Tumwater, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tumwater, Washington
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Panoramic view of the upper falls and the former Olympia Brewery, 2011
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Location of Tumwater, Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Thurston |
| Incorporated | November 25, 1869 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 17.76 sq mi (46.00 km2) |
| • Land | 17.50 sq mi (45.32 km2) |
| • Water | 0.26 sq mi (0.67 km2) |
| Elevation | 174 ft (53 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 25,350 |
| • Estimate
(2021)
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25,844 |
| • Density | 1,372.80/sq mi (530.04/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP codes |
98501, 98511, 98512
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| Area code | 360 |
| FIPS code | 53-72905 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1512742 |
Tumwater is a city in Thurston County, Washington, United States. The population was 25,350 at the 2020 census. The city is situated near where the Deschutes River enters Budd Inlet, the southernmost point of Puget Sound; it also borders the state capital of Olympia to the north. Tumwater is the oldest permanent Anglo-American settlement on Puget Sound.
Contents
Etymology
Tumwater was originally called "New Market" by American settlers, and under the latter name was platted in 1845. The present name is derived from Chinook Jargon and means "waterfall". A post office called Tumwater was established in 1863.
History
The site of Tumwater and Tumwater Falls has been home to Southern Lushootseed-speaking peoples known as the Steh-Chass / Stehchass or Statca'sabsh (a subtribe of the Sahewamish (Sahe'wabsh), an subgroup of the Nisqually people; who became part of the post-treaty Squaxin Island Tribe) for thousands of years. "Steh-Chass" is the Lushootseed name for Budd Inlet, Deschutes River and the Tumwater Falls area, and for an important village of the Statca'sabsh.
Tumwater was incorporated as a town on November 25, 1869, and as a city in 1875.
The construction of Interstate 5, which was completed in 1958, required the demolition of 100 buildings in downtown Tumwater. Major businesses had already relocated northeast to Tumwater Square, which remains a local shopping center. The Tumwater Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 to preserve remnants of downtown amid plans to widen Interstate 5.
Geography
Tumwater is located 2 miles south of the neighboring state capital of Olympia.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.49 square miles (37.53 km2), of which, 14.32 square miles (37.09 km2) is land and 0.17 square miles (0.44 km2) is water.
Climate
This region experiences warm and dry summers, with average monthly temperatures between 71.6 °F (22 °C) and 98.1 °F (36.7 °C). According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Tumwater has a very warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.
Demographics
Based on per capita income, one of the more reliable measures of affluence, Tumwater ranks 89th of 522 areas in the state of Washington to be ranked. It is also the highest rank in Thurston County.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 354 | — | |
| 1880 | 171 | −51.7% | |
| 1890 | 410 | 139.8% | |
| 1900 | 270 | −34.1% | |
| 1910 | 490 | 81.5% | |
| 1920 | 472 | −3.7% | |
| 1930 | 793 | 68.0% | |
| 1940 | 955 | 20.4% | |
| 1950 | 2,725 | 185.3% | |
| 1960 | 3,885 | 42.6% | |
| 1970 | 5,373 | 38.3% | |
| 1980 | 6,705 | 24.8% | |
| 1990 | 9,976 | 48.8% | |
| 2000 | 12,698 | 27.3% | |
| 2010 | 17,371 | 36.8% | |
| 2020 | 25,350 | 45.9% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 25,844 | 48.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 17,371 people, 7,566 households, and 4,460 families living in the city. The population density was 1,213.1 inhabitants per square mile (468.4/km2). There were 8,064 housing units at an average density of 563.1 per square mile (217.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 85.0% White, 1.7% African American, 1.2% Native American, 4.8% Asian, 0.5% Pacific Islander, 1.6% from other races, and 5.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.2% of the population.
There were 7,566 households, of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.9% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.1% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.83.
The median age in the city was 35 years. 27% of residents were under the age of 18, 10% from 18 to 24; 31.7% were between the ages of 25 and 44; 26.8% from 45 to 64; and 13% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.7% male and 52.3% female.
Arts and culture
Tumwater is home to the Davis Meeker Garry Oak Tree, a 400-year old historic tree located at the Olympia Regional Airport on Old Highway 99. Named after Ezra Meeker and Jack Davis, an environmentalist who helped save the oak in 1984 during a highway improvement project, the tree was a waypoint on the Cowlitz Trail. The oak tree is listed on the Tumwater Register of Historic Places. In 2024, the city attempted to remove the specimen but efforts were paused due to public protests and litigation. The tree was considered a danger to passing motorists and in poor health.
Education
The Tumwater School District is home to numerous schools including Tumwater High School and Black Hills High School.
See also
In Spanish: Tumwater (Washington) para niños
