About the Town of South Cle Elum
History
The Town began growing in 1908 when the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad laid its transcontinental tracks along the south side of the Yakima River instead of on the north bank. The railroad built a depot, roundhouse and rail yard which resulted in train crews and other railroad workers moving in. South Cle Elum remained a key division point for The Milwaukee Road for 66 years.
In 1964, Interstate 90 arrived on the outskirts of town. There was a dedication on October 5th with a ceremony attended by a large crowd, including the mayor and town council.
Douglas A. Munro (1919-1942)
South Cle Elum resident, Douglas A. Munro became one of World War II's heroes when he was in charge of a group of landing craft at Guadelcanal. He volunteered to use his landing craft to rescue wounded and trapped Marines from the beach and was successful in evacuating many of them, however, he was shot while completing the rescue. He was awarded the Medal of Honor - the first and only Coast Guardsman to receive the nation's highest military honor.