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Relocation Information

Welcome to Pierce County, Washington

Second most populous area in Washington State:

City of Tacoma population: 203,400

Pierce County population: 813,600

Pierce County Area: 1,790 square miles

Location: stretching from lower Puget Sound to Mt. Rainier National Park in Western Washington

Average Temperatures:

Summer: 70-80 degrees F Winter: 40-50 degrees F Spring/Fall: 55-65 degrees F

Average Rainfall: 39.9 inches (less than New York), 75% of which falls October through March

A Brief History of Tacoma:

The indigenous people of Puget Sound resided in the Pierce county area long before European inhabitants named it, and native tribes like the Nisqually and Puyallup still call the area home. It was a mispronunciation of the native name for Mount Rainier, "Tacobet," meaning "Mother of Waters," which gave Tacoma its name.

In 1833 the Hudson Bay's Company became the first European settlers of the area when they established Fort Nisqually, a fur trading post at Point Defiance. A new wave of residents wouldn't occur until the early 1850s when lumbermen moved West.

Washington State: http://access.wa.gov/

Pierce County: http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/PC/

Tacoma Chamber of Commerce: http://www.tacomachamber.org/

Community Fact Sheet: http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?nid=541

Tacoma + Surrounding Neighborhoods

Tacoma

Stadium Business District: http://www.stadiumbusinessdistrict.com/

Proctor Business District: http://proctorbusinessdistrict.com/

Lincoln Business District: http://www.lincolnbusinessdistrict.com/

Dome Business District: http://www.domebusinessdistrict.com/

Fern Hill Business District: http://proctorbusinessdistrict.com/Page.aspx?hid=30

McKinley Hill Businesss District: http://proctorbusinessdistrict.com/Page.aspx?hid=32

Oakland Madrona: http://proctorbusinessdistrict.com/Page.aspx?hid=33

Old Town: http://proctorbusinessdistrict.com/Page.aspx?hid=34

Portland Ave.: http://proctorbusinessdistrict.com/Page.aspx?hid=31

Ruston Point Defiance: http://proctorbusinessdistrict.com/Page.aspx?hid=335

Sixth Ave: http://proctorbusinessdistrict.com/Page.aspx?hid=338

South Tacoma: http://proctorbusinessdistrict.com/Page.aspx?hid=37

Tacoma Narrows: http://proctorbusinessdistrict.com/Page.aspx?hid=41

Upper Tacoma: http://proctorbusinessdistrict.com/Page.aspx?hid=39

Tacoma Profile By Neighborhood: www.city-data.com

Puyallup/Sumner: http://www.puyallupsumnerchamber.com/relocating.php

DuPont: http://www.dupontwa.com/relocationinformation.asp

Fife: http://www.fifechamber.org/

Lakewood: http://lakewood-wa.com/newcomers.htm

Gig Harbor: http://www.gigharborchamber.com/orderkit.html

Military Bases:

Fort Lewis: http://www.lewis.army.mil/

McChord AFB: http://public.mcchord.amc.af.mil/

Naval Base Kitsap: http://www.navylifepnw.com/site/138/NBKBremerton.aspx

Local Culture

Situated less than one hundred miles from Mount Rainier National Park on the Puget Sound's southern shore, Tacoma is an ideal home for the nature enthusiast. Tacoma + Pierce County offer residents ample opportunities to hike, camp, golf or bike.

Visitor Guide: http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/tacoma/vg10/

Events: www.traveltacoma.com/calendar

Dining + Drinks: www.traveltacoma.com/diningnightlife/

Recreation/Activities: http://www.traveltacoma.com/recreationalactivities/

Mt. Rainier: http://www.nps.gov/mora/

Olympic National Park: http://www.nps.gov/olym/

Gifford Pinchot National Forest: http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/

Shopping: www.traveltacoma.com/shopping/

Tacoma Farmer's Markets: http://www.tacomafarmersmarket.com/

Attractions: http://www.traveltacoma.com/attractions/

Annual Events: http://www.traveltacoma.com/static/index.cfm?contentID=242

Port of Tacoma: http://www.portoftacoma.com/

Newspapers:

Tacoma News Tribune: http://www.thenewstribune.com/

Tacoma Weekly: http://www.tacomaweekly.com/

Weekly Volcano: http://www.weeklyvolcano.com/

Hospitals:

www.multicare.org

www.fhshealth.org

Retirement Living: http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/xml/abtus/ourorg/humsvcs/altc/pierceseniorinforethome.pdf

Assisted Living: http://www.dexknows.com/local/health_care/health_care_centers/assisted_living_facilities/geo/c-tacoma-wa/

Worship Groups

Roman Catholic: http://www.tacomacatholic.org/

Protestant: www.lutheranssw.org

Latter Day Saint: www.lds.org

Muslim: http://islamiccenteroftacoma.com/

Jewish: http://www.chabadpiercecounty.com/ http://www.jtnews.net/index.php?/guide/item/C84/1271

Transportation

Tacoma Link: http://www.traveltacoma.com/lightrail/

PierceTransit: http://www.piercetransit.org/

Sound Transit: http://www.soundtransit.org/

Rentals and Shuttles: http://www.traveltacoma.com/tourstransportation/

Maps: http://www.traveltacoma.com/static/index.cfm?contentID=497

Education

Tacoma takes pride in its unique and distinguished education system, including its 56 public schools, 100+ private schools, colleges, universities + trade schools. Tacoma's emphasis on art within its public school system has become a model for districts seeking to implement alternative and art-focused programs. The Tacoma School of the Arts (SOTA) provides high school sophomores through seniors the opportunity to focus on artistic trades alongside state mandated classes like math and science, while the city's Hilltop Artists in Residency program provides at risk youth elementary aged and older professional glass-blowing instruction as a means by which to improve their lives.

Tacoma School District: http://www.tacoma.k12.wa.us/Pages/default.aspx

Private Schools: http://www.greatschools.net/washington/tacoma/private/schools/

Universities: http://www.traveltacoma.com/listings/index.cfm?action=showSub&catID=5&subcatID=64&startrange=All&endrange=All&substart=A&subend=Z&hit=1

Employment

Employment Statistics: http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?nid=540

Major Employers: http://www.gopierce.org/html/major_employers-table.htm

Job Boards

www.southsound.com
www.wa.gov/esd/employment.html
www.pugetsoundjobs.com

Non-Profits/Volunteer Opportunities:

United Way of Pierce County:

The Non-Profit Center: http://www.npcenter.org/

Community Health Care: http://www.commhealth.org/