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Puyallup, WA

Frequently asked questions

Puyallup, WA

Puyallup is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States, located about 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Tacoma and 35 miles (56 km) south of Seattle. It had a population of 42,973 at the 2020 census. The city's name comes from the Puyallup Tribe of Native Americans and means "the generous people." Puyallup is home to the Washington State Fair, the state's largest fair. The name of the city is notably used in mailing addresses for adjacent unincorporated areas, such as the larger-populated South Hill.

The Puyallup Valley was originally inhabited by the Puyallup people, known in their language as the spuyaləpabš, meaning "generous and welcoming behavior to all people (friends and strangers) who enter our lands." The first white settlers in the region were part of the first wagon train to cross the Cascade Range at Naches Pass in 1853.

Native Americans numbered about 2,000 in what is now the Puyallup Valley in the 1830s and 1840s. The first European settlers arrived in the 1850s. In 1877, Ezra Meeker platted a townsite and named it Puyallup after the local Puyallup Indian tribes, 11 years after departing from Indiana. The town grew rapidly throughout the 1880s, in large part thanks to Meeker's hop farm, which brought in millions of dollars to Puyallup, leading to it eventually being incorporated in 1890, with Ezra Meeker as its first mayor. The turn of the 20th century brought change to the valley with the growth of nearby Tacoma and the interurban rail lines. The Western Washington Fairgrounds were developed giving local farmers a place to exhibit their crops and livestock. During the early part of World War II due to Executive Order 9066, the fairgrounds were part of Camp Harmony, a temporary Japanese American internment camp for more than 7,000 detainees, most of whom were American citizens. Subsequently, they were moved to the Minidoka relocation center near Twin Falls, Idaho.

Puyallup is approximately 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Tacoma and 35 miles (56 km) south of Seattle. It is situated along the Puyallup River, which flows from Mount Rainier to Commencement Bay in Tacoma.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.04 square miles (36.36 km²), of which 13.93 square miles (36.08 km²) is land and 0.11 square miles (0.28 km²) is water, mainly consisting of the Puyallup River estuary. As it is bordered largely by unincorporated Pierce County, the closest neighbors include the city of Sumner to the northeast, Fife and Edgewood to the north, Tacoma to the northwest, Summit, and Midland to the west, South Hill, Graham, and Frederickson to the south, McMillin and Orting to the southeast, and Alderton to the east.

Puyallup places a strong emphasis on health and wellness for its residents. The Puyallup Recreation Center stands as a hub for fitness and community activities, providing a diverse range of exercise classes, sports, and wellness programs. MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital offers comprehensive health services, including wellness check-ups and preventive care programs. Anytime Fitness offers comprehensive fitness programs including cardio, strength training, and group exercise classes. Begin your wellness journey at the YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties, which offers extensive fitness classes and state-of-the-art facilities. For a more specialized fitness experience, visit Pure Barre for low-impact, high-intensity workouts. If relaxation is your goal, The Salt Mine Arium provides a unique halotherapy experience. Massage Envy offers a range of massage therapies to melt away stress. Yoga enthusiasts can find tranquility at Sol Health Yoga.

Top sites in Puyallup, WA are Puyallup Historical Society at Meeker Mansion, Pioneer Park, KING Family Fun Center, and Bradley Lake Park.

Population: 42,179 (2023). ZIP codes: 98371-98375. Area code: 253. Elevation: 46 ft (14 m). Area: 14.04 square miles (36.36 km²).

FAQs

Is Puyallup, WA expensive to live in?

Puyallup is part of the Tacoma-Lakewood Metro Div. metro area, which is ranked 31 out of 273 cities across the US in terms of cost of living. According to C2ER (the Council for Community and Economic Research), the cost of living in Puyallup is estimated to be 119.2% of the national average making it one of the more expensive cities in the US. The total monthly expenditure you can expect to incur depends on the cost of housing, food, utilities, transportation, healthcare, and other miscellaneous goods and services.

Is Puyallup, WA a good place to live?

Puyallup is in Pierce County. Living in Puyallup offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Puyallup, there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many young professionals live in Puyallup and residents tend to lean conservative. The public schools in Puyallup are above average.

What is Puyallup, WA famous for?

In its early years, Puyallup was known for its hops, berries, and flowers. Today many events, such as the Washington State Fair, the Daffodil Festival and Parade, and the Puyallup Farmers Market pay tribute to the city's agricultural past. But there's much more happening in Puyallup than meets the eye. Two regional retail centers in downtown and South Hill offer a variety of shopping and dining opportunities. Great parks, excellent K-12 schools, and a modern regional medical center are some of the amenities appreciated by residents and visitors alike.

Sources

Wikipedia 

City of Puyallup

Niche

Fly Homes

Puyallup Historical Society at Meeker Mansion 

Pioneer Park

KING Family Fun Center 

Bradley Lake Park

MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital

Anytime Fitness

YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties

Pure Barre

Salt Mine Arium

Massage Envy

Sol Health Yoga

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 (in the United States) immediately.