Why Locate Your Company in Olympia?

Olympia Highlights

Fun Facts about Olympia

• Olympia is currently the the 22nd largest city in the State of Washington.

• According to the latest Census data taken in 2010, Olympia is home to 46,478 residents.

• Physical size: About 20 square miles.

• Famous landmarks: Capitol State Forest, Priest Point Park, Percival Landing.

• Olympia is known for having multiple Artesian aquifers. Yeah, we didn’t know what those were either.

Award-Winning Education

Home to The Evergreen State College, Saint Martin’s University, Chapman University and South Puget Sound Community College, Thurston County's workforce exceeds both state and national levels with 30 percent of the population holding either a Bachelor of Arts or graduate degree. These award-winning colleges continue to rank high on quality education and academic achievements.

As the largest school district in Thurston County, North Thurston Public School District (NTPS) works hard to meet the educational needs of employers with more than 1,700 full and part-time staff committed to supporting student success. The district has one of the highest percentages in the state of National Board Certified Teachers, and the majority of teachers hold advanced degrees - some are even NTPS alumni. Timberline High School ranked in the top 4.6% of all schools in America.

Proximity to the State Capital

Government employment is a big influence on Olympia's economy. One of the strongest clusters of business activity centers around the government’s legislative process. State government accounts for nearly 45 percent of the county workforce, more than 44,000 people.

Quick Transportation Access

The city's strategic location at the mid-point between the major metropolitan areas of the central Puget Sound to the north, and Portland, Oregon to the south is a major advantage for access to transportation by land, sea, rail, or air.  The region’s primary north-south transportation artery, Interstate 5, traverses the entire county offering access points to vibrant communities, emerging industrial and commercial business parks, and access to the state’s major recreational opportunities.

Regional Health Care Hub

Health care is a major industry in the South Puget Sound, demonstrated by the fact that three of the top employers in Thurston County are regional health care facilities serving Thurston and surrounding counties.

Providence St. Peter Hospital is the largest private employer in Thurston County, as well as the largest hospital in the region; Capital Medical Center is a full service hospital offering local comprehensive services across a 5-county area; and Group Health Cooperative is the third ranked employer in the country.

Top Things To Do in Thurston County

The landscaped grounds and majestic buildings of the capitol campus in Olympia make it one of the most beautiful capitols in the nation. The campus itself is lovely, with grand buildings, cherry blossom trees, landscaped gardens, and poignant memorials. Add the sweeping views across Capitol Lake to Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains, and you have a postcard-perfect setting. While you're at it, don't forget to stroll around Capitol Lake downhill from the campus; most of the residents who voted for the capitol campus say the lake is a wonder in its own right.

Were they created from gophers, UFOs, or simply by glacial movement during the Ice Age? Folks love to speculate about the mysterious Mima Mounds in south Thurston County. These regularly spaced, six to eight-foot tall mounds cover the 600-plus-acre Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve. Stroll along a paved path in the spring and see beautiful wildflowers, butterflies and small creatures thriving on this endangered prairie land.

Participate in a Saturday "Howl In" at Wolf Haven and you will surely feel tingles at the hauntingly beautiful sound of the wolves. Spread across about 80 wooded acres, Wolf Haven International provides a safe, natural setting for captive-born wolves. Wolf Haven draws thousands of visitors each year. Whether you choose to howl along or just admire the wolves silently, you will feel a rare connection.

The Deschutes River waterfall is the highlight of this gorgeous park tucked away in the City of Tumwater. Feel the spray of the waterfall as you cross bridges and connect to lush trails along the river. The clean scent of the air, the brilliant colors of the foliage, and the thunderous sound of the river are mesmerizing. In August and September you can see chinook salmon making their way back to a hatchery at the park.

The Nisqually Wildlife Refuge is a refuge for wildlife and visitors alike. Located on the Nisqually River Delta in south Puget Sound, the refuge boasts 3,000 acres of salt and freshwater marshes, grasslands, and riparian and mixed-forest habitats. Walk along any of the five trails and you will see stunning views and a wide array of wildlife. The Nisqually Delta has been designated as a National Natural Landmark because of its national significance as one of the best examples of this kind of coastal salt marsh system remaining in the North Pacific.

The Olympia Farmers Market is a community gathering spot where local vendors sell fresh produce, flowers, specialty foods and arts and crafts. Locals flock to the market to shop, mingle, and have a bite to eat from a choice of seven restaurant stands. Live music often fills the air from a small stage near the eating area. While you're there, stroll on over to the waterfront and enjoy the views of Budd Inlet from the Port Plaza observation tower.

Capitol State Forest is a beautiful recreation destination just a short drive from Olympia. Venture into the 110,000-acre forest for an adventure horseback riding at Mima Falls, spotting salmon in McLane Creek, mountain biking at Rock Candy, off-road-vehicle riding at Porter Creek – or all of the above! Capitol State Forest provides a variety of recreational opportunities, 150 miles of trail, and places to set up camp and rest your head at night. Horseback riding-oriented campgrounds, like the Margaret McKenny, offer corrals and hitching posts, while off-road vehicle-oriented campgrounds, like the Middle Waddell, provide access to the forest's motorized trail system