The City of Yelm, is a vibrant and dynamic city, situated in south Thurston County - with picturesque views of Mount Rainier from almost any location around the city. Yelm represents a very special place in Washington State with a fascinating mix of small-town pride and history. The Yelm area stands out among the most livable cities in Thurston County attributed to the highly attractive landscape, proximity to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and affordability.
The quality of life remains as energized and vital today as it did 150 years ago when settlers first arrived in the Nisqually Valley. Since that time, the Yelm area has grown with residents from around the world, creating a wonderful combination of culture and diversity.
Yelm offers safe neighborhoods, affordability, great schools, fabulous parks, family-oriented community celebrations, and a vast array of business, employment and volunteer opportunities. Yelm has become the center of commerce for south Thurston and southeast Pierce Counties, with a daily market area of over 30,000 people due to the availability of retail goods and services, and proximity to all major metropolitan areas of western Washington,
As the City of Yelm continues to grow, we are committed to keeping the City of Yelm the safe, healthy, happy home that it has been since settlers first arrived to the Prairie all of those years ago.