City Town Info

Tacoma, WA


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Tacoma, Washington

Introduction to Tacoma, Washington

Incorporated in 1874, Tacoma, Washington is the third largest city in Washington state with a population of about 200,000. The metropolitan area is home to over 3.5 million people and includes Seattle, Tacoma, and Olympia.

Tacoma is located in western Washington on Commencement Bay, off the southern tip of Puget Sound. It lies 25 miles northeast of Olympia and 26 miles south of Seattle. The peak of Mount Ranier is roughly 40 miles to the southeast and dominates the skyline.

Nisqually and Puyallup Native American tribes first inhabited the area along the bay. Lumber was the reason European-Americans first settled here. In 1852, the first saw mill was constructed and many more followed. The railroad came to Tacoma in the late 1800's in order to link up with shipping vessels using the deep water bay. That provided the impetus for the city's nickname "City of Destiny". Today Tacoma is the 6th largest shipping port in North America, making the city a major player in the wave of economic globalization.

Tacoma has earned many awards including:

  • 1990 - Fourth Best Place to Live by Money Magazine
  • 1995 - Top Mid-Sized City for Small Businesses by Entrepreneur Magazine
  • 1998 - All-American City by the National Civic League
  • 2004 - Most Livable Region (Tacoma-Pierce County) by Partners for Livable Communities

Precipitation is about 37 inches per year. Snowfalls average only around 8 inches annually. July average daily high and low temperatures are 76.1 and 55.0 degrees Fahrenheit. January average daily high and low temperatures are 46.9 and 35.9 degrees Fahrenheit.

Well known companies with a presence in the area are Boeing, State Farm Insurance, Expedia.com, and REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.). The University of Washington, Tacoma is also located here.

Arts and Leisure

Cultural and other attractions include:

  • The Tacoma Art Museum
  • The International Center for Contemporary Art
  • The Tacoma Philharmonic
  • The Tacoma Symphony Orchestra
  • The Tacoma Concert Band
  • The Tacoma Opera
  • The Tacoma City Ballet
  • The Washington Contemporary Ballet
  • The South Sound Playwrights Festival
  • The Tacoma Little Theatre
  • The Washington State History Museum
  • The Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
  • More than 20 marinas

While top level professional sports are in nearby Seattle, teams in Tacoma include:

  • The Tacoma Rainiers baseball team of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, affiliated with the Seattle Mariners
  • The Tacoma Navigators of the American Basketball Association

Contact Accredited Schools With Online Options

devry
  • Lots of Locations
  • Business/Accounting
  • Computers & IT
  • DeVry University Online

University of Phoenix
  • Online or On Campus
  • Business/MBA
  • Teaching
  • Nursing & Medical Admin

ITT Tech
  • Lots of Locations
  • Technician Programs
  • Criminal Justice
  • ITT Tech Online

Kaplan
  • Attend Online
  • Nursing
  • Education
  • Legal Studies

High Points

Tacoma strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Washington):

CategoryTrophy
Racial Diversity
(vs. State)		Top 6%Tacoma Racial Diversity
Public Transportation Use
(vs. State)		Top 11%Tacoma Public Transportation Use

Comparative Profile of Tacoma, WA

Comparing Tacoma to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Washington (State):

Ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).


The People

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Age of the Population74
Senior Citizens75
Well-Paid Single Men68
Well-Paid Single Women68
Male Share of the Population65
Female Share of the Population66
Children Under 5 Years Old46
Racial Diversity310

Families

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Portion of People Married52
Average Household Size54

Wealth

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
People in Middle Class or Better65
Median Family Income56
People Above Poverty54
College Educated Adults37

Commute & Sprawl

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Working at Home96
Public Transportation Use89
Walking and Biking to Work57
Short Commute Times44

Housing

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
People Living Alone78
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals79
Affordability of Rents65
Seasonal and Vacation Housing43
Housing Recently Built33
Affordability of Property Taxes33

Crime

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Low Violent Crime31
Low Property Crime12

Detailed pages on related topics: Tacoma colleges • Tacoma travel • Tacoma mortgage and property.

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Study Online in Tacoma

Strayer University
  • Online and On Campus
  • Business/Accounting
  • Computers & IT
  • Homeland Security

Walden University
  • 100% Online
  • Business/MBA
  • Education Degrees
  • Human Services & Counseling

Additional Details

Tacoma CareersTacoma Careers
Tacoma career and employment information.
Tacoma CollegesTacoma Colleges
Tacoma colleges and trade schools.
Tacoma Hotels & TravelTacoma Hotels & Travel
Tacoma hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation.
Tacoma MortgageTacoma Mortgage
Tacoma property, mortgage, and real estate.

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Places Similar to Tacoma

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Find places similar to Tacoma

Additional Resources


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Info for Tacoma Government Officials

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