Editing Rainier, Washington

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Rainier, Washington
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = 
<!-- Images --------------->
|image_skyline            = Rainier Fire Station.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Rainier Fire Station
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = 
<!-- Maps ----------------->
|image_map                = Thurston_County_Washington_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Rainier_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Rainier, Washington
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
|pushpin_map              = USA
|pushpin_map_caption      = Location in the United States
<!-- Location ------------->
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Washington|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Thurston County, Washington|Thurston]]
<!-- Government ----------->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = Mayor
|leader_name              = Robert Shaw
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         = 
<!-- Area ----------------->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_53.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 4.50
|area_land_km2            = 4.50
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 1.74
|area_land_sq_mi          = 1.74
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
<!-- Population ----------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 2486
|pop_est_as_of            = 2021
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2021"/>
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
|population_total         = 2369
|population_density_km2   = 508.01
|population_density_sq_mi = 1315.88
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Pacific Time Zone|PST]]
|utc_offset               = -8
|timezone_DST             = PDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -7
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_m              = 132
|elevation_ft             = 433
|coordinates              = {{coord|46|53|27|N|122|41|23|W|region:US-WA|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 98576
|area_code                = [[Area code 360|360]]
|area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 53-57220
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 1507707<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=October 25, 2007}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|http://cityofrainierwa.org/|cityofrainierwa.org}}
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Rainier''' ({{IPAc-en|r|eɪ|ˈ|n|ɪər}} {{respell|ray|NEER}}) is a city in [[Thurston County, Washington]], United States. Beginning as a train stop in the 1870s, Rainier was first settled in 1890 and would become known as a logging town. The city was officially incorporated in 1947.

==History==
[[File:1896 Historic Lutheran Church.JPG|thumb|left|alt=A small white chapel in Rainier, Washington from 1896.|Church built by Gehrke brothers in 1896.]]
Rainier began in the 1870s as a stop on the [[Northern Pacific Railroad]] line between [[Kalama, Washington]] and [[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]]. Situated amidst the ‘ten al quelth’ prairies – [[Lushootseed]] for "the best yet" – it was named for its view of [[Mount Rainier]].<ref name=History /> In 1890, Albert and Maria Gehrke were the first permanent [[settlers]] to [[Homestead Act|homestead]] in Rainier; later that year a store and post office were established by Henry Harmer, who homesteaded with his wife Jessie and children on the [[Deschutes River (Washington)|Deschutes River]] near Rainier.<ref name=History>{{cite web |url=http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/history/location.asp?mod=prev&locid=8&currecord=2 |title=Rainier Area of Interest. |work=Thurston County History: People and Places |publisher=Thurston County Historic Commission |accessdate=July 8, 2010}}</ref> Rainier was officially platted in 1891.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/permitting/historic/docs/Place-Names.pdf | title=Thurston County Place Names: A Heritage Guide | publisher=Thurston County Historical Commission | date=1992 | access-date=March 28, 2018 | pages=70}}</ref>

In 1896, the community's first full-time school as well as a Lutheran church were built by Albert Gehrke and his two brothers, Theodore and Paul;<ref name=History /> the buildings are now state historic landmarks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rainierhistoricalsociety.org/church.html |title=Historic Lutheran Church |publisher=Rainier Historical Society |accessdate=July 8, 2010}}</ref>

In 1906, the Bob White Lumber Company opened, bringing prosperity to the area through [[logging]] and [[sawmilling]].<ref name=History /> Other lumber companies, such as Deschutes, Gruber and Docherty, and Fir Tree, were soon attracted to the area as well. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, several of these mill operations and many of the local buildings were destroyed by a series of fires, leading many residents to seek work at [[Weyerhaeuser]] Lumber at nearby Vail, which is now a [[ghost town]].<ref name=History />

In 1936, Rainier's third school was built out of brick. The construction of this new school allowed for addition of the second story, added in 1926 of the school built in 1915 to be removed, leaving it as a single story building again.

Rainier's 1940 population was 500.<ref name=WPA>''Washington - A Guide to the Evergreen State'', WPA American Guide Series, Washington State Historical Society, 1941</ref> In 1941, the ''[[Works Progress Administration|WPA]] Guide to Washington'' described Rainier as "the social center for farmers and loggers of the vicinity, although its closed mills and vacant houses mark it as a ghost lumber town."<ref name=WPA />

Rainier was officially incorporated on October 23, 1947.<ref name=Profile>{{cite web |url=http://www.mrsc.org/cityprofiles/cityprofile.aspx?id=187 |title=City Profile: City of Rainier. |publisher=[[Municipal Research and Services Center]] |accessdate=July 8, 2010}}</ref> In 1948, Rainier opened its town hall at 102 Dakota Street South; it housed the Rainier town council, police department, and fire department.<ref>{{cite news |date=October 12, 1979 |title=Rainier May Get Portable Town Hall |page=B2 |work=[[The Olympian]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-olympian-rainier-may-get-portable-to/146881311/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |accessdate=May 8, 2024}}</ref>

On May 4, 1974, Rainier High School was destroyed by a fire caused by an electrical fault in an attic storage space; the state's [[fire marshal]] office had previously noted several fire hazards during inspections of the building.<ref>{{cite news |last=Phillips |first=Bruce |date=May 8, 1974 |title=Inspections Pinpointed Rainier School Fire Hazards |page=6 |work=The Olympian |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-olympian-inspections-pinpointed-rain/125610716/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=May 30, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=May 4, 1974 |title=Blaze destroys Rainier High School |page=1 |work=[[The Chronicle (Centralia, Washington)|The Daily Chronicle]] |location=Centralia, Washington |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-chronicle-blaze-destroys-raini/125610591/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=May 30, 2023}}</ref> Classes were cancelled for the remainder of the school year; a set of 13 [[portable classroom]]s were constructed adjacent to the destroyed building by local residents and soldiers from nearby [[Fort Lewis (Washington)|Fort Lewis]]. The portable buildings had been sold at cost by [[Seattle Public Schools]] after they were withdrawn from a surplus auction.<ref>{{cite news |last=Oakland |first=Mike |date=July 28, 1974 |title=Spirit Raises Rainier High School From Ruins |page=2 |work=The Olympian |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-olympian-spirit-raises-rainier-high/125610888/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=May 30, 2023}}</ref> A new building for Rainier High School—along with a new elementary school—was opened on September 1, 1976.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 29, 1976 |title=Back to School: Openings Vary |page=D12 |work=The Olympian |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-olympian-back-to-school-openings-va/125611008/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=May 30, 2023}}</ref>  In late 1979, the Town of Rainier considered leasing a portable building from Rainier School District as the existing town hall had grown too small to hold meetings in. While the school board was willing to lease the building, they were only willing to do so for a 1 year term, citing that increasing enrollment numbers could necessitate the use of the building.<ref>{{cite news |date=November 18, 1979 |title=Rainier Ups Water Fee |page=B2 |work=The Olympian |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-olympian-rainier-ups-water-fee/146881093/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=May 8, 2024}}</ref>

In 1990, Rainier's current Town Hall was built at 102 Rochester Street West. It was assembled from several prefabricated pieces, forming the manufactured building that serves as the Town Hall.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|1.73|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all of it land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=December 19, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=January 25, 2012}}</ref> In terms of land cover, 18% (179 [[acre]]s) of the city is urban, 27% ({{convert|267|acre|km2}}) is forested, and 55% ({{convert|540|acre|km2}}) is covered with non-forest vegetation and soils.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.trpc.org/resources/full2009profiles.pdf |title=Table VIII-1: Thurston County Land Cover, 2000 |work=The Profile: For Thurston County; the Cities/Towns of Bucoda, Lacey, Olympia, Rainier, Tenino, Tumwater, and Yelm; and the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation and the Nisqually Indian Tribe. |publisher=Thurston Regional Planning Council |date=November 2009 |pages=VIII-14 |accessdate=July 9, 2010}}</ref>

=== Climate ===
The [[climate]] of Rainier tends to be relatively mild. Although the temperature reached a record high of {{convert|104|°F}} in 1981, the average temperature of the hottest month, August, is {{convert|76|°F}}.<ref name=Weather>{{cite web |url=http://imwx.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USWA0362 |title=Monthly Averages for Rainier, WA |publisher=[[The Weather Channel]] |accessdate=July 9, 2010}}</ref> Similarly, while the record low temperature was {{convert|-8|°F}} in 1979, the average temperature of January, the coldest month, is {{convert|32|°F}}.<ref name=Weather /> With an average of {{convert|8.13|in}} of [[precipitation]], November is the wettest month.<ref name=Weather /> Rainier averages approximately {{convert|50|in}} of precipitation a year.<ref name="Weather 2">{{cite web |title=Rainier, WA |url=https://weather.com/weather/monthly/l/98576:4:US |website=The Weather Channel |access-date=July 24, 2018}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1950= 331
|1960= 245
|1970= 382
|1980= 891
|1990= 991
|2000= 1492
|2010= 1794
|2020= 2369
|estyear=2021
|estimate=2486
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2021">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |date=June 23, 2022|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=June 23, 2022}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 11, 2013}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US5357220 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=May 15, 2022}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===

At the time of the [[United States Census Bureau|2020 census]], there were 2,369 people residing in Rainier, living in 871 households.<ref name="2020 Census">{{cite web |title=Rainier city, Washington |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US5357220 |website=United States Census Bureau |access-date=September 11, 2022}}</ref> The median household income was $76,016.<ref name="2020 Census" /> 14.3% of residents reported having earned a [[bachelor's degree]] or higher level of education.<ref name="2020 Census" />

The median age in Rainier was 38.4 years old,  with 27.4% of the population under the age of 18, and 72.6% of residents 18 years or older.<ref name="2020 Census" />
Of the 2,369 residents, 30 identified as American Indian and Alaska Native, 47 as Asian, 22 as Black or African American, 192 as Hispanic or Latino, 16 as Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1,969 as White, 60 as "some other race," and 225 as "two or more races"; 192 identified themselves as Hispanic or Latino of any race, while 1,882 identified as "Not Hispanic or Latino."<ref name="2020 Census" />

===2010 census===

As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]],<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=December 19, 2012}}</ref> there were 1,794 people, 656 households, and 484 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1037.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 717 housing units at an average density of {{convert|414.5|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 90.7% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.2% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.2% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.1% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.1% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 4.6% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 5.0% of the population.

There were 656 households, of which 40.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 26.2% were non-families. 20.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.11.

The median age in the city was 37.1 years. 26.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.2% were from 25 to 44; 29.2% were from 45 to 64; and 9.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.7% male and 50.3% female.

===2000 census===

As of the [[2000 United States census|2020 census]], there were 1,492 people, 530 households, and 410 families residing in Rainier. The population density was 922.8 people per square mile (355.6/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 551 housing units at an average density of 340.8 per square mile (131.3/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the city was 92.56% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.54% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.81% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.74% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.27% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.80% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 3.28% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.89% of the population.

There were 530 households, out of which 40.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.9% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.5% were non-families. 17.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 30.6% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.5 males.

The median income for a household in Rainier was $42,955, and the median income for a family was $44,226. Males had a median income of $34,609 versus $27,375 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $16,636. About 6.6% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.

==Arts and culture==

===Art===
To the northeast of downtown Rainier on a trestle support over [[Washington State Route 507]] is a mural known as the ''Sgt. Justin Norton Memorial Mural''. Norton, who died in 2006 during the [[Iraq War]], was a graduate of Rainier High School.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Broadt |first1=Lisa |title=Soldier's Memorial Mural Restored by Tenino Artists |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/soldiers-memorial-mural-restored-by-tenino-artists,95707? |access-date=June 25, 2024 |work=[[The Chronicle (Centralia, Washington)|The Chronicle]] |date=August 15, 2013}}</ref> Installed in 2011, repeated vandalism of the mural had led to several repairs and re-paintings.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wyble |first1=Steven |title=Memorial to Fallen Soldier Vandalized Twice in Two Days |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/memorial-to-fallen-soldier-vandalized-twice-in-two-days,85408 |access-date=June 25, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=April 10, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=KING 5 staff |title=Vandalism at memorial like a 'punch in the gut' for soldier's family |url=https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/vandalism-at-memorial-like-a-punch-in-the-gut-for-soldiers-family/281-330711130 |access-date=June 25, 2024 |work=[[KING-TV|KING 5 News (Seattle)]] |date=September 24, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=McCarty |first1=Kevin |title=Man who painted 'war criminal' on veteran's memorial will not be charged |url=https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/national/man-who-painted-war-criminal-veteran-memorial-will-not-charged/yKolaNowpKEaeDpDJjHICP/ |access-date=June 25, 2024 |work=[[Dayton Daily News]] |date=April 10, 2014}}</ref>

===Festivals and events===
Rainier hosts several annual events including two in August, the Rainier Roundup Days that includes a community [[parade]] and a [[bluegrass music]] festival,<ref name=Roundup /><ref name=Bluegrass /> and the Rainier Community & Alumni Celebration honoring all past and present residents of Rainier.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rainierhistoricalsociety.org/CandA.html |title=Rainier Community & Alumni Celebration August 7 & 8, 2010 |publisher=Rainier Historical Society |accessdate=July 9, 2010}}</ref> The community regularly hosts [[Relay for Life]], during which, over an 18-hour time frame, participants walk around the [[Rainier High School (Washington)|high school track]] to raise money for the [[American Cancer Society]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Huey |first=Tyler |date=July 2, 2010 |title=Relay for Life is July 10–11 at Rainier High School track. |work=[[Nisqually Valley News]] |at=Section C}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=25128 |title=2010 Relay For Life of SE Thurston WA |publisher=American Cancer Society |accessdate=July 9, 2010}}</ref>

===Historical buildings and sites===
[[File:1915 Historic Schoolhouse.JPG|thumb|left|alt=A grade school from 1915 converted to a community center.|1915 grade school restored and converted to Lifelong Learning Center.]]

In the early 2000s, the Rainier Historical Society, under the [[Non-profit organization|non-profit]] parent corporation of the Rainier Area Building Community, began restoring Rainier's [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Thurston County, Washington|historic schoolhouse]], which was built in 1915, and converting it into a [[community center]] known as the Lifelong Learning Center.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rainierhistoricalsociety.org/school.html |title=Lifelong Learning Center |publisher=Rainier Historical Society |accessdate=July 9, 2010}}</ref> In 2005, the [[Food bank|Rainier Food Bank]] was opened at the site, serving patrons on Wednesdays and Saturdays.<ref>Truscott, Seth. "Rainier Food Bank turning a year old." ''Nisqually Valley News.'' May 26, 2006. Section B5.</ref> A [[thrift store]] was also opened, with the proceeds going to fund the operational costs of the building. An [[art gallery]] and public meeting rooms followed. In November 2009, the Rainier Volunteer Library opened at the center, featuring a collection of donated books available for borrowing.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rainierlibrary.org/about_us.html |title=About Us |publisher=Rainier Volunteer Library |accessdate=July 9, 2010}}</ref> A partnership with the [[Timberland Regional Library]] brought the addition of a computer kiosk and the ability to pick up reserved books from the Timberland Regional Library system at the Rainier Volunteer Library.<ref>{{cite news |last=Scott |first=Tyler |date=April 27, 2010 |title=Check out Rainier's new library |url=http://www.theolympian.com/2010/04/27/1219848/check-out-rainiers-new-library.html |work=The Olympian |accessdate=July 9, 2010}}</ref> In the fall of 2011, the food bank, under the name Rainier Emergency Food Center, relocated to a nearby church due to safety concerns at the historic schoolhouse. The building, which had been near demolition, was returned to the school district to be used for offices in 2015, its centennial year, and the library and thrift store were closed.<ref name="Historical Society">{{cite web |title=Current News |url=http://www.rainierhistoricalsociety.org/ |website=Rainier Historical Society |access-date=July 24, 2018}}</ref>

==Parks and recreation==
[[File:Veterans Memorial Park.JPG|thumb|right|alt=A metal cutout 2-D sculpture of a soldier kneeling at the grave of a fallen comrade.|A monument at Veterans Memorial Park.]]
Rainier features eight acres of parks.<ref name=Park /> In the center of town, the Veterans Memorial Park is dedicated to veterans and active military personnel, members of the fire and police departments, and various recognized volunteers and charitable groups both in the community and throughout the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ci.rainier.wa.us/forms/Tile%20Order%20Form.doc |title=Veterans Park: Tile Order Form. |publisher=City of Rainier |accessdate=July 8, 2010}}</ref>

Nearby, Wilkowski Park is the site of the Rainier Roundup, the city's annual [[bluegrass music]] festival occurring on the fourth weekend in August.<ref name=Roundup>{{cite web |url=http://www.rainierhistoricalsociety.org/Roundup.html |title=The Rainier Roundup - August 20, 21, 22 & 23, 2009 |publisher=Rainier Historical Society |accessdate=July 8, 2010}}</ref><ref name=Bluegrass>{{cite web |url=http://www.spokanebluegrass.org/festivals.asp |title=Northwest Festivals |date=March 11, 2010 |publisher=Inland Northwest Bluegrass Association |accessdate=July 8, 2010}}</ref> Beside the park, the [[Yelm–Rainier–Tenino Trail]] connects the cities of [[Yelm, Washington|Yelm]], Rainier, and [[Tenino, Washington|Tenino]] in a paved pathway for pedestrians and cyclists.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/parks/trails/yt-trail.htm |title=Yelm-Tenino Trail |publisher=Thurston County: Parks & Recreation |accessdate=July 8, 2010}}</ref>

Other parks in Rainier include Gehrke Park, Holiday Park, and Raintree Park.<ref name=Park>{{cite web |url=http://www.trpc.org/resources/full2009profiles.pdf |title=Table VIII-8: Municipal Parks by Jurisdiction, 2009 |work=The Profile: For Thurston County; the Cities/Towns of Bucoda, Lacey, Olympia, Rainier, Tenino, Tumwater, and Yelm; and the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation and the Nisqually Indian Tribe. |publisher=Thurston Regional Planning Council |date=November 2009 |page=VIII-24 |accessdate=July 9, 2010}}</ref>

==Government==

Rainier has a [[mayor–council government]]. In 2017, Robert Shaw became the mayor of Rainier.<ref name="2017 election">{{cite news |last1=Kollar |first1=Andrew |last2=Wagar |first2=Michael |title=Foster Retained as Mayor of Yelm |url=http://www.yelmonline.com/news/article_04a24ada-c4e0-11e7-822e-571f3f6d2df3.html |access-date=July 24, 2018 |work=Nisqually Valley News |date=November 8, 2017}}</ref> The [[city council]] has five members.<ref name="City Council List">{{cite web |title=City Council |url=https://www.cityofrainierwa.org/city-council |publisher=City of Rainier |access-date=September 11, 2022}}</ref> Other government positions in Rainier include that of [[city administrator]], [[City clerk|clerk]], [[City Treasurer|treasurer]], [[city attorney]], [[fire chief]], and [[Public works|public works director]].<ref name="2017 election2">{{cite news |last1=Kollar |first1=Andrew |last2=Wagar |first2=Michael |date=November 8, 2017 |title=Foster Retained as Mayor of Yelm |work=Nisqually Valley News |url=http://www.yelmonline.com/news/article_04a24ada-c4e0-11e7-822e-571f3f6d2df3.html |accessdate=24 July 2018}}</ref>

==Education==
Rainier is served by the Rainier School District. The district consists of an [[elementary school]], a [[middle school]], and [[Rainier High School (Washington)|Rainier High School]]. As of the 2021–2022 school year, the district's enrollment was 925 students, taught by 56 teachers.<ref name="OSPI">{{cite web |title=Rainier School District |url=https://washingtonstatereportcard.ospi.k12.wa.us/ReportCard/ViewSchoolOrDistrict/100213 |website=Washington State Report Card |publisher=Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction |access-date=September 11, 2022}}</ref>

As of the 2021–2022 school year, Rainier Elementary School was serving 463 students from kindergarten through fifth grade.<ref name="OSPI" /><ref name="School Homepage">{{cite web |title=District Home |url=https://www.rainier.wednet.edu/rainiersd |website=Rainier School District |access-date=July 24, 2018}}</ref> The enrollment of Rainier Middle School, which serves sixth through eighth grade, was 215 in the 2021–2022 school year, with the principal as of 2017 being John Beckman.<ref name="School Homepage" /> Rainier High School included 247 students from ninth through twelfth grade in the 2021–2022 school year.<ref name="OSPI" />

==Notable people==
 
*[[Linda Evans]], television actress
*[[Chad Forcier]], two-time [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] champion assistant coach
*[[Eloy Pérez]], [[World Boxing Organization|WBO]] and [[North American Boxing Organization|NABO]] super featherweight champion
*[[Billie Rogers]], jazz trumpeter and singer

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://cityofrainierwa.org City of Rainier]
* [https://www.rainier.wednet.edu Rainier School District]

{{Thurston County, Washington}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Thurston County, Washington]]
[[Category:Cities in Washington (state)]]