Never visited North Central Washington before? Read on for more information on our region. Already familiar with our area? Skip to the interactive map to see which communities we serve.
Intermountain AmeriCorps covers approximately 13,000 square miles of Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan and Grant counties in North Central Washington State. Over half of our members serve in Wenatchee, and the remainder serve in small communities spreading north over 130 miles to the Canadian border. Wenatchee is centrally located in the state; drive 2.5 hours over the mountains to the West to get to Seattle, or 2.5 hours East to visit Spokane. Wenatchee also has its own airport that connects to Sea-Tac Airport in Seattle.
Our area is often described as "high desert" with four distinct seasons. We are nestled in the rain shadow of the Cascade Mountains, making the area much drier than the western part of the state with only about 8 inches of rain and 32 inches of snow annually. Winter is a snowy 15-35 degrees, and summer is a sunny, dry 80-100 degrees.
Most of the communities we serve lie on the Columbia river, the largest river in the Pacific Northwest and dotted with several hydroelectric dams. Our region is bordered to the West by the vast, pine-forested Cascade mountain range and on the East by a high, flat, grassy desert plateau with the occasional curious rock formation.
Outdoor recreation abounds in our area. Snow sports, hiking, mountain biking, and rock climbing are all possibilities in nearby state parks and the Cascade Mountains. The Columbia River provides opportunities for water sports or a stroll by the shore on Wenatchee's 11-mile walk/bike river trail. A drive around the area leads you through small agricultural towns and unique geological features.
Washington Wikipedia Entry
Washington Tourism
Wenatchee World
Omak Chronicle
Click on the map below to view information and explore each community.
View Service Communities in a larger map
Read information on communities below if your browser does not support the map application.
Approximate Population: 42,000
County: Chelan / Douglas
Wenatchee and East Wenatchee are two cities located either side of the Columbia River in two separate counties. However, they are only a 30-second drive over a bridge from each other. This is the largest city in North Central Washington and the location of most of our sites. Members serve in schools and nonprofits in the area.
Wenatchee on Wikipedia
Wenatchee Chamber of Commerce
City of Wenatchee
Wenatchee Valley College
Approximate Population: 2,965
County: Chelan
Cashmere is a small community on the Wenatchee River, known for its Aplets & Cotlets candy factory. One member will serve at the Community Choice Healthcare Network.
Approximate Population: 1,024
County: Chelan
Peshastin is an unincorporated town located on the Wenatchee river amidst fruit orchards and similar small communities.
Approximate Population: 2,074
County: Chelan
Leavenworth is a Bavarian tourist town at the base of the Cascade mountains. Although small in population, it feels much larger with the large number of outside visitors. One member serves with a local non-profit.
Approximate Population: 957
County: Chelan
Entiat is a rural community situated between Chelan and Wenatchee on the confluence of the Entiat River and the Columbia River. The town of Entiat has actually had three town sites in its history. Members have served at the school for the past ten years.
Entiat on Wikipedia
Entiat Chamber of Commerce
Approximate Population: 2,169
County: Okanogan
Brewster is located on the Columbia River and depends on the fruit industry. Warehouses pack several million boxes of fruit annually and are supported by thousands of acres of orchards in the surrounding countryside. Members serve at the elementary school.
Brewster on Wikipedia
City of Brewster
Brewster Chamber of Commerce
Approximate Population: 2,059
County: Douglas
Bridgeport is a rural city located on the Columbia River near the Chief Joseph Dam, the second-largest hydropower producer in the nation. Like its neighbors, its economy depends on the fruit industry. Members serve at the elementary, middle, and high schools.
Approximate Population: 643
County: Okanogan
Pateros is a small community on the confluence of the Methow and Columbia rivers near the Methow Valley. One member will serve at the school.
Approximate Population: 7,205
County: Okanogan
Omak and Okanogan combine to make the largest community north of Wenatchee. Omak is well known for the Omak Stampede and Suicide Race that take place in August of every year. Members will serve at non-profit agencies.
Omak on Wikipedia
Omak Chamber of Commerce
Omak Stampede
Okanogan County
Approximate Population: 1,653
County: Okanogan
Oroville is a city with a gold mining history right on the Canadian border and Lake Osoyoos. Members serve at the elementary school.
Oroville on Wikipedia
Okanogan County
Approximate Population: 897
County: Grant
Grand Coulee stands on the border of five counties with a handful of adjacent towns. A large part of the population is Native American, since the town borders on the huge Colville Reservation. The focal point of the area is the Grand Coulee Dam, the largest concrete structure in the nation. This utilizes the Columbia River, which flows through a "coulee" in this part of the state-- a wide canyon flanked by tall cliffs on either side. One member serves at the area's high school.