Tacoma is located on Commencement Bay on lower Puget Sound, 36 miles south of Seattle, 18 miles from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport The name stems from the Indian name for Mt. Rainier, "Tacobet," which means "Mother of Waters." The white man interpreted "Tacobet" as Tahoma, later Tacoma, name of the fledging settlement in 1865.

Tacoma has evolved from a small sawmill village to a railroad boom town, then to a modern shipping, manufacturing, financial, military, higher education, and medical center. All of these changes, and the people who made them happen, have left relics which are here to this day.

In early 1865 Job Carr established a claim and constructed a typical log home near the place called Chebaulip by the local native population. Four years later, this area was plotted as Tacoma, and today is known as Old Town.

In 1872, Tacoma's future as the preeminent city on Puget Sound seemed assured by its selection over all rivals as the Western terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad's Transcontinental Line. However, the victory soon proved hollow for the settlers at Tacoma. In a practice then widely used by railroads, the NP decided to plot their own town of New Tacoma a little over a mile south of the existing settlement. This allowed the railroad's Tacoma Land Company to reap the financial benefits of selling lots to settlers and businessmen at the site of the future terminus.

Today, Tacoma is the third most populous metropolitan area in Washington State; the greater Tacoma metro area population is: 665,209. Commencement bay is one of the world's best natural harbors. The harbor has helped the Port of Tacoma become the fastest growing port in North America. Tacoma is rich with wonderful parks, gardens, art & culture, historical sites, outdoor/indoor sports.

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