City of Tacoma - Did you know?-

Interesting facts about Tacoma

History

The name Tacoma stems from the Indian name for Mt. Rainier, "Tacobet," meaning Mother of the Waters.
"City of Destiny" became Tacoma's moniker when it was designated as the Northern Pacific Railroad's western terminus for its transcontinental railroad in 1873.
On May 3, 1792, Captain George Vancouver named Mt. Rainier for his friend Rear Admiral Peter Rainier, who ironically, never saw the mountain.
On August 11, 1890, Faye Fuller, a Tacoma school teacher, became the first woman to climb Mt. Rainier.

Economy

The Port of Tacoma is the 6th largest container port in North America, covering more than 2,400 acres, and ranks in the top 25 for worldwide container trade. The Port services over 15 steamship lines, two transcontinental railroads.
More than 28,000 jobs in Pierce County are related to the Port of Tacoma's activities. That is a 25 percent increase from 1993, when the Port conducted a similar study.
More than 101,000 jobs in Washington State are related to the Port's activities. This represents a 51 percent increase from 1993.
Port-related jobs generate $471 million in annual wages in Pierce County.
Port activities generate more than $77 million annually in state and local taxes in Washington State.
In 1990, Money Magazine named Tacoma as the fourth best place to live in the United States.
Tacoma was rated the top Mid-Sized City for Small Businesses by Entrepreneur magazine in October 1995.
Downtown Tacoma has more than 40,000 employees. Projected to increase by 33% by the year 2010.
201,000 residents live within a 5-mile radius of the Downtown Business District.

Culture & Community

Tacoma is the founding city for Safe Streets, a national model for neighborhood protection and enhancement.
The Tacoma Dome is the largest wood-domed arena in the world.
The Tacoma Dome requires 265,000 feet of roofing, enough to cover 140 average homes.
There are 361 fresh water lakes in Pierce County and over 20 recreational marinas.
The Tacoma Narrows Bridge is the fifth longest suspension bridge in the world.
Stadium High School was originally built as a luxury hotel for Northern Pacific Railroad. The Depression of 1893 halted completion and major fire left only a masonry shell. Architect Fredrick Heath adapted the original plans for a high school, which opened in 1906 and is still in use today.
The high school was featured in the 1999 box office hit "10 Things I Hate About You".
Other films shot locally: Rose Red, Enough, Preston Tylk, Get Carter, Prefountaine, Countdown, Born to be Wild, The Hand that Rocks the Cradle, I Love You to Death, Waiting for the Light, Come See the Paradise, Chips the War Dog, and Three Fugitives.
Bing Crosby (Harry Lillis Crosby) was born May 3, 1903 in a house that his father built at 1112 North J Street, Tacoma.
Gary Larson the cartoonist of the "Far Side" is a native of Tacoma.
In 1998, 1984 and 1956 Tacoma was selected as an "All America City" and was a "Bicentennial City" in 1976.

Downtown

Has over 40,000 employees. Projected to increase by 33% by the year 2010.
Headquarters for government operations, including the City of Tacoma, Pierce County, Tacoma School District and federal and state regional offices.
201,000 residents live within a 5-mile radius of the Central Business District.
Home to the University of Washington Tacoma campus, Washington State History Museum, U.S. Federal Courthouse and Tacoma Convention Center.
Location of the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts, the Tacoma Art Museum, the Museum of Glass and the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center.

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