Some Great Background About Goldendale

Columbia Gorge Economic Development Association
About :: City Information
Goldendale, Washington
About the City
Goldendale sits on a fertile plateau north of the Columbia River between the windswept Columbia Hills and the pine-covered Simcoe Mountains of South-central Washington. Goldendale is the county seat of Klickitat County. The sprawling 1,200 square miles of the county contains a variety of scenery. It ranges from pine forests in the west and north to spectacular lava flows along the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge at the south. Fertile farmland lies in the central section and to the east, arid, desert-like land that has its own beauty that seems to many first-time visitors harsh, but is captivating in its own uncompromising way.
Nicholas Murray Butler, a Columbia University president who traveled the West in support of national parks, was quite enchanted with Goldendale. He wrote: "Yet another, and very remarkable place where grandeur and beauty and detachment from the world all meet again, is Goldendale on Klickitat Creek in southern Washington. . . Of a summer's afternoon one may see from that beautiful spot four snowclad mountains: Mt. Hood in Oregon to the south, Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Adams to the west, and the towering Mt. Rainier farther to the north."
With a population of approximately 3,700, Goldendale is the county seat of Klickitat County. The city is located in the central section of the county, 70 miles south of Yakima, Washington, 35 miles north of The Dalles, Oregon, and 120 miles east of Portland, Oregon. U.S. Highway 97, the "Caribou Trail" from British Columbia to California, is the main route for those travelling to or from Goldendale. The area is also served by Burlington Northern Railroad and Amtrak at nearby Wishram, Washington. You can also arrive by air. Goldendale airport, once closed and in need of major repairs, now has a 3,600 -foot lighted runway thanks to a project by the local Jaycee organization.
Goldendale is an extremely attractive location to conduct business offering low utility and land prices, a skilled labor force, and excellent transportation options. Currently, a diversified local economy provides several means of livelihood for the residents of Goldendale. Along with the fields of education, local and county social service and government agencies, and public service entities, logging, farming, and aluminum smeltering provide stable employment and a comfortable standard of living.
Goldendale offers the best of many worlds. Tourists will find it a congenial center from which to explore the surrounding natural and cultural attractions. The sportsman/woman will find plenty of activities to choose from including; hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, nearby windsurfing, kayaking and rock climbing. Those who come to stay will enjoy becoming part of an energetic, thriving community.
To find out more about Goldendale contact:
Columbia Gorge Economic Development Association (888) 760-3936 The Goldendale Chamber of Commerce (509) 773-3400
Just the Facts
1995 Population - 3,476
2000 Projected Population - 3,634
Per Capita Income 1994 - $16,975
Average Single Family Home - $82,000
Average Temperature - JANUARY- 29.4, JULY- 66.9
Annual Precipitation - 17.41"
Location - Seventy miles south of Yakima, Washington, 35 miles north of The Dalles, Oregon, and 120 miles east of Portland, Oregon. Located along U.S. Highway 97. DISTANCE TO PORTLAND - 120 miles DISTANCE TO BOISE - 339 miles DISTANCE TO SEATTLE - 217 miles DISTANCE TO SPOKANE - 280 miles

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