Goldendale

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.

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.

Climate
Average weather in Goldendale, Washington
Based on data reported by over 4,000 weather stations

Demographics
Population (year 2000): 3,760
Males: 1,787 (47.5%), Females: 1,973 (52.5%)
Elevation: 1633 feet
County: Klickitat
Land area: 2.4 square miles
Zip code: 98620
Area code: 509

Median resident age: 36.5 years
Median household income: $26,030 (year 2000)
Median house value: $88,000 (year 2000)

Unemployed: 12.7%
Mean travel time to work: 12.7 minutes

Distance To:
The Dalles – 29 miles
Portland – 126 miles
Seattle – 217 miles
Spokane – 280 miles

Nearest city with population 50,000+: Yakima, WA (pop. 71,845)
Nearest city with population 200,000+: Portland, OR (pop. 529,121)
Nearest city with population 1,000,000+: Los Angeles, CA (pop. 3,694,820)

Single-family new house construction building permits:

• 1996: 2 buildings, average cost: $120,400
• 1997: 4 buildings, average cost: $83,700
• 1998: 3 buildings, average cost: $81,300
• 1999: 6 buildings, average cost: $35,800
• 2000: 5 buildings, average cost: $120,000
• 2001: 5 buildings, average cost: $40,800
• 2002: 1 buildings, average cost: $150,000

Crime in Goldendale (2001):

• 0 murders (0.0 per 100,000)
• 0 rapes (0.0 per 100,000)
• 0 robberies (0.0 per 100,000)
• 6 assaults (159.6 per 100,000)
• 20 burglaries (531.9 per 100,000)
• 108 larceny counts (2872.3 per 100,000)
• 2 auto thefts (53.2 per 100,000)

Hospitals/medical centers near Goldendale:

• Klickitat Valley Hospital (Goldendale, WA)
• Mid-Columbia Medical Center (The Dalles, OR)
• Skyline Hospital (White Salmon, WA)
• Providence Toppenish Hospital (Toppenish, WA)

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Goldendale:

• Yakima Valley Community College (Yakima, WA; Full-time enrollment: 2,906)
• Central Washington University (Ellensburg, WA; FT enrollment: 7,420)
• Portland Community College (Portland, OR; FT enrollment: 12,132)
• Mt Hood Community College (Gresham, OR; FT enrollment: 4,867)
• Wenatchee Valley College (Wenatchee, WA; FT enrollment: 2,074)
• Central Oregon Community College (Bend, OR; FT enrollment: 2,274)
• Columbia Basin College (Pasco, WA; FT enrollment: 3,529)

Public high school in Goldendale:

• Goldendale High School (Students: 425; Grades: 09 - 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Goldendale:

• Goldendale Primary School (Students: 450; Grades: KG - 04)
• Goldendale Middle School (Students: 424; Grades: 05 - 08)

Private primary/middle schools in Goldendale:

• Goldendale Christian School (Students: 54; Grades: PK - 6)
• Goldendale SDA School (Students: 12; Grades: 5 - 9)