Pierce County Washington - info, facts, communities on Key to the City

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Information & Facts about Pierce County, Washington

Government

Pierce County Website
County Executive
930 Tacoma Ave. S.
Tacoma, WA 98402
Phone: (253) 798-7477
Fax: (253) 798-6628

Pierce County Vital Records
3701 Pacific Avenue
Tacoma, WA 98418
Phone: 253-798-6418

Population:

2000 - 700,820
2003 - 733,700
2005 - 755,900

Population Density: 417 persons per square mile

Location:

in west-central Washington, south of the Seattle area. Nearby counties include King and Kitsap to the north and northeast. To the east is Yakima and on the south is Lewis county. To the west are Thurston and Mason Counties.

Other Facts & Figures:

Median Household income: $45,204 (2000)
Median Family income: $52,098 (2000)
Per capita income: $20,948 (2000)

Average household size: 2.60 (2000)
Average family size: 3.10 (2000)

Climate:

Moderate weather is the norm in the area. Most rain falls from October until March. Summers are generally the dry period with winter the wettest. Very little snow falls in the county and if it does fall, it usually melts quickly. Mountain areas in the county are the exception where snow falls enough for great skiing and winter recreation. Summer temperatures are tempered by winds up to 15 mph.

Average afternoon temperatures in winter: 40's
Average afternoon temperatures in summer: 70's to low 80's

History:

Pierce County was named for U.S. President, Franklin Pierce

First white man to this area was George Vancouver in 1792. Fort Nisqually was later developed. Captain Charles Wilkes surveyed the sound area and called it Commencement Bay. The first city came around the mid 1800's and was named Commencement City. Pierce County was officially created on 22 December 1852, formed from Thurston County. As the railroads became established here, all the communities began to grow, particularly Tacoma.

Here is a history page for Pierce County. Also try this page for more historical information.

Geography:

Total area: 1,790 square miles
Total land area: 1,679 square miles
Total water area: 128 square miles

Lowest Point: sea level at Puget Sound
Highest Point: 14,411 feet above sea level at Mount Rainier

Genealogy:

US GenWeb Pierce County page

Cemeteries of Pierce County

Libraries:

Pierce County Library System
3005 112th Street E.
Tacoma, WA 98446-2215
Phone: (253) 536-6500
Fax:: (253) 537-4600

Schools:

Pierce County Schools
P.O. Box 349
Blackshear, GA 31516
Phone: (912) 449-2044

Bethel School District
516 East 176th Street,
Spanaway, WA 98387
Phone: (253) 539-6000

Chief Leschi Schools of the Puyallup Tribe
5625 52nd Street East
Puyallup 98371
Phone: (253) 445-6000

Cascade Christian Schools
306 North Meridian
Puyallup 98371
Phone: (253) 841-1776

Orting School District
120 Washington Avenue North,
Orting, WA 98360
Phone: (360) 893-6500

University of Washington, Tacoma (UWT)
1900 Commerce Street
Tacoma, WA 98402
Phone: (253) 692-4000

Military

Fort Lewis - Named for Meriwether Lewis of Lewis and Clarke fame, Fort Lewis first begun as Camp Lewis in 1917, it later grew into one of the US militaries most important facilities covering about 135 square miles of varying terrain, including lakes, forest and prairie. Madigan Army Medical Center is part of Fort Lewis with a 414 bed hospital. The Fort is about 15 miles south of Tacoma

McChord Air Force Base - This base opened in 1935. It was named for William C. McChord. It borders along Fort Lewis and is home to the 62nd Airlift Wing and the 446th Airlift Wing (Reserve)

Economy:

The economy of the county is quite diverse. The port of Tacoma has helped the area to be a major regional trade center. Many types of businesses are found in the county including, lumber and wood products, chemicals, food, clothing, computer and related fields, and agricultural. Pierce County produces more rhubarb than any other area in the country. The military in the county provides both users and suppliers to the local economies across the board.

Organizations & Groups

Tacoma/Pierce County Chamber of Commerce

Tacoma/Pierce Convention and Visitor's Bureau
1119 Pacific Avenue 5th Floor
Tacoma WA 98402
Toll-free: 800-272-2662
Phone: 253-627-2836
E-mail: info@traveltacoma.com

The Chamber of Eastern Pierce County
417 E Pioneer
PO Box 1298
Puyallup, WA 98371
Phone: 253-845-6755
Fax: 253-848-6164

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 1952
Tacoma, Washington 98401
(253) 572-6650 message phone

Attractions & Other Information

Pierce County Fair
held in August each year

Mount Rainier is the most visited attraction in Washington, and the tallest volcano in the lower 48 states (14,410 feet high at the summit).
Visit the park online. It celebrated 100 years in 1999. The park has a perpetual snowpack and 26 glaciers. All types of activities are available year-round.

Museum of Glass Intl Center For Contemporary Art
1801 E Dock St,
Tacoma, WA
Phone: (253) 284-4750
Watch artists blow glass in the hot shop, visit galleries.

Port of Tacoma
One Sitcum Plaza
Tacoma, WA 98421
Phone: 253-383-5841
Fax: 253-593-4534

The Tacoma Dome - the largest wooden domed arena in the world
Cheney Stadium - home to the Tacoma Rainiers, a class AAA professional baseball team

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Last update: 19 August 2011 at 10:47 pm

This page was created 29 April 2004

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