Greater Omak

Greater Omak is a metropolitan region consisting of central Okanogan County, Washington, anchored by the cities of Omak and Okanogan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 8,229, representing a population decrease of 2.8 percent over the 2000 census. The surrounding region had 15,690 inhabitants, although it has not officially been designated as a statistical area. It serves as the commercial center for Okanogan County. The mild climate and its close proximity to lakes, rivers, and mountains make Greater Omak an outdoor recreational destination.

Definitions

The United States Census Bureau defines the Omak, WA Urban Cluster, which serves as the core of its metropolitan region, as the only urbanized area in the Okanogan Country, with a population of 8,229 as of the 2010 census, and an area of 4.83 square miles (12.5 km²), of which 4.74 square miles (12.3 km²) or 98.14 percent is land and 0.09 square miles (0.23 km²) or 1.86 percent is water. Approximately 20 percent of the county's residents live within this area. The statistical region covers the principal cities of Omak and Okanogan, along with its immediately surrounding region.

Omak, Washington

Omak (/oʊˈmæk/ o-MAK) is a city located in the foothills of the Okanogan Highlands in north-central Washington, United States. With an estimated 4,848 residents as of 2014, distributed over a land area of 3.43 square miles (8.9 km²), Omak is the largest municipality of Okanogan County and the largest municipality in Central Washington north of Wenatchee. The Greater Omak Area of around 8,229 inhabitants as of the 2010 census is the largest urban cluster in the Okanogan Country region, encompassing most of its twin city of Okanogan. The population has increased significantly since the 1910 census, reporting 520 residents just prior to incorporation in 1911.

The land that is now Omak had been inhabited by various Native American tribes before the arrival of non-indigenous settlers in the early 19th century. The city began to develop after the completion of the Okanogan Irrigation Project affecting the Grand Coulee Dam and other nearby electric facilities. The housing and municipal infrastructure, along with regional infrastructure connecting the new town to other municipalities, were built simultaneously in 1908 supported by the local agricultural industry. The name Omak comes from the Okanagan placename [umák], or the Salishan term Omache—which is said to mean "good medicine" or "plenty", referring to its favorable climate, with an annual high of around 88 °F (31 °C). Omak acts as the gateway to the Okanogan National Forest and consists of a central business district and residential neighborhoods.

Omak (disambiguation)

Omak is a city located in the foothills of the Okanogan Highland in north-central Washington, United States.

Omak may also refer to:

See also