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((Use mdy dates|date=July 2023))
((More citations needed|date=December 2022))
((Infobox settlement
<!--See Template:Infobox Settlement for additional fields that may be available-->
<!--See the Table at Infobox Settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage-->
<!-- Basic info ------------------>
|name                            = 
|official_name                   = Kelso, Washington
|other_name                      = 
|native_name                     = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
|nickname                        = 
|settlement_type                 = [[City (Washington)|City]]
|motto                           = "City of Friendly People"
<!-- images and maps ------------->
|image_skyline                   = Main Post Office - Kelso Washington.jpg
|image_caption                   = Main Post Office in Kelso in 2009
|image_blank_emblem              = 
|blank_emblem_type               = 
|blank_emblem_size               = 
|image_map                       = Cowlitz_County_Washington_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Kelso_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                         = 250px
|map_caption                     = Location of Kelso, Washington
|image_map1                      = 
|mapsize1                        = 
|map_caption1                    = 
|image_dot_map                   = 
|dot_mapsize                     = 
|dot_map_caption                 = 
|dot_x                           = 
|dot_y                           = 
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|pushpin_label_position          = 
|pushpin_map_caption             = 
|pushpin_mapsize                 = 
<!-- Location -------------------->
|subdivision_type                = Country
|subdivision_name                = United States
|subdivision_type1               = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1               = [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
|subdivision_type2               = [[List of counties in Washington|County]]
|subdivision_name2               = [[Cowlitz County, Washington|Cowlitz]]
|government_footnotes            = 
|government_type                 = [[Council–manager government|Council-manager]]
|leader_title                    = [[City manager]]
|leader_name                     = Andrew O. Hamilton
|leader_title1                   = [[Mayor]] <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager -->
|leader_name1                    = Mike Karnofski<ref>((cite web|title=Kelso City Council|url=https://www.kelso.gov/city-council|publisher=City of Kelso|access-date=March 26, 2022))</ref>
|established_title               = Platted <!-- Settled -->
|established_date                = 1884
<!-- Area ------------------------>
|unit_pref                       = Imperial
|area_footnotes                  = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">((cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_53.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020))</ref>
|area_magnitude                  = 
|area_total_km2                  = 22.89
|area_land_km2                   = 21.07
|area_water_km2                  = 1.82
|area_total_sq_mi                = 8.84
|area_land_sq_mi                 = 8.13
|area_water_sq_mi                = 0.70
|area_water_percent              = 
<!-- Population ------------------>
|population_as_of                = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est                  = 
|pop_est_as_of                   = 
|pop_est_footnotes               = 
|population_footnotes            = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
|population_note                 = 
|population_total                = 12720
|population_metro                = 
|population_density_km2          = 589.32
|population_density_sq_mi        = 1526.37
<!-- General information  -->
|timezone                        = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific (PST)]]
|utc_offset                      = -8
|timezone_DST                    = PDT
|utc_offset_DST                  = -7
|coordinates                     = ((coord|46|8|31|N|122|54|22|W|region:US-WA|display=inline,title))
|elevation_footnotes             = <!--for references: use <ref> tags-->
|elevation_m                     = 23
|elevation_ft                    = 75
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -->
|postal_code_type                = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code                     = 98626
|area_code                       = 360
|blank_name                      = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info                      = 53-35065
|blank1_name                     = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info                     = 1512343<ref name="GR3">((cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=October 25, 2007))</ref>
|website                         = ((URL|http://www.kelso.gov/|kelso.gov))
|footnotes                       = 
))

'''Kelso''' is a city in the southwestern part of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Washington (state)|Washington]] and is the county seat of [[Cowlitz County, Washington|Cowlitz County]].<ref name="GR6">((cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011))</ref>  At the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 12,720.<ref name="2020 Census (City)">((cite web|title=2020 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US5335065 |work=American FactFinder |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=March 16, 2022))</ref>  Kelso is part of the [[Longview, Washington]] [[Metropolitan statistical area]], which has a population of 110,730.  Kelso shares its long western border with Longview.  It is near [[Mount St. Helens]].

==History==
The earliest known inhabitants of Kelso were [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] from the [[Cowlitz people|Cowlitz tribe]]. The Cowlitz people were separated into the Upper (or Taidnapam) and Lower (or Mountain) Cowlitz tribes, who were members of the [[Sahaptin]] and [[Salishan languages|Salish]] language families, respectively.  In 1855, European explorers noted that there numbered over 6,000 individuals of the Cowlitz Tribe.

Kelso was founded by [[Peter Crawford (land surveyor)|Peter W. Crawford]], a Scottish surveyor, who, in 1847, took up the first donation land claim on the Lower [[Cowlitz River]].  Crawford platted a townsite which he named after his home town of [[Kelso, Scottish Borders|Kelso]], [[Scotland]]. The original plat was dated and filed in October 1884.<ref>((cite journal |last= Meany |first= Edmond S. |author-link= Edmond S. Meany |year= 1920 |title= Origin of Washington Geographic Names |journal= The Washington Historical Quarterly |volume= XI |page= 44 |publisher= Washington University State Historical Society |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=dbsUAAAAYAAJ |access-date=June 11, 2009))</ref>  It became incorporated in 1889.

In its early days, Kelso obtained the nickname "Little Chicago" as it became famous for its large number of [[tavern]]s and [[brothel]]s that catered to local [[loggers]]. On weekends, trainloads of loggers would come into town from the surrounding region looking for women, liquor, gambling and fights. The [[FBI]] finally forced the mayor to shut them down in the 1950s, with the last tavern/brothel closing in the mid-1960s.<ref>((cite news | url=http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/05/24/top_story/doc4a177571a2f4a525663283.txt| title=Four Things That Helped Define Kelso | newspaper=The Daily News | author=Amy Fischer | date=May 24, 2009|access-date=November 2, 2009))</ref>  The economy continues to be based largely on wood products.

In the late 19th century and into the first part of the 20th century, Kelso was the center for commercial [[Eulachon|smelt]] fishing on the Cowlitz River.  In 1910, according to the Oregonian Newspaper, 5,000 tons of fish were caught.<ref>((cite news | title=Smelt Fishing on the Cowlitz: How an Army of Men Catch the Biggest Run Known in the Last Twenty Years | publisher=The Sunday Oregonian | author=R.G. Callvert | date=February 27, 1910 ))</ref>  The Kelso Chamber of Commerce created the slogan in 1956 and became known as the Smelt Capital of the World.<ref>[http://www.co.cowlitz.wa.us/tourism/brochure/Read%202003/2003%20Kelso%20SPREAD.pdf Co.cowlitz.wa.us] ((webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719115726/http://www.co.cowlitz.wa.us/tourism/brochure/Read%202003/2003%20Kelso%20SPREAD.pdf |date=July 19, 2011 ))</ref><ref>[http://www.cbr.washington.edu/shadfoundation/smelt/smelt11-20.pdf CBR.washington.edu] ((webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100215071733/http://www.cbr.washington.edu/shadfoundation/smelt/smelt11-20.pdf |date=February 15, 2010 ))</ref>  The Cowlitz River has historically had heavy runs of smelt and were shipped to markets around the country. Smelt numbers have declined significantly in the past several decades possibly due to [[overharvesting]], global [[climate change]] and [[habitat loss]].<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.cbbulletin.com/Free/265113.aspx|title=NOAA Accepts Petition For Listing Columbia River Basin Smelt|publisher=The Columbia Basin Fish & Wildlife News Bulletin|date=March 14, 2008|access-date=September 11, 2009|archive-date=July 8, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708124550/http://www.cbbulletin.com/Free/265113.aspx|url-status=dead))</ref>

Pieces of the mysterious 1947 [[Maury Island incident]] took place in Kelso.  A military aircraft carrying suspicious [[slag]]-like material, supposedly from a [[UFO]], crashed in southeast Kelso.

On May 18, 1980, being only ((convert|24|mi|km)) away, Kelso residents experienced the shock wave caused by the eruption of [[Mount St. Helens]]. Called the largest volcanic eruption in historic times in the contiguous United States,<ref>((cite news |url=http://encarta.msn.com/sidebar_761593956/The_Eruption_of_Washington_State's_Mount_St_Helens.html |title=The Eruption of Washington State's Mount St. Helens |newspaper=The Los Angeles Times |author=Gaylord Shaw |date=May 19, 1980 |access-date=September 12, 2009 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5kwsDei7C?url=http://encarta.msn.com/sidebar_761593956/The_Eruption_of_Washington_State%5C%27s_Mount_St_Helens.html |archive-date=November 1, 2009 |url-status=dead))</ref> Kelso received large amounts of [[volcanic ash]] through the air and from the massive mudflow caused by the eruption transported by the [[Toutle River|Toutle]] and Cowlitz Rivers.  Many areas of the city, including the Three Rivers Golf Course are built on volcanic ash<ref>((cite web | url=http://www.elks.org/Lodges/LodgeFacilities.cfm?LodgeNumber=1482| title=Kelso/Longview, WA #1482 | publisher=Elks| access-date=September 12, 2009))</ref> dredged from the Cowlitz River by inmates in state custody and volunteers.

In March 1998, the [[Aldercrest-Banyon landslide]] began shifting the foundations of 64 homes and local infrastructure in the east Kelso neighborhood of Aldercrest.  Eventually, 129 houses were destroyed by this slow-moving landslide. Investigation showed that these houses had been built on top of an ancient active [[landslide]] area, and three straight years of higher-than-average rains set the earth into motion.<ref>((cite web|url=http://web.mst.edu/~rogersda/professional_experience/aldercrest-banyon_ls.htm|title=Aldercrest-Banyon Landslide Kelso, WA - J. David Rogers|website=web.mst.edu))</ref>
In October 1998, President [[Bill Clinton]] declared this slide a federal disaster.  It was the second worst landslide disaster (in cost) in the United States, following the 1956 [[Portuguese Bend|Portuguese Bend Landslide]] on [[Palos Verdes Hills]] in Southern California.<ref>((cite web | url=http://slidingthought.wordpress.com/2009/07/29/landslide-of-the-week-aldercrest-banyon-landslide/| title=Landslide of the Week – Aldercrest Banyon Landslide  | publisher=Washington's Landslide Blog| date=July 27, 2009| access-date=September 12, 2009))</ref> This disaster at Aldercrest led to stricter city [[zoning]] ordinances and oversight over geological surveys.

===National Register of Historic Places===
* Adam Catlin House
* Nat Smith House
* US Post Office - Kelso Main<ref>((cite web|url=http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreghome.do|title=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=July 3, 2011|archive-date=May 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150506234758/http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreghome.do|url-status=dead))</ref>

==Geography==

Kelso is situated on the east side of the [[Cowlitz River]] near the [[Columbia River]], opposite from its twin city of [[Longview, Washington|Longview]] on the west bank. It is located on [[Interstate 5 in Washington|Interstate 5]] approximately ((convert|48|mi|km)) north of [[Portland, Oregon]], and ((convert|125|mi|km)) south of [[Seattle]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of ((convert|8.50|sqmi|sqkm|2)), of which ((convert|8.14|sqmi|sqkm|2)) is land and ((convert|0.36|sqmi|sqkm|2)) is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">((cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=December 19, 2012|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=July 2, 2012))</ref>

The Columbia, Cowlitz, and [[Coweeman River|Coweeman]] rivers were used as part of a historical transportation route from Portland, Oregon, to the [[Puget Sound]].<ref>((cite web | url=http://www.sos.wa.gov/History/cities_detail.aspx?i=40| title=A History of Cowlitz County| publisher=Washington Secretary of State | access-date=February 6, 2010))</ref> [[Steamboats of the Cowlitz River|Cowlitz steamboats]] were used as a mode of transportation until 1918.

===Climate===
((Weather box 
|location = [[Southwest Washington Regional Airport]]
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 61
|Feb record high F = 70
|Mar record high F = 77
|Apr record high F = 86
|May record high F = 99
|Jun record high F = 110
|Jul record high F = 106
|Aug record high F = 99
|Sep record high F = 94
|Oct record high F = 86
|Nov record high F = 69
|Dec record high F = 63
|year record high F= 
|Jan high F = 41.2
|Feb high F = 48.1
|Mar high F = 51.6
|Apr high F = 61.5
|May high F = 66.3
|Jun high F = 70.6
|Jul high F = 76.3
|Aug high F = 76.5
|Sep high F = 74.9
|Oct high F = 61.9
|Nov high F = 52.5
|Dec high F = 46.5
|Jan low F = 28.9
|Feb low F = 33.2
|Mar low F = 34.9
|Apr low F = 36.8
|May low F = 42.1
|Jun low F = 47.2
|Jul low F = 50.0
|Aug low F = 50.6
|Sep low F = 46.0
|Oct low F = 40.3
|Nov low F = 36.7
|Dec low F = 35.4
|Jan record low F = -1
|Feb record low F = 2
|Mar record low F = 18
|Apr record low F = 27
|May record low F = 30
|Jun record low F = 35
|Jul record low F = 39
|Aug record low F = 37
|Sep record low F = 32
|Oct record low F = 21
|Nov record low F = 13
|Dec record low F = 16
|year record low F= 
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 6.27
|Feb precipitation inch = 5.47
|Mar precipitation inch = 5.82
|Apr precipitation inch = 2.48
|May precipitation inch = 2.16
|Jun precipitation inch = 1.83
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.50
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.85
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.04
|Oct precipitation inch = 4.28
|Nov precipitation inch = 5.59
|Dec precipitation inch = 6.57
|year precipitation inch= 42.87
|Jan snow inch = 10.8
|Feb snow inch = 3.7
|Mar snow inch = 3.4
|Apr snow inch = 0.0
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 0.0
|Dec snow inch = 0.6
|year snow inch= 18.6
|source 1 =Western Regional Climate Center<ref>((cite web
|url=http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?wa4135 |title=KELSO SOUTHWEST RGNL AP, WASHINGTON (454135) |access-date=July 6, 2016 |publisher=Western Regional Climate Center |date=July 2016))</ref>
|date=July 2016
))

===Neighborhoods===
* Aldercrest
* Butler Acres
* Davis Terrace
* East Kelso
* Hilltop
* Lexington
* Mt. Brynion
* North Kelso
* Old Kelso Hill
* South Kelso
* West Kelso
* Rose Valley
* Mt Pleasant

==Government==

Kelso operates under a city charter and is classified as a [[Local government in Washington (state)|code city]] with a [[council–manager government|council—manager]] form of government. The city council has seven members elected by residents, from which a [[mayor]] is chosen by its members every two years. Council positions are filled on an at-large basis and are held for four years, with council elections being held to fill either three or four positions in odd-numbered years.<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.kelso.gov/departments-services/city-council/city-council-members|title=City Council Members|year=2020|publisher=City of Kelso|access-date=January 23, 2020))</ref> The council also selects a [[city manager]]; former Kelso police chief Andrew Hamilton was hired as city manager in 2019 after the departure of Steve Taylor.<ref>((cite news |date=August 9, 2019 |title=Kelso Council taps former chief Andy Hamilton for city manager|url=https://tdn.com/news/local/kelso-council-taps-former-chief-andy-hamilton-for-city-manager/article_9eca1a82-5934-5d9a-a3fd-cc60675b37e1.html |work=The Daily News |accessdate=December 11, 2022))</ref>

==Economy==

With access to the Columbia River, Interstate 5, and several railways, Kelso supports a manufacturing base. The largest employer is the Kelso School District,<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.kelso.wednet.edu/|title=Kelso School District > Home|website=www.kelso.wednet.edu))</ref> followed by [[Foster Farms (poultry company)|Foster Farms]] and [[Safeway Inc|Safeway]].<ref>((cite web| url=http://www.kelsolongviewchamber.org/economic_development.html| title=Economic Development| publisher=Kelso - Longview Chamber of Commerce| year=2008| access-date=February 23, 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100314062712/http://www.kelsolongviewchamber.org/economic_development.html| archive-date=March 14, 2010| url-status=dead))</ref>  Other large employers are [[Target Corporation|Target]], ALS Environmental laboratory, Western Fabrication, PAPE Machinery, and DSU Peterbilt.

==Demographics==
((US Census population
|1890= 354
|1900= 694
|1910= 2039
|1920= 2228
|1930= 6260
|1940= 6749
|1950= 7345
|1960= 8379
|1970= 10296
|1980= 11129
|1990= 11820
|2000= 11895
|2010= 11925
|2020= 12720
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 19, 2013))</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
))

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">((cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=December 19, 2012))</ref> of 2010, there were 11,925 people, 4,720 households, and 2,949 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was ((convert|1465.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1)). There were 5,139 housing units at an average density of ((convert|631.3|/sqmi|/km2|1)). The racial makeup of the city was 85.2% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.8% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 2.1% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.6% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 5.1% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 5.1% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 11.3% of the population.

There were 4,720 households, of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.5% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.05.

The median age in the city was 34.6 years. 26.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.7% were from 25 to 44; 24.8% were from 45 to 64; and 11.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.8% male and 51.2% female.

===2000 census===
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,895 people, 4,616 households, and 2,991 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,471.6 people per square mile (568.4/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 5,067 housing units at an average density of 626.9 per square mile (242.1/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the city was 90.14% White, 0.82% African American, 2.05% Native American, 0.94% Asian, 0.21% Pacific Islander, 3.12% from other races, and 2.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.93% of the population. 18.1% were of German, 9.3% Irish, 9.0% English, 7.7% American and 6.4% Norwegian ancestry.

There were 4,616 households, out of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.0% were married couples living together, 15.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 28.3% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,722, and the median income for a family was $36,784. Males had a median income of $36,271 versus $23,750 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $15,162. About 16.4% of families and 19.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 25.1% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==

The [[Kelso School District]] manages public schools in the city and surrounding areas and has an enrollment of 4,715 students. It has three high schools, including [[Kelso High School (Washington)|Kelso High School]], two [[middle school]]s, and seven [[elementary school]]s.<ref>((cite web |title=District Directory Information: Kelso School District |url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_detail.asp?Search=2&ID2=5300003&DistrictID=5300003 |publisher=[[National Center for Education Statistics]] |accessdate=December 11, 2022))</ref>

==Transportation==

===Road===
[[Interstate 5 in Washington|Interstate 5]], the main north–south highway on the [[West Coast of the United States]], runs through Kelso. Two highways, [[Washington State Route 4|State Route 4]] and [[Washington State Route 432|State Route 432]], connect Kelso to Longview via crossings of the Cowlitz River.

===Rail===
[[Amtrak]], the national passenger rail system, provides service to the twin cities of Kelso-Longview.  The Amtrak station is located in the [[Kelso Multimodal Transportation Center]] along the Cowlitz River.

===Bus===
The cities of Kelso and Longview are served by [[RiverCities Transit (Washington)|RiverCities Transit]].

Kelso is also served by [[Greyhound Bus Lines]], which provides intercity bus service at the Kelso Multimodal Transportation Center.

===Air===
Kelso is served by [[Southwest Washington Regional Airport]], formerly known as Kelso-Longview Regional Airport.

==Sports and recreation==
Kelso and Longview are the home of the [[Cowlitz Black Bears]] baseball team.  The Black Bears play in the [[West Coast League]], an independent summer baseball league with teams from Washington, [[Oregon]], and [[British Columbia]].  The team plays at David Story Field on the [[Lower Columbia College]] campus.

Within the city limits, there are eight city parks totaling ((convert|50|acre|m2)) and ((convert|6|mi|km|0)) of bicycle and multi-use paths.  The largest park is Tam o'Shanter Park, a multi-use park comprising ((convert|38|acre|m2)) along the Coweeman River.  The facilities include multipurpose fields for [[soccer]], three girls [[fastpitch softball]] fields, one [[Babe Ruth League|Babe Ruth]] field, five Cal Ripken baseball fields, and three [[basketball]] courts.  The park hosts the annual Kelso Hilander Festival which includes Scottish [[Highland games]]. The park is named after a Scottish bonnet, the [[Tam o' shanter (cap)|Tam o' shanter]].

==Media==
Kelso has four FM ([[KUKN]], [[K268BN]], [[KLOG]] and [[KTJC]]) and one AM ([[KLOG]]) radio stations licensed in the city.

Kelso is provided with cable television from nearby Longview.

Kelso's primary newspaper is ''[[The Daily News (Longview)|The Daily News]]'', which won a 1981 [[Pulitzer Prize]] for its coverage of the St. Helens eruption.

==Sister cities==
Kelso has the two [[Town twinning|sister cities]]:<ref>((Cite book|title=Sister Cities, Counties, States and Ports |url=http://www.ltgov.wa.gov/International/Washington%20Organizations/Sisters/ |publisher=Washington Lieutenant Governor's Office |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105144331/http://www.ltgov.wa.gov/International/Washington%20Organizations/Sisters/ |archive-date=November 5, 2012 ))</ref><ref>((Cite book|title=List of Sister Cities |url=http://www.sister-cities.org/icrc/directory/usa/WA |publisher=Sister Cities International |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100306151900/http://www.sister-cities.org/icrc/directory/usa/WA |archive-date=March 6, 2010 ))</ref>
*((flagicon|United Kingdom)) [[Kelso, Scottish Borders|Kelso]], [[Scottish Borders]], [[Scotland]], [[United Kingdom]]
*((flagicon|Japan)) [[Makinohara, Shizuoka|Makinohara]], [[Japan]]

==Notable people==

* [[Jeff Bailey]], former baseball player
* [[Calvin S. Barlow]], former politician
* [[Dolores Erickson]], fashion model
* [[Jim Deming]], former football coach
* [[Colin Kelly (American football)|Colin Kelly]], football player
* [[Mary Klicka]], dietician
* [[Sharry Konopski]], model and actress
* [[Trevor May]], former baseball player
* [[Tommy Lloyd]], basketball coach
* [[Ed Negre]], racecar driver
* [[Brian O'Connor (bassist)|Brian O'Connor]], musician
* [[Forrest Phelps]], former politician
* [[Elmer Ramsey]], orchestra conductor
* [[David Richie]], former football player
* [[Buddy Ross]], record producer
* [[Jason Schmidt]], former baseball player
* [[Sid Snyder]], state legislator
* [[Martin Stickles]], serial killer
* [[Connor Trinneer]], actor

==See also==
*[[Impact of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic on the meat industry in the United States]]

==References==
((Reflist|30em))

==External links==
((Commons category))
*[http://www.kelso.gov City of Kelso]
*[http://www.co.cowlitz.wa.us/museum/ Cowlitz County Historical Museum]

((Cowlitz County, Washington))
((Washington))
((Washington (state) county seats))

((Authority control))

[[Category:Cities in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Cities in Cowlitz County, Washington]]
[[Category:County seats in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1884]]
[[Category:Washington (state) populated places on the Columbia River]]
[[Category:1884 establishments in Washington Territory]]

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