Ellensburg, Washington

The old part of Ellensburg is fairly historic, with several brick buildings from the late 19th century. Ellensburg is the home of Central Washington University, a four-year college with teaching as one of its primary majors. It has an undergraduate enrollment of over 10,000 students. The surrounding Kittitas Valley is known for its timothy-hay production. There are several local hay brokering and processing operations that ship to Pacific Rim countries. Fruit orchards are another primary source of income in the outlying agricultural area. The Ellensburg Rodeo is one of America’s Top 10 professional rodeos. This contest, held over the Labor Day weekend, involves over 500 contestants vying for $300,000 in prize money. The Jazz in the Valley music festival is held the last weekend in July. Concerts are held at the nearby Gorge Amphitheatre.