Moving to Elk, Washington

Elk, Washington is a small town located in the Pacific Northwest, about 20 miles northeast of Olympia. It is situated in a valley surrounded by rolling hills and forests, providing a stunning backdrop for its quaint downtown area. The town was established in the late 1800s by settlers who were attracted to its natural beauty and abundant resources.

The town of Elk has a population of around 800 people and is home to several businesses, including stores, restaurants, and other services. There are also several churches located in the community. Residents of Elk enjoy a peaceful lifestyle with plenty of outdoor activities to explore such as hiking, fishing, boating and camping.

Elk is known for its historic buildings which include an old general store that has been operating since 1885 as well as several other buildings from the late 19th century that have been restored and are now used as homes or businesses. The local library was built in 1910 and still serves the community today with books, DVDs and other media materials.

The town also offers plenty of recreational activities such as golfing at one of two courses within the city limits or visiting one of the many parks found throughout Elk including Pioneer Park which is home to a playground, picnic area and walking trails. In addition to these outdoor activities there are also several annual events held throughout the year such as Elk Days which takes place during summer months featuring live music, carnival rides and more!

Elk is also known for its rich agricultural history with many farms still operating today offering fresh produce to locals or visitors from out-of-towners who frequent farmers markets during summer months. With its close proximity to Olympia it makes an ideal weekend getaway destination for those looking to escape busy city life while still enjoying all that nature has to offer!

Overall Elk is an idyllic small town offering residents plenty of opportunities for relaxation while providing visitors with plenty of things to do! Whether you’re looking for some peace and quiet or a weekend getaway full of fun activities there’s something for everyone here in Elk Washington.

Population: 15,697
Males: 7,923 (50.5%), Females: 7,774 (49.5%)

Pierce County

Zip code: 98387

Demographics

Median resident age: 32.1 years
Median household income: $54,400
Median house value: $140,200

Population by Race

Races in Elk Plain:

  • White Non-Hispanic (78.3%)
  • Two or more races (5.9%)
  • Black (5.4%)
  • Hispanic (4.7%)
  • American Indian (2.8%)
  • Filipino (1.8%)
  • Other race (1.5%)
  • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (1.4%)
  • Korean (1.2%)

Ancestries: German (19.9%), Irish (11.4%), English (10.7%), Norwegian (7.0%), United States (6.5%), French (3.2%).

Land area: 9.6 square miles

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Elk Plain

  • High school or higher: 88.5%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.3%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 3.8%
  • Unemployed: 5.8%
  • Mean travel time to work: 36.9 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Elk Plain CDP

  • Never married: 22.6%
  • Now married: 64.1%
  • Separated: 0.9%
  • Widowed: 3.0%
  • Divorced: 9.4%

5.8% Foreign born (2.7% Asia, 2.1% Europe).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Elk Plain:

  • GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL & REHAB CENTER (about 11 miles; PUYALLUP, WA)
  • SAINT CLARE HOSPITAL (about 13 miles; LAKEWOOD, WA)
  • WESTERN STATE HOSPITAL (about 16 miles; TACOMA, WA)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Elk Plain:

  • MCCHORD AFB (about 10 miles; TACOMA, WA; Abbreviation: TCM)
  • GRAY AAF (about 14 miles; FORT LEWIS/TACOMA, WA; Abbreviation: GRF)
  • SEATTLE-TACOMA INTL (about 28 miles; SEATTLE, WA; Abbreviation: SEA)

Other public-use airports nearest to Elk Plain:

  • SHADY ACRES (about 2 miles; SPANAWAY, WA; Abbreviation: 3B8)
  • SPANAWAY (about 5 miles; SPANAWAY, WA; Abbreviation: S44)
  • PIERCE COUNTY – THUN FIELD (about 7 miles; PUYALLUP, WA; Abbreviation: 1S0)

Amtrak station near Elk Plain:

  • 15 miles: TACOMA (1001 PUYALLUP AVE.). Services: ticket office, partially wheelchair accessible, enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, full-service food facilities, free short-term parking, free long-term parking, call for taxi service, intercity bus service, public transit connection.

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Elk Plain:

  • CLOVER PARK TECHNICAL COLLEGE (about 13 miles; LAKEWOOD, WA; Full-time enrollment: 3,819)
  • PIERCE COLLEGE AT FORT STEILACOOM (about 16 miles; LAKEWOOD, WA; Full-time enrollment: 5,921)
  • BATES TECHNICAL COLLEGE (about 16 miles; TACOMA, WA; Full-time enrollment: 3,710)
  • UNIVERSITY OF PUGET SOUND (about 18 miles; TACOMA, WA; Full-time enrollment: 2,754)
  • PACIFIC LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY (about 18 miles; TACOMA, WA; Full-time enrollment: 3,265)
  • TACOMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 18 miles; TACOMA, WA; Full-time enrollment: 3,710)
  • GREEN RIVER COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 23 miles; AUBURN, WA; Full-time enrollment: 4,568)