Located in Thurston County, Washington, Yelm has grown from a quiet rural community into one of the state’s fastest-growing cities while working to preserve the small-town character that has long defined it. Surrounded by the scenic beauty of the Pacific Northwest and positioned within easy reach of major destinations, Yelm offers residents a unique combination of community connection, outdoor access, and the opportunities of a larger municipality.

“I think one of the beautiful things about Yelm is that it has a small-town feel with some of the big-city amenities,” shares Public Services Director Cody Colt. “We’re just cresting 12,000 people. When I moved here in 1989, there were 1000 people, but it still has a small-town charm. You walk through the store, and you see people you know; you go to local events, and you connect with people.”

With a variety of options ranging from local businesses to larger retailers, Yelm offers residents the convenience of staying close to home and still remaining within reach of larger urban centers. The city’s location provides easy access to Mount Rainier, the Puget Sound, Olympia, and Seattle, while maintaining the quieter pace of a smaller community.

“One of the things we like to say in Yelm is, you’re one hour from anything, an hour to the beach, an hour to the mountain, an hour to the big city,” adds Colt. “So you’re an hour from anything in Yelm, which makes it nice.”

Creating a Downtown Destination

As Yelm grows, the city is focused on building a more walkable and connected downtown. Recent improvements include upgrades to Yelm City Park, including a splash pad, a wheelchair accessible swing, and the new Centennial Stage, which has become a gathering place for community events and performances.

“We are trying to create this core in our downtown area,” Colt expands. “Our city hall is there, our police department is there, our court is there, and the council and mayor are currently looking at building a new kind of city hall; we’re calling it a civic center.” This proposed civic center is part of Yelm’s vision to have a hub of community resources in the core. “We’ll also move the library to downtown, so you’ll have everything you need to access in one area; you can park and just walk to everything you need,” he says.

Click here to read the full story.