Olympia: The capital of Washington, a port on Puget Sound — Websters Dictionary

Also See: The “soggy, fog-draped bottom of the Sound where the Pacific Ocean came to relax.” — Jim Lynch, The Highest Tide

Olympia is the capital of Washington, a state in the United States of America. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. As of the 2000 census, it had a population of 42,514. Thurston County, which includes the cities of Lacey and Tumwater, has a population of 224,100. Olympia is the county seat of Thurston County and the focal point of the South Puget Sound region and serves as a regional center for shopping, culture and entertainment. Highlights of a visit to Olympia can include a stop at the Temple of Justice to watch a state Supreme Court hearing, a run around Capitol Lake, or a stop at one of many small boutiques, coffee shops, and bakeries located in the downtown area. The local farmer’s market is also known for its size, quality, variety in vendors, and popularity.

Olympia is situated at the extreme southern tip of Puget Sound on Budd Inlet. The site of Olympia was home to Lushootseed-speaking peoples for thousands of years. The abundant shellfish in the tideflats and the many salmon-spawning streams entering Puget Sound at this point made it a productive food-gathering area. Many tribes shared access to these resources, including Squaxin, Nisqually, Puyallup, Chehalis, Suquamish, and Duwamish. According to early settlers’ accounts, natives called the present site of Olympia “Schict Woot”, meaning “place of the bear.”

Source: Wikipedia

Some Olympia-area websites worth noting: KAOS 89.3FM Olympia Community Radio • OlyBlog • The Daily Olympian • BuyOlympia • Kill Rock Stars • K Records • The Olympia Film Society • The Official City of Olympia website • The Evergreen State College • The Olympia Farmers Market

For more details on Olympia, Click here.