Olympia, Washington

About Olympia

The first European visitors to the Olympia region was a two-boat party of English sailors led by Lt. Peter Puget, one of Captain George Vancouver's officer aboard the HMS Discovery in 1792.  The inland sea they explored by 18' and 20' boats would later bear the young lieutenant's name.

More than 50 years later, in 1846, Levi Lathrop Smith and Edmond Sylvester were the first Americans to settle the southern tip of Puget Sound. Sylvester plotted the town and named it Olympia. Today his town square is Sylvester Park, a one-square-block oasis of green, trees and a bandstand in the heart of the city.

In 1852 Olympia was named the county seat of the newly created Thurston County. When Washington was declared a territory a year later, Olympia, with the only newspaper in the area, was named its capital, later continuing as the capital of Washington State from 1889 to modern day.

Olympia and its neighboring cities of Lacey and Tumwater have grown steadily over the years, offering good employment opportunities, an affordable cost of living, and a mild, temperate climate conducive to year 'round enjoyment the countless outdoor activities an area blessed with such uncommon natural beauty has to offer.

The city boasts several parks both on and off Puget Sound such as Priest Point Park, Yauger Park, Percival Landing, and Heritage Park around Capital Lake. Venues such as the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, Capitol Theater, Olympia Little Theatre and Harlequin Productions offer the best of local, national and internationally known arts and entertainment.

The centerpiece of the Washington State Capitol Campus in downtown Olympia is the 28-story tall Legislative Building, the last, great domed capitol in the US when it was built in 1928. Surrounding it are other architecturally significant buildings such as the Temple of Justice and Governor's Mansion, along with landscaped grounds, fountains and monuments to Washingtonians who served their country in wartime.

Also in downtown Olympia is one of the state's largest Farmer's Markets where visitors can shop, eat a meal, and listen to live music from April through December.

Geography

Olympia is located in Thurston County at the southern end of Puget Sound. It is centrally located between the major metropolitan areas of Seattle, Washington to the north and Portland, Oregon to the south. It is also midway between the Cascade Mountain range and it's crown jewel, Mt. Rainier to the east, and the Pacific Ocean beaches of Washington's western coast.

With its central location, Olympia is also a hub for major transportation modes. Interstate 5 and Amtrak's rail lines – two main north/south travel corridors for the western United States, travel through Olympia. To the west, US Highways 101 and 12 offer easy access to the Olympic Peninsula and Pacific Ocean. Commercial and recreational marine facilities border the downtown core, and a regional airport serving general aviation from light planes and helicopters up to corporate jets is next door in Tumwater.

Olympia Real Estate

People searching for housing in Olympia will find new and previously owned homes to suit any budget or taste. West Olympia is newer with easy access to Westfield Shopping Town right in the neighborhood. The largest area of new construction on the westside is Woodbury Crossing just off Highway 101. Quadrant has two new developments under construction – The Ridge at Suncrest and Deschutes River Highlands. The planned community of Briggs Village on the southern edge of town offers a variety of sizes and housing options.

Olympia's east side has more established shops, buildings and neighborhoods. People buying homes in this area will find great pre-owned quality and quiet neighborhoods for families.

The residential area to the south of the Capitol Campus contains some of Olympia's grandest homes and most prime real estate. Historic structures and magnificent mansions with breathtaking views are found just a few blocks from the downtown core.

Mean real estate prices in 2008:

All housing units $285,448
Detached houses $299,578
Townhouses or other attached units $221,113
In 2-unit structures $262,189
In 3- to 4-unit structures $462,554
In 5 or more unit structures $304,273
Mobile homes $46,320

Weather

Olympia enjoys the same temperate climate as its neighbors in western Washington State.

Jan April July Oct
Avg. Temp 38 48 63 50
Precip in inches 8 3.3 0.8 4.3

Population

Olympia population as of July 2008 stands at 45,322 people, a 6.6% increase from the 2000 census count. An average of 2.21 persons occupy the 18,670 households in Olympia. Median age is 36 years, slightly older than the Washington state average of 35.3.

Employment

Washington State Government is the major employer in Olympia, followed by education and healthcare. The diverse economy also offers a wide range of occupations in business, retail, manufacturing, agriculture, timber, civilian military support and a variety of other commercial activities. Management and professionals comprise 42.4% of the occupations, followed by sales and office at 27.3% and service at 15.5%. Private wage and salary workers make up 59.3% of the workforce, followed by government workers at 34.4% and self-employed at 6%. Average commute time for Olympia residents is less than 20 minutes each way.

Income

Median household income in 2000 was $54,136. Median earnings for full-time, year-round workers was $41,267 for males and $31,515 for females. Just under 7% of the families were below the poverty line.

Cost of Living

The Cost of Living Index for Olympia is 111.4 as of December 2009. The average for all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas participating in the Cost of Living Index = 100.

Olympia Schools

The Olympia School District is one of the oldest in the state, founded in 1982 nearly 40 years before statehood. More than 150 years later, the District employs approximately 1,200 teachers, administrators and support personnel to provide public education to more than 9,000 students. 91.6% of Olympia residents over age 25 have earned a high school diploma or higher level of education. Post-secondary education is available at two public colleges: South Puget Sound Community College, a two-year community and technical school, and The Evergreen State College, a nationally ranked environmental and liberal arts college. Saint Martin's University in nearby Lacey is a private, Benedictine institution offering four-year and graduate degrees.