Lacey, Washington
Encyclopedia
Lacey is a city in Thurston County, Washington, United States. Established as a suburb
of Olympia
, its population was 42,393 at the 2010 census out of a county population of 252,264.
for Olympia
, Fort Lewis and to some extent, Tacoma
; in recent years, however, business developments, community groups, and population growth have led Lacey to develop into a city in its own right.
. It has since been partially demolished and turned into an outdoor shopping center. Lacey now features a diverse array of businesses, ranging from retail to warehousing/distribution centers, a large retirement community, a major mushroom farm, and Weyerhaeuser
's corrugated container facility.
As Lacey continues to grow, many businesses continue to feed into the city. Lacey now offers a Regal 16 Movie Theater
, which is one of the largest theaters in the area. Other businesses that have recently come into Lacey include LA Fitness, Best Buy
, Costco
, The Home Depot
, Lowe's
, Cabela's and many strip malls and market squares. There is also speculation that NFL Washington Redskins
Fullback Mike Sellers
, a North Thurston High School
alumni, may seek to build a multi-sport event center or football dome in Hawks Prairie, which could attract national competitions.
for its use of renewable energy
sources; 5% of its total energy use comes from green power sources. It is working to meet its Alternative Energy
Initiative, which includes "using 100 percent green electrical energy in all of its municipal buildings, parks, utilities, and 3,000 streetlights and traffic signals; providing electric vehicle charging station
s to visitors and employees at its city hall and library campus; and initiating conversion of its municipal fleet to energy efficient vehicles powered by electricity, hybrid technology, and 80/20 biofuel." In 2009, Lacey's Alternative Energy Fair was honored with the Award of Excellence for Events, Fairs, and Festivals by the Washington Recreation and Park Association. Lacey has received the "Tree City, USA" designation from the National Arbor Day Foundation
for the past eighteen years.
, the city has a total area of 16.3 square miles (42.3 km²), of which, 15.9 square miles (41.3 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²) of it (2.27%) is water.
of 2009, there were 39,250 people, 16,459 households, and 10,148 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,557.8 people per square mile (755.9/km²). There were 16,160 housing units at an average density of 825.1 per square mile (318.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.19% White, 5.77% African American, 2.33% Native American, 8.76% Asian, 1.06% Pacific Islander, 2.16% from other races
, and 4.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.90% of the population.
There were 12,459 households out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 26.3% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $46,848, and the median income for a family was $54,923. Males had a median income of $41,053 versus $32,497 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $20,224. About 7.1% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.5% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.
, and Thurston County's largest school district, North Thurston Public Schools
. Lacey is also home to various faith based schools, such as Faith Lutheran (Elementary to Middle School) and Foundation Campus, which includes Community Christian Academy (Pre-school to Middle School) and Northwest Christian High School
. Lacey will also be the home for the future Pope John Paul II High School. In addition, a new magnet middle school Aspire School will be completed by Fall 2009, and will focus on the performing arts, as well as offering a 7 period schedule. Timberline High School ranked in the top 4.6% of all schools in America.
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Olympia
Olympia, Washington
Olympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 at the 2010 census...
, its population was 42,393 at the 2010 census out of a county population of 252,264.
History
Lacey was originally called Woodland after settlers Isaac and Catherine Wood, who claimed land there in 1853. The small settlements of Woodland and Chambers Creek consolidated into Lacey in the 1950s. Renamed for attorney and developer O.C. Lacey, the city of Lacey was officially incorporated on December 5, 1966. At the time, the main industries were cattle, milk, forest products, and retail. Lacey became a commuter townCommuter town
A commuter town is an urban community that is primarily residential, from which most of the workforce commutes out to earn their livelihood. Many commuter towns act as suburbs of a nearby metropolis that workers travel to daily, and many suburbs are commuter towns...
for Olympia
Olympia, Washington
Olympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 at the 2010 census...
, Fort Lewis and to some extent, Tacoma
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
; in recent years, however, business developments, community groups, and population growth have led Lacey to develop into a city in its own right.
Business
Lacey sported one of the Northwest's first ever "indoor malls", South Sound CenterSouth Sound Center
South Sound Center is a power centre located in Lacey, Washington. Its major stores include Target, Sears, and a Kohl's. Prior to a re-development in 2001, the center was a enclosed mall.-History:...
. It has since been partially demolished and turned into an outdoor shopping center. Lacey now features a diverse array of businesses, ranging from retail to warehousing/distribution centers, a large retirement community, a major mushroom farm, and Weyerhaeuser
Weyerhaeuser
Weyerhaeuser is one of the largest pulp and paper companies in the world. It is the world's largest private sector owner of softwood timberland; and the second largest owner of United States timberland, behind Plum Creek Timber...
's corrugated container facility.
As Lacey continues to grow, many businesses continue to feed into the city. Lacey now offers a Regal 16 Movie Theater
Regal Entertainment Group
Regal Entertainment Group also known as REG is a movie theater chain headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee. Regal operates the largest and most geographically diverse theater circuit in the United States, consisting of 6,775 screens in 548 locations in 39 states and the District of Columbia as of...
, which is one of the largest theaters in the area. Other businesses that have recently come into Lacey include LA Fitness, Best Buy
Best Buy
Best Buy Co., Inc. is an American specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States, accounting for 19% of the market. It also operates in Mexico, Canada & China. The company's subsidiaries include Geek Squad, CinemaNow, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales, and, in Canada operates...
, Costco
Costco
Costco Wholesale Corporation is the largest membership warehouse club chain in the United States. it is the third largest retailer in the United States, where it originated, and the ninth largest in the world...
, The Home Depot
The Home Depot
The Home Depot is an American retailer of home improvement and construction products and services.The Home Depot operates 2,248 big-box format stores across the United States , Canada , Mexico and China, with a 12-store chain...
, Lowe's
Lowe's
Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a U.S.-based chain of retail home improvement and appliance stores. Founded in 1946 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, the chain now serves more than 14 million customers a week in its 1,710 stores in the United States and 20 in Canada. Expansion into Canada began in...
, Cabela's and many strip malls and market squares. There is also speculation that NFL Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
Fullback Mike Sellers
Michael Sellers
Michael Sellers is an American football player in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins. He was the youngest import player to sign a CFL deal in the history of the football league when he played at 19 years old for the Edmonton Eskimos.-High school years:Sellers attended North...
, a North Thurston High School
North Thurston High School
North Thurston High School, located in the North Thurston Public Schools District in Lacey, Washington, is a comprehensive high school which first opened in 1955. North Thurston serves a portion of Lacey and northeast Thurston County. The school is accredited by the Washington State...
alumni, may seek to build a multi-sport event center or football dome in Hawks Prairie, which could attract national competitions.
Ecology
Lacey was the twelfth city to be designated an official "Green Power Community" by the U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyUnited States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
for its use of renewable energy
Renewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
sources; 5% of its total energy use comes from green power sources. It is working to meet its Alternative Energy
Alternative energy
Alternative energy is an umbrella term that refers to any source of usable energy intended to replace fuel sources without the undesired consequences of the replaced fuels....
Initiative, which includes "using 100 percent green electrical energy in all of its municipal buildings, parks, utilities, and 3,000 streetlights and traffic signals; providing electric vehicle charging station
Charging station
An electric vehicle charging station, also called EV charging station, electric recharging point, charging point and EVSE , is an element in an infrastructure that supplies electric energy for the recharging of electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric-gasoline vehicles) or semi-static and mobile...
s to visitors and employees at its city hall and library campus; and initiating conversion of its municipal fleet to energy efficient vehicles powered by electricity, hybrid technology, and 80/20 biofuel." In 2009, Lacey's Alternative Energy Fair was honored with the Award of Excellence for Events, Fairs, and Festivals by the Washington Recreation and Park Association. Lacey has received the "Tree City, USA" designation from the National Arbor Day Foundation
National Arbor Day Foundation
The Arbor Day Foundation is the world's oldest and largest tree-planting organization. The foundation began September 3, 1971 with a mission "to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees". The Foundation is supported by donations, selling trees and merchandise, and by corporate sponsors...
for the past eighteen years.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 16.3 square miles (42.3 km²), of which, 15.9 square miles (41.3 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²) of it (2.27%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2009, there were 39,250 people, 16,459 households, and 10,148 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,557.8 people per square mile (755.9/km²). There were 16,160 housing units at an average density of 825.1 per square mile (318.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.19% White, 5.77% African American, 2.33% Native American, 8.76% Asian, 1.06% Pacific Islander, 2.16% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 4.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.90% of the population.
There were 12,459 households out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 26.3% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $46,848, and the median income for a family was $54,923. Males had a median income of $41,053 versus $32,497 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $20,224. About 7.1% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.5% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.
Education
In addition to being the home of many public and private schools, Lacey is also home to Saint Martin's UniversitySaint Martin's University
Saint Martin's University is a coeducational, Catholic, liberal arts university in the United States. Located in Lacey, Washington, it was founded in 1895 as an all-boys boarding school by monks of the Benedictine Order. Saint Martin's began offering college-level courses in 1900 and became a...
, and Thurston County's largest school district, North Thurston Public Schools
North Thurston Public Schools
North Thurston Public Schools, District No. 3 is a school district, providing educational services for Lacey and parts of unincorporated Thurston County, Washington, including students from the Nisqually Tribe Reservation...
. Lacey is also home to various faith based schools, such as Faith Lutheran (Elementary to Middle School) and Foundation Campus, which includes Community Christian Academy (Pre-school to Middle School) and Northwest Christian High School
Northwest Christian High School (Lacey, Washington)
Northwest Christian High School is a private school in Thurston County, Washington. It is part of the Foundation Campus in Lacey, Washington, which also includes Community Christian Academy . In the 2006-2007 school year, it provided education for 206 students in grades 9 through 12. Its motto is...
. Lacey will also be the home for the future Pope John Paul II High School. In addition, a new magnet middle school Aspire School will be completed by Fall 2009, and will focus on the performing arts, as well as offering a 7 period schedule. Timberline High School ranked in the top 4.6% of all schools in America.
Public Secondary Schools
- Aspire Middle School (Magnet Middle School 6-8)http://www.nthurston.k12.wa.us/education/school/school.php?sectiondetailid=39987&
- Chinook Middle School
- Komachin Middle School
- Nisqually Middle SchoolNisqually Middle SchoolNisqually Middle School is a grade 7-8 school in Thurston County, Washington. It serves the eastern portion of the North Thurston Public Schools district, and its students end up going to River Ridge High School or Timberline High School...
http://www.nthurston.k12.wa.us/education/school/school.php?sectionid=163 - North Thurston High SchoolNorth Thurston High SchoolNorth Thurston High School, located in the North Thurston Public Schools District in Lacey, Washington, is a comprehensive high school which first opened in 1955. North Thurston serves a portion of Lacey and northeast Thurston County. The school is accredited by the Washington State...
- River Ridge High School
- Timberline High SchoolTimberline High School (Lacey, Washington)Timberline High School is a comprehensive high school located in the North Thurston Public Schools District in Lacey, Washington. When it opened in 1970, the floor plan was open similar to the Juanita concept....
http://www.nthurston.k12.wa.us/education/school/school.php?sectiondetailid=1486&sc_id=1187228207 - South Sound High School (Alternative High School)
Trivia
- USA Soccer Goalkeeper Kasey KellerKasey KellerKasey Keller is a retired American soccer player who last played for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer....
grew up on an egg farm in Lacey; graduating from North Thurston High School in 1988. A street that is adjacent to the high school is named after him. - The band Sleater-KinneySleater-KinneySleater-Kinney was an alternative rock band from Portland, Oregon that formed in 1994. Originally formed in Olympia, Washington, the group's name is derived from Sleater-Kinney Road, Interstate 5 off ramp #108 in Lacey, Washington, the location of one of their early practice spaces. They were a...
takes their name from a major street in the city. - NFL Carolina PanthersCarolina PanthersThe Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
Running Back Jonathan StewartJonathan StewartJonathan Creon Stewart is an American football running back for the Carolina Panthers of the NFL. He was selected by the Panthers in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Oregon.-High school career:Stewart is the career leading rusher in...
graduated from Timberline High School in 2005. He attended The University of Oregon, and was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the 2008 NFL Draft. He was the 13th overall pick in the draft. - NFL Washington RedskinsWashington RedskinsThe Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
Pro Bowl Fullback Mike Sellers graduated from North Thurston High School, and returns to Lacey in the off-season. - NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tight End Jerramy StevensJerramy StevensJerramy Stevens is an American football tight end who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks 28th overall in the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Washington.-Early years:...
graduated from River Ridge High School. He was selected as the 28th overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft by the Seattle SeahawksSeattle SeahawksThe Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
. - MMA figher Brad BlackburnBrad BlackburnBrad Lavale Blackburn Jr. is an American professional mixed martial artist. He fought for the Seattle Tiger Sharks in the now defunct International Fight League...
graduated from Timberline High School in Lacey. - Former NFL Defensive End Ron HolmesRon HolmesRonald "Ron" Holmes was a professional American football defensive end who played eight seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Denver Broncos in the National Football League. He started in Super Bowl XXIV. He was considered to have Pro Bowl talent, but his development was slowed by...
graduated from Timberline High School.