Olympia, Washington

About Olympia

Lt. Peter Puget, officer aboard the HMS Discovery captained by Capt. George Vancouver, led the expedition to explore the body of water which would later bear his name.  The 1792 expedition explored the Puget Sound in two boats – one 18' and the other 20'.

In 1846, Americans Levi Lathrop Smith and Edmond Sylvester settled in the South Puget Sound region.  Olympia was plotted and named by Sylvester, who currently has a mid-downtown park a block large named after him.  The park has a bandstand, soft grass, and old trees.

Olympia was named the county seat of Thurston County in 1852.  The following year, Washington was declared a territory, and Olympia named its capital, due to it having the territory's sole newspaper.  It has been the capital of Washington State since 1889.

The Olympia Region includes the neighboring cities of Lacey and Tumwater.  The large tri-city area offers ample opportunity for employment and an affordable cost of living.  The climate is temperate, and allows for year round outdoor recreation.  The region is close to Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Rainier, the Cascades, and the Olympic Mountain Range.  There are a number of marinas with access to salt water.


There are a number of parks around the area, including some on the Puget Sound such as Priest Point Park and Burfoot Park.  Yauger Park includes a skate park and disk golf course, as well as athletic fields and a playground. 
The Washington Center for the Performing Arts is also located in Olympia, as well as other venues like Capitol Theater, Olympia Little Theatre, and Harlequin Productions.  Artists of all size and reputations perform in Olympia. 

The 28-story tall Legislative Building is visible from downtown Olympia.  It is built in 1928 in a neo-classical style and was the last of the great domed state capitals built. It sits on Capital Campus, along with other significant buildings such as the Temple of Justice and Governor's Mansion.  The campus is adorned as well with fountains and monuments to Washington Veterans.

From April through December, be sure to visit the Olympia Farmer's Market, one of the state's largest, where local produce and goods are sold amidst the delicious aromas of food vendors and the sounds of live music.

Geography

Olympia sits at the southern tip of Puget Sound and is the County Seat of Thurston County.  It is half way between Seattle, Washington to the north and Portland, Oregon to the South.  The Cascade Mountains, including 14,000 foot Mt. Rainier, lie to the east while the Pacific Ocean is a short drive to the west.  Olympic National Park, home to Mt. Olympus on the Olympic Peninsula is to the north.

Interstate 5 and Amtrak both run north and south through Olympia and span the West Coast.  Highways 101 and 12 offer easy access to the Olympic Peninsula and Pacific Coast Beaches.  There are a number of marinas available for both commercial and recreational use, and Tumwater, just south of Olympia, is home to a regional airport.

Olympia Real Estate

There are housing options in Olympia suitable to any budget or test.  The Westside is newer, and offers close access to Capital Mall and many big name retailers.  New construction includes Woodbury Crossing, off Highway 101, and two Quadrant developments: The Ridge at Suncrest and Deschutes River Highlands.  On the southern end of the west side of town is the planned community of Briggs Villiage, which offers various housing options.

The Eastside offers older, more established neighborhoods and the downtown area.  This area is characterized by smaller shops and quiet neighborhoods.

Beyond Capitol Campus to the south are Olympia's historic neighborhoods.  Here you can find old Victorians and mansions with stellar views.  The South Capitol Neighborhood, a historic district, is within walking distance of downtown. 

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

The weather in Olympia is characterized as a temperate climate.  It rarely experiences extreme temperatures.  Winters are rainy, with occasional snow, and summers are warm and dry.  The rainy months make Olympia an easy place to garden, and spring is vibrantly colorful.

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

Employment

The three major employment sectors in Olympia, are, in order, Washington State Government, education, and healthcare.  However, the economy in Olympia is diverse, and a wide range of options such as business, retail, manufacturing, agriculture, timber, trades, civilian military support and other commercial options are available.  Management and professionals make up 42.2% of the occupations, sales and office comprise 27.3%, and service occupations follow at 15.5%.  59.3% of the workforce are private wage and salary workers, 34.4% are government workers, and 6% are self-employed.  Olympia residents commute on average 20 minutes each way.

Income

In 2000, the median household income was $54,136.  For full-time, year-round workers, median earnings were $41,267 for males and $31,515 for females.  Less than 7% of families were below the poverty line.

Cost of Living

As of December 2009, the Cost of Living Index for Olympia is 111.4.  The average of all participating regions in the U.S. = 100.

Olympia Schools

The Olympia school district was founded in 1842, almost 40 years prior to Washington's statehood.  Currently, it maintains 20 campuses and employs approximately 1,200 faculty, administrators, and other personnel, and serves over 9,000 students.  Of Olympia residents over the age of 25, 91.6% have obtained at least a high school diploma.  There are two public colleges in Olympia – South Puget Sound Community College, a two year college and The Evergreen State College, a nationally ranked liberal arts college.  Nearby in Lacey is Saint Martin's University, a private institution offering both undergraduate and graduate programs.