Omak

About Omak

Omak ( o-MAK) is a city located in the foothills of the Okanogan Highlands in north-central Washington, United States. With a population of 4,860 as of 2020, 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 has around 8,229 inhabitants as of the 2010 census. This makes the largest urban cluster in the Okanogan Country region, encompassing most of its twin city of Okanogan.

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–Wenatchee National Forest and consists of a central business district and residential neighborhoods.

Omak is a code city governed by a seven-member council and located in the state's 4th congressional district. Omak's economy is dominated by the primary sector industries of agriculture and forestry, although economic diversification has occurred with sawmills and recreational tourism. Nearby recreational destinations include walking trails, state parks and national forests, such as Conconully State Park, Bridgeport State Park and Osoyoos Lake State Park. The city is home to a weekly newspaper, the Omak–Okanogan County Chronicle, and a Wenatchee Valley College campus. Standards for education in Omak are higher than the state's average, though drugs and alcohol remain a problem among students. U.S. Route 97 passes through the town, while Washington State Route 155, as well as Washington State Route 215, connects the city to Okanogan and Nespelem, respectively. By road, Omak is located approximately 235 miles (378 km) from Seattle, Washington, 140 miles (230 km) from Spokane, Washington and 125 miles (201 km) from Kelowna, British Columbia.

Text: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Omak weather: 7-day forecast

Source: National Weather Service (NOAA).

Live webcams in Omak

Webcams: Windy.com

Living in Omak

Median household income

$76,544

Median home value

$248,900

Median rent

$1,002/mo

Median age

39.7

Map of Omak

Tap any street on the map to see it in Street View below. Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Omak Street View

Drag the image to look around and tap the arrows on the ground to move. If it says there is no imagery, tap a nearby street on the map above.

Omak, WA population

Omak had 4,860 residents in the 2020 Census.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census.

Omak at a glance

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Gazetteer, ZCTA), USGS GNIS, Wikidata.

Towns near Omak

• North Omak4.2 mi E
• Okanogan4.4 mi SW
• Riverside6.3 mi N
• Malott11.8 mi SW
• Conconully13.8 mi NW
• Disautel14.8 mi E
• Tonasket20.1 mi N
• Brewster24.4 mi SW
• Twisp27.2 mi W
• Loomis28.1 mi N
• Nespelem Community28.5 mi SE
• Bridgeport29.4 mi S

Straight-line distance between town centers.

Frequently asked questions about Omak