Where Are We?
Providence Centralia Hospital

Lewis County, Washington

• Located in southwest Washington…population of about 70,000.
  
  
• Our primary service area also includes parts of other surrounding counties, with a total population of about 100,000.

• Centralia and Chehalis are viewed as "twin cities" and have a combined population of about 23,000.

• Many smaller towns are within 10 miles of Centralia.

Location

• Centralia is 90 minutes from Seattle, Portland, the Pacific Ocean, and the Cascade Mountains range. The state capitol, Olympia, is about 30 minutes to the north.
  
  
• Seattle: internationally known symphony and opera…Major League Baseball…world class art museum…National Football League…nationally recognized university…National Basketball Association…several theater groups…Pike Place Market…excellent downtown shopping…SeaTac Airport.
  
  
• Portland: National Basketball Association…several theater groups…Saturday Market…excellent downtown shopping …Portland International Airport…nationally known downtown book store.
  
  
• Pacific Coast: long stretches of sandy beaches changing to rocky cliffs that overlook the ocean.
  
  
• Cascade Mountains: excellent for backpacking, skiing, hiking, camping, river rafting, and hunting. Mount Rainier (14,400 feet) is located in eastern Lewis County. Mount St. Helens (volcano that erupted in 1980) is located in a neighboring county and is visible from most of Lewis County.
  

Business Climate

• Lewis County was known for a very strong logging employment base and thousands of acres of old growth timber. Since the 1980's, this industry has significantly decreased. However, the timber industry, as well as the wood products industry, still plays a vital role in the economy of the county.
  
  
• Lewis County is a rural county with a diverse economic base located on the Interstate 5 corridor.
  
  
• Both Centralia and Chehalis have aggressive port districts, which have been successful in recruiting employers to move into the county. In addition to the port districts, there are several other organizations created to attract businesses into the area.

Demographics

• The average age in Lewis County is higher than the average age of most counties in the state of Washington.

• The 65+ age group is steadily increasing in the county with several quality retirement facilities and assisted living facilities located in the general area of Providence Centralia Hospital.
  
  
• Lewis County is increasingly becoming a retirement community for many residents of the Puget Sound region.

Schools

• Centralia College: community college with an enrollment of about 3,500 students...excellent programs and services for the older students…many programs are collaborative efforts with four-year colleges and universities.
  
  
• Public Schools: many of the school districts in the county have received statewide recognition for academics and for extracurricular activities such as athletics, music, and journalism.
  • Centralia School District: high school of about 1,000 students in four grades.
  • Chehalis School District: high school of about 900 students in four grades.
  • Many surrounding school districts have high school student enrollments from 120 to 400 students.
    
    
• Private Schools
  • St Joseph's: Catholic sponsored grade school (K-8)
  • Centralia Christian School: non-denominational grade school (K-8)

Lifestyle

• Young families find Lewis County a great place to raise children…good schools, good community youth programs, good library system, large number of churches, etc.
  
  
• We can plan weekend getaways on short notice and do not have the daily challenges of traffic and driving in a metropolitan area.
  
  
• In addition to the "getaways", Lewis County residents can enjoy good golf courses, excellent hunting and fishing opportunities, innumerable places to hike and backpack, excellent mountain biking trails, downhill and cross country skiing areas, and an abundance of places to camp without leaving the county.
  
  
• A strong community spirit is present in our towns. We know our neighbors and take pride in the fact that we are all working together to make this a better place to work and live.
  
  
• When we make the 90-minute drive to Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, the Olympic Rain Forest, or the Columbia River Gorge, we are experiencing some of the most striking examples of natural beauty in the country.

Lewis County Climate

• Average amount of precipitation (47.49 inches) is similar to New York City (46.18 inches) and less than Atlanta (50.20 inches).
  
  
• January is the coolest month
  • Average high of 47 degrees
  • Average low of 35 degrees
    
    
• August is the warmest month
  • Average high of 80 degrees
  • Average low of 54 degrees