Kelso Washington Map

About Kelso, Washington

Kelso is a locality in Cowlitz County, Washington, United States. It has a population of 12,684. The population density is 602.6 people per km². Kelso is located at 46.1468°N, 122.9084°W. It observes the Pacific Time (America/Los_Angeles) timezone. ZIP code: 98626.

Kelso rests where the Cowlitz River, a broad, slow-moving artery, meets the larger Columbia, its waters carrying the scent of distant Pacific mists. It lies 1.5 miles east-north-east of Longview, WA (from Longview, WA: bearing 67°T), and is situated 2.8 miles south of Lexington. The land here is a study in gentle slopes and broad floodplains, the terrain softened by centuries of alluvial deposits. Evergreen forests, a deep, somber green, climb the hillsides, their edges blurring into the haze that often hangs in the valley, especially as the sun begins its descent, painting the western sky in muted golds and soft lavenders. The air, when it’s not carrying the damp breath of the rivers, holds the clean, sharp tang of pine. This is a place shaped by the bounty of the rivers and the rich soil they have deposited, a history woven with logging and agriculture. Kelso’s roots run deep into the timber industry, its past echoing with the rumble of sawmills and the scent of freshly cut wood. Today, while logging remains a significant part of its economic fabric, the region also thrives on a diverse array of businesses, from manufacturing to retail, serving a steady, unhurried population. The Cowlitz River itself is a constant, a liquid lifeline that has guided the settlement and growth of Kelso, offering both passage and sustenance, a quiet witness to the passage of time.

About This Kelso Map Page

This page provides an interactive Google map of Kelso, Washington with street, satellite and terrain views and integrated Street View imagery. Live weather conditions are sourced directly from the National Weather Service, with current observations and a 7-day forecast also powered by Open-Meteo. Real-time local news and world news feeds keep the page current, while a Wikipedia summary or an editorially written description provides background on Kelso and Cowlitz County.

Detailed location data for Kelso includes the ZIP code (98626), telephone area code (360), county seat of Cowlitz County (Kelso), and school district assignment (Kelso School District). These are among the most commonly searched location details for any US city or town.

Location data is drawn from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) and cross-verified against 2020 US Census records by coordinate proximity — ensuring the correct Kelso is identified even where the name is shared across multiple counties or states. Population figures are sourced from the 2020 US Census.