Yakima, Washington

Sports teams, musical theater, symphonies, folk festivals, mountain and water adventure, wineries, and a sunny climate – all this can be yours in Yakima!

With a population of about 71,845, Yakima is the perfect mid-sized city. Its bountiful apple, cherry, and pear orchards make it the richest agricultural region in Washington State. And, in recent years, the wine industry has also flourished. Helped by Yakima's hot, dry summers (the area gets about 300 sunny days a year), local fields produce grapes fine enough to rival those produced in other world-famous wine-making regions. Many of the local wineries offer tours and tastings, which make for a pleasant weekend afternoon in the country. In addition to the wineries, if culture and sophistication are your thing, you'll love the Yakima Folklife Festival. Its concerts, Medieval Festival, and Saturday night international dance bring an alternative flair to Yakima's nightlife. The historic Capitol Theatre, home to the Yakima Symphony Orchestra and a showcase for Broadway musicals, is another prime arts venue. And the Yakima Valley Community Band has been bringing free music to the community since 1919 – it offers concerts throughout the year, including a popular summer concert series in local parks.

Active living is easy when so many beautiful sites surround you. Every September, Yakima residents descend into the Tieton River for the Flip Flop. A whitewater rafting extravaganza, it's held during the brief time the waters of Rimrock Lake flow rapidly, following their release from the dam to irrigate local fields. For a quieter adventure, you can hike along the Yakima Canyon, a deep gorge that follows the rocky Yakima River. Of course, if you prefer to play spectator, Yakima has a thriving sports scene. The Yakima Bears Class A baseball team play at the Yakima Sun Dome, the largest dome of its kind in the world. And the city is also home to the popular basketball team the Yakima Sunkings.

Yakima's cost of living is very affordable, and the local job market is booming. With a solid aircraft manufacturing sector and a successful agricultural industry, the economy of Yakima has a solid foundation.

Who would have thought you could find so much activity and opportunity without paying big-city prices? Yakima really does have it all.

See our 4 Jobs in Yakima, Washington