Tacoma, Washington
If you’re looking for big-city amenities with a small-town feel, try moving to Tacoma, Washington. Named as one of “America’s Best Livable Communities,” the Tacoma-Pierce County area is widely regarded as a great place to live, work and play. A downtown waterfront revitalization program has enhanced the city’s economic potential, business opportunities and employment outlook. A strong sense of civic pride coupled with careful municipal planning has made Tacoma weather the recession better than some of the country’s bigger cities. Even Tacoma movers would agree that the city lives up to its nickname of the “City of Destiny.”
Economy:
Tacoma is a major seaport and railroad center in the Northwest. The Port of Tacoma is a deep-water harbor and a primary gateway port for international trade. The sixth largest container port in the world, the Port of Tacoma accounts for more than 28,000 jobs and $377 million in wages for Pierce County. Tacoma maintains a diverse economy that builds on existing strengths in agricultural and forest products, manufacturing, health care, business and professional services while supporting the development of its high-technology sector. The city has invested $300 million on its telecommunications infrastructure through Click! Network, a broadband cable system owned by Tacoma Power.
History:
The area that is presently known as Tacoma was inhabited by the Puyallup and Nisqually Indians for centuries before European and American explorers, including George Vancouver and Charles Wilkes, made landfall and named many of the coastal landmarks In 1864, Civil War veteran and land speculator Job Carr built a cabin near the head of Commencement Bay, hoping to profit from the area’s selection as the terminus of the Transcontinental Railroad. Carr later sold most of his claim to developer Morton McCarver, who named the settlement Tacoma City, after the indigenous name for nearby Mt.Rainier. Tacoma was incorporated on November 12, 1875. The city acquired its monicker “City of Destiny” when, after vigorous lobbying by McCarver and others, it was selected in 1873 to be the western terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad. The population of Tacoma grew from 1,098 in 1880 to 36,006. Tacoma’s growth was eclipsed only by that of nearby Seattle, which turned into a boom town during the 1898 Klondike gold rush. Tacoma went through a long slump through the mid-twentieth century and by the 1970s, the downtown area had deteriorated into a general state of disrepair. A downtown revitalization program in the 1990s led to the construction of the federal courthouse in the former Union Square, the Washington State History Museum, and vital renovation projects near the campus of the University of Washington at Tacoma.
Tourism:
Moving to Tacoma means you’ll never run out of places to see or things to do. Visit the LeMay-America’s Car Museum for a look at cars that have symbolized the American love affair with the automobile. Recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as having the largest private collection in the world, the museum features almost every year and brand sold in the U.S. during the 20th century. Discover Tacoma’s rich maritime heritage at the Foss Waterway Seaport, which houses classic recreational boats, an active heritage boat building shop, spectacular models of historic vessels and a children’s interactive exhibit about marine life. Take the family to the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, where animals are organized according to their natural habitats. The zoo also houses two aquariums, red wolves, birds of prey, an interactive exhibit for kids, and outdoor theater.
Colleges/Universities:
• Seattle Central Community College
• Tacoma Community College
Interesting Facts:
• Tacoma comes from the Puyallup Indian name for Mt. Rainier, “Tacobet,” which means “mother of the waters.”
• On August 11, 1890, Tacoma school teacher Fay Fuller became the first woman to climb Mt. Rainier.
• Tacoma earned the nickname “City of Destiny” after it was chosen in 1873 to be the Northern Pacific Railroad’s western terminus for its transcontinental railroad.
• Measuring 530 feet in diameter and 152 feet tall and covering a total of 6.1 acres, the Tacoma Dome is the world’s largest wooden domed arena.
•Helpful Links:
• Tacoma Real Estate
• Tacoma Dental Offices
• Tacoma Insurance
• Tacoma Box Companies
• Tacoma Moving Guide