Tacoma, Washington. The City of Destiny!

Tacoma became officially incorporated in 1875. Last count, about 202,700 men, women and children live here.

Parked on Washington’s Puget Sound, Tacoma was named after nearby Mount Rainier, originally tagged Mount Tacoma. It is an urban port city and the seat of Pierce County in Washington State. About 20% of the city’s terrain is covered in water. This is attributed to Commencement Bay, Puget and Hylebos Creeks, the Thea Foss Waterway and the lake in Wapato Park.

In 1873, it was cited as “The City of Destiny” by the Northern Pacific Railroad since the railroad chose the city for its western terminus. It was the preferred location due to its position on Commencement Bay, which is used largely for commercial transport.

It received national notoriety in 1935, when the 9-year-old son of a prominent executive, J.P. Weyerhaeuser, was kidnapped while walking home from the elementary school he attended. Young George was released after the $200,000 ransom was paid. The villains were caught, prosecuted and put away in the pokey for a very long time.

Several cities or sites sitting near Tacoma that are easily accessible are Olympia, the state capitol, only 31 miles southwest; Seattle, only 32 miles northwest; and Mount Rainier National Park, which is to the southeast and is only an hour’s drive as the crow flies.

Tacoma received kudos from Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, which ranked it 36th on its 2006 list of “50 Smart Places to Live.” The Toyota Tacoma truck was named after it. It’s been immortalized in a couple of songs, too, like Girl Trouble’s “My Hometown” and Jason Webley’s “How Big is Tacoma.”

The city boasts over 130 famous people who were born or lived in Tacoma, like Dyan Cannon, Ted Bundy and Art Chantry graphic designer of album covers for groups like The Hole, Nirvana and The Sonic. The crooner Bing Cosby was born in Tacoma and so was John Ehrlichman of Watergate fame. The Dallas Cowboys quarterback John Kitna and Pearl Jam’s original drummer David Krusen were born here, too. So was NFL player Dane Looker who plays for the St. Louis Rams as wide receiver.

A high school International Baccalaureate program, elementary foreign language immersion programs, $75 million+ invested in public school refurbishing, a plethora of private schools and innumerous institutes of higher learning make this city ripe for enrolling.

Several elementary and middle schools were even rated 8 and 9 out of a maximum of 10 points by GreatSchools.net. The distinguished school ratings are based on public school test scores. Included in the list are Mason Middle School (grades 6-8), Skyline Elementary (PK-5), Washington-Hoyt Elementary (K-5), Browns Point Elementary (K-5) and Lowell Elementary (K-5).

If it’s culture that cuts the cake for you, then you gotta visit the amazing, internationally acclaimed Museum of Glass, which is dedicated to glass art. The museum’s prominent glass blowing hot shop with its steel cone juts imposingly up into Tacoma’s skyline. The Bridge of Glass is also a local monument with its 500 feet of walkway that connects the museum to the downtown area, passes prominently over I-705 and ends at the Thea Foss Waterfront. Glorious glass exhibits created by Chihuly are established strategically along the walkway.

World-class live entertainment is always on-hand. Get tickets to attend concerts like Joe Cocker, Guns & Roses, The Jonas Brothers, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Clint Black and other famous musicians at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma.

You’ll never say, “I’m bored!” in Tacoma. Parks, parks, and more parks provide a powerhouse of things to see and do, like historic structures, walking trails, a beach, zoo and aquarium, scuba diving, an arboretum and a botanical observatory. Cheer on the International Basketball League’s Tacoma Jazz as they play at the Tacoma Done. Check out the Farmer’s Market every Thursday where you’ll find crafters, artisans, food vendors and over 80 farmers with fresh produce under canopied booths.

The gamut of restaurant themes, from burgers at Herman’s to fine dining at El Gaucho, are all represented here. From concerts to kid’s camps, ballroom dancing to live theater, everyone will find something pleasurable to pass the time in Tacoma.

You pay for location and this city is no exception. Single family homes with 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom with 1168 sq. ft. of living space start at around $50,000 in South Tacoma. A South Tacoma 4 bedroom, 1 bathroom single family home with 1750 sq. ft. of living space that needs a little modeling sells for $100,500. An exceptional 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom townhouse with a garage and 1034 sq. ft. of living space in the Fircrest neighborhood can be had for $130,000.

A stellar single-family home with security, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, other amenities and 1698 sq. ft. of living space in the Brookdale neighborhood starts at $175,000. In Northeast Tacoma, in the Brown’s Point neighborhood, you’ll find a waterfront home built on Point Defiance with two fireplaces and a panoramic view of Mount Rainier for $850,000. Whether it’s a small starter or a massive mansion, you’ll find the right home for you right here in Tacoma.

If you’d like to make Tacoma your destiny, click on Tacoma WA Homes for Sale to see if your can find the home of your dreams.