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Olympia, WA from Tumwater Hill - August 2005 (Photo from Wikipedia)

More About

Olympia, Washington

Olympia lies at the southern end of Puget Sound in western Washington at an elevation of 95 feet. It has a population of around 45,000, with the Seattle-Tacoma metro area less than 50 miles away. Incorporated in 1859, Olympia is the capital of Washington. Besides state government, the city is a major cultural center in the region with art, music, and environmental activities very prominent, while institutions of higher learning include The Evergreen State College. As regards OSM, several coal mines are located south of Olympia.

Scenic and recreational features in the area include Mt. Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park, Puget Sound, and the Pacific Ocean, as well as many state parks and national forests. Elevations range from sea level to more than 14,000 feet on Mt. Rainier.

Olympia has a marine west coast climate with about 51 inches of annual precipitation, 17 inches of snowfall, high to moderate humidity, and usually limited sunshine. Precipitation is heaviest in the fall, winter, and spring while summers are relatively dry. In summer, high temps average the middle 70’s with lows in the upper 40’s. In winter, the daily temperature range is much smaller with highs averaging the middle 40’s and lows around the freezing mark.

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WEB Page Last Updated: 03/18/2010
Website Last Updated:
January 25, 2013