Tenino, Washington

About Tenino

Tenino is a small rural town on Old Highway 99 halfway between Olympia and Centralia.  It was first settled by Stephen Hodgden in 1851.  Originally from Maine, Hodgden moved west to strike it rich in the gold rush of 1849, although he failed to score big.  So he moved north into Washington territory and laid claim to land on the banks of Scatter Creek, where the northern Oregon Trail split with the Hudson's Bay Company's trail headed to Yelm and Fort Nisqually.  This place was originally called Hodgden's Station, and became a stage coach stop for travelers headed between Olympia and places to the south.  In 1871, the rail line headed north from Oregon reached Hodgden's Station.  The town of Tenino was born.  The most compelling evidence surrounding the origin of the name Tenino suggests that it is based off of an Indian word meaning “branch in the trail,” or “meeting place.”

Tenino grew as a rail junction, and through the mining of sandstone for construction.  The original capital building in Olympia was built from such material.  The sandstone quarries were a major boon to the town until concrete became a major building material.  The town is currently supported by logging and agriculture, and by being a bedroom community for Olympia and Centralia.  It offers rural living and large, open tracts of land.

Geography

Tenino is approximately halfway between Olympia and Centralia.  It is a short drive from I-5, from which the Lacey station of Amtrak's primary north/south western route can easily be reached.  Centralia has a station as well.  Highways 12 and 101 are nearby for access to the Pacific Ocean and Olympic peninsula to the west and north, while 12 also heads west towards the Cascade Mountain Range.  Seattle-Tacoma is about an hour's drive north from Olympia, while Tumwater, just south of Olympia, offers a regional airport for light craft.

Tenino Real Estate

Generally, houses within city limits are craftsman style houses ranging from the 1880s to the mid 1900s.  There is little new construction.

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

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

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

Population

As of 2008, the population of Tenino was 1,590 people, up 9.9% from the 2000 census.  Tenino households were occupied by an average of 2.53 people.  The median age of residents was 34.2 years, compared to the Washington state average of 35.3 years.

Employment

As a bedroom community for the tri-city region of Olympia, Lacey, and Tumwater to the north, and Centralia to the south, many residents find employment in those areas.  State government is situated in Olympia, and employs many people.  Both civilian and military personnel working on Joint Base Lewis McChord reside in Tenino and commute to work.  Tenino residents commute an average of 30 + minutes each way.

Income

As of 2008, the median per household income was $45,941, compared to Washington's state average of $58,000.  9.1% of residents lived below the poverty line.

Cost of Living

As of December, 2009, the Cost of Living Index for Tenino is 102, compared to the national average of areas participating in the Cost of Living Index of 100.

Tenino Schools

Public schools in Tenino are administrated by the Tenino School District, which runs 2 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school.  About 1,400 students are served by the district.

Of residents age 25 or older, 81.2% have achieved at least a high school diploma.  Post-secondary education is available at South Puget Sound Community College and The Evergreen State College, both in Olympia, St. Martin's University, a private university in Lacey, and Centralia Community College in Centralia.