010&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=February 25, 2024}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Yakima city, Washington |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P2?q=p2&g=160XX00US5380010&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=February 25, 2024}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|42,928
|47,523
|style='background: #ffffe6; |42,212
|59.75%
|52.18%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |43.53%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|1,308
|1,311
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,184
|1.82%
|1.44%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.22%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|1,116
|1,311
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,321
|1.55%
|1.44%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.36%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|792
|1,286
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,342
|1.10%
|1.41%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.38%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|48
|46
|style='background: #ffffe6; |126
|0.07%
|0.05%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.13%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|60
|125
|style='background: #ffffe6; |414
|0.08%
|0.14%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.43%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race or Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|1,380
|1,878
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3,377
|1.92%
|2.06%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.48%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|24,213
|37,587
|style='background: #ffffe6; |46,992
|33.70%
|41.27%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |48.46%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''71,845'''
|'''91,067'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''96,968'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 96,968 people, 35,752 households, 22,858 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Yakima%20city,%20Washington%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=August 20, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[population density]] was {{convert|3487.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 37,192 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1286.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 51.80% (50,234) [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.45% (1,405) [[African American (U.S. census)|African American]], 2.53% (2,453) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.46% (1,418) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.18% (171) [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 27.66% (26,824) from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|some other races]] and 14.92% (14,463) from [[Multiracial Americans|two or more races]]. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] of any race were 45.46% (42,947) of the population.<ref>{{Cite web|title=How many people live in Yakima city, Washington |url=https://data.usatoday.com/census/total-population/total-population-change/yakima-city-washington/160-5380010/ |access-date=August 20, 2024 |publisher=USA Today}}</ref>

Of the 35,752 households, 32.6% had children under the age of 18; 42.8% were married couples living together; 31.1% had a female householder with no husband present. Of all households, 29.1% consisted of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.7 and the average family size was 3.4.

27.3% of the population was under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 96.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 95.7 males.

The 2018–2022 five-year [[American Community Survey]] estimates show that the median household income was $55,734 (with a margin of error of +/- $7,514) and the median family income $57,296 (+/- $3,722). Males had a median income of $31,188 (+/- $828) versus $26,018 (+/- $1,183) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $28,697 (+/- $1,619). Approximately, 14.7% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 27.4% of those under the age of 18 and 10.0% of those ages 65 or over.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 91,067 people with 33,074 households, and 21,411 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|3350.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 34,829 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1281.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 67.1% (61,065) [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.7% (1,556) [[African American (U.S. census)|African American]], 2.0% (1,838) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.5% (1,347) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% (83) [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 23.3% (21,216) from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|some other races]] and 4.4% (3,962) from [[Multiracial Americans|two or more races]]. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] of any race were 41.3% (37,587) of the population.<ref name="2010 Census">{{cite web |title=2010 Demographic Profile Data |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_DP_DPDP1 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212212833/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_DP_DPDP1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |work=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 |publisher=US Census Bureau |access-date=July 20, 2012}}</ref><ref name=LATimes>La Ganga, Maria L. (September 25, 2014) [http://www.latimes.com/nation/great-reads/la-na-c1-yakima-latinos-elections-20140925-story.html "Yakima Valley Latinos Getting a Voice, With Court's Help"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140926035444/http://www.latimes.com/nation/great-reads/la-na-c1-yakima-latinos-elections-20140925-story.html |date=September 26, 2014}} ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''</ref> 19.1% of the population had a bachelor's degree or higher.<ref name="2010 Census Quick Facts">{{cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts - Yakima (city), WA |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/53/5380010.html |work=US Census Bureau State & County QuickFacts |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 20, 2012 |archive-date=September 22, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060922183410/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/53/5380010.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>

There were 33,074 households, of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.3% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.3.

People under the age of 18 accounted for 28.3% of the population, while 13.1% were 65 years or older. The median age was 33.9 years, and 50.7% of the population was female.

The median household income was $39,706. The [[per capita income]] was $20,771. 21.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]].

==Economy==
Yakima's growth in the 20th century was fueled primarily by agriculture. The Yakima Valley produces many fruit crops, including [[apple]]s, [[peach]]es, [[pear]]s, [[cherry|cherries]], and [[melon]]s. Many vegetables are also produced, including [[capsicum|peppers]], [[maize|corn]] and [[bean]]s. Most of the nation's [[hops]], a key ingredient in the production of [[beer]], are also grown in the Yakima Valley. Many of the city's residents have come to the valley out of economic necessity and to participate in the picking, processing, marketing and support services for the agricultural economy.

===Top employers===
According to the City's 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yakimawa.gov/services/finance/files/2022-ACFR-COY-9.26.23-Web.pdf|title=City of Yakima 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report|page=175|date=August 20, 2024}}</ref> the largest employers in the city are:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! Industry
! # of Employees
! Percentage
|-
| 1
| [[Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital]]
| Health Care
| 2,500
| 1.9%
|-
| 2
| [[Walmart]]<br>(Yakima/Sunnyside/Grandview)
| Department store
| 1,700
| 1.3%
|-
| 3
| [[Yakima School District]], No. 7
| Education
| 1,594
| 1.2%
|-
| 4
| Zirkle Fruit
| Fruit processing
| 1,500
| 1.1%
|-
| 5
| Washington Fruit & Produce
| Fruit processing
| 1,500
| 1.1%
|-
| 6
| Yakama Nation<br>Government Operations
| Government
| 1,289
| 1.0%
|-
| 7
| Borton Fruit
| Fruit processing
| 1,212
| 0.9%
|-
| 8
| Astria Health<br>(Yakima/Sunnyside/Toppenish)
| Health Care
| 1,200
| 0.9%
|-
| 9
| Yakama Nation Enterprises<br>(Utility, C-Store, Credit Enterprise,<br>Forest Products, Legends Casino)
| Enterprise
| 1,170
| 0.9%
|-
| 10
| [[Yakima County, Washington|Yakima County]]
| County Government
| 1,074
| 0.8%
|-
|—
|'''Total employers'''
|—
|'''14,739'''
|'''11.1%'''
|}

Downtown Yakima, long the retail hub of the region, has undergone many changes since the late 1990s. Three major department stores, and an entire shopping mall that is now closed, have been replaced by a Whirlpool Corporation facility (shut down in 2011), an Adaptis call center, and several hotels. The region's retail core has shifted to the town of Union Gap to a renovated [[Valley Mall (Yakima)|shopping mall]] and other new retail businesses. The Downtown Futures Initiative promotes the downtown area as a center for events, services, entertainment, and small, personal shopping experiences.<ref name=DFI>{{cite web |title=Downtown Futures Initiative |url=http://www.yakimafutures.com |access-date=March 5, 2009 |archive-date=May 8, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080508040625/http://www.yakimafutures.com/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The DFI has provided for street-to-storefront remodeling along Yakima Avenue throughout the entire downtown core, and includes new pedestrian-friendly lighting, water fountains, planters, banner poles, new trees and hanging baskets, and paver-inlaid sidewalks.

Events held downtown include Yakima Downtown New Year's Eve, a [[Cinco de Mayo]] celebration, Yakima Live music festival, Yakima Summer Kickoff Party, Fresh Hop Ale Fest,<ref name=FHAF/> a weekly Farmers' Market,<ref name=YFM>{{cite web |title=Farmers' Market |url=http://www.yakimafarmersmarket.org/index.php |website=Yakimafarmersmarket.org |access-date=March 5, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304124724/http://www.yakimafarmersmarket.org/index.php |archive-date=March 4, 2009}}</ref> and the Hot Shots 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament.<ref name=HS3o3BT>{{cite web |title=Hot Shots 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament |url=http://www.yakimahotshots.org/ |website=Yakimahotshots.org |access-date=March 5, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227082217/http://www.yakimahotshots.org/ |archive-date=February 27, 2009}}</ref>

Over ninety wineries are in the Yakima Valley.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Yakima Valley Wineries - Wine Tasting in Washington State |url=https://www.visityakima.com/yakima-valley-wineries.asp |access-date=January 29, 2023 |website=www.visityakima.com}}</ref>

The [[Yakima Training Center]], between Yakima and Ellensburg, is a United States Army training center. It is used primarily for maneuver training and land warrior system testing, and has a live-fire area. Artillery units from the Canadian Armed Forces based in British Columbia, as well as the [[Japan Ground Self Defense Force]], conduct annual training in Yakima. Japanese soldiers train there because it allows for large-scale live-fire maneuvers not available in Japan. Similarly, it is the closest impact area for the Canadian Gunners, the next closest being in Wainwright, Alberta.

==Tourism==
{{Unreferenced section|date=July 2024}}
In the early 2000s, the city of Yakima, in conjunction with multiple city organizations, began revitalization and preservation efforts in its historic downtown area. The Downtown Yakima Futures Initiative was created to make strategic public investments in sidewalks, lighting and landscaping to encourage further development. As a result, local businesses featuring regional produce, wines, and beers, among other products, have returned to the downtown area. Many of these businesses are located on Front Street, Yakima Avenue and 1st Street.

During the summer, a pair of historic trolleys operate along five miles (8&nbsp;km) of track of the former [[Yakima Valley Transportation Company]] through the Yakima Gap connecting Yakima and [[Selah, Washington|Selah]]. The Yakima Valley Trolleys organization, incorporated in 2001, operates the trolleys and a museum for the City of Yakima.

The City of Yakima expanded the Convention Center in 2020.

==Arts and culture==
[[Image:Yakima-Washington.jpg|thumb|right|Yakima, Washington as seen from the west]]
Cultural activities and events take place throughout the year. The [[Yakima Valley Museum]] houses exhibits related to the region's natural and cultural history, a restored soda fountain, and periodic special exhibitions. Downtown Yakima's historic Capitol Theatre and Seasons Performance Hall, as well as the West-side's Allied Arts Center, present numerous musical and stage productions. [[Larson Gallery]] housed at Yakima Valley College present six diverse art exhibitions each year. The city is home to the Yakima Symphony Orchestra. The [[Yakima Area Arboretum]] is a botanical garden featuring species of both native and adapted non-native plants. Popular music tours, trade shows, and other large events are hosted at the [[Yakima SunDome]] in State Fair Park.

The film ''[[The Hanging Tree (film)|The Hanging Tree]]'' (1959) was shot entirely in and around Yakima.<ref>Maddrey, Joseph (2016). ''The Quick, the Dead and the Revived: The Many Lives of the Western Film''. McFarland. Page 184. {{ISBN|9781476625492}}.</ref>

===Festivals and fairs===
* [[Central Washington State Fair]], held each year in late September at State Fair Park.
* Yakima Folklife Festival,<ref name=YFF>{{cite web |title=Yakima Folklife Festival |url=http://yakimafolklife.org |website=Yakimafolklife.org |access-date=March 5, 2009 |archive-date=December 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202142653/http://yakimafolklife.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref> held the second week of July at Franklin Park.
* Fresh Hop Ale Festival,<ref name=FHAF>{{cite web |title=Fresh Hop Ale Festival |url=http://freshhopalefestival.com/ |website=Freshopalefestival.com |access-date=March 5, 2009 |archive-date=February 18, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218152132/http://freshhopalefestival.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> held each October in Downtown Yakima.
* A Case of the Blues and All That Jazz,<ref name=CBAJ>{{cite web |title=A Case of the Blues and All That Jazz |url=http://festivalnet.com/26667/Yakima-Washington/Blues-Festivals/A-Case-of-the-Blues-and-All-That-Jazz |website=Festivalnet.com |access-date=May 12, 2014 |archive-date=May 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513085400/http://festivalnet.com/26667/Yakima-Washington/Blues-Festivals/A-Case-of-the-Blues-and-All-That-Jazz |url-status=live }}</ref> held in August in Sarg Hubbard Park.
* Yakima Pride Festival is a celebration of [[LGBT pride]] held in June.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Tomas D'Anella |date=June 6, 2023 |title=Yakima Pride Festival and Parade set for Saturday |url=https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/yakima-pride-festival-and-parade-set-for-saturday/article_67fbface-04ed-11ee-abc7-9383e4c54e89.html |access-date=June 16, 2023 |website=NBC Right Now |language=en}}</ref>

===Sports===
[[Image:YakimaSundome.jpg|thumb|The [[Yakima SunDome|Sun Dome]] was home to the Warriors and Sun Kings.]]
* The Yakima Mavericks are a minor league [[American football|football]] team in the [[Pacific Football League]] and play at Marquette Stadium.
* The Yakima Beetles [[American Legion baseball]] team, 3-time World Champions.
* The Yakima Canines of the [[American West Football Conference]].
* The [[Yakima Valley Pippins]] are a collegiate wood bat baseball team that play in the [[West Coast League]].
;Former professional teams
* The [[Yakima Valley Warriors]] were an indoor football team. Play ended in 2010.
* The [[Yakima Sun Kings]] was a [[Continental Basketball Association]] franchise that won 5 CBA championships and disbanded in 2008. The team was reinstituted in 2018 as part of the [[North American Premier Basketball]] league.
* The [[Yakima Bears]] minor league baseball team, moved to Hillsboro, Oregon after the 2011 season.
* The [[Yakima Reds]] soccer team played in the [[USL Premier Development League]], disbanded in 2010.

==Government==
{{see also|List of mayors of Yakima, Washington}}
Yakima is one of the ten [[List of municipalities in Washington|first class cities]], those with a population over 10,000 at the time of reorganization and operating under a home rule charter.

The Yakima City Council operates under the [[Council–manager government|council–manager]] form of government. The city council has seven members, elected by district and the mayor is elected by the council members.<ref name="YHR-Council2024"/> Yakima's city manager serves under the direction of the City Council, and administers and coordinates the delivery of municipal services. The city of Yakima is a full-service city, providing police, fire, water and wastewater treatment, parks, public works, planning, street maintenance, code enforcement, airport and transit to residents.

In 1994 and 2015, the City of Yakima received the [[All-America City Award]], given by the [[National Civic League]]. Ten U.S. cities receive this award per year.

The city council was elected [[at-large]] until a 2012 lawsuit filed by the [[American Civil Liberties Union]] was ruled in the favor of Latino constituents on the grounds of racial discrimination.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Searcey |first1=Dionne |last2=Gebeloff |first2=Robert |date=November 19, 2019 |title=The Divide in Yakima Is the Divide in America |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/19/us/politics/yakima-washington-racial-differences-2020-elections.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=November 19, 2019 |archive-date=November 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191119100834/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/19/us/politics/yakima-washington-racial-differences-2020-elections.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The council's four district-based and three at-large seat arrangement was also removed in favor of seven districts—of which two have a Latino majority.<ref name="YHR-Council2024"/> The city manager position has been vacant since January 2024, when the new city council removed incumbent Bob Harrison.<ref name="YHR-Council2024">{{cite news |last=Sundeen |first=Jasper Kenzo |date=January 10, 2024 |title=New Yakima council members open to idea of strong mayor form of government |url=https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/government/new-yakima-council-members-open-to-idea-of-strong-mayor-form-of-government/article_a57fdfd4-af22-11ee-a41b-0380f5345c04.html |work=Yakima Herald-Republic |accessdate=January 11, 2024}}</ref> Several attempts were made in the early 2020s to move Yakima to a [[Mayor–council government|mayor–council]] form of government.<ref name="YHR-Council2024"/>

The citizens of Yakima are represented in the [[Washington Senate]] by Republicans [[Curtis King (politician)|Curtis King]] in District 14, and [[Nikki Torres]] in District 15, and in the [[Washington House of Representatives]] by Republicans [[Chris Corry]] and [[Gina Mosbrucker]] in District 14, and Republicans [[Bruce Chandler]] and [[Bryan Sandlin]] in District 15.

At the national level, Yakima is part of Washington's US Congressional 4th District, currently represented by Republican [[Dan Newhouse]].

==Education==
The city of Yakima has three K–12 public school districts, several private schools, and three post-secondary schools.

===High schools===

====Public schools====
There are four high schools in the [[Yakima School District]]:
* [[A.C. Davis High School (Washington)|Davis High School]], a 4A high school with about 2,100 students
* [[Eisenhower High School (Yakima, Washington)|Eisenhower High School]], a 4A high school with about 2,300 students
* Stanton Academy
* Yakima Online High School

Outside the city:
* [[West Valley High School (Yakima, Washington)|West Valley High School]], in the West Valley School District, is a division 4A school with a student population of around 1,500.
* [[East Valley High School (Yakima, Washington)|East Valley High School]], just east of Terrace Heights on the city's eastern side, is in the East Valley School District. It is a 2A school with about 1,000 students.
* Uhlman Academy for Boys

====Private schools====
* [[La Salle High School (Union Gap, Washington)|La Salle High School]] in Union Gap is a Catholic high school in the 1A division and enrolls about 200 students.
* [[Riverside Christian School]], near [[East Valley High School (Yakima, Washington)|East Valley High School]], is a private K–12 Christian school. Riverside Christian is a 1B school with around 400 students in grades K–12.
* Yakima Adventist Christian School

===Post-secondary schools===
[[Yakima Valley College]] is one of the oldest community colleges in the state of Washington. Founded in 1928, the college is a public, four-year institution of higher education, and part of one of the most comprehensive community college systems in the nation. It offers programs in adult basic education, English as a Second Language, lower-division arts and sciences, professional and technical education, transfer degrees to in-state universities, and community services.<ref>{{cite web |title=Yakima Valley Community College Degrees and Certificates |url=https://www.usnews.com/education/community-colleges/yakima-valley-community-college-CC09451/degrees |access-date=January 5, 2017 |archive-date=January 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106065746/https://www.usnews.com/education/community-colleges/yakima-valley-community-college-CC09451/degrees |url-status=live }}</ref> The campus is also home to the Yakima Campus of [[Central Washington University]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024 |title=CWU Yakima |url=https://www.cwu.edu/about/campus-locations/yakima/ |access-date=March 30, 2025 |website=CEntral Washington University}}</ref>

Perry Technical Institute is a private, nonprofit school of higher learning located in the city since 1939. Perry students learn trades such as automotive technology, instrumentation, information technology, HVAC, electrical, machining, office administration, medical coding, and legal assistant/paralegal.

[[Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences]] opened in the fall of 2008,<ref>{{cite web |title=Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences |url=http://www.pnwu.org |access-date=December 8, 2007 |archive-date=January 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080125170718/http://www.pnwu.org/ |url-status=live}}</ref> and graduated its first class of [[Osteopathic medicine in the United States|osteopathic physicians]] ([[Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine|D.O.]]) in 2012. The first college on the {{cvt|42.5|acre|m2|adj=on}} campus is home to the first medical school approved in the Pacific Northwest in over 60 years, and trains physicians with an osteopathic emphasis. The school's mission is to train primary-care physicians committed to serving rural and underserved communities throughout the Pacific Northwest. It is housed in a state-of-the-art {{cvt|45000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} facility.<ref>{{cite web |title=New osteopathic school planned for Yakima |work=Puget Sound Business Journal |date=April 14, 2005 |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2005/04/11/daily27.html |access-date=February 3, 2007 |archive-date=May 23, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060523203808/http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2005/04/11/daily27.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Media==
{{See also| Category:Mass media in Yakima, Washington}}
The ''[[Yakima Herald-Republic]]'' is the primary daily newspaper in the area.

According to Arbitron, the Yakima metropolitan area is the 197th largest radio market in the US, serving 196,500 people.<ref>{{cite web |title=Arbitron Radio Market Rankings: Spring 2012 |url=http://arbitron.com/home/mm001050.asp |publisher=Arbotron |access-date=July 20, 2012 |archive-date=October 16, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101016182624/http://arbitron.com/home/mm001050.asp |url-status=live}}</ref>

Yakima is part of the U.S.'s 114th largest television viewing market, which includes viewers in [[Pasco, Washington|Pasco]], [[Richland, Washington|Richland]] and [[Kennewick, Washington|Kennewick]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nielsen.com/content/dam/corporate/us/en/public%20factsheets/tv/2017-18%20TV%20DMA%20Ranks.pdf |title=Local Television Market Universe Estimates |publisher=Nielson |access-date=April 14, 2019 |archive-date=April 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414082432/https://www.nielsen.com/content/dam/corporate/us/en/public%2520factsheets/tv/2017-18%2520TV%2520DMA%2520Ranks.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Transportation==

===Roads and highways===
[[Image:Yakima Welcome Sign.jpg|thumb|180px|Welcome sign on [[Interstate 82 in Washington|I-82]]]]
[[Interstate 82]] is the main freeway through the Yakima Valley, connecting the region to [[Ellensburg, Washington|Ellensburg]] and the [[Tri-Cities, Washington|Tri-Cities]], with onward connections to [[Seattle]] and [[Oregon]]. [[U.S. Route 12 in Washington|U.S. Route 12]] crosses northern Yakima, joining I-82 and [[U.S. Route 97 in Washington|U.S. Route 97]] along the east side of the city. [[Washington State Route 24|State Route 24]] terminates in Yakima and is the primary means of reaching Moxee City and agricultural areas to the east. [[Washington State Route 821|State Route 821]] terminates in northern Yakima and traverses the [[Yakima River]] canyon, providing an alternate route to Ellensburg that bypasses the I-82 summit at [[Manastash Ridge]].

===Public transit===
City-owned [[Yakima Transit]] serves Yakima, [[Selah, Washington|Selah]], [[West Valley, Washington|West Valley]] and [[Terrace Heights]], as well as several daily trips to Ellensburg. There are also free intercity bus systems between adjacent Union Gap and nearby [[Toppenish]], [[Wapato, Washington|Wapato]], [[White Swan, Washington|White Swan]], and [[Ellensburg, Washington|Ellensburg]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Pahto Public Passage |publisher=Yakama Nation Tribal Transit |url=http://www.pahtotransit.com/ |access-date=January 27, 2012 |archive-date=March 31, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331191311/http://www.pahtotransit.com/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Airport===
Yakima is served by the [[Yakima Air Terminal]], a municipal airport located on the southern edge of the city and is used for [[general aviation]] and commercial air service. The FAA identifier is YKM. It has two asphalt runways: 9/27 is 7,604 by 150 feet (2,318 x 46 m) and 4/22 is 3,835 by 150 feet (1,169 x 46 m). Yakima Air Terminal is owned and operated by the city.

Yakima is served by one scheduled air carrier ([[Alaska Airlines]]) and two non-scheduled carriers (Sun Country Airlines and Xtra Airways). Alaska Airlines provides multiple daily flights to and from [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]], Sun Country Airlines provide charter flights to Laughlin, NV and Xtra Airways provide charter flights to Wendover, NV. During [[World War II]] the airfield was used by the [[United States Army Air Forces]].

The airport at is home to numerous private aircraft, and is a test site for military jets and [[Boeing Commercial Airplanes|Boeing]] test flights.

==Notable people==
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Oleta Adams]], singer<ref>{{cite web |title=Oleta Adams Biography |url=http://oletaadams.com/biography.html |access-date=July 19, 2012 |archive-date=July 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703222606/http://oletaadams.com/biography.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Jamie Allen (baseball)|Jamie Allen]], [[Major League Baseball]] player<ref>{{cite web |title=Jamie Allen Stats |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=allenja02 |work=Baseball Almanac |access-date=July 19, 2012 |archive-date=August 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120821201820/http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=allenja02 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Colleen Atwood]], [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]]-winning costume designer
* [[Mario Batali]], celebrity chef<ref name=claim-to-fame-2006>{{cite news |last=Jenkins |first=Sarah |title=Their claim is fame - and a link to the Valley |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:YHRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=110C51AE00870A50&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0FB3382EE6AD1E46 |access-date=July 19, 2012 |newspaper=Yakima Herald-Republic |date=April 2, 2006 |archive-date=November 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211113220603/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/110C51AE00870A50&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[MarJon Beauchamp]], professional basketball player for the [[New York Knicks]]
* [[Wanda E. Brunstetter]], author
* [[Bryan Caraway]], mixed martial artist
* [[Raymond Carver]], author, poet and screenwriter
* [[Tree Top, Inc.|William Charbonneau]], founder of Tree Top Apple Juice
* [[Beverly Cleary]], author
* [[Harlond Clift]], Major League Baseball player
* [[Cary Conklin]], [[NFL]] football player
* [[Alex Deccio]], politician. Former member of [[Washington House of Representatives]] and [[Washington State Senate]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/former-state-sen-alex-deccio-dies-at-89/ |title=Former state Sen. Alex Deccio dies at 89 |website=seattletimes.com |date=October 25, 2011 |access-date=September 19, 2021 |archive-date=September 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210919215501/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/former-state-sen-alex-deccio-dies-at-89/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/mourners-honor-alex-deccio/article_67f8ab47-4dce-59bf-a161-e34cb638a23f.html |title=Mourners honor Alex Deccio |website=nbcrightnow.com |date=November 3, 2011 |access-date=September 19, 2021 |archive-date=September 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210919220640/https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/mourners-honor-alex-deccio/article_67f8ab47-4dce-59bf-a161-e34cb638a23f.html |url-status=bot: unknown}}()</ref>
* [[Garret Dillahunt]], actor<ref>{{cite news |last=Muir |first=Pat |title=Outtakes from the Garret Dillahunt interview |url=http://yakima-herald.com/blogs/on-blog/posts/outtakes-from-the-garret-dillahunt-interview |access-date=July 19, 2012 |newspaper=Yakima Herald Republic |date=September 17, 2010}}{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>
* [[Dan Doornink]], NFL football player
* [[William O. Douglas]], U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice<ref name=claim-to-fame-2006 />
* [[Dave Edler]], Major League Baseball player, Yakima Mayor
* [[Mary Jo Estep]], teacher, last survivor of the [[Battle of Kelley Creek]]
* [[Gabriel E. Gomez]], politician and former Navy SEAL
* [[Kathryn Gustafson]], artist
* [[Gordon Haines]], NASCAR driver
* [[Scott Hatteberg]], Major League Baseball player
* [[Joe Hipp]], professional boxer
* [[Al Hoptowit]], NFL football player
* [[Myke Horton]], professional football player and cast member of ''[[American Gladiators (1989 TV series)|American Gladiators]]''
* [[Damon Huard]], NFL football player
* [[Robert Ivers]], actor
* [[Harry Jefferson (racing driver)|Harry Jefferson]], NASCAR driver
* [[Marshall Kent (bowler)|Marshall Kent]], professional ten-pin bowler
* [[Sam Kinison]], actor and comedian
* [[Larry Knechtel]], Grammy Award-winning musician<ref>{{cite news |last=Ward |first=Leah |title=Larry Knechtel, a music legend, dies at 69 |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/obituaries/2009716533_knechtelobit23.html |access-date=July 19, 2012 |newspaper=Yakima Herald Republic |date=August 23, 2009 |archive-date=May 4, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504082844/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/obituaries/2009716533_knechtelobit23.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Cooper Kupp]], NFL football player
* [[Craig Kupp]], NFL football player
* [[Jake Kupp]], NFL football player
* [[Mark Labberton]], seminary president
* [[Donald A. Larson]], World War II [[flying ace]]
* [[Robert Lucas Jr.]], [[Nobel Prize]]-winning economist
* [[Paige Mackenzie]], professional golfer
* [[Josh Pearce]], Major League Baseball Player
* [[Kyle MacLachlan]], film and television actor
* [[Debbie Macomber]], author
* [[Phil Mahre]], Olympic gold medalist and world champion skier
* [[Steve Mahre]], Olympic silver medalist and world champion skier
* [[Barbara La Marr]], actress and writer
* [[Mitch Meluskey]], Major League Baseball player
* [[Colleen Miller]], actress
* [[Don Mosebar]], NFL football player
* [[James Nolan Jr.|James "Jimmy" Nolan Jr.]], former host of ''Uncle Jimmy's Clubhouse''<ref>{{cite news |title=James Walter Nolan, Jr. (Obituary) |url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=1018BE93219D4927&p_docnum=1&p_queryname=1 |access-date=July 19, 2012 |newspaper=Yakima Herald-Republic |date=March 24, 2004}}</ref>
* [[Arvo Ojala]], actor and artist
* [[Joe Parsons (snowmobiler)|Joe Parsons]], snowmobiler
* [[Floyd Paxton]], inventor of the Kwik Lok bread clip
* [[Gary Peacock]], Jazz double bassist
* [[Steve Pelluer]], NFL football player
* [[Jim Pomeroy (motocross)|Jim Pomeroy]], professional [[motocross]] racer and member of the [[American Motorcyclist Association|AMA]] [[Motorcycle Hall of Fame]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=85&lpos=-1025px&letter=P&txtFname=&rblFname=S&txtLname=&rblLname=S&discipline=0 |title=Jim Pomeroy at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame |publisher=motorcyclemuseum.org |access-date=November 29, 2018 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303192633/http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=85&lpos=-1025px&letter=P&txtFname=&rblFname=S&txtLname=&rblLname=S&discipline=0 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[William Farrand Prosser]], U.S. Congressman and mayor of Yakima<ref>{{cite web |title=Bioguide Search |url=https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/P000550 |website=bioguide.congress.gov |publisher=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (United States Congress) |access-date=22 September 2022}}</ref>
* [[Gary Puckett]], singer, 1960s pop artist of [[Gary Puckett & The Union Gap]]
* [[Pete Rademacher]], Olympic and professional boxer
* [[Monte Rawlins]], actor
* [[Jim Rohn]], entrepreneur
* [[Will Sampson]], actor and artist<ref>{{cite web |title=Creek actor Will Sampson honored with spot on Oklahoma Walk of Fame |url=http://themuscogeecreeknation.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68&Itemid=8 |work=Muscogee (Creek) Nation |access-date=July 19, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301221859/http://themuscogeecreeknation.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68&Itemid=8 |archive-date=March 1, 2012}}</ref>
* [[Kurt Schulz]], NFL football player
* [[Mel Stottlemyre]], Major League Baseball player and coach
* [[Mel Stottlemyre Jr.]], Major League Baseball player
* [[Todd Stottlemyre]], Major League Baseball player
* [[Thelma Johnson Streat]], artist
* [[Taylor Stubblefield]], football player
* [[Miesha Tate]], mixed martial artist
* [[Willie Turner (sprinter)|Willie Turner]], sprinter
* [[Janet Waldo]], actress
* [[Bob Wells (baseball)|Bob Wells]], baseball player
* [[Christopher Wiehl]], actor
* [[Lis Wiehl]], author and legal analyst
* [[Jon Westling]], 8th president of [[Boston University]]
* [[Chief Yowlachie]], Native American actor
{{div col end}}

==Sister cities==
* {{flagdeco|Mexico}} [[Morelia]], [[Michoacán]], Mexico<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/yakima-s-mostly-forgotten-sister-cities-explained/article_ad3dfb3c-5be2-11e8-b6ac-438acf721a0a.html |title=Yakima's mostly forgotten sister cities, explained |last=Bain |first=Kaitlin |newspaper=Yakima Herald-Republic |language=en |date=May 19, 2018 |access-date=October 29, 2019 |archive-date=October 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029231119/https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/yakima-s-mostly-forgotten-sister-cities-explained/article_ad3dfb3c-5be2-11e8-b6ac-438acf721a0a.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* {{Flagicon|Japan}} [[Itayanagi, Aomori]], Japan<ref>{{Cite web |title=Washington Sister Cities |url=https://www.ltgov.wa.gov/washington-sister-cities |access-date=September 9, 2020 |website=Lieutenant Governor Cyrus Habib |language=en-US |archive-date=September 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904081758/https://www.ltgov.wa.gov/washington-sister-cities |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
* {{Portal-inline|United States}}
* [[Japantown]]

==References==
{{notelist}}
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite book |author=Lyman, William Denison |title=History of the Yakima Valley, Washington: Comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofyakimav01lyma |publisher=S. J. Clarke |year=1919}}[http://www.secstate.wa.gov/history/publications%5Fdetail.aspx?p=17 Available online through the Washington State Library's Classics in Washington History collection]

==External links==
* [https://www.yakimawa.gov/ City of Yakima – Official Website]

{{Sister bar|auto=y}}
{{Geographic location
|title     = '''Surrounding municipalities'''
|Center    = Yakima
|North     = [[Selah, Washington|Selah]] <br /> (4 miles)
|Northeast = 
|East      = 
|Southeast = [[Moxee, Washington|Moxee]] <br /> (8 miles)
|South     = [[Union Gap, Washington|Union Gap]] <br /> (4 miles)
|Southwest = [[Ahtanum, Washington|Ahtanum]] <br /> (9 miles)
|West      = [[Tampico, Washington|Tampico]] <br /> (20 miles)
|Northwest = [[Naches, Washington|Naches]] <br /> (14 miles)
}}
{{Yakima County, Washington}}
{{Washington}}
{{Washington (state) county seats}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Yakima, Washington|Yakima]]
[[Category:1847 establishments in Oregon Country]]
[[Category:Cities in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Cities in Yakima County, Washington]]
[[Category:County seats in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1847]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Yakima River]]
[[Category:Washington (state) placenames of Native American origin]]