Editing Thurston County, Washington

{{Short description|County in Washington, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
| county           = Thurston County
| state            = Washington
| flag             = 
| flag size        = 
| flag border      = 
| flag wl          = 
| seal             = 
| seal size        = 
| seal wl          = 
| logo             = Thurston County logo.svg
| logo size        = 
| founded year     = 1852
| founded date     = January 12
| seat wl          = Olympia
| largest city wl  = Lacey
| area_total_sq_mi = 774
| area_land_sq_mi  = 722
| area_water_sq_mi = 52
| area percentage  = 6.7%
| population_as_of = 2020
| population_total = 294793
| population_footnotes = <ref name="QuickFacts"/>
| pop_est_as_of    = 2024
| population_est   = 302912 {{increase}}
| pop_est_footnotes = <ref name="QuickFacts"/>
| density_sq_mi    = 408
| time zone        = Pacific
| named for        = [[Samuel Thurston]]
| ex image         = Thurston County Courthouse (Olympia, Washington).jpg
| ex image cap     = [[Thurston County Courthouse (Washington)|Former Thurston County Courthouse]]
| district         = 3rd
| district2        = 10th
| website          = {{URL|https://thurstoncountywa.gov}}
}}

'''Thurston County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Washington (state)|Washington]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], its population was 294,793.<ref name="QuickFacts">{{cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts: Thurston County, Washington |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/thurstoncountywashington/PST045222 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=October 26, 2024}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Olympia, Washington|Olympia]],<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> the state [[Capital (political)|capital]].

Thurston County was created out of [[Lewis County, Washington|Lewis County]] by the government of Oregon Territory on January 12, 1852. At that time, it covered all of the [[Puget Sound]] region and the [[Olympic Peninsula]]. On December 22 of the same year, [[Pierce County, Washington|Pierce]], [[King County, Washington|King]], [[Island County, Washington|Island]], and [[Jefferson County, Washington|Jefferson]] counties were split off from Thurston County.<ref name=reinartz>{{cite web|last=Reinartz |first=Kay |title=History of King County Government 1853–2002 |url=http://www.metrokc.gov/kc150/historical%20overview.pdf |access-date=December 29, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071201170824/http://www.metrokc.gov/kc150/historical%20overview.pdf |archive-date=December 1, 2007}}</ref><ref name=historylink>{{cite web|title=Milestones for Washington State History — Part 2: 1851 to 1900 |url=http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=5380 |date=March 6, 2003 |publisher=[[HistoryLink.org]]}}</ref> It is named after [[Samuel Thurston|Samuel R. Thurston]], the [[Oregon Territory]]'s first delegate to [[United States Congress|Congress]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/permitting/historic/docs/Place-Names.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918094931/http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/permitting/historic/docs/Place-Names.pdf |archive-date=September 18, 2015 |url-status=live |title=Thurston County Place Names: A Heritage Guide |publisher=Thurston County Historical Commission |year=1992 |access-date=March 28, 2018 |pages=87}}</ref> Today, the county includes the southernmost part of the [[South Puget Sound]] and areas south along the [[Interstate 5|I-5]] corridor.

Thurston County comprises the Olympia–[[Lacey, Washington|Lacey]]–[[Tumwater, Washington|Tumwater]], WA [[Metropolitan Statistical Area]] and is included in the [[Seattle]]–[[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]], WA [[Seattle metropolitan area|Combined Statistical Area]].

==History==

The southern end of Puget Sound is the homeland of several indigenous [[Coast Salish]] groups, including the [[Nisqually people|Nisqually]], [[Squaxin Island Tribe|Squaxin]], and [[Upper Chehalis people|Upper Chehalis]].<ref name="Olympian-Tribes">{{cite news |last=Thompson |first=Lorrine |date=January 31, 2002 |title=Tribes play key role in county's history |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-olympian-tribes-play-key-role-in-cou/157713774/ 36]–[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-olympian-tribes-play-key-role-in-cou/157713794/ 37] |work=[[The Olympian]] | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-olympian-tribes-play-key-role-in-cou/157713774/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]] | accessdate=October 23, 2024}}</ref> Archeological remains at [[Tumwater Falls]] date back to 2,500 to 3,000 [[years before present]]; the area around the falls included a settlement with several [[longhouse]]s. The first European exhibition to the southern Puget Sound was conducted by [[Peter Puget]] and [[Joseph Whidbey]] on the British-led [[Vancouver Expedition]] in May 1792. The [[Hudson's Bay Company]] established a [[trading post]] at [[Fort Nisqually]] in 1833 on the east side of the [[Nisqually Delta]] while the [[Oregon Country]] was under joint administration by the British and American governments.<ref name="HistoryLink">{{cite web |last=Dougherty |first=Phil |date=November 15, 2006 |title=Thurston County — Thumbnail History |url=https://www.historylink.org/File/7979 |work=HistoryLink |accessdate=October 23, 2024}}</ref> Permanent European (and later American) settlement of modern-day Thurston County began with the arrival of a pioneer party led by [[Michael Simmons (pioneer)|Michael Simmons]] and Black pioneer [[George Bush (pioneer)|George Bush]] in 1845. Several families settled near Tumwater Falls at a site they named "New Market", which became the first European settlement in [[Western Washington]].<ref name="HistoryLink"/>

The area north of the [[Columbia River]] was originally under the jurisdiction of the [[Vancouver District]] (later renamed Clark County) until 1845, when [[Lewis County, Washington|Lewis County]] was created from the area west of the [[Cowlitz River]]. The entire region was ceded to the United States with the signing of the [[Oregon Treaty]] in 1846 and organized into [[Oregon Territory]] two years later.<ref name="Olympian-Birth">{{cite news |last=Stevenson |first=Shanna |date=January 31, 2002 |title=Petitions, meetings led to county's birth |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-olympian-petitions-meetings-led-to/157713687/ 6], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-olympian-petitions-meetings-led-to/157713699/ 8] |work=The Olympian |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-olympian-petitions-meetings-led-to/157713687/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=October 23, 2024}}</ref> A petition by 54 residents of [[Olympia, Washington|Olympia]] and surrounding communities was submitted to the [[Oregon Territorial Legislature]] in December 1851 to create a new county from Lewis County. The proposed name of Simmons County, named for Michael Simmons, was changed to Thurston County by the legislature at the suggestion of [[Asa Lovejoy]] to honor [[Samuel Thurston]], the first delegate to the [[U.S. Congress]] from Oregon Territory.<ref name="Olympian-Birth"/> Thurston himself had never visited the area.<ref>{{cite news |last=Longoria |first=Ruth |date=January 31, 2002 |title=County's namesake never visited here |page=35 |work=The Olympian |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-olympian-countys-namesake-never-vis/157713296/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=October 23, 2024}}</ref>

Thurston County was created on January 12, 1852, by the Oregon Territorial Legislature and Olympia was designated as its [[county seat|seat]].<ref name="Olympian-Birth"/> It included the entire [[Olympic Peninsula]] and [[Puget Sound region]] up to the northern border with [[British North America]] and went as far east as the [[Cascade Mountains]].<ref name="HistoryLink"/> On December 22, the northern areas of Thurston County were divided to form [[Island County, Washington|Island]], [[Jefferson County, Washington|Jefferson]], [[King County, Washington|King]], and [[Pierce County, Washington|Pierce]] counties.<ref name="Olympian-Birth"/> A portion of the county south of the [[Chehalis River (Washington)|Chehalis River]] was ceded to Lewis County in February 1853, a month before [[Washington Territory]] was created with its capital in Olympia.<ref name="HistoryLink"/><ref name="Newberry-Atlas">{{cite web |editor-last=Long |editor-first=John H. |year=2007 |title=Washington: Individual County Chronologies |url=https://digital.newberry.org/ahcb/documents/WA_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm |work=Atlas of Historical County Boundaries |publisher=[[Newberry Library]] | accessdate=October 23, 2024}}</ref> [[Sawamish County]] (now Mason County) was created in March 1854 from the northwestern portions of Thurston County and [[Chehalis County, Washington|Chehalis County]] (now Grays Harbor County) was established a month later from the remaining western half of Thurston County. Several exchanges of land between Thurston and neighboring counties were made during the 1860s and settled into the modern boundaries by 1873.<ref name="Olympian-Birth"/><ref name="Newberry-Atlas"/> An attempt to move the county seat from Olympia to [[Tumwater, Washington|Tumwater]] or [[West Olympia, Washington|West Olympia]] was defeated by voters in 1861.<ref name="Olympian-Birth"/>

Olympia was retained as capital of Washington after it was granted [[statehood]] in 1889; the city did not win a majority in the first referendum after [[Ellensburg, Washington|Ellensburg]] and [[Yakima, Washington|North Yakima]], but defeated both in a second vote. Local residents built a branch line to connect with the [[Northern Pacific Railroad]] and approved a harbor-dredging operation to promote Olympia as a trade hub as the area fell behind Seattle and Tacoma in population growth.<ref name="HistoryLink"/> The {{convert|150|ft|m|adj=mid}} [[Old Capitol Building (Olympia, Washington)|Thurston County Courthouse]] was completed in 1892 and was purchased by the state government in 1901 for use as the state capitol building to replace a temporary wooden structure built in 1856. The modern [[Washington State Capitol]] commenced construction in 1923 and was completed in 1928 alongside a campus of government buildings and monuments.<ref name="HistoryLink"/><ref>{{cite web |last=Nicandri |first=David L. |date=November 26, 1974 |title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory—Nomination Form: Thurston County Courthouse/Washington State Capitol Building |pages=2, 5–9 |url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/cac23cbd-001c-42bb-8f26-ea47d9358c38 |publisher=[[National Park Service]] | accessdate=October 23, 2024}}</ref> Thurston County remained predominantly dependent on the logging industry until the state government became the county's largest employment sector in the 1950s. Several state government agencies had attempted to move their offices to Seattle until a 1954 [[Washington Supreme Court]] ruling mandated that their headquarters remain in the Olympia area.<ref name="HistoryLink"/>

The first section of [[Interstate 5 in Washington|Interstate 5]] built in Thurston County was the {{convert|6.5|mi|km|adj=mid}} Olympia Freeway, which opened in December 1958 to bypass the city's downtown. Other sections opened over the following decade, extending access through [[Lacey, Washington|Lacey]] and Tumwater, where it destroyed portions of the historic downtown;<ref name="Olympian-Freeway">{{cite news |last=Batcheldor |first=Matt |date=December 7, 2008 |title=I-5 at 50: It's changed the face of the region |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-olympian-i-5-at-50-its-changed-the/119394703/ A1]–[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-olympian-i-5-at-50-part-2/119584850/ A2] |work=The Olympian |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-olympian-i-5-at-50-its-changed-the/119394703/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=October 23, 2024}}</ref> a proposal to build the freeway further away from Olympia was rejected to preserve rural areas.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gough |first=William |date=February 8, 1987 |title=Olympia traffic mess to end—eventually |page=B2 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=November 21, 1968 |title=Found: A Missing Link (And It's Open) |page=1 |work=The Olympian |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-olympian-found-a-missing-link-and/157726593/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=October 23, 2024}}</ref> The completion of Interstate 5 enabled the growth of [[bedroom community|bedroom communities]] around Thurston County, which saw its population rapidly increase from the 1950s to 1970s.<ref name="HistoryLink"/><ref name="Olympian-Freeway"/> The first suburban shopping center in the county, the [[South Sound Center]] in Lacey, opened in October 1966; it was followed by Lacey's incorporation as a city. The [[Evergreen State College]], a public [[liberal arts college]] in western Olympia, opened in 1972.<ref name="HistoryLink"/>

Thurston County, like many of the other counties in Western Washington, has a racially restrictive past.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Restriction maps - Racial Restrictive Covenants Project |url=https://depts.washington.edu/covenants/counties.shtml |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=depts.washington.edu}}</ref> Racial [[Racial segregation|segregation]] in Washington was different from the well-known accounts of Southern segregation during the [[Jim Crow laws|Jim Crow]] era. While Southern states required racial segregation in public facilities by law, much of the racial segregation in Washington was accomplished through [[Covenant (law)|racial restrictive covenants]] which were legally binding agreements between private parties.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Understanding Restrictive Covenants - Racial Restrictive Covenants Project |url=https://depts.washington.edu/covenants/segregation.shtml |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=depts.washington.edu}}</ref> These covenants were often included in property deeds between individual buyers and sellers, who agreed to never sell the property to specified racial or religious groups. In some cases, large groups of property owners would come together to implement racial restrictive covenants on entire [[Subdivision (land)|subdivisions]] or neighborhoods, which are called petitions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Understanding Restrictive Covenants - Racial Restrictive Covenants Project |url=https://depts.washington.edu/covenants/segregation.shtml |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=depts.washington.edu}}</ref> In Thurston County specifically, many covenants excluded any Black, mixed race, Chinese, Japanese, or Indian individuals from purchasing, renting, leasing, or occupying specified properties.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Restricted Properties - Olympia and Thurston County - Racial Restrictive Covenants Project |url=https://depts.washington.edu/covenants/map_cov_thurston.shtml |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=depts.washington.edu}}</ref> In rarer cases, Italians and Jewish individuals were also excluded from homeownership. <ref name=":0" /> The late 1930s to the early 1950s saw the largest number of racial restrictive covenants enacted.<ref name=":0" /> This history of segregation has had generational effects that are still felt today as people of color were systematically denied the ability to purchase homes and in turn were denied the ability to accrue [[Old money|generational wealth]] that comes with owning a home.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mapping Race and Segregation in Olympia and Thurston County, Washington, 1980-2020 - Civil Rights & Labor History Consortium |url=https://depts.washington.edu/labhist/maps-race-olympia.shtml |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=depts.washington.edu |language=en}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|774|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|722|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|52|sqmi}} (6.7%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_53.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 16, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Pierce County, Washington|Pierce County]] – northeast
* [[Lewis County, Washington|Lewis County]] – south
* [[Grays Harbor County, Washington|Grays Harbor County]] – west
* [[Mason County, Washington|Mason County]] – north/northwest

===Major highways===
* [[File:I-5.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 5 in Washington|Interstate 5]]
* [[File:US 12.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 12 in Washington|U.S. 12]]
* [[File:US 101.svg|23px]] [[U.S. Route 101 in Washington|U.S. 101]]
* [[File:WA-8.svg|23px]] [[Washington State Route 8|SR 8]]
* [[File:WA-507.svg|23px]] [[Washington State Route 507|SR 507]]
* [[File:WA-510.svg|23px]] [[Washington State Route 510|SR 510]]

===Geographic features===
Major watersheds: Black River, Budd/Deschutes, [[Chehalis River (Washington)|Chehalis River]], Eld Inlet, [[Henderson Inlet]], [[Nisqually River]], [[Skookumchuck River]], Totten Inlet and West Capitol Forest.

{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
* [[Alder Lake (Washington)|Alder Lake]]
* [[Bald Hill Lake]]
* [[Barnes Lake (Washington)|Barnes Lake]]
* [[Bass Lake (Thurston County, Washington)|Bass Lake]]
* [[Bigelow Lake]]
* [[Black Lake (Washington)|Black Lake]]
* [[Black River (Chehalis River)|Black River]]
* [[Budd Inlet]]
* [[Capitol Lake]]
* [[Capitol Peak (Thurston County)|Capitol Peak]]
* [[Capitol State Forest]]
* [[Chambers Lake (Thurston County, Washington)|Chambers Lake]]
* [[Chehalis River (Washington)|Chehalis River]]
* [[Clear Lake (Thurston County, Washington)|Clear Lake]]
* [[Millersylvania State Park|Deep Lake]]
* [[Deschutes River (Washington)|Deschutes River]]
* [[Elbow Lake (Thurston County, Washington)|Elbow Lake]]
* [[Eld Inlet]]
* [[Fifteen Lake]]
* [[Gehrke Lake]]
* [[Grass Lake (Thurston County, Washington)|Grass Lake]]
* [[Henderson Inlet]]
* [[Hewitt Lake (Washington)|Hewitt Lake]]
* [[Hicks Lake]]
* [[Lake Lawrence]]
* [[Libby Creek (Washington)|Libby Creek]]
* [[Lois Lake]]
* [[Long Lake (Thurston County, Washington)|Long Lake]]
* [[McIntosh Lake]]
* [[Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve|Mima Mounds]]
* [[Munn Lake]]
* [[Nisqually River]]
* [[Offut Lake]]
* [[Patterson Lake (Thurston County, Washington)|Patterson Lake]]
* [[Puget Sound]]
* [[Reichel Lake]]
* [[Rocky Prairie]]
* [[Saint Clair Lake (Washington)|Saint Clair Lake]]
* [[Scott Lake (Washington)|Scott Lake]]
* [[Simmons Lake (Washington)|Simmons Lake]]
* [[Skookumchuck River]]
* [[Smith Lake (Thurston County, Washington)|Smith Lake]]
* [[Southwick Lake]]
* [[Springer Lake]]
* [[Summit Lake (Thurston County, Washington)|Summit Lake]]
* [[Susan Lake]]
* [[Totten Inlet]]
* [[Trails End Lake]]
* [[Trosper Lake]]
* [[Ward Lake (Washington)|Ward Lake]]
{{div col end}}

===National protected areas===
* [[Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge]]

===Ecology and environment===
The habitat for the [[Castilleja levisecta|Golden Paintbrush]] (Castilleja levisecta) runs through the county. The plant was placed on the [[Endangered Species Act of 1973|Endangered Species]] list in 1997 but due to conservation efforts the {{convert|12|in|cm|adj=on|abbr=on}} tall prairie flower was delisted in 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sailor |first=Craig |date=July 22, 2023 |title=Rare South Sound blossom makes comeback |url=https://www.theolympian.com/news/state/washington/article277513923.html |work=The Olympian |access-date=September 1, 2023}}</ref>

Wildlife and land preserves in South Thurston County include the Black River Habitat Management Area, the Glacial Heritage Preserve,<ref>{{cite news |last=Browne Grivas |first=Erica |date=May 9, 2023 |title=Why conservation groups are trying to restore native prairies in WA |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/life/outdoors/why-conservation-groups-are-trying-to-restore-native-prairies-in-wa/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 1, 2023}}</ref> and the [[Scatter Creek Unit|Scatter Creek Wildlife Area]].

==Economy==

{{as of|December 2023}}, Thurston County has over 131,000 non-farm jobs and an [[unemployment rate]] of 4.8% without adjustments for seasonal labor. Over 32% of employed residents work in government, primarily for the state government; the second-largest employer is the healthcare and social assistance industry.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 2025 |title=Thurston County profile |url=https://esd.wa.gov/jobs-and-training/labor-market-information/reports-and-research/labor-market-county-profiles/thurston-county-profile |publisher=[[Washington State Employment Security Department]] |accessdate=March 4, 2025}}</ref> The largest employer in Thurston County is the State of Washington, with over 25,600 employees in 2020; the largest private employers are [[Providence St. Peter Hospital]] with 2,850 employees and retailer [[Safeway]] with 1,025 employees.<ref>{{cite web |last=Tubridy |first=Adam |date=June 2020 |title=HUD PD&R Housing Market Profiles: Olympia, Washington |url=https://www.huduser.gov/portal/periodicals/USHMC/reg/OlympiaWA-HMP-June20.pdf |publisher=[[United States Department of Housing and Urban Development]] |accessdate=March 4, 2025}}</ref> The mean [[hourly wage]] in the county across all non-farm occupations was $33.12 in May 2023—above the national average.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 25, 2024 |title=Occupational Employment and Wages in Olympia-Tumwater — May 2023 |url=https://www.bls.gov/regions/west/news-release/occupationalemploymentandwages_olympia.htm |publisher=[[U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics]] |accessdate=March 4, 2025}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1860= 1507
| 1870= 2246
| 1880= 3270
| 1890= 9675
| 1900= 9927
| 1910= 17581
| 1920= 22366
| 1930= 31351
| 1940= 37285
| 1950= 44884
| 1960= 55049
| 1970= 76894
| 1980= 124264
| 1990= 161238
| 2000= 207355
| 2010= 252264
| 2020= 294793
| estyear=2024
| estimate=302912
| estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 17, 2025}}</ref>
| align-fn=center
| footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 8, 2014}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=January 8, 2014}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/wa190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 8, 2014}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226035610/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=February 26, 2015 |url-status=dead|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 8, 2014}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="QuickFacts"/>
}}

Thurston County has the sixth-largest population among Washington's counties and is among the fastest-growing in the state. From 2010 to 2020, the county's population became more ethnically diverse, with the number of residents who identify as Hispanic or Latino increasing by 63.2%.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bilbao |first=Martín |date=September 26, 2021 |title=Census data shows how Thurston County has become more diverse over last decade |url=https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article254510747.html |work=The Olympian |accessdate=October 27, 2024}}</ref> The county's largest city is Lacey, which has an estimated population of over 60,000 and surpassed Olympia's population in the early 2020s.<ref>{{cite news |last=Schrager |first=Daniel |date=July 4, 2024 |title=Is Lacey's population growing faster than Olympia's? New data shows largest cities in WA |url=https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article289741094.html |work=The Olympian |accessdate=October 27, 2024}}</ref> The smallest incorporated place in Thurston County is the town of [[Bucoda, Washington|Bucoda]], which has 620 residents. Over 145,000 people live in the unincorporated areas of the county, which are primarily concentrated between Olympia and Lacey.<ref>{{cite report |date=September 2024 |title=2024 Population Trends |page=18 |url=https://ofm.wa.gov/sites/default/files/public/dataresearch/pop/april1/ofm_april1_poptrends.pdf |publisher=[[Washington State Office of Financial Management]] |accessdate=October 27, 2024}}</ref>

The entire county is designated as part of the Olympia–Lacey–Tumwater [[Metropolitan Statistical Area]] (MSA), which only includes Thurston County. The MSA was among the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the U.S. in the 2010s, with a year-to-year population increase of 2.24&nbsp;percent.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hobbs |first=Andy |date=April 2, 2017 |title=Olympia area among nation's fastest-growing communities, according to census |url=https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article142158234.html |work=The Olympian |accessdate=October 27, 2024}}</ref> The county also had the highest population of [[middle class]] households among metropolitan areas in the U.S. according to a 2024 [[Pew Research]] study, which determined that 66&nbsp;percent of households had adults with an annual income near double the national median household income.<ref>{{cite news |last=Balk |first=Gene |date=October 24, 2024 |title=Olympia ranked No. 1 in U.S. for share of middle-class residents |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/data/olympia-ranked-no-1-in-u-s-for-share-of-middle-class-residents/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=October 27, 2024}}</ref> Thurston County is also part of the [[Seattle]]–[[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]], WA [[Seattle metropolitan area|Combined Statistical Area]], which includes most of the Puget Sound region.<ref>{{cite map |date=February 2013 |title=Seattle–Tacoma, WA Combined Statistical Area |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/econ/ec2012/csa/EC2012_330M200US500M.pdf |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=October 27, 2024}}</ref>

===2020 census===
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 294,793 people, 115,397 households, and 76,717 families living in the county.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Thurston%20County,%20Washington%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=November 9, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[population density]] was {{convert|408.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 121,438 housing units at an average density of {{convert|168.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the county was 73.2% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 3.2% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.5% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 5.9% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.1% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 3.5% from some other races and 11.6% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] people of any race were 9.8% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web|title=How many people live in Thurston County, Washington |url=https://data.usatoday.com/census/total-population/total-population-change/thurston-county-washington/050-53067/ |access-date=November 9, 2024 |publisher=USA Today}}</ref> 20.5% of residents were under the age of 18, 5.1% were under 5 years of age, and 19.3% were 65 and older.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 252,264 people, 100,650 households, and 66,161 families living in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US53067 |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data |access-date=March 6, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] | archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213024846/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US53067 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|349.4|PD/sqmi}}. There were 108,182 housing units at an average density of {{convert|149.8|/sqmi}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US53067 |access-date=March 6, 2016 |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] | archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213193139/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US53067 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 82.4% white, 5.2% Asian, 2.7% black or African American, 1.4% American Indian, 0.8% Pacific islander, 2.2% from other races, and 5.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 7.1% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 21.2% were [[Germans|German]], 13.4% were [[English people|English]], 13.2% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 5.0% were [[Norwegians|Norwegian]], and 4.7% were [[Americans|American]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US53067 |title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |access-date=March 6, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] | archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213024300/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US53067 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Of the 100,650 households, 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.3% were non-families, and 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.95. The median age was 38.5 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $60,930 and the median income for a family was $71,833. Males had a median income of $53,679 versus $41,248 for females. The per capita income for the county was $29,707. About 7.1% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 13.0% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US53067 |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |access-date=March 6, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] | archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213024547/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US53067 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], there were 207,355 people, 81,625 households and 54,933 families living in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|285|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 86,652 housing units at an average density of {{convert|119|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 85.66% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 2.35% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 1.52% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 4.41% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.52% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.69% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 3.85% from two or more races. 4.53% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 17.1% were of [[German people|German]], 10.2% [[English people|English]], 9.8% [[Irish people|Irish]], 6.9% [[United States]] or American and 5.5% [[Norwegian people|Norwegian]] ancestry.

There were 81,625 households, of which 33.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.10% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.70% were non-families. 25.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.99.

Age distribution was 25.30% under the age of 18, 9.30% from 18 to 24, 29.30% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.70 males.

The [[median household income]] was $46,975, and the median family income was $55,027. Males had a median income of $40,521 versus $30,368 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $22,415. About 5.80% of families and 8.80% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 9.80% of those under age 18 and 5.00% of those age 65 or over.

===Homelessness===

Thurston County is a participant in the mandatory federal [[Point-In-Time Count]], a [[census]] of the local homeless population that is conducted by community organizations and volunteers. {{As of|January 2024}}, there were 952 people in the county who were counted and classified as homeless, an increase of over 200 from the prior year. Most of the people who were identified as unsheltered lived in vehicles and 79{{nbsp}}percent were from Thurston County or an adjacent county. Based on the Point-In-Time Count, Thurston County had a sixth-highest rate of people experiencing homelessness per capita among Washington's counties.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bilbao |first=Martín |date=January 16, 2025 |title=Finalized Thurston County homeless census counted more people in 2024. New census starts soon |url=https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article298659778.html |work=The Olympian |accessdate=March 4, 2025}}</ref>

==Government==

Thurston County is governed by a five-member [[county commission|board of county commissioners]] who are elected to four-year terms from proportional districts. The board of commissioners was enlarged from three members to five members in November 2023 following the approval of a ballot measure to expand the board that passed a year prior.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bilbao |first=Martín |date=November 29, 2023 |title=New Thurston County, Port of Olympia Commissioners sworn in Tuesday |url=https://www.theolympian.com/news/politics-government/election/article282434893.html |work=The Olympian |accessdate=October 23, 2024}}</ref> The head of the Thurston County government's administration is the [[city manager|county manager]], who is appointed by the board of commissioners. Since 2024, the county manager has been Leonard Hernandez, who was previously the CEO of [[San Bernardino County, California]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Bilbao |first=Martín |date=February 14, 2024 |title=Thurston County commissioners select new county manager who left California amid controversy |url=https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article285408467.html |work=The Olympian |accessdate=October 23, 2024}}</ref> Thurston County has used its commissioner–manager form of government since it was formed in 1852.<ref>{{cite news |last=Thompson |first=Lorrine |date=January 31, 2002 |title=Government structure unchanged since 1852 |page=30 |work=The Olympian |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-olympian-government-structure-unchan/157712708/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=October 23, 2024}}</ref> An attempt to adopt a home rule charter with an elected county executive and seven-member county council was rejected by voters in 1979.<ref>{{cite news |last=Norstadt |first=Andy |date=November 14, 1985 |title=Home rule an option |page=B1 |work=The Olympian |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-olympian-home-rule-an-option/157713476/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=October 23, 2024}}</ref>

The county is split between two U.S. [[congressional district]]s, which each elect a member to the [[United States House of Representatives]]: the [[Washington's 3rd congressional district|3rd district]], generally south of [[Washington State Route 507|State Route 507]]; and the [[Washington's 10th congressional district|10th district]], which includes the urban areas of Olympia, Lacey, and Tumwater, as well as Yelm.<ref name="WADistricts">{{cite map |date=July 2024 |title=Washington State Legislative & Congressional District Map |url=https://www.sos.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-07/Road%20Map_01.pdf |at=[https://www.sos.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-07/Road%20Map%20Inset_01.pdf Olympia inset] |publisher=[[Washington State Redistricting Commission]] | accessdate=October 24, 2024}}</ref> Until the creation of the 10th district following the 2010 U.S. census, Olympia and Lacey were in separate congressional districts.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shannon |first1=Brad |last2=Schrader |first2=Jordan |date=February 27, 2011 |title=District shuffle to begin |url=https://www.theolympian.com/news/politics-government/article25286950.html |work=The Olympian |accessdate=October 24, 2024}}</ref> At the state level, Thurston County is part of five [[Washington legislative districts|legislative districts]] that each elect a state senator and two state representatives. The [[Washington's 2nd legislative district|2nd district]] encompasses the rural southeast of the county; the [[Washington's 19th legislative district|19th district]] includes Grand Mound and the southwest corner of the county; the [[Washington's 20th legislative district|20th district]] includes an area east of Grand Mound; the [[Washington's 22nd legislative district|22nd district]] includes Olympia, Lacey, and Tumwater; and the [[Washington's 35th legislative district|35th district]] encompasses western and central Thurston County.<ref name="WADistricts"/>

===Special districts===
Special-purpose districts include cemetery, fire, hospital, library, school, and water and sewer districts. Each special district is governed by officials elected by voters within that jurisdiction.

====Fire districts====
Seven fire districts, three city fire departments, and two regional fire authorities provide fire prevention, fire fighting, and emergency medical services. Each fire district is governed by an elected board of commissioners. Most districts have three commissioners. Fire districts receive most of their revenue from property taxes. All of the fire districts and the regional fire authority have volunteer or paid-call firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMTs).

The City of Olympia is an all-career department. Fire District 3 only allows volunteers to live within the City of Lacey city limits.

Thurston County Fire Districts are:<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20220129101410/https://www.geodata.org/pdf/FireDistricts(54x35).pdf Thurston County Fire Districts map]}} Retrieved January 20, 2024.</ref>

* Fire District 1 merged with Fire District 14 in 2002, then merging with Fire District 11 in 2010 to form West Thurston Regional Fire Authority.
* Fire District 2 merged with Fire District 4 to form S.E. Thurston Fire Authority in 2010.
* Fire District 3 serves the City of Lacey and surrounding areas.
* Fire District 4 merged with Fire District 2 to form S.E. Thurston Fire Authority in 2010.
* Fire District 5 consolidated with Fire District 9, forming McLane – Black Lake Fire Department in 2008, fully merging in 2018.
* Fire District 6 serves East Olympia.
* Fire District 7 merged with Fire District 8 in 2015.
* Fire District 8 serves South Bay, Johnson Point, and North Olympia.
* Fire District 9 operates as McLane – Black Lake Fire Department.
* Fire District 10 merged with Fire District 9 in 1976.
* Fire District 11 merged into Fire District 1  in 2010 to form West Thurston Regional Fire Authority.
* Fire District 12 merged with Fire District 16 to form South Thurston Fire & EMS in 2017.
* Fire District 13 serves Steamboat Island, south to Route 8.
* Fire District 14 merged with Fire District 1 in 2002.
* Fire District 15 contracted service with the City of Tumwater on January 4, 1967, being annexed into the city of 2016.
* Fire District 16 merged into Fire District 12 to form South Thurston Fire & EMS in 2017.
* Fire District 17 serves Bald Hills.

===Politics===
Thurston County leans Democratic in both national and local elections. The county has voted for the Democratic presidential candidate since 1988 and the candidates have consistently received a majority of the vote in the county. Democrat [[Bob Ferguson (politician)|Bob Ferguson]] defeated Republican [[Dave Reichert]] in the 2024 gubernatorial election in Thurston County by an 11.7 percent margin, 55.7 percent to 44.0 percent.<ref>{{cite web |title=Thurston County November 5, 2024 General Election |url=https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20241105/thurston/ |website=results.vote.wa.gov}}</ref> As of the 2024 election, all five Thurston County Commissioners are Democrats.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bilbao |first1=Martin |url=https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article297203029.html |access-date=17 May 2025 |date=18 December 2024}}</ref> {{PresHead|place=Thurston County, Washington|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=April 10, 2018}}</ref>|source2=<ref>The leading "other" candidate, [[Progressive Party (United States, 1912)|Progressive]] [[Theodore Roosevelt]], received 1,471 votes, while Socialist candidate [[Eugene V. Debs|Eugene Debs]] received 1,160 votes, [[Prohibition Party|Prohibition]] candidate [[Eugene W. Chafin|Eugene Chafin]] received 270 votes, and [[Socialist Labor Party of America|Socialist Labor]] candidate [[Arthur Reimer]] received 17 votes.</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|62,282|95,663|6,592|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|65,277|96,608|6,249|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|48,624|68,798|16,769|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|49,287|74,037|4,416|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|48,366|75,882|3,142|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|47,992|62,650|2,147|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|39,924|50,467|7,031|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|29,835|45,522|11,923|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|25,643|38,293|20,633|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|31,980|33,860|1,090|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|34,442|26,840|763|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|26,369|20,508|7,946|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|21,000|21,247|1,809|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|22,297|14,596|1,899|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|13,742|14,228|2,529|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|9,351|17,578|92|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|13,921|11,620|65|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|14,093|9,897|19|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|13,904|9,764|172|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|9,511|10,461|832|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|7,900|9,708|158|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|7,275|11,092|206|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|4,425|10,647|703|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|4,241|6,308|3,173|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|7,203|3,013|135|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|5,125|943|2,803|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|3,899|1,367|2,122|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|3,223|2,658|867|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1912|Republican|1,937|1,456|2,918|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,940|964|483|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|2,121|668|307|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|1,298|978|103|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|1,052|1,415|22|Washington}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Republican|1,043|810|648|Washington}}

==Education==

Several school districts provide [[K–12 education]] in Thurston County, including those that overlap with other counties:<ref>{{cite map|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st53_wa/schooldistrict_maps/c53067_thurston/DC20SD_C53067.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st53_wa/schooldistrict_maps/c53067_thurston/DC20SD_C53067.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 Census – School District Reference Map: Thurston County, WA|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=July 20, 2022}} – [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st53_wa/schooldistrict_maps/c53067_thurston/DC20SD_C53067_SD2MS.txt Text list] – [https://web.archive.org/web/20141129042652/http://www.mrsc.org/subjects/governance/spd/spd-schlst.aspx#thurston List of districts based in Thurston County]</ref>
{{div col}}
* [[Centralia School District]]
* [[Griffin School District]]
* [[North Thurston Public Schools]]
* [[Olympia School District]]
* [[Rainier School District]]
* [[Rochester School District (Washington)|Rochester School District]]
* [[Tenino School District]]
* [[Tumwater School District]]
* [[Yelm Community Schools]]
{{div end}}

Thurston County also has three post-secondary educational institutions:

* [[Evergreen State College]]
* [[Saint Martin's University]]
* [[South Puget Sound Community College]]

==Parks and recreation==
The county is home to several [[rail trails]], including the [[Chehalis Western Trail]], which is the longest in the county, the [[Karen Fraser Woodland Trail]], and the [[Yelm-Rainier-Tenino Trail]].

==Culture==

===Arts and music===
{{see also|Music of Olympia, Washington}}

Olympia is a noted countercultural hub in the Pacific Northwest, particularly in music. It gained national prominence for its [[indie music]] in the late 20th century, and was home to various [[grunge]], [[punk music|punk]], and [[indie rock]] bands that achieved national recognition in the 1980s and 1990s, notably including [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]], [[Bikini Kill]], and [[Sleater-Kinney]]. Indie label [[K Records]] and the Evergreen State College's radio station [[KAOS (FM)|KAOS]], both founded by musician [[Calvin Johnson (musician)|Calvin Johnson]], brought many groups into the mainstream and wider success.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dougher |first=Sarah |date=January 13, 2013 |title=Revolution Come and Gone: On K Records |url=https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/revolution-come-and-gone-on-k-records/ |work=[[Los Angeles Review of Books]] |accessdate=October 27, 2024}}</ref>

===Media===

The [[newspaper of record]] for Thurston County is ''[[The Olympian]]'', a newspaper based in Olympia that is owned by the [[McClatchy Company]] and publishes three print editions per week.<ref>{{cite news |last=Shannon |first=Madeline |date=July 24, 2020 |title=McClatchy sold to New Jersey hedge fund |url=https://www.thejoltnews.com/stories/mcclatchy-sold-to-new-jersey-hedge-fund,222 |work=The JOLT |accessdate=October 25, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Opong |first=Diana |date=March 5, 2024 |title=Seattle area McClatchy newspapers move to printing just 3 days per week |url=https://www.kuow.org/stories/seattle-area-mcclatchy-newspapers-move-to-printing-just-3-days-per-week |publisher=KUOW |accessdate=October 25, 2024}}</ref> {{As of|2022}}, it has a circulation of 17,401.<ref name="LWV-Newspapers">{{cite web |date=November 2022 |title=The Decline of Local News and Its Impact on Democracy |pages=86, 108 |url=https://cdn.wildapricot.com/203628/resources/Documents/Studies/LocalNews/Decline%2036.pdf |publisher=[[League of Women Voters|League of Women Voters of Washington]] |accessdate=October 25, 2024}}</ref> ''The Olympian'' was founded in 1891 and merged with several local newspapers in the early 20th century to become the sole daily newspaper in the county. Earlier newspapers included ''The Columbian'', founded in 1852, and ''The Washington Standard'', which was published weekly from 1860 to 1921.<ref>{{cite news |last=Oakland |first=Mike |date=August 28, 2005 |title=Another step in South Sound's 150-year newspaper tradition |page=A5 |work=The Olympian |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-olympian-another-step-in-south-sound/157789495/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=October 25, 2024}}</ref> As the state capital, Olympia formerly had [[news bureau|bureaus]] for newspapers across the state, including the two dailies in Seattle, and several reporters from the [[Associated Press]]. By 2021, the Olympia bureaus had shrunk to only six reporters.<ref>{{cite news |last=Queary |first=Paul |date=April 7, 2021 |title=Evicted: The Incredible Shrinking State House Press |url=https://www.postalley.org/2021/04/07/evicted-the-incredible-shrinking-state-house-press/ |work=[[Post Alley (website)|Post Alley]] |accessdate=October 25, 2024}}</ref>

The county also has several weekly and online news publications.<ref name="LWV-Newspapers"/> The ''[[Nisqually Valley News]]'', founded in 1922, is published weekly in Yelm and has been a sister publication of ''[[The Chronicle (Centralia, Washington)|The Chronicle]]'' of Centralia since 1994.<ref>{{cite news |last=Tomtas |first=Justyna |date=February 15, 2022 |title=Nisqually Valley News Celebrates 100th Anniversary |url=https://www.yelmonline.com/stories/nisqually-valley-news-celebrates-100th-anniversary,284629 |work=[[Nisqually Valley News]] |accessdate=October 27, 2024}}</ref><ref name="Olympian-Papers1988">{{cite news |last=Dwelley |first=Arthur G. |date=June 14, 1988 |title=Peddling their papers: Early gypsy journalists left inky mark |page=C1 |work=The Olympian |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-olympian-peddling-their-papers-earl/157975816/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=October 27, 2024}}</ref> Tenino had several competing newspapers during the 1910s that were succeeded by the ''[[Tenino Independent]]'', which has been published weekly since 1922.<ref name="LWV-Newspapers"/><ref name="Olympian-Papers1988"/> An [[alt weekly]], the ''[[Weekly Volcano]]'' was published in Olympia from 2001 to 2013;<ref>{{cite news |date=September 30, 2007 |title=Poster artists, music group, paper win city recognition |page=E4 |work=The News Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113758652/poster-artists-music-group-paper-win/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=October 27, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Nagle |first=Matt |date=April 30, 2013 |title=Changes come to Weekly Volcano |url=http://www.tacomaweekly.com/dailymashup/view/changes-come-to-weekly-volcano |work=[[Tacoma Weekly]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730034846/http://www.tacomaweekly.com/dailymashup/view/changes-come-to-weekly-volcano |archive-date=July 30, 2017 |accessdate=October 27, 2024}}</ref> it was later revived in 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bryan |first=Saint |date=September 12, 2023 |title=Dormant for years, Tacoma's Weekly Volcano newspaper is about to erupt again |url=https://www.king5.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/evening/tacomas-weekly-volcano-angela-jossy/281-191e2efa-1539-4a01-bf4d-64150ada326e |publisher=KING 5 News |accessdate=October 27, 2024}}</ref> ''The Journal of Olympia, Lacey & Tumwater'' (JOLT) is a non-profit online news organization that was founded in 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hare |first=Kristen |date=December 27, 2021 |title=More than 70 local newsrooms launched during the pandemic |url=https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2021/more-than-50-local-newsrooms-launched-during-the-pandemic/ |publisher=[[Poynter Institute]] |accessdate=October 27, 2024}}</ref>

===Libraries===

Thurston County is part of the [[Timberland Regional Library]], a [[public library]] system that serves five counties in southwestern Washington and is headquartered in Tumwater.<ref>{{cite news |last=Spegman |first=Abby |date=July 24, 2019 |title=As it plans for the future, hard feelings remain over Timberland's attempt to close libraries |url=https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article232697132.html |work=The Olympian |accessdate=October 27, 2024}}</ref> It has seven locations in the county and a dedicated [[bookmobile]] service.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 2024 |title=2023 Washington Public Library Statistical Report |pages=125–126 |url=https://www2.sos.wa.gov/_assets/library/libraries/libdev/2023stats.pdf |publisher=Washington Secretary of State |accessdate=October 27, 2024}}</ref> Thurston County is a founding member of the Timberland system, which was established as a pilot project in 1964 and made into a permanent intercounty rural library district in 1968. The county had previously been served by the South Puget Sound Regional Library, which was contracted to operate libraries in the cities of Lacey, Olympia, and Yelm. These cities were later annexed directly into the Timberland system by the 1980s.<ref>{{cite web |date=March 2013 |title=TRL Board of Trustees Manual: A History of Timberland Regional Library |pages=1–6 |url=https://trl.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/140/2023/05/Board-History.pdf |publisher=[[Timberland Regional Library]] |accessdate=October 27, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=February 3, 1982 |title=Voters Pass Library Plan |page=B2 |work=The Olympian |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-olympian-voters-pass-library-plan/157977319/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=October 27, 2024}}</ref> The oldest public library in the county was opened in 1896 by the [[Woman's Club of Olympia]], who donated their collection of 900 books to the city government in 1909. A permanent [[Carnegie library]] in Olympia was opened in 1914 with 1,500 books and was used by the city and Timberland until a new library building opened in 1978.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pemberton |first=Lisa |date=September 14, 2014 |title=100 years of going to the library |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-olympian-100-years-of-going-to-the-l/157977418/ A1], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-olympian-100-years-of-going-to-the-l/157977425/ A18] |work=The Olympian |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-olympian-100-years-of-going-to-the-l/157977418/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=October 27, 2024}}</ref>

==Infrastructure==

===Transportation===

Thurston County is bisected by [[Interstate 5 in Washington|Interstate 5]], the major north–south freeway on the [[West Coast of the United States|U.S. West Coast]] that connects Washington, [[Oregon]], and [[California]].<ref name="TNT-NisquallyBridge">{{cite news |last=Peterson |first=Josephine |date=October 1, 2024 |title=They cut costs in the '60s. Now part of I-5 faces flood danger or up to $4.2B to fix |url=https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article254324633.html |work=The News Tribune |accessdate=October 24, 2024}}</ref> The freeway travels through Grand Mound, Tumwater, Olympia, and Lacey and continues south to [[Portland, Oregon]], and north to Tacoma and Seattle. It was constructed in the 1950s and 1960s to replace [[U.S. Route 99]], the original north–south highway in Western Washington.<ref name="Olympian-Freeway"/> Interstate 5 intersects several other highways within Thurston County that provide connections to other areas of Washington state. These include [[U.S. Route 12 in Washington|U.S. Route 12]], which travels west from Grand Mound to [[Aberdeen, Washington|Aberdeen]]; [[U.S. Route 101 in Washington|U.S. Route 101]], which encircles most of the Olympic Peninsula and provides access to Aberdeen via [[Washington State Route 8|State Route 8]]; and [[Washington State Route 510|State Route 510]], which travels along the Nisqually River to Yelm, where it intersects [[Washington State Route 507|State Route 507]].<ref name="WSDOT-Map">{{cite WSDOT map |year=2014 |inset=Olympia |accessdate=October 24, 2024}}</ref><ref name="RoadMap">{{cite map |date=September 28, 2022 |title=Thurston County Road Ownership |url=https://map.co.thurston.wa.us/pdf/RoadOwner(54x35).pdf |publisher=Thurston County GeoData Center |accessdate=October 26, 2024}}</ref>

The county has two public transportation providers and connections to other systems that serve neighboring counties. [[Intercity Transit]] has 18 routes that serve the cities and urban growth areas of Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, and Yelm. In addition to local service, the agency operates The One, a rapid bus service in Olympia and Lacey, and express buses to [[Lakewood, Washington|Lakewood]] that connect with [[Pierce Transit]] and [[Sound Transit]].<ref>{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.intercitytransit.com/about-us |publisher=Intercity Transit |accessdate=October 24, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Boone |first=Rolf |date=September 10, 2020 |title=Need a lift? Intercity Transit is set to expand bus service Sept. 20 |url=https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article245458190.html |work=The Olympian |accessdate=October 24, 2024}}</ref> All routes in the Intercity Transit system have been fare-free since 2020; the agency is funded by a local sales tax within its [[public transportation benefit area|service area]], which was formed in 1980.<ref>{{cite news |last=Beekman |first=Daniel |date=November 13, 2023 |title=Clallam Transit will be latest of many WA systems to go fare-free |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/clallam-transit-will-be-latest-of-many-wa-systems-to-go-fare-free/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=October 24, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=August 2023 |title=Intercity Transit 2022 Annual Report, 2023–2028 Transit Development Plan |page=2 |url=https://www.intercitytransit.com/sites/default/files/2024-01/FinalTDP2023-2028.pdf |publisher=Intercity Transit |accessdate=October 24, 2024}}</ref> [[Rural Transit (Washington)|Rural Transit]] is operated by the [[Thurston Regional Planning Council]] between communities south of Olympia and Tumwater. It is also fare-free and connects with [[Lewis County Transit]] in Centralia.<ref>{{cite news |last=Warn |first=Daniel |date=March 2, 2022 |title=Rural Transit Connects Those With Limited Public Transportation to Population Hubs Around Region |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/rural-transit-connects-those-with-limited-public-transportation-to-population-hubs-around-region,285467 |work=The Daily Chronicle |accessdate=October 24, 2024}}</ref>

Passenger rail service through Thurston County is operated by [[Amtrak]], which has two routes that serve [[Centennial Station]] in southern Lacey, which opened in 1993 and is primarily run by volunteers.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hall |first=C.B. |date=February 21, 2012 |title=Amtrak finds it hard to take citizens' help, even when they build a station |url=https://www.cascadepbs.org/2012/02/amtrak-finds-hard-take-citizens-help-even-when-the |work=Crosscut.com |accessdate=October 24, 2024}}</ref> The ''[[Amtrak Cascades|Cascades]]'' has several daily trips to Seattle, Portland, and [[Vancouver]]; the ''[[Coast Starlight]]'' has one daily train that runs between Seattle, [[Sacramento]], the [[San Francisco Bay Area]], and [[Los Angeles]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Sailor |first=Craig |date=December 13, 2017 |title=One of the last great Washington train rides is coming to an end |url=https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article188843224.html |work=The News Tribune |accessdate=October 24, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Paul |first=Crystal |date=March 29, 2019 |title=What it's like to take a 35-hour ride on Amtrak's Coast Starlight train from Los Angeles to Seattle |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/life/travel/what-its-like-to-take-a-35-hour-ride-on-the-coast-starlight-train-from-l-a-to-seattle/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=October 24, 2024}}</ref> These routes run on tracks owned by the [[BNSF Railway]], which primarily operates freight trains through the county on the [[Seattle Subdivision]]. Several branch railroads also pass through Thurston County, including the [[Puget Sound and Pacific Railroad]] and two lines owned by the Port of Olympia that were leased to [[Tacoma Rail]] until 2016.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Cambridge Systematics |author-link1=Cambridge Systematics |author2=HDR, Inc. |author-link2=HDR, Inc. |date=May 2006 |title=Statewide Rail Capacity and Systems Needs Study Technical Memorandium |pages=7, 18, 35, 48–52 |url=https://wstc.wa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Rail-TM1-1-A-WashStateFreightRailsys.pdf |publisher=Washington State Transportation Commission |accessdate=October 24, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Hobbs |first=Andy |date=January 10, 2016 |title=Tacoma Rail to end short-line service to Thurston County |url=https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article53792700.html |work=The Olympian |accessdate=October 24, 2024}}</ref>

The county has one public airport, [[Olympia Regional Airport]], which is owned by the Port of Olympia and used for [[general aviation]], business flights, [[air ambulance]]s, and government use. It has two runways, a passenger terminal, and an [[air traffic control tower]].<ref>{{cite web |date=November 2020 |title=Washington Electric Aircraft Feasibility Study |pages=199–200 |url=https://wsdot.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-11/WSDOT-Electric-Aircraft-Feasibility-Study.pdf |publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation |accessdate=October 24, 2024}}</ref> The airport and two other sites in Thurston County were among candidates considered by a state legislative commission for a new passenger airport to relieve crowding at [[Seattle–Tacoma International Airport]], the main passenger airport in the region.<ref>{{cite news |last=Relente |first=Angelica |date=July 19, 2023 |title=Where will Washington's new airport be? Locals are fighting against one of the options |url=https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/community/puyallup-herald/ph-news/article265568961.html |work=The News Tribune |accessdate=October 24, 2024}}</ref>

===Utilities===

The county's customer [[electricity]] and [[natural gas]] is provided by [[Puget Sound Energy]], a private company that serves most of the [[Seattle metropolitan area]]. The company has {{convert|1,332|mi|km}} of [[overhead power lines|overhead lines]] and {{convert|1,332|mi|km}} [[underground power line|underground lines]] to serve over 131,000 total customers in Thurston County. Puget Sound Energy's natural gas infrastructure includes {{convert|973|mi|km}} of mains in the county. Several public utilities, including city governments and county-owned rural systems, provide [[tap water|water]] to residents and businesses.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 2019 |title=Chapter 7: Utilities |url=https://s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/thurstoncountywa.gov.if-us-west-2/s3fs-public/2023-01/cped-cp-docs-Chapter_07_UTILITIES_Nov2019_FINAL_clean.pdf |work=Thurston County Comprehensive Plan |publisher=Thurston County |accessdate=March 4, 2025}}</ref>

===Healthcare===

Thurston County has two major hospitals that have a combined 500-bed capacity. The largest is [[Providence St. Peter Hospital]] north of Lacey, which has 390 beds and is operated by [[Providence Health & Services]].<ref>{{cite news |date=April 4, 2022 |title=Providence, Swedish health care systems unite under one brand |url=https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article260104510.html |work=The Olympian |accessdate=November 4, 2024}}</ref> It was founded in 1887  at a location in Olympia and moved to its current campus near Lacey in 1971.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hogan |first=Hal |date=January 6, 1971 |title=St. Peter Hospital: Switch Without a Hitch |page=1 |work=The Olympian |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-olympian-st-peter-hospital-switch/158349071/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=November 4, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Satir |first=F.E. |date=July 10, 1997 |title=Times change, caring doesn't |page=D1 |work=The Olympian |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-olympian-times-change-caring-doesn/158349081/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=November 4, 2024}}</ref> The [[Capital Medical Center]] in Olympia, operated by [[MultiCare Health System|MultiCare Health]] since 2021, has 107 beds and an off-campus emergency room in Lacey.<ref>{{cite news |last=Boone |first=Rolf |date=March 5, 2021 |title=MultiCare says purchase price for Capital Medical Center is $44.6 million |url=https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article249623623.html |work=The Olympian |access-date=October 24, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Boone |first=Rolf |date=December 18, 2023 |title=Off-campus ER opens Friday, check out downtown winery and this pizzeria's new third site |url=https://www.theolympian.com/news/business/article282935378.html |work=The Olympian |access-date=November 4, 2024}}</ref> It was built in 1985 to address a shortage in hospital capacity in the South Puget Sound region.<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Jeff |date=May 15, 1995 |title=Capital's growth mirrors nation |page=C4 |work=The Olympian |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-olympian-capitals-growth-mirrors-na/158411869/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=November 4, 2024}}</ref>

==Communities==
[[File:Aerial View of Olympia, WA.jpg|thumb|right|Aerial view of [[Olympia, Washington|Olympia]], the county seat of and largest city in Thurston County]]

===Cities===
* [[Lacey, Washington|Lacey]]
* [[Olympia, Washington|Olympia]] (county seat)
* [[Rainier, Washington|Rainier]]
* [[Tenino, Washington|Tenino]]
* [[Tumwater, Washington|Tumwater]]
* [[Yelm, Washington|Yelm]]

===Towns===
* [[Bucoda, Washington|Bucoda]]

===Census-designated places===
* [[Grand Mound, Washington|Grand Mound]]
* [[Nisqually Reservation, Washington|Nisqually Reservation]]
* [[North Yelm, Washington|North Yelm]]
* [[Rochester, Washington|Rochester]]
* [[Tanglewilde-Thompson Place, Washington|Tanglewilde-Thompson Place]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Boston Harbor, Washington|Boston Harbor]]
* [[Driftwood, Washington|Driftwood]]
* [[Delphi, Washington|Delphi]]
* [[East Olympia, Washington|East Olympia]]
* [[Gate, Washington|Gate]]
* [[Indian Summer, Washington|Indian Summer]]
* [[Kellys Korner, Washington|Kellys Corner]]
* [[Lake Lawrence, Washington|Lake Lawrence]]
* [[Littlerock, Washington|Littlerock]]
* [[Maytown, Washington|Maytown]]
* [[Mushroom Corner, Washington|Mushroom Corner]]
* [[Offutt Lake, Washington|Offutt Lake]]
* [[Saint Clair, Washington|Saint Clair]]
* [[Schneiders Prairie, Washington|Schneiders Prairie]]
* [[Skookumchuck, Thurston County, Washington|Skookumchuck]]
* [[South Bay, Washington|South Bay]]
* [[Steamboat Island]]
* [[Vail, Washington|Vail]]
{{div col end}}

===Ghost towns===
* [[Tono, Washington|Tono]]

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Thurston County, Washington]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|auto=y}}
* {{osmrelation|1153508}}
* [https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/ Official county government website]
* [https://www.thurstoncd.com/ Thurston Conservation District]

{{Geographic Location
| Centre    = Thurston County, Washington
| North     = 
| Northeast = [[Pierce County, Washington|Pierce County]]
| East      = 
| Southeast = 
| South     = [[Lewis County, Washington|Lewis County]]
| Southwest = 
| West      = [[Grays Harbor County, Washington|Grays Harbor County]]
| Northwest = [[Mason County, Washington|Mason County]]
}}

{{Thurston County, Washington}}
{{Washington}}
{{Seattle Metro}}
{{authority control}}
{{coord|46.93|-122.83|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-WA_source:UScensus1990}}
[[Category:Thurston County, Washington| ]]
[[Category:1852 establishments in Oregon Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1852]]
[[Category:Seattle metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Western Washington]]