Olympia is a city located in Thurston County Washington. Olympia has a 2024 population of 55,774. It is also the county seat of Thurston County. Olympia is currently growing at a rate of 0.07% annually and its population has increased by 0.3% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 55,608 in 2020.
The average household income in Olympia is $96,481 with a poverty rate of 14.77%. The median age in Olympia is 39.2 years: 35.1 years for males, and 42.6 years for females.
The State of Washington is the city’s top employer. It employs over 20,000 people. Local government is also a significant employer. Other top employers in Olympia include Providence St. Peter Hospital, tribal governments, and federal governments.
The city of Olympia has seen steady growth since it was founded, with the only exception occurring at the time of the 1900 census, when the population dropped by over 17%. However, the next year, the population had risen by over 81%. By 1930, the population had grown to over 10,000 residents. This number more than doubled by 1970. Current estimates show that the community has increased by over 10% since the last census taken in 2010, indicating that further growth is expected for this city.
The area that is now Olympia was initially inhabited by many native tribes, including the Puyallup, Chehalis, and Duwamish, to name a few. The Europeans first came to the area in 1792, although it was not settled at that time. It was in 1846 when Levi Smith and Edmund Sylvester laid claim to the land that is now Olympia’s downtown area. The city was named Olympia in 1850.
In 1851, the customs house for the Customs District of Puget Sound for Washington was established in the area. During this time, the population rose as immigrants came to the region. The Northern Pacific Railroad bypassed Olympia during the 1870s, and because the residents knew the importance of a railroad, they created their rail connection.
Washington was designated as a state in 1889 and Olympia was selected to serve as the capital city. The city’s capitol building was constructed in 1912 and was completed in 1928. During this time, the economy revolved around logging, oystering, sawmilling and other industries. It was also a shipping port for agricultural goods, sandstone, and coal. The Olympia Brewing Company was also established in the late 19th century and operated through 2003.
World War I and World War II resulted in population increases for the city as more people came to Olympia to work in wartime industries such as shipbuilding. Though the city and its population continued to grow, it did encounter hard times, including an earthquake in 1949 that destroyed much of the downtown area.
Today, Olympia has established itself as a center for art and music. It is also a center for activism and social justice.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Olympia was:
Race | Population | Percentage (of total) |
|---|---|---|
| White | 42,194 | 75.91% |
| Two or more races | 6,348 | 11.42% |
| Asian | 3,710 | 6.67% |
| Black or African American | 1,454 | 2.62% |
| Other race | 722 | 1.3% |
| Native American | 583 | 1.05% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 572 | 1.03% |
White
Two or more races
Asian
Black or African American
Other race
Native American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All | 25,146 | 2.17 | 49.3 | 50.7 |
| Non Family | 12,365 | 1.37 | 33.8 | 66.2 |
| Married | 8,925 | 2.92 | 77.3 | 22.7 |
| Female | 2,684 | 2.94 | 32.3 | 67.7 |
| Male | 1,172 | 3.19 | 39.8 | 60.2 |
2.8
Average Family Size
2.17
Average Household Size
49.3%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 9th to 12th Grade | 900 | 2.2% |
| Associates Degree | 3,858 | 9.43% |
| Bachelors Degree | 12,747 | 31.17% |
| Graduate Degree | 7,691 | 18.81% |
| High School Graduate | 6,822 | 16.68% |
| Less Than 9th Grade | 543 | 1.33% |
| Some College | 8,333 | 20.38% |
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
Race | Total | High School | Bachelors |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 31,383 | 30,707 | 16,909 |
| 2+ Races | 3,144 | 3,052 | 1,248 |
| Hispanic | 2,955 | 2,764 | 900 |
| Asian | 2,801 | 2,430 | 1,209 |
| Black | 1,097 | 978 | 363 |
| Other Race | 497 | 497 | 230 |
| Islander | 372 | 372 | 30 |
| Native American | 361 | 241 | 36 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among islander people with a rate of 100%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among white people with a rate of 53.88%.
All
Male
Female
Name | Average | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelors Degree | $60,035 | $73,014 | $49,049 |
| Graduate Degree | $85,127 | $96,322 | $77,745 |
| High School Graduate | $39,375 | $44,412 | $34,322 |
| Less Than 9th Grade | $29,510 | $24,549 | $32,646 |
| Overall | $55,214 | $62,887 | $48,052 |
| Some College | $44,831 | $52,057 | $38,851 |
$55,214
Average Earnings
$62,887
Average Male
$48,052
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
87.22% of Olympia residents speak only English, while 12.78% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Asian and Pacific Island languages, which is spoken by 6.14% of the population.
rate
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 39,219 | 5,205 | 13.27% |
| Multiple | 6,251 | 1,380 | 22.08% |
| Hispanic | 5,692 | 761 | 13.37% |
| Asian | 3,710 | 548 | 14.77% |
| Black | 1,395 | 293 | 21% |
| Native | 583 | 220 | 37.74% |
| Other | 701 | 82 | 11.7% |
| Islander | 572 | 43 | 7.52% |
14.77%
Overall Poverty Rate
13.89%
Male Poverty Rate
15.62%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Olympia is Native, with 37.74% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Olympia is Islander, with 7.52% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 2.17%. Among those working part-time, it was 19.13%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 25.06%.
rate
Rate | Poverty |
|---|---|
| Less Than 9th Grade | 41.91% |
| High School | 21.49% |
| Some College | 14.12% |
| Bachelors or Greater | 7.51% |
rate
Rate | Poverty |
|---|---|
| Female Unemployed | 47.71% |
| Male Unemployed | 31.87% |
| Male Employed | 7.6% |
| Female Employed | 5.95% |
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
Name | Median | Mean |
|---|---|---|
| Families | $99,723 | $120,377 |
| Households | $76,930 | $96,481 |
| Married Families | $122,863 | $-999,999,999 |
| Non Families | $52,152 | $66,538 |
mean
median
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
40.0%
Overall Marriage Rate
41.5%
Male Marriage Rate
38.6%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 55-64.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
3,755
Number of Veterans
3,166
Male Veterans
589
Female Veterans
War | Veterans |
|---|---|
| Second Gulf War | 1,344 |
| Vietnam | 1,178 |
| First Gulf War | 834 |
| Korea | 117 |
| World War II | 28 |
count
Age Group | Veterans |
|---|---|
| 35 to 54 | 1,001 |
| 75+ | 893 |
| 65 to 74 | 679 |
| 18 to 34 | 658 |
| 55 to 64 | 524 |
count
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| White | 3,021 | 8.55% |
| Black | 224 | 20.46% |
| 2+ Races | 221 | 5.78% |
| Hispanic | 215 | 6.47% |
| Asian | 179 | 5.88% |
| Native American | 49 | 11.53% |
| Other Race | 40 | 7.04% |
| Islander | 21 | 5.65% |
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
8.9%
Veteran Poverty Rate
26.79%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
63.2%
Labor Force Participation
57.6%
Employment Rate
6.9%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
43.14%
Born in Olympia
91.79%
Native Born
8.21%
Foreign Born
3.05%
Non Citizen
5.16%
Naturalized
91.79% of Olympia residents were born in the United States, with 43.14% having been born in Washington. 3.05% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Asia.
Year | Population | Growth | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2029 | 55,982 | 41 | 0.07% |
| 2028 | 55,941 | 42 | 0.08% |
| 2027 | 55,899 | 42 | 0.08% |
| 2026 | 55,857 | 41 | 0.07% |
| 2025 | 55,816 | 42 | 0.08% |
| 2024 | 55,774 | 41 | 0.07% |
| 2023 | 55,733 | -15 | -0.03% |
| 2022 | 55,748 | -271 | -0.48% |
| 2021 | 56,019 | 411 | 0.74% |
| 2020 | 55,608 | 2,874 | 5.45% |
| 2019 | 52,734 | 284 | 0.54% |
| 2018 | 52,450 | 779 | 1.51% |
| 2017 | 51,671 | 904 | 1.78% |
| 2016 | 50,767 | 868 | 1.74% |
| 2015 | 49,899 | 528 | 1.07% |
| 2014 | 49,371 | 863 | 1.78% |
| 2013 | 48,508 | 389 | 0.81% |
| 2012 | 48,119 | 400 | 0.84% |
| 2011 | 47,719 | 636 | 1.35% |
| 2010 | 47,083 | 0 | 0% |
| 2000 | 42,514 | 8,674 | 25.63% |
| 1990 | 33,840 | 6,393 | 23.29% |
| 1980 | 27,447 | 4,151 | 17.82% |
| 1970 | 23,296 | 5,023 | 27.49% |
| 1960 | 18,273 | 2,454 | 15.51% |
| 1950 | 15,819 | 2,565 | 19.35% |
| 1940 | 13,254 | 1,521 | 12.96% |
| 1930 | 11,733 | 3,938 | 50.52% |
| 1920 | 7,795 | 799 | 11.42% |
| 1910 | 6,996 | 3,133 | 81.1% |
| 1900 | 3,863 | -835 | -17.77% |
| 1890 | 4,698 | -51,284 | -91.61% |