Steilacoom, WA

Steilacoom is a small Pierce County town on Puget Sound, southwest of Tacoma, with one of the oldest civic stories in Washington. The Steilacoom people lived in the area before American settlement, and the town later became known for early territorial institutions, including a school district established in 1854. Its historic district, bluff views, ferry access to Anderson Island, and old homes give Steilacoom a distinct waterfront character. It feels quieter than Tacoma or Lakewood, but its history and Sound setting make it far from generic suburbia.