Washington

Chelan

79,074
2020 population
1900
first census record
13
census records

About Chelan

Chelan, Washington, first appears in the United States federal census in 1900, when it recorded a population of 3,931. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 79,074.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 47 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202079,074
201072,453
200066,616
199052,250
198045,061
197041,355
196040,744
195039,301
194034,412
193031,634
192020,906
191015,104
19003,931
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in Chelan

National Register of Historic Places listings in Chelan, Washington.

Miller, George, House
Stehekin
Blewett Arrastra
Cashmere
Buckner Cabin
Stehekin
Ruby Theater
Chelan
Leavenworth Ski Hill Historic District
Leavenworth
Wenatchee Fire Station #1
Wenatchee
Downtown Wenatchee Historic District
Wenatchee
Columbia River Bridge
Wenatchee
West Monitor Bridge
Monitor
Golden West Lodge Historic District
Stehekin
Sulphide-Frisco Cabin
Stehekin
Buckner Homestead Historic District
Stehekin
Purple Point-Stehekin Ranger Station House
Stehekin
Columbia River Bridge at Wenatchee
Wenatchee
Leavenworth Ranger Station
Leavenworth
Rock Island Railroad Bridge
Rock Island
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Other counties in Washington

Explore census history and historic records for more Washington counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Chelan County, Washington

This page charts the census history of Chelan County, Washington. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Chelan

When does Chelan first appear in the US census?
Chelan, Washington first appears in the federal census in 1900, with a recorded population of 3,931.
What is the population of Chelan?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Chelan had a recorded population of 79,074.
How many historic places are in Chelan?
47 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Chelan, Washington.
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