Our Community
Olympia, Washington is the State Capital and the seat of Thurston County. Incorporated in 1859, this charming city is the cultural hub for the communities in the Olympic Peninsula and the surrounding Puget Sound region. Olympia was home to 42,514 at the time of the 2000 Census.
Olympia takes great pride in the numerous titles and awards bestowed upon this outstanding Capital community each year. While Time Magazine once referred to Olympia as the “Hippest Town in the West”, Forbes Magazine ranked it #10 on its Best Places for Business and Careers list. Olympia listed as #16 on Sperling's list for Best U.S. Cities, and the Men's Journal places the community at #10 on its list of the Top 50 Best Places to Live. Kiplinger's named Olympia #27 on its list of the 50 Smart Places to Live and this fair city also holds a place on the Healthy City and Best Green Cities lists.
The thriving economic base in Olympia remains stable, in part, due to the heavy concentration of secure government positions located throughout the Puget Sound area, as well as numerous options for higher education. Evergreen State College, Northwest Indian College, St Martin's University, South Puget Sound Community College, and Washington State University are among the outstanding facilities for higher learning in the Olympia area.
Community events, such as the Capital Lakefair Festival and the Olympian Wooden Boat Fair, bring visitors and residents together throughout the year for celebration. Olympia offers twenty-seven parks with 240 acres of wide open spaces that lure people outdoors for bike riding, picnics, and scenic walks. Local trails lead to miles of pristine beaches where ceremonial feasts called “potlatches” once brought the region’s Native Americans together. Nature enthusiasts also enjoy watching the salmon run the ladder below the 5th Avenue Bridge on their return trip to Budd Inlet each year. Those seeking time on the water flock to Olympia’s northern border of Puget Sound for a wealth of outdoor recreation options.
A short trip down Interstate 5 reveals the Olympic Peninsula, which is the site of the nation’s only rainforests. This route also affords scenic views of the Olympic Mountains, whose Pacific facing slopes are the wettest in the United States. Further away from the coast, visitors have access to the majestic Cascade Mountains, whose towering volcanic glacier peaks, lure climbers and hikers during the milder months. Olympia's thriving entertainment community offers art, dance, and music at music in the park concerts and theatrical performances such as the Procession of the Species.
Original maples and firs line the city streets of Olympia, Washington, within a short distance of some of the Pacific Coast's most lush and rugged natural areas. Panoramic vistas, excellent schools, a healthy economy, and a rich cultural scene create the perfect blend for Olympia - an award-winning city.
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