Washington

Thurston

294,793
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Thurston

Thurston, Washington, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 1,507. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 294,793.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Medicine Creek Treaty War approach, and 68 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020294,793
2010252,264
2000207,355
1990161,238
1980124,264
197076,894
196055,049
195044,884
194037,285
193031,351
192022,366
191017,581
19009,927
18909,675
18803,270
18702,246
18601,507
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Thurston

Military engagements that took place in Thurston, Washington.

Medicine Creek Treaty War approach
1856

Historic places in Thurston

National Register of Historic Places listings in Thurston, Washington.

Hale, Calvin and Pamela, House
Olympia
Miller-Brewer House
Rochester
SAND MAN (Tug Boat)
Olympia
Olympia National Bank
Olympia
Gate School
Rochester
Millersylvania State Park
Olympia
Dofflemyer Point Light
Olympia
LOTUS (motor vessel)
Olympia
Mottman Building
Olympia
Tenino Downtown Historic District
Tenino
Olympia Downtown Historic District
Olympia
Tenino Stone Company Quarry
Tenino
Tumwater Methodist Church
Tumwater
Weyerhaeuser South Bay Log Dump Rural Historic Landscape
Olympia
Tenino Depot
Tenino
Cloverfields
Olympia
Old Capitol Building
Olympia
Bigelow, Daniel R., House
Olympia
Thurston County Courthouse
Olympia
Browse all Washingtonhistoric sites ›

Other counties in Washington

Explore census history and historic records for more Washington counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Thurston County, Washington

This page charts the census history of Thurston County, Washington. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Thurston

When does Thurston first appear in the US census?
Thurston, Washington first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 1,507.
What is the population of Thurston?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Thurston had a recorded population of 294,793.
Were any battles fought in Thurston?
1 documented military engagement took place in Thurston, including Medicine Creek Treaty War approach.
How many historic places are in Thurston?
68 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Thurston, Washington.
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