Population304,261 (July 1, 2025 Census estimate)
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Thurston County, WashingtonExplore local resources and participating businesses in Thurston County, Washington.
Thurston County at a Glance
Population304,261 (July 1, 2025 Census estimate)
County SeatOlympia
Largest City (2026)Lacey (2026 OFM)
Year Organized1852 (organized; NACo County Explorer)
ZIP Code Examples98501, 98502, 98506, 98513, 98576
Total Area, Including Water774.090 square miles, including water (2020 Census geography)
Major RoutesI-5, US 101, SR 507
Local Area Codes360 / 564
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Discover Thurston County
Thurston County
Thurston County was created in 1852 and named for Samuel R. Thurston, Oregon Territory's first congressional delegate. Olympia became its seat that year and the capital of Washington Territory in 1853. The original county covered a much larger area before subsequent divisions created other jurisdictions. These events explain why county and territorial histories meet in Olympia, while remaining different levels of government. Dated records and historical maps help connect the changing institutions with particular places around the southern Puget Sound region.
Explore Olympia with its county and capital roles in mind, selecting a public historical destination that addresses the period of interest. A waterfront stop can add geographic context without replacing the civic story. Current office locations and visitor arrangements should guide practical planning. For older records, compare the county's earlier boundaries with the modern map, since a historical Thurston reference may describe a place now administered elsewhere.
What Shapes Us
Place And Character
The region's earlier territorial boundaries and public records offer another perspective, connecting familiar civic landmarks with changes in government over time.
The Local Story
Thurston County was created in 1852 and named for Samuel R. Thurston, Oregon Territory's first congressional delegate. Olympia became its seat that year and the capital of Washington Territory in 1853.
Explore The County
Explore Olympia with its county and capital roles in mind, selecting a public historical destination that addresses the period of interest.
Discover the county stories within a capital city's setting.
A Closer Look
Thurston County
Places and perspectives from Thurston County
ThurstonTalk · Local
Karen Hilburn Cancer Fund Donates $40,000 to Support Advanced Breast Imaging Technology at Mason Health
ThurstonTalk Submitted by Mason Health The Karen Hilburn Cancer Fund (KHCF) has donated $40,000 to Mason Health to…
Read the Story Oct 26, 2026 • Read at sourceAround Thurston County
Local coverage first, followed by Washington and national updates when needed.
ThurstonTalk · Local
Karen Hilburn Cancer Fund Donates $40,000 to Support Advanced Breast Imaging Technology at Mason Health
ThurstonTalk Submitted by Mason Health The Karen Hilburn Cancer Fund (KHCF) has donated $40,000 to Mason Health to…
Oct 26, 2026 • Read at source
ThurstonTalk · Local
Mammoth Bringing Hard Rock to Skookum Creek Event Center April 2
ThurstonTalk Submitted by Little Creek Casino Resort Mammoth, the hard rock project led by Grammy Award-nominated songwriter and…
Oct 26, 2026 • Read at source
ThurstonTalk · Local
Help Honor Washington’s Veterans This Holiday Season: Donations Needed to Place Holiday Boughs at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery
ThurstonTalk Submitted by Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs The Washington State Veterans Cemetery is inviting community members,…
Oct 26, 2026 • Read at source
ThurstonTalk · Local
New Y12SR Course Helps People Recover with Specialized Program
ThurstonTalk Recovery is a long and complicated path that DeAnna Gerber knows firsthand. It was her own journey…
Oct 26, 2026 • Read at source
ThurstonTalk · Local
Top Local News – Thurston County – October 25, 2026
ThurstonTalk Your daily roundup of local news from Thurston County, Washington — covering Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Yelm, Tenino,…
Oct 25, 2026 • Read at source
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
County Resources
Find the Right Local Connection
Start with the organization responsible for the service you need. Follow its official link for current requirements, office locations and availability.
Government
Thurston County government — County offices and public services.
Departments and services — Find the office responsible for your request.
Washington state services — State agencies and programs.
Schools
Public school contacts
Selected local schools from the NCES 2024-2025 directory. Contact the school or district to confirm enrollment, attendance boundaries and current services; this is not a complete school list.
Griffin School – Elementary; grades PK-08. 6530 33rd Ave NW, Olympia, WA 98502. 360-866-2515.
Washington Connections Academy – Mary M. Knight – Elementary; grades KG-08. 111 Tumwater Blvd SE, Suite B203, Tumwater, WA 98501. 360-338-6340.
Chambers Prairie Elementary School – Elementary; grades KG-05. 6501 Virginia St SE, Lacey, WA 98513. 360-412-4400.
Boston Harbor Elementary – Elementary; grades PK-05. 7300 ZANGLE RD NE, OLYMPIA, WA 98506. 360-596-6200.
Rainier Elementary School – Elementary; grades PK-05. 600 W 3rd, Rainier, WA 98576. 360-446-4020.
Grand Mound Elementary – Elementary; grades 03-05. 7710 James Rd SW, Rochester, WA 98579. 360-273-5512.
Parkside Elementary – Elementary; grades PK-02. 301 Central Avenue, Tenino, WA 98589. 360-264-3800.
Hospitals
Local hospital contacts
Facility contacts from the CMS Hospital General Information directory, updated July 22, 2026. Contact the facility directly to confirm current services and appointment arrangements.
Capital Medical Center – Acute Care Hospitals. 3900 Capital Mall Dr Sw, Olympia, WA 98502. 360-956-2550.
Providence St Peter Hospital – Acute Care Hospitals. 413 Lilly Road Ne, Olympia, WA 98506. 360-493-7179.
South Sound Behavioral Hospital – Psychiatric. 605 Woodland Square Loop Se, Lacey, WA 98503. 360-000-0000.
Public Safety
For an emergency, call 911. Use the department website for non-emergency contact information.
Thurston County sheriff — Law enforcement information and departmental contacts.
Emergency Services
Call 911 for an immediate emergency.
Emergency management — Preparedness resources and local alerts.
National Weather Service — Forecasts and weather warnings; search by location.
Ready.gov — Household emergency planning.
State Parks
Millersylvania State Park — Park information, maps and current notices.
Find Washington state parks — Search additional parks and activities.
Discover Pass — Parking pass information.
Trails
Thurston County parks and trails — Local recreation destinations and maps.
Millersylvania State Park maps and visitor information — Review the park map and current trail notices before a visit.
Utilities
Puget Sound Energy — Service, billing and outage information. Confirm whether this provider serves your address.
County public works — County infrastructure and public works services.
Electricity, gas, water, sewer and waste services can have different providers. Check service boundaries for the specific property.
Libraries
Local library contacts
Locations and public phone numbers are from the IMLS FY2024 Public Libraries Survey. Call the branch to confirm current hours and services before visiting.
Hawks Prairie Timberland Library – 8205 Martin Way Suite B, Lacey, WA 98516. 360-252-9658.
Olympia Timberland Library – 313 8Th Ave. Se, Olympia, WA 98501. 360-352-0595.
Tenino Timberland Library – 172 Central Ave. W., Tenino, WA 98589. 360-264-2369.
Tumwater Timberland Library – 7023 New Market St., Tumwater, WA 98501. 360-943-7790.
Yelm Timberland Library – 210 Prairie Park St., Yelm, WA 98597. 360-458-3374.
Lacey Timberland Library – 500 College St. Se, Lacey, WA 98503. 360-491-3860.
West Olympia Timberland Library – #365, 625 Black Lake Blvd Sw, Olympia, WA 98502. 360-764-4440.
Courts
Thurston County court services — Court information and local contacts.
Washington Courts directory — Choose Thurston County to find superior, district, municipal and juvenile courts.
DMV
Washington — Renew or replace a driver license
Washington — Find a driver licensing office
Washington — Renew or replace vehicle tabs
Transportation
Intercity Transit — Routes, schedules, rider information and service-area details.
WSDOT maps — State highway maps and travel planning.
Postal Services
USPS location finder — Search by street address, city or ZIP Code for nearby post offices, collection boxes and available services.
USPS ZIP Code lookup — Find the mailing ZIP Code for a specific street address.
USPS Hold Mail — Arrange a temporary mail hold and review identity-verification requirements.
USPS change of address and forwarding — Review forwarding options and submit an address-change request through USPS.
USPS package pickup — Check pickup availability for your address and schedule eligible shipments.
Veterans
National services available to local residents
VA accredited representatives — Find help with VA claims and benefit applications.
VA health care applications — Review application options and supporting information.
VA disability claims — Find the official steps for submitting a disability claim.
GI Bill and education benefits — Review how to apply for VA education benefits.
Veteran career and employment support — Explore VA employment, training and career assistance.
Employment
National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)
National services available to local residents
USAJOBS federal employment — Search federal openings by location and occupation.
Apprenticeship Finder — Search apprenticeship opportunities by location and occupation.
My Next Move career exploration — Explore occupations, industries and career interests.
Government job-training resources — Find routes to state training programs and support for different job seekers.
Unemployment benefit guidance — Find your state program and its application and eligibility information.
Get to Know Thurston County
Useful answers for residents, visitors and anyone planning their next step.
Local Questions
Thurston County Questions, Answered
Explore practical details about the county and the organizations that serve it.
304,261 (July 1, 2025 Census estimate). This is a dated Census Bureau estimate, rather than a live resident count.
774.090 square miles, including water (2020 Census geography). The total combines land and water area.
Start with Elections, linked from the government source used for this county. Check that page for current details before visiting or submitting a request.
For emergencies, call 911.
Thurston County sheriff — Use the official department page for non-emergency contacts and services.
Thurston County government — Find county departments, public meetings and services.
Start with these official Washington resources: Renew or replace a driver license; Find a driver licensing office; Renew or replace vehicle tabs. Choose the page for the service you need, then check its office or online instructions before making a trip. These links cover state services; they do not establish that every transaction is available at a county office.
Use USPS ZIP Code Lookup for the mailing ZIP Code of a specific street address. Use the USPS location finder to search for nearby postal facilities and available services. An address lookup is more useful for mailing than assuming the entire county shares one ZIP Code.
Thurston County was created in 1852 and named for Samuel R. Thurston, Oregon Territory's first congressional delegate. Olympia became its seat that year and the capital of Washington Territory in 1853. The original county covered a much larger area before subsequent divisions created other jurisdictions. These events explain why county and territorial histories meet in Olympia, while remaining different levels of government. Dated records and historical maps help connect the changing institutions with particular places around the southern Puget Sound region.
Explore Olympia with its county and capital roles in mind, selecting a public historical destination that addresses the period of interest. A waterfront stop can add geographic context without replacing the civic story. Current office locations and visitor arrangements should guide practical planning. For older records, compare the county's earlier boundaries with the modern map, since a historical Thurston reference may describe a place now administered elsewhere.
The 2020 Census geography figures record 722.496 square miles of land and 51.594 square miles of water in Thurston County. The county’s total area includes both. These are geographic measurements for that Census vintage, not a measurement of current water levels or public recreation access.
In the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate series, Thurston County had an estimated 296,013 residents on July 1, 2020, and 304,261 on July 1, 2025. Over that interval, the estimated population increased by 8,248 residents, or about 2.8%. Both figures come from the same estimate vintage, which revises earlier years for a consistent comparison.
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
My Local Guide
Find Something Fun
Make Time to ExploreBrowse local places by the kind of day you have in mind.
Explore Thurston County
Featured local businesses
Parks and outdoor places
Millersylvania State Park — Plan a visit using the official park information.
Thurston County parks and trails
Getting around
A New Stop, a Local ConnectionExplore the Listings Below