Lacey, Washington
City in the United States in Thurston County
About Lacey
Lacey is a city in Thurston County, Washington, United States. It is a suburb of Olympia with a population of 53,526 at the 2020 census, making it the 24th most populous city in Washington. Lacey is located along Interstate 5 between Olympia and the Nisqually River, which marks the border with Pierce County and Joint Base Lewis–McChord.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How Lacey is governed
Form of government not yet listed.
1 of 14 positions listed. Gray dashed boxes are placeholders waiting for a name.
Residents of Lacey
Registered voters elect the officials below.
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Mayor
Executive
- Andy Ryder per Wikidata
The city's chief elected official. Presides over the executive branch, proposes the budget and represents the city.
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City Manager / Administrator
Executive
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The professional administrator who runs day-to-day operations (in some cities appointed by the council instead of the mayor).
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Police Chief
Administration & departments
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Leads the police department.
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Fire Chief
Administration & departments
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Leads the fire and emergency services department.
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Public Works Director
Administration & departments
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Streets, water, sewer, and city buildings.
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Finance Director
Administration & departments
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The budget, taxes, and city accounts.
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Planning & Zoning Director
Administration & departments
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Land use, zoning, building permits.
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Parks & Recreation Director
Administration & departments
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Parks, programs, and public facilities.
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City Council
Legislative
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The elected body that passes ordinances, sets the tax rate and approves the budget.
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City Clerk
Administration & departments
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Keeps the official records, runs meeting agendas and, often, local elections.
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City Attorney
Administration & departments
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The city's lawyer; advises officials and prosecutes ordinance violations.
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Boards & Commissions
Legislative
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Citizen advisory bodies, such as planning, zoning appeals and library boards.
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Municipal Court
Judicial
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Hears traffic, ordinance and other minor cases.
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Municipal Judge
Judicial
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Presides over the municipal court.
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- Website
- cityoflacey.org
Looking for your county, state and federal representatives too? See who represents 98503 or everyone in Washington.
Population over time
From 42,393 in 2010 to 53,526 in 2020 (+26.3%).
Show the numbers
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 53,526 |
| 2010 | 42,393 |
History
Early settlement
Lacey was originally called Woodland after settlers Isaac and Catherine Wood, who claimed land there in 1853. By 1891, the railroad had come to the community of Woodland and the residents decided it was time to apply for a post office. The request was denied because there was already a town called Woodland on the Columbia River. The name Lacey was chosen for the new post office application, presumably after O. C. Lacey, a Justice of the Peace in Olympia. The small settlements of Woodland and Chambers Prairie consolidated into Lacey in the 1950s.
20th century
Initial studies on incorporation of the Lacey area were undertaken in 1963 by a local chamber of commerce to prevent the City of Olympia from annexing the area. The study proposed an incorporated area of 5.64 square miles (14.6 km2) that would encompass 5,738 residents. A proposal to incorporate Lacey was placed before voters at a special election on August 11, 1964, and was defeated by a margin of over 300 votes.
A second attempt to incorporate 10.29 square miles (26.7 km2) and 8,860 residents into the City of Lacey was proposed in 1966. Voters approved incorporation in the November 8, 1966, election, by a margin of approximately 200 votes. The City of Lacey was officially incorporated on December 5, 1966, after the election results were certified. The City of Olympia responded with a special election to annex 2 square miles (5.2 km2) that would be withdrawn from Lacey under provisions of a state law. The special election would encompass the entirety of Olympia rather than be solely restricted to the affected area; it was approved on January 24, 1967.
At the time, the main industries were cattle, milk, forest products, and retail. Lacey later became a commuter town for Olympia, Fort Lewis, and, to some extent, Tacoma. In 1975, the local Jaycees chapter proposed moving the county seat for Thurston County from Olympia to Lacey to give the city "an identity" beyond being a bedroom community.
21st century
In April 2025, a Tesla supercharger station located on Sleater-Kinney Road was vandalized. The act, originally reported as an explosion, was being investigated by the FBI as possibly a form of domestic terrorism and perhaps connected to a larger form of protest against the company.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.