About Chelan County, WA

Chelan County (, shə-LAN) is a county in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, its population was 79,074. The county seat and largest city is Wenatchee. The county was created out of Okanogan and Kittitas Counties on March 13, 1899. It derives its name from a Chelan Indian word meaning "deep water," likely a reference to 55-mile (89 km)-long Lake Chelan, which reaches a maximum depth of 1,486 feet (453 m). Chelan County is part of the Wenatchee, Washington, Metropolitan Statistical Area.== Geography == According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,994 square miles (7,750 km2), of which 2,921 square miles (7,570 km2) is land and 73 square miles (190 km2) (2.5%) is water. It is the third-largest county in Washington by area.=== Geographic features === Bonanza Peak, highest point in Chelan County Cascade Mountains Chelan Mountains Chelan River Chiwaukum Mountains Columbia River Entiat Mountains Entiat River Lake Chelan Lake Wenatchee Stuart Range The Enchantments Wenatchee Mountains Wenatchee River Columbia River Basalt=== Major highways === U.S. Route 2 U.S. Route 97=== Adjacent counties === Okanogan County - northeast Douglas County - east Kittitas County - south King County - southwest Snohomish County - west Skagit County - northwest=== National protected areas === Lake Chelan National Recreation Area North Cascades National Park (part) Wenatchee National Forest (part) Alpine Lakes Wilderness== Demographics ===== 2000 census === As of the census of 2000, there were 66,616 people, 25,021 households, and 17,364 families living in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile (9/km2).