The city of Puyallup is located in the south central Puget Sound region of Western Washington in Pierce County. Those moving to Puyallup will discover a high quality of living and lifestyle that they are looking for.
History:
Puyallup was incorporated on August 19, 1890. That same year, the city erected a 17-room home that is one of the finest early-Victorian mansions in the state, with carved cherry staircases, stained glass windows and hand-stenciled ceilings. The home is open for tours and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The turn of the 20th century brought change to the valley with the growth of nearby Tacoma and the interurban rail lines. The Western Washington Fairgrounds were developed giving local farmers a place to exhibit their crops and livestock. During the early part of World War II, the fairgrounds were part of Camp Harmony, a temporary Japanese American internment camp for more than 7,000 so-called Japanese detainees, most of whom were American citizens. Subsequently, they were moved to the Minidoka relocation center near Twin Falls, Idaho. Today, Puyallup is famous for exquisite fields of flowers and its huge state fair. The granddaddy of all events at Puyallup happens for 17 days in September. The fair has taken place every year since 1900, except during World War II when the fairgrounds were occupied by the United States Army. The fair began in 1900, then called the "Valley Fair," and shares of stock were sold to finance the two-day event. By 1905, the fair had become a six-day event. By 1919, attendance was up to 75,000 and the fair was held on 30 acres. Following World War II, much cleaning up and repair was necessary to get the grounds ready to open again. In 1978, the fair was expanded from a 10-day to a 17-day event occupying 46 acres, and by 1989, it had grown to occupy 125 acres. When the fair celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2000, more than 1.3 million attended.
Economy:
Once the center of agriculture in East Pierce County, Puyallup has grown and matured into a city with a rich historic downtown and a modern, growing employment base on South Hill. Puyallup's location is central to the four-county Puget Sound region and provides easy proximity to greater Puget Sound and its international ports. The city serves as market crossroads in east Pierce County and is connected to the major state freeways servicing Central Puget Sound. Puyallup's location on the main west coast rail routes provides easy access for Sound Transit's Sounder regional commuter rail service with connections to the Tacoma, Seattle and Everett markets. The labor force of the Puyallup area is divided between those who work within the City and those who commute to work outside the area, in the nearby cities of Tacoma, Seattle, Renton, Kent, Auburn and Olympia. Consequently, the Puyallup area serves as a suburban-residential community as well as a center for trade and commerce based on agriculture, retail sales, health care and light industry within its boundaries. Manufactures include mining machinery, men's clothing, refrigeration equipment, feeds, pallets, store fixtures, millwork, semiconductors, sheet metal, concrete products, prefabricated wooden buildings, processed foods, and wooden doors and cabinets. A state fish hatchery and a Washington State Univ. agricultural experiment station are there.
Tourism:
Grab the family and head to Creative Kids. Her you and your can enjoy the artwork, handicrafts and talents of kids of all ages. School-aged kids have the opportunity to enter their original work in the categories of art, baking, creative writing, photography and textiles. Keep your eyes peeled for the always-entertaining Egg Drop Competition. Next, it is off to the Super Science Company. Enjoy this hands-on, interactive "Fun with Physics" attraction. Test your ability to solve brain-racking challenges with Mind Bogglers. Kids will love the Construction Zone with colorful building supplies and tools. Create patterns using blocks and gears on the Magnetic Wall. For a little muscle, the monster truck show is the first ever Spring Fair Monster Truck Show in the Grandstand. Be sure not to miss this safe, family-affordable night of fun. Or, check out the Slamfest Demo Derby. This is smashing, crashing fun for the whole family. Finally, the Puyallup Pro Rodeo is the place to catch bull riding, bareback riding tie-down roping, team roping, steer wrestling and barrel racing.