Thurston County

county

Thurston County, Washington

Overview

Geography

Region: Pacific Northwest/South Sound
Total Area: 774 sq mi
Land Area: 722 sq mi
Water Area: 52 sq mi
Latitude: 47.0359
Longitude: -122.9007
Climate: Temperate climate with significant rainfall.
Notable Features: Puget Sound · Mount Rainier (nearby) · Cascade Mountains (nearby) · Black River · Budd/Deschutes Watershed · Chehalis River · Eld Inlet · Henderson Inlet · Nisqually River · Skookumchuck River · Totten Inlet · West Capitol Forest · Nisqually River Delta
Neighboring Areas: Pierce County (Northeast) · Lewis County (South) · Grays Harbor County (West) · Mason County (Northwest)

Demographics

Population (2020): 294,793
Est. Population (2023): 300,500
Median Age: 39.8
Median Income: $93,985
Owner-Occupied: 67.8%
Racial & Ethnic Composition: 70.6% White (Non-Hispanic), 6.32% Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic), 5.73% Asian (Non-Hispanic), 3.43% White (Hispanic), 3.17% Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)

Governance

Government Type: County Commissioners
Governing Body: Board of County Commissioners
Body Size: 3 members
Municipal Services: Parks & Trails · Public Works · Corrections · Environmental Health · Social Services

Economy

Unemployment Rate: 3.5%
Economic Profile: State Government · Professional and Business Services · Information Technology
Employment Sectors: Public Administration · Health Care & Social Assistance · Retail Trade · Accommodation and Food Services · Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
Major Employers: State Government

Education

Schools: 69
School Districts: Griffin School District · North Thurston Public Schools · Olympia School District · Rainier School District · Rochester School District · Tenino School District · Tumwater School District · Yelm School District
Colleges & Universities: Evergreen State College · South Puget Sound Community College · Saint Martin's University

Infrastructure

Recreation

Outdoor Access: Yes
Major Recreation Areas: Puget Sound Shoreline · Deep Forest Hiking Areas · Burfoot Park · Chehalis Western Trail · Closed Loop Park · Deschutes Falls Park · Frye Cove Park · Glacial Heritage Preserve
Parks & Trails: Parks · Trails

History

Founded: 1852
Named After: Samuel R. Thurston, Oregon Territory's first delegate to Congress
Historical Significance: Site of Washington State's capital, Olympia, and early American settlement.
Key Events: First American settlement north of the Columbia River (1845) · County created out of Lewis County by Oregon Territorial Legislature (1852) · Olympia retained as capital of Washington after statehood (1889)