LACEY

Lacey was originally called Woodland after settlers Isaac and Catherine Wood, who claimed land here in 1853. The small settlements of Woodland and Chambers Creek consolidated into Lacey in the 1950s. Renamed for attorney and develop O. C. Lacey, the city of Lacey was officially incorporated in December 5, 1966. Lacey became a commuter town for Olympia and, to some extent, Tacoma.

The City of Lacey now flourishes with retail, warehousing/distribution centers, a large retirement community, a major mushroom farm, and Weyerhaeuser's corrugated container facility, with tons of new growth on its way -- and has officially emerged as one of the Puget Sound's brightest stars.

The city is perceived as a slower paced community with its best characteristics being its close proximity to many lakes and forests as well as being close to the beautiful Nisqually Valley. It is graced by more than 500 acres of beautiful parkland and open space, as well as Puget Sound's Tolmie State park at our northern border, and the 3,700-acre Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge forming our Eastern border. With freshwater lakes, three golf courses, miles of paved walking and biking paths and several indoor pools, recreation opportunities are virtually unlimited.

Lacey offers housing options from urban-style townhomes, to quaint waterfront homes, to palatial estates and beyond -- with more waterfront and golf-course living opportunities than any other community in Thurston County. People really love living here -- almost 8,000 new homes are expected to be constructed over the coming decades.  Lacey is known for its quiet, safe neighborhoods.

Lacey has consistently been perceived as a great retirement location. Lacey's proximity to Joint Base Lewis-McChord makes it a popular retirement choice for the military. Washington State is the 10th largest retirement growth state in the U.S., and Lacey has been the beneficiary of a healthy portion of it.

Drawn by the affordable housing, wide variety of activities, mild weather, availability of military retirement services and quality healthcare, retirees are flocking to the South Sound.

While businesses benefit from servicing this growing market, the entire Lacey community benefits form the energy, skills and experience of its senior residents, whether volunteering in schools, the Chamber of the local museum.