Steilacoom is a residential community of approximately 6,050 located in the central portion of Puget Sound it was the 1st incorporated town of Washington State in 1854. Established as a National Historic district in 1974.
Steilacoom, Washington
Named for the Steilacoom Tribe of Native Americans, Steilacoom was the first town in the Washington territory. With its views of Puget Sound and Mt. Rainier, European settlers and British sailors initially stopped and stayed in Steilacoom.
Streets don’t always converge in perfect corners, a subtle reminder of the multitude of influences on Steilacoom in its formative years. Not all of the decision makers had the same perspective on direction and city planning.
Living In Steilacoom
Citizens of our little village are more than just neighbors; we are a fellowship, which unites for the betterment of the collective. We log hundreds of volunteer hours each year for organizations of all kinds including schools, nonprofits, and civic clubs.
These are a few of the favorite places in town:
- Sunnyside Beach is one of two Steilacoom parks (Saltars Point Park is the other) with access to the shoreline. Here visitors enjoy volleyball, trails, a playground and swings, picnic tables, and BBQ grills.
- Pioneer Park is home to our free Summer Concert Series every year.
- Steilacoom Historical Museum Association hosts an annual salmon bake as a fundraising event complete with food and live entertainment. They take part in the Historic home tours, kids clubs, parades, and holiday festivities.
Our active Chamber of Commerce promotes local enterprises in Steilacoom, and they’ve held a citywide garage sale for over 20 years. The organization is best known for the Grand Old 4th of July Celebration that attracts upwards to 18,000 attendees in partnership with the city of Steilacoom.
The farmer’s market runs from June through the end of August. Produce growers, crafts, and live cooking demonstrations fill the downtown district with local creations and entertainment. The market is a favorite gathering place for shoppers and friends to walk around and enjoy the atmosphere.
Education in Steilacoom
The Steilacoom School District, formed in 1854, educates approximately 3,000 students throughout the year. Graduation rates hover around the 90% mark, and 70% of the 300 educators hold a master’s degree or higher.
Children are also a focus outside of the classroom. Steilacoom’s youth programs include before and after school care, summer camps, Junior Explorer activities, and even Ukulele lessons.
Steilacoom Community Center welcomes groups of all interests for recreation, education, and civic improvement. You’ll find events like a vintage fashion show, crab bake fundraisers, and musical productions on the Community Center’s calendar.
Real Estate in Steilacoom
The prevalent real estate in Steilacoom during the developmental stage was commerce or military. Fort Steilacoom, the trading post, and commercial seaports occupied most of the land. But as Tacoma and Seattle grew, industry migrated to those urban zones, and Steilacoom evolved into a residential haven.
The Puget Sound can be seen from many homes in the Historic District and other neighborhoods that line up along the shore. Steilacoom real estate for sale consists mostly of existing homes, but there are some raw land lots still available.
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