Set on the shores of South Puget Sound, with
the rugged Olympic Mountains rising in the distance across the water and the
dome of Washington's Capitol soaring above the town, Olympia ranks as one of
America's loveliest cities. Olympia is the largest city in Thurston County with
a population of 42,514. The neighbouring cities of Lacey and Tumwater and other
jurisdictions make up a total county population of 204,300.