Quality of Life

Yakima County Quality of Life Video - Watch it now!

Yakima County’s four-season climate and location in the heart of the Pacific Northwest provide an ideal living environment. Residents may enjoy many of the advantages of an urban area while retaining the more relaxed unhurried lifestyle of a rural area. Uncrowded conditions and freedom from traffic jams and long commutes allow less stressful everyday living.  Download the Quality of Life profile.

Climate

Sunshine is the norm (almost 300 days a year) in Yakima County. The normal precipitation is only 8 inches a year, almost half of which occurs mostly as snowfall in the months of November, December and January.

Terrain

From lush, irrigated farmland on the floor of the Yakima River Valley to the rolling sagebrush hills to the forested Cascade Mountains dominated by majestic Mt. Rainier (14,410) and Mt. Adams (12,307) to the west, Yakima County is a land of diverse natural beauty. Clear, blue waters of 71 lakes, 14 rivers and numerous streams accent the landscape of the area.

Recreation, Sports and Entertainment

Due to its favorable climate and terrain, Yakima County offers an almost limitless variety of recreational opportunities. Excellent downhill and cross-country skiing are within an hour’s drive. Stream and lake fishing, upland bird and big game hunting, backpacking, hiking, bicycling, boating, swimming, windsurfing and water skiing are all available in season. Golf, tennis and softball are avidly pursued sports. Parks and Recreation departments offer varied year round programs for children and adults.                                                   

Entertainment events include the annual nine-day Central Washington State Fair, the Toppenish Pow Wow and Rodeo, auto racing, rodeos, and colorful community celebrations and festivals. Professional sports – including the Yakama Sun Kings (CBA) basketball, Yakima Bears (Diamondbacks affiliation) baseball and the Yakima Reds semi-pro soccer team.

The Yakima Region is home to a thriving wine industry.  Visit one of the area’s 50+ wineries to meet the winemakers, taste award winning wines,and view stunning landscapes.  Visit Wine Yakima Valley for a calendar of year-round events and activities at local wineries.  A sample of annual events include Red Wine and Chocolate around Valentine’s day, Spring Fling and Spring Barrel Tasting in April, and Thanksgiving in Wine Country.

Art & Culture

Touring professional and local performing arts are regularly presented at the beautifully restored Capitol Theatre in Yakima and The Seasons Performance Hall. The Yakima Symphony recently marked its 25th anniversary.  An active community theater group performs at The Warehouse Theater.  The Allied Arts Council coordinates, encourages and promotes the arts throughout Yakima County. Mighty Tieton is blossoming into a type of artist’s community in the small town of Tieton.  Art Galleries, libraries, The Yakima Valley Museum, Yakama Indian Nation Cultural Center, Fort Simco State Park and other historical sites enrich the cultural life in Yakima County.

Each community in Yakima County offers something unique that contributes to the overall diverse cultural options that we have to offer.

Health Care

A key ingredient in the quality of life enjoyed in Yakima County is the high quality of health care. Recognized for its excellent medical facilities and services, Yakima County is the major medical center for a large area of the state. Modern, state-of-the-art equipment and facilities at the county’s five hospitals provide a full range of treatment including cardiac care and open heart surgery, specialized cancer therapy and dialysis treatment for a seven county area. A higher-than-average percentage of board certified physicians represent virtually every medical specialty.  The Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences broke ground in May of 2007 to build a College of Osteopathic Medicine - the only such college in the Pacific Northwest. 

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Photo Courtesy of Margaret Burton