Tumwater, WA

Tumwater, Washington

Introduction to Tumwater, Washington

Tumwater, Washington is 21 miles SW of Lakewood, Washington (center to center) and 49 miles SW of Seattle, Washington. It is in Thurston county. The city is part of the Olympia metro area. The population of Tumwater is 12,698.

Tumwater History

Tumwater is the oldest American settlement in Puget Sound. Its original name was Bush Prairie. It was named after the earliest settler and founder, George Washington Bush, who had been a slave and later became a cattle rancher. The name Tumwater was taken from the Chinook phrase “tumtum chuck” which meant “waterfall.” The area was incorporated in November 1875.

Tumwater and nearby Attractions

• Barnes Lake
• Deschutes River
• Olympic Flight Museum
• The Crosby House
• The Henderson House
• Old Town Center

Things To Do In Tumwater

The picturesque parks of the city are excellent places to relax or spend time with family and friends. They have shelters and picnic areas, basketball and volleyball courts, and fields for playing baseball, softball, and soccer. There are special play areas for small children as well. The city also has a few historic sites and museums that provide insight into the history of the area.

Tumwater Transportation

Olympia Airport is nearby.

Tumwater Higher Education

Evergreen State College, South Puget Sound Community College, and Pierce College offer courses for higher studies.

High Points

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

Category	Trophy
Well-Paid Single Women (vs. State)	Top 11%
College Educated Adults (vs. State)	Top 16%
Well-Paid Single Men (vs. State)	Top 17%

Comparative Profile of Tumwater, WA

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

Ratings range from (lowest) to (highest).

The People

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Well-Paid Single Women
Well-Paid Single Men
Female Share of the Population
Racial Diversity
Senior Citizens
Age of the Population
Children Under 5 Years Old
Male Share of the Population

Families

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Portion of People Married
Average Household Size

Wealth

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
College Educated Adults
Median Family Income
People in Middle Class or Better
People Above Poverty

Commute & Sprawl

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Public Transportation Use
Walking and Biking to Work
Short Commute Times
Working at Home

Housing

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals
Housing Recently Built
People Living Alone
Seasonal and Vacation Housing
Affordability of Property Taxes
Affordability of Rents

Crime

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Low Violent Crime
Low Property Crime

Tumwater Almanac

Tumwater Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

• Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
• Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

Tumwater Population (2000)

(From 2000 Census, as reported by individuals)

Neighborhood and Nearby Area Names

According to the US Postal Service, Tumwater, its neighborhoods, and/or surrounding areas are also referred to as:

Note that not all alternate names are acceptable for use in US Post Office addresses.

Nearby Cities and Towns

Starbucks in Tumwater

Tumwater High Schools (2004)

TUMWATER HIGH SCHOOL
700 ISRAEL ROAD
360-709-7600
Serves 986 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 22.4

VOC SKILLS CENTER NEW MARKET
7299 NEW MARKET STREET
360-570-4500
A Vocational School
Serves 162 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 12.5

THURS CO JUV DEPT/TUMWATER WEST E
2801 32ND AVENUE SW
360-709-3198
Serves 54 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 10.8

Tumwater Colleges

(List of All Washington Colleges)

NEW: Community Comments below!