Ellensburg is a city in central Washington, serving as the county seat of Kittitas County. It lies in the Kittitas Valley along the Yakima River, just east of the Cascade Range on the Interstate 90 corridor, about 110 miles from Seattle across Snoqualmie Pass. The location gives the city a distinctly different climate and character from the wet, forested west side of the state—drier, sunnier, and set among high-desert foothills and irrigated farmland. The city is best known for two institutions. Central Washington University, a public university, anchors higher education and brings thousands of students into the community, shaping its economy, housing, and culture. And the Ellensburg Rodeo, held every Labor Day weekend since 1923, is one of the nation's premier professional rodeos, run alongside the Kittitas County Fair, whose roots reach back to 1885. Together they make Labor Day weekend Ellensburg's defining event and cement its identity as a genuine Western town. Agriculture is the other pillar of the local economy. The Kittitas Valley is a major producer of timothy hay, much of it processed and shipped internationally, and the surrounding farm country supports cattle, other crops, and a strong agricultural-services sector. This blend of university, rodeo, and farming gives Ellensburg a grounded, distinctive character. Education beyond the university is provided by the Ellensburg School District, serving roughly 4,000 students. Recreation is anchored by the Yakima River Canyon, a 22-mile National Scenic Byway just south of town offering Blue Ribbon trout fishing, rafting, and camping, with the Cascade foothills adding hiking and winter recreation nearby. With a population of roughly 18,700, Ellensburg suits university students and faculty, families, agricultural workers, and outdoor enthusiasts seeking a small, four-season city with genuine cultural traditions and direct I-90 access to both Seattle and the Columbia Basin.