Best Web Design in Yakima, WA (2026)

Web Design for Yakima, Washington

Yakima anchors a sun-drenched, semi-arid valley in south-central Washington that grows roughly three-quarters of all U.S. hops along with apples, cherries, and wine grapes under about 300 days of sunshine a year. A cheeky 1987 billboard branded it 'The Palm Springs of Washington,' a nickname that stuck and made national news. Its name comes from the Yakama Nation, the valley's first known inhabitants, whose reservation lies just to the south.

AppWT works with Yakima, WA businesses from Livonia, Michigan, mostly online and travelling as needed.

About Yakima

Also known as. The Palm Springs of Washington. Hop Capital of the World (a title often applied to the surrounding Yakima Valley).

History. The area's first known inhabitants were the Yakama people, whose name the city carries. The Lewis and Clark Expedition passed through the area in 1805, encountering abundant wildlife and rich soil that later drew homesteaders, whose conflicts with the Yakama helped lead to the Yakima War. When the Northern Pacific Railroad bypassed the original town site in December 1884, more than 100 buildings were moved on rollers and horse teams to the new depot location, creating a town first called North Yakima. North Yakima was incorporated and named the county seat on January 27, 1886; the name was shortened to Yakima in 1918.

Local economy. The 20th-century economy was fueled primarily by agriculture, and farming remains the valley's identity. As of 2011 the Yakima Valley produced about 77% of all hops grown in the United States and contains roughly 75% of total U.S. hop acreage. Major fruit crops include apples, cherries, pears, peaches, and melons, plus wine grapes and vegetables such as peppers, corn, and beans. A robust wine and craft-beer/hop-tourism sector has grown up around the valley's hop yards and vineyards.

Culture and community. The Central Washington State Fair, held over roughly the last two weeks of September at State Fair Park, is the region's premier annual event with rides, agricultural showcases, and a PRCA rodeo. The historic Capitol Theatre in downtown Yakima hosts Broadway tours, concerts, and film screenings. Hop and craft-beer tourism is a cultural draw, with the valley marketing itself as hop country to brewers and beer travelers. The Yakima Valley SunDome hosts concerts, trade shows, and sporting events year-round.

What makes Yakima distinct. The 'Welcome to Yakima, The Palm Springs of Washington' billboard was put up by local landowner Gary Lukehart in 1987 on the simple basis of shared sunshine; the sign generated national curiosity and coverage in outlets such as Sunset Magazine and the New York Times, even though the valley is technically a semi-arid desert. Actor Kyle MacLachlan, star of 'Twin Peaks,' 'Blue Velvet,' and 'Dune,' was born at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital and grew up in Yakima. U.S. Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas grew up in Yakima and famously called the surrounding valley his 'Shangri-la' and 'the treasure house of my boyhood.' The Yakima Bears minor-league baseball team played in the short-season Northwest League from 1990 to 2012 before relocating to Oregon to become the Hillsboro Hops.

Yakima Landmarks and Local Life

• Capitol Theatre - a restored historic performing-arts venue in downtown Yakima
• State Fair Park - home of the Central Washington State Fair and the Yakima Valley SunDome
• Yakima Valley Museum - which interprets the region's agricultural and cultural heritage
• Franklin Park - a longtime community park in the city