Steilacoom

History

Steilacoom was among the small number of waterfront communities in the 1850s along Northwest’s Puget Sound, the last American frontier many decades later after the Kondike Gold Rush and Civil War. Men and women dreaming of a good life among the adversities of pioneer ways and Oregon Trail’s shadow were drawn to the area. Boosters of the town very much desired that Steilacoom would grow to be just like San Francisco; they yearned for the town to bustle with trade and business, and it did happen during the first part of that decade, back when Seattle was a glimmer in the eyes of its founders and there is no Tacoma yet.

The economy’s focal point was loading Northwest lumber onto ships for San Francisco, which had an insatiable appetite for construction materials.  Ezra Meeker, a pioneer, described Steilacoom as the most remarkable settlement in the territory at that time. He recalled constant thunder when lumber move to the water, coming from the hills, and onto the wooden rollways.

Before Steilacoom became a flourishing town, it had long been inhabited by the Steilacoom people, approximately 600 natives prior to the arrival of settlers. Tribe members were there to witness the arrival of Peter Puget in 1792 for the earliest recorded European expedition of Puget Sound’s southern portion. More than 3 decades later, Fort Nisqually, the trading post of English businessmen, was opened in the Steilacoom people’s region. The town developed gradually approximately 6 miles away, initially inhabited by past British sailors.

Area and Climate

The town of Steilacoom is located in Pierce County, WA, on the shoreline of Puget Sound. According to the 2010 census, it had a population of 5,985. Incorporated in 1854, Steilacoom became the first incorporated municipality in the state of Washington.

According to the per capita revenue, which is among the more consistent gauges of wealth, Steilacoom sits in the 61^st slot (out of 522 regions in Washington State). The Steilacoom School District #1 comprises of Steilacoom High School, Pioneer Middle School, Saltar's Point Elementary School, Chloe Clark Elementary School, Anderson Island School, and Cherrydale Primary School.

Steilacoom experiences 39 inches of rainfall annually (U.S. median is 37), while snowfall per year is 8 inches (U.S. median is 25). There are 140 sunny days, on average, every year in Steilacoom. The lowest temperature is 37° F in January, while the highest is roughly 76° F in July.

Real Estate and Cost of Living

As of 2011, the estimated average value of condominiums or houses in Steilacoom is $279,596 (in 2000, it was $188,900). In 2011, the average prices of 3- or 4-unit buildings: $96,268; attached units and townhomes: $344,976; all residential units: $380,239; and detached homes: $386,248.

The cost of living index as of March 2012 in Steilacoom is 111.2, which is above average, as U.S. median is 100.

Lifestyle and Things to Do

The stunning location of Steilacoom is the reason why the 4^th of July celebration attracts about 18,000 visitors each summer. It gets mentioned all the time on local TV and newspaper as one of Puget Sound’s best events; fireworks display goes off over Sunnyside Beach, with the Kitsap Peninsula and Narrows Bridge as the background.

Steilacoom also features community parks and centers, including the town hall (which has an auditorium, a kitchen and conference room; 150-person capacity), Steilacoom Community Center (which has an auditorium that can be divided into three areas, a stage, meeting rooms, and a kitchen; 300-person capacity), Saltars Point Beach, and Sunnyside Beach (both have a covered picnic area, BBQs, tables, and other amenities).

Floor Plans