Tacoma , city (1990 pop. 176,664), seat of Pierce co., W Wash., on Commencement Bay and Puget Sound at the mouth of the Puyallup River; inc. 1884. It is a major seaport and railroad terminus and one of the chief industrial cities in the Northwest. Once known as the lumber capital of America, it is still an important center for forest-products industries, with a growing high-technology sector and diversified light and heavy manufacturing. There are also shipyards and many docks.

Points of interest include Point Defiance Park, containing a zoo, an aquarium, a Japanese garden, and a reconstruction of Fort Nisqually (1833); an arboretum; a number of art galleries; and the state historical society museum. Tacoma is the seat of the Univ. of Puget Sound, Pacific Lutheran Univ., and a campus of the Univ. of Washington. A project begun in the 1990s has gone far to rehabilitate the downtown waterfront and is highlighted by the dramatic Museum of Glass: International Center for Contemporary Art (2002). The Tacoma Art Museum (2003) and the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center (2004) are also part of the project. A lilac festival is held annually in the city. Tacoma is the gateway to Mt. Rainier National Park and many recreational areas. The Tacoma Narrows suspension bridge links the city with the Olympic Peninsula; it replaced "Galloping Gertie," which collapsed (1940) in a windstorm four months after it opened. McChord Air Force Base, Fort Lewis (a major army training center), and Camp Murray (the state national guard headquarters) are nearby.

Tacoma

The City in Brief

Founded: 1852 (incorporated, 1884)

Head Official: City Manager James L. Walton (since 2003)

City Population

1980: 158,501

1990: 176,664

2000: 193,556

2003 estimate: 196,790

Percent change, 1990–2000: 9.1%

U.S. rank in 1980: 97th

U.S. rank in 1990: 95th

U.S. rank in 2000: 114th

Metropolitan Area Population (PMSA)

1980: 486,000

1990: 586,203

2000: 700,820

Percent change, 1990–2000: 19.5%

U.S. rank in 1980: 18th (CMSA; includes Seattle)

U.S. rank in 1990: 14th (CMSA; includes Seattle)

U.S. rank in 2000: 13th (CMSA; includes Seattle)

Area: 50 square miles (2000)

Elevation: 380 feet above sea level

Average Annual Temperature: 53.1° F

Average Annual Precipitation: 39.2 inches

Major Economic Sectors: Services, international trade, government, military, high technology

Unemployment Rate: 6.6% (January 2005)

Per Capita Income: $19,130 (2000)

2002 FBI Crime Index Total: 20,182

Major Colleges and Universities: Pacific Lutheran University, University of Puget Sound, University of Washington in Tacoma

Daily Newspaper: The News Tribune

Tacoma: Introduction

Tacoma's name is derived from the Native American word "Tahoma," meaning "Mother of the Waters," referring to the shadow of Mt. Rainier that looms over the city. Tacoma's beautiful natural setting affords views of the nearby Cascade Range and the more distant Olympic Mountains. Tacoma is home to a deep-water harbor, among the busiest in the United States, that has played an important role in the city's economic development. Nationally recognized for careful municipal planning, Tacoma has been nicknamed the "City of Destiny." In 2004 Partners for Livable Communities named the Tacoma and Pierce County area one of "America's Most Livable Communities."