Thurston County

Thurston County sits in the southern section of Puget Sound. The County is also home to various other notable landmarks, including Mountain Rainier and the Cascade Mountains. Plus, the Pacific Ocean sits a few minutes’ drive away. Thurston county takes up a space of up to 730 square miles. 

Home to over 230,000 residents, Thurston County, is primarily a suburban area with a lush environment. It ranks eighth in the list of most populated cities in Washington. Most of the County’s residents live in the northern section, including Olympia, Tumwater, and Lacey. 

Thurston County Departments 

There are various departments in Thurston County, including: 

Thurtson County Coroner  

The coroner department has the role of handling medical death investigations and ensuring the process involves high levels of professionalism. The coroner also works to give thorough and concise information relating to specific deaths in the County.  

These can include the time and causes of death. The department also has representatives that also offer social support to the bereaved. The Coroner has the mandate of acting in an ethical manner when sharing any information relating to any dead persons. 

Prosecuting Attorney Office  

Thurston County works had to seek justice for individuals who are victims of crime. Part of this mandate involves enforcing the rights of juveniles and having the role of being the representative for Thurton County.  

The Attorney’s office includes 37 support staff and 32 lawyers. The department tends to handle over 1500 felony cases each year, while over 500 are for juveniles. The office also has a record of handling over 1800 child support cases yearly. 

Thurston County Clerk’s Office General Information 

The County Clerk’s office consists of three principal officials. These are the County Clerk, Chief Deputy Clerk, managers, and staff. Each has a responsibility in the day-to-day functions of the County Clerk department. Usually, these duties have an administrative aspect, with some being quasi-judicial. 

The County Clerk in Thurton features two main offices including: 

1. The Civil and Criminal division in West Olympia. The division handles all matters relating to Thurton county residents and crime proceeds.
2. The Family and Probate Division sits on the First Floor of Thurton County offices in Tumwater Mottman Industrial Park.

Sheriff Department  

The Sheriffs Department works to safeguard the residents and property from any form of crime or danger. Part of this process involves enforcing laws provided by the Federal Government and the County Council. The department also serves the role of detaining individuals the state suspects to be involved in crime or activities that compromise the law. 

The Thurston Count Sheriffs department consists of the following members: 

• Sheriff John Snaza
• Sheriff John Snaza
• Undersheriff Ray Brady
• Executive Aide Traci Gurley
• Chief Brad Watkins
• Chief Jeff DeHaan
• Chief Todd Thoma
• Chief Heidi Thomsen

Thurston County, WA Cities  

Below is a description of some of the cities in Thorton County: 

Olympia 

Olympia, which is the capital of Washington’s state, and serves as the county seat for Thurston County. The city is well known across Europe for being the cultural destination for the Puget Sound Region.  

The first well-known inhabitants of the area were European settlers, who arrived in 1846. They then initiated the Treaty of Olympia, which followed the declaration of the given region as Olympia town.  

Lacey 

Lacey sits on Interstate 5 and is close to the Nisqually River. Lacey town initially went by the name Woodland, which came from the earliest well-known settles. These were the couple Isaac and Catherine Wood, who settled in the area early in the 1850s.  

The main activities for the earliest settlers in the town were in the milk, retail, and cattle products industries. The town has also, in recent years, experienced several business developments and community growth initiatives. 

Rainier 

Rainier is a town in Thurston County that initially started like a train for the European settlers in the 1870s. Rainer became an official town in 1847 and had a population of about 2,000 people. Rainer started in the 1870s as a train stop area for the people en route to Tacoma and Washington. The government in Rainier features the mayor–city council approach. 

Tenino 

With an average population of up to 1700 people, Tenino is also one of the significant states in Thurston County. The town has an extensive historical heritage, and the primary mode of transport would be by car.  

Most residents of the CountyCounty prefer commuting through larger cities such as Tacoma and Olympia. The state also officially incorporated the town in mid-1906. The lush and productive environment attracted the earliest settlers to the area.  

Tumwater 

Tumwater is also one of the largest cities in Thorton County, with a population rate average of 18,000 people. The town also sits close to the Deschutes River and is at the borders of the Olympia state water capital. The town initially went by the name “New Market” and later on became Tumwater in 1875. 

Yelm 

Yelm has a population of at least 7,000 people and recently ranked among the fastest-growing cities in Washington. The term Yelm comes from a Coast Salish word which is chelm. It refers to “the radiant heat the sun produces.” The state also incorporated Yelm officially in late 1924. Yelm also uses the mayor-council government approach and features seven elected members. 

Thurston County Public Records 

Thurston County Public records are available through the online platform at no fee. All information in the database is under the Public Records Act. However, some specific public records are exempt from public access.  

The public records include the details of anyone who the state suspects of having been involved in a crime. 

Part of the Public Records department’s role is to ensure the data is concise and updated regularly. Anyone who wants access to the document should visit this link and complete the form. The steps involved in submitting a request will include: 

• Visit the Public Records Request Portable and make a formal application. 
• Ensure you fill in the public records form with all the concise details to make it legitimate.

Thurston County Offices by Type