Steilacoom, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Steilacoom, Washington
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Town
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Cormorant Park neighborhood
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Location of Steilacoom, Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Pierce |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.05 sq mi (5.31 km2) |
| • Land | 2.01 sq mi (5.21 km2) |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.11 km2) |
| Elevation | 75 ft (23 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 6,727 |
| • Density | 3,177.52/sq mi (1,226.75/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
98388
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| Area code | 253 |
| FIPS code | 53-67770 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1508718 |
Steilacoom is a small town in Pierce County, Washington, in the United States. In 2020, about 6,727 people lived there. Steilacoom is very important because it was the first town to become officially recognized in what is now the state of Washington. This happened way back in 1854.
Today, many people who live in Steilacoom work at Joint Base Lewis–McChord. This is a large military base nearby.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The exact meaning of the name "Steilacoom" is a bit of a mystery. Some people think it comes from a Native American word. This word might have meant "little pink flower."
Another idea is that fur traders from the Hudson's Bay Company gave it the name. They might have changed the name of a Native American chief, Tail-a-Koom. Early records show other spellings like "Chilacoom" or "Chelakom."
The town itself says it was named after the Steilacoom tribe. This tribe had a main village near what is now Tacoma. A creek called Steilacoom Creek also had this name before the town did.
A Look Back in Time
The Steilacoom people, a Coast Salish tribe, lived in this area first. Their main village was called Scht’ləqʷəm. This name was later changed to Steilacoom.
In 1849, the United States Army built Fort Steilacoom here. This happened after some attacks on another fort nearby. European-American settlers started arriving in 1851.
One of the first settlers was Lafayette Balch, a sea captain from Maine. He opened a sawmill in 1852. He used it to cut and sell lumber to places like San Francisco. He called his settlement "Port Steilacoom."
Another settlement, Steilacoom City, was started by John B. Chapman in 1851. These two settlements soon joined together to form Steilacoom. On December 12, 1852, Steilacoom became the main town for Pierce County. Then, on April 22, 1854, it became the very first officially recognized town in Washington Territory.
Steilacoom was home to the first jail in Washington. It also had the first sawmill. The town has four special buildings or places listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the oldest Catholic Church in the state. It also has the first Protestant Church north of the Columbia River. The Steilacoom Historic District has 68 old buildings that are important to history.
Steilacoom was a very important town for a while. But then, the Northern Pacific Railway was built in 1873. This railway ended in Tacoma, which became a bigger city. The county's main office moved from Steilacoom to Tacoma in 1880. Later, a streetcar line was built to connect the two cities. Fort Steilacoom was later turned into Western State Hospital. This is a mental health facility in the nearby city of Lakewood.
Where is Steilacoom?
Steilacoom is located right on Puget Sound. It's between the Nisqually River delta and the Tacoma Narrows. From Steilacoom, you can see Anderson and Ketron islands to the west. McNeil Island is to the northwest.
To the south, Steilacoom is next to Joint Base Lewis–McChord. To the north, it borders Chambers Bay. This is a public golf course. The town covers about 2.07 square miles (5.36 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Getting Around
There are no major state highways that go directly through Steilacoom. To reach big highways like Interstate 5 or State Route 512, drivers need to go through the nearby city of Lakewood.
A railroad line runs along Steilacoom's shoreline. This line is mainly used for freight trains now. Passenger trains used to stop here, but they stopped in 1971. Now, passenger trains use a different route that goes through Tacoma, Lakewood, and DuPont.
Pierce County also runs a Steilacoom-Anderson Island Ferry. This ferry leaves from Steilacoom. It takes people and cars to Anderson and Ketron islands.
Learning in Steilacoom
Public schools in Steilacoom are managed by the Steilacoom Historical School District #1. This school district was first started in 1854.
Steilacoom High School is the main high school for students in the district.
People of Steilacoom
The population of Steilacoom has grown over the years. In 1880, there were 250 people. By 2020, the population had reached 6,727.
In 2010, there were about 5,985 people living in Steilacoom. Most residents were White (77.1%). Other groups included African American (4.7%), Asian (7.3%), and Native American (0.7%). About 6.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age in town was 42.4 years old. About 20.3% of residents were under 18. Many households were made up of married couples.
Famous People from Steilacoom
- Clara Antoinette McCarty Wilt: She was the first person to graduate from the University of Washington in 1876. She was born in Steilacoom.
- Emeka Egbuka: He is a college football wide receiver for the Ohio State Buckeyes.
See also
In Spanish: Steilacoom (Washington) para niños
