University
Place Community
Information
University Place, WA Website
University Place
is located
off Puget Sound and is
bordered
by
University
Place
to the North, Fircrest to the East
and Lakewood/Steilacoom to the South. It is a close-knit residential community
of some 30,000 residents. Its "small town"atmosphere, friendly people,
excellent public and private schools and outstanding scenery are among the many
reasons to live
and work in the community. Home prices are very affordable. Condominiums and
townhouses range from $90,000 to $250,000.
Single-family homes range in price from $125,000 to $1 million for houses and
estates with views of the snow-covered Olympic
Mountain ranges, Mt. Rainier and Puget Sound. University Place is approximately
50 miles south of Seattle and 40 miles North
of Olympia and is readily accessible by Interstate 5 or Highway 16.University
Place is a new city with a rich history. The name "University
Place" has existed since the late 1800s. During this
time, the Methodist Episcopal Church sought a larger site for Puget Sound University
(currently the University of Puget
Sound). Through a combination of donated and purchased land, the Church obtained
420 acres near present day Lemons Beach and
Parkway Loop. They designated sixty acres for the campus and intended to fund
its construction by selling the adjacent lots.
The
financial panic of 1893 devalued the land and excavation of the site halted.
After being forfeited for nonpayment of
taxes, the lots were sold in 1901. The name "University Place" remained,
however, along with a map of the planned campus.
Approximately 100 years after the community received its name a movement began
towards local government and local control.
Groups formed to discuss incorporation; other factions opposed incorporation.
In November of 1994 proponents succeeded in
passing a ballot measure that established the 7.86 square miles of unincorporated
Pierce County into the City of University
Place. Today, University Place is a community of nearly 32,000 people.
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