Olympia, Washington State's capitol, lies at Puget Sound's southernmost point. Founded in 1846 by Levi Smith and Edmund Sylvester, Olympia was named for its view of the Olympic Mountains, and then designated as Washington's capitol in 1853; today, local residents take pride in this historic city that is the seat of Washington's government.
Olympia is a wonderful mix of big and little, a sizeable city with approximately 37,000 residents and a small town atmosphere. The neighboring cities of Lacey and Tumwater add a little over 28,000 and 12,000, respectively, to the Greater Olympia population.* (Between 1990 and 1998, the Thurston County population grew at a rate consistently above the rest of the State's.)
Here, old homes sit along tree-lined streets, and waterfront property is tucked away on its numerous saltwater inlets. Olympia's Farmers Market is the state's largest, and its Arts Walk is a wonderful, biannual showcase for visual and performing arts.
The city itself is situated south of the Seattle-Tacoma region and north of Portland along the Interstate 5 corridor, making for a well-poised local economy. Yet its small town feel is amplified by much of the surrounding rural county, and the small, neighboring communities of Lacey and Tumwater. Farmland abounds, with some of Thurston County's 197,000 residents involved in agriculture. But even for those who live within Olympia's city limits, it is rare to have a commute over 15 minutes.
Of course, with the Cascade Mountains and Olympic Peninsula so nearby, outdoor recreation is extremely popular here. You'll find saltwater tidelands and ocean shoreline for sea kayaking and canoeing, fresh water lakes for fishing and boating, towering mountain peaks and rock faces for climbing, and protected forests for hiking and backpacking. The Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument is just one such nearby park, a preserved testimony to the powerful blast that rocked this area back on May 18, 1980.
Within the city there are plenty of parks and activities to enjoy as well. Tolmie State Park and Millersylvania State Park are both popular afternoon destinations, as is waterfront Percival Landing with its 1.5-mile boardwalk. Olympia also features a Shakespeare Festival in August.
All in all, there are many reasons to call Olympia home, including:
· no state income tax
· an abundance of recreation
· great senior services
· a mild climate
· beautiful mountain views
· an ideally-situated city for a growing economy
· little traffic
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Contemporary and California designs, featuring open floor plans, skylights and vaulted ceilings, commonly influence housing styles. These homes also incorporate outdoor living space into their architecture, including decks, sunrooms, atriums and patios.
*source: Thurston Regional Planning Council
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