Tenino, Washington

About Tenino

The city of Tenino is a small, rural community located on the old (pre-freeway) highway between Olympia and Centralia. Much of its history and even its current name has been guided by its convenient location on the way from one place to another.

Its first settler was Stephen Hodgden in 1851. He had originally come west from Maine for the 1849 California gold rush. Failing to strike it rich, he headed north and staked a donation land claim on the banks of Scatter Creek. The location was at the junction where the northern Oregon Trail from the Columbia River split with the Hudson's Bay Company's trail to Yelm and Fort Nisqually to the northwest.

Originally called "Hodgden's Station," it became a stage coach stop between Olympia and points further south. In 1872 the railroad pushing north from Oregon reached the settlement, which grew into the town of Tenino. While many legends exist over the name's origin, most evidence suggests Tenino came from a local Indian word meaning, "branch in the trail" or "meeting place."

Tenino grew as the place where two trains a day from Olympia met trains on the mainline heading north to Seattle or south to Portland. In 1888 Tenino's most famous industry started with the opening of several sandstone quarries. The original capitol building across from Sylvester Park in Olympia is a magnificent example of Tenino sandstone construction. The town enjoyed boom times for more than 30 years until concrete replaced sandstone as a major building material. Logging and agriculture has continued to support the town ever since.

Today Tenino is primarily a bedroom community for Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater, and commercial center for rural residents of central and southern Thurston County. Its rural character and abundance of wide-open, affordable land offers those searching for homes the chance buy more home and land, yet still be an easy commute from work.

Tenino offers an affordable cost of living, and a mild, temperate climate conducive to year 'round enjoyment of the countless outdoor activities an area blessed with such uncommon natural beauty has to offer.

Tenino is proud of its slower-pace and old fashioned, small town way of life. With a compact downtown, the schools, grocery store, drug store, post office, police station, city hall, fire department and telephone company are all within walking distance of each other.

Geography

Tenino is located in rural Thurston County about 15 miles south of Olympia and Tumwater and similar distance north of Lewis County's largest city, Centralia. 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, Tenino is close to major transportation modes. Interstate 5 is a short drive away. Amtrak's main north/south rail line for the western United States passes through Tenino. Passenger stations are close by in Centralia and Lacey. To the west, US Highways 101 and 12 offer easy access to the Olympic Peninsula and Pacific Ocean. A regional airport serving general aviation from light planes and helicopters up to corporate jets is nearby in Tumwater.

Tenino Real Estate

People searching for housing in Tenino will find few new construction options. However, most homes in the city limits are older craftsman style, built from the late 1880s to the mid-1900s.

Mean real estate prices in 2008:

All housing units $177,455
Detached houses $199,605
Townhouses or other attached units $112,211
Mobile homes $46,000

Weather

Located a short distance inland, Tenino enjoys a slightly warmer climate than its more coastal neighbors in western Washington State.

Jan April July Oct
Avg. Temp 39 49 63 50
Precip in inches 7.5 3 0.8 4.5

Population

Tenino population as of July 2008 stands at 1,590 people, a  9.9% increase from the 2000 census count. An average of 2.53 persons occupy the 647 households in Tenino. Median age is 34.2 years, slightly younger than the Washington state average of 35.3.

Employment

Many Tenino residents work for Washington State government and healthcare and educational employers in Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater. Civilian employees and active duty Army and Air Force personnel live in Tenino and commute to Lewis/McChord.

Average commute time for Tenino residents is 30+ minutes each way.

Income

Median household income in 2008 was $45,941, up from $34,526 in 2000. 9.1% of the residents are below the poverty line.

Cost of Living

The Cost of Living Index for Tenino is 102 as of December 2009. The average for all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas participating in the Cost of Living Index = 100.

Tenino Schools

Public education in Tenino is provided by the Tenino School District. Approximately 1,400 students from the city and surrounding Thurston County are served by 2 elementary schools, 1 middle school and 1 high school.

81.2% of Tenino residents over age 25 have earned a high school diploma or higher level of education. Post-secondary education is available at two public colleges in Olympia: 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 Lacey is a private, Benedictine institution offering four-year and graduate degrees. In addition, Centralia Community College offers courses from its campus in downtown Centralia.