Puyallup, Washington

About Puyallup

Puyallup was first settled by Europeans in the 1830s.  Prior to their arrival, the fertile river valley was occupied only by indigenous peoples of the Puyallup Tribe, the name of which translates to “generous.”  The city itself was planned in 1877 by one Ezra Meeker, famed for his hops.  Meeker served as it's first mayor.  The city's economic development came about as a result of agriculture, so to this day Puyallup is both scenic and economically viable.  Downtown Puyallup has maintained its historic atmosphere and has a large, central park.  From May through October, every weekend finds Pioneer Park brimming with people visiting the Farmer's Market.

Every year, Puyallup is home to the largest Washington fair.  The Puyallup Fair takes over the Western Washington Fairgrounds, over 169 acres at the edge of downtown Puyallup.  It is one of the top ten largest fairs in the world.  Puyallup also boasts a Daffodil Festival and Parade, an Antique District, the Arts Downtown Outdoor Gallery.

Geography

Puyallup butts up against the south bank of the Puyallup River, which runs from Mt. Rainier into the Puget Sound.  Tacoma is to the northwest, and other nearby cities include Sumner, Fife, Edgewood, Graham and Orting.  Volcanic Mt. Rainier is generally visible from most places in town.

Puyallup Real Estate

The South Hill area is the largest area of new construction in Puyallup, and offers very affordable housing.  New homes can be found starting in the $100,000s.  There are also a number of higher end neighborhoods, with larger lots, bigger houses, and views of M. Rainier.  Downtown Puyallup is the place to go to find older, craftsman style homes.

Weather

The weather in Puyallup 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 Puyallup an easy place to garden, and spring is vibrantly colorful.

Jan April July Oct
Avg. Temp 38 50 63 50
Max. Temp 45 57 75 60
Min. Temp 32 40 52 41
Precip in inches 5.5 3.2 1 3

Population

As of 2000, Puyallup had 33,000 residents.  There were 12,870 households and 8,500 families living in the city.  The estimate for the population for 2008 was 36,330, a growth of about 10%  The median age in Puyallup is 34.1 years, compared to the Washington State average of 35.3.

Employment

There are a wide range of employment opportunities in Puyallup and surrounding vicinities.  Of the total workforce, 76% work in white collar positions and 24% work in blue collar positions.  Residents of Puyallup commute an average of 27 minutes each way for work.

Income

As of 2008, the median household income was $60,876, compared to Washington State's average of $58,000.  Fewer than 5% of Puyallup residents lived below the poverty line.

Cost of Living

As of December, 2009, the Cost of Living Index for Puyallup is 112.5, compared to the national average of areas participating in the Cost of Living Index of 100.

Puyallup Schools

Public schools are administrated by the Puyallup School District, which is the ninth largest school district in Washington.  Almost 22,000 students are served by twenty-one elementary schools, seven middle schools, three high schools and one alternative school.  Puyallup School District employs over 2,300 personnel.