Welcome to Yelm, WA Gateway to Mt. Rainier
We are so glad you came to learn about this vibrant and beautiful area to see why this is the Pride of the Prairie!
City of Yelm, WA
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The City of Yelm has come a long way from humble beginnings originally inhabited by the local Nisqually Indian Tribe into a hub for Washington’s Southeast Thurston County & southwest Pierce County residents & businesses, as well as the city many pass in their daily commutes to the State capitol in Olympia or Joint-Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) in Tacoma. James Longmire was one of the first settlers that started arriving in the mid- 1800s, followed by the Northern Pacific Railroad beginning service in 1873. Longmire explored Mt. Rainier and upon building a wagon road and a guiding station to the future national park, Yelm came to be known as the gateway to Mt. Rainier. Yelm and Mt. Rainier have always had a close relationship. The headwaters of the Nisqually River flow through Yelm enroute to Puget Sound. Former Yelm teacher Fay Fuller was the first woman to ever to ascend to the peak of one of the tallest mountains in the continental United States. |
Businesses
Our Yelm-area merchants provide the public with a wealth of choices to acquire most all of their for goods and services right here where we live.
Arts & Activities
Nestled in the foothills of Mount Rainier, the Yelm community is enriched by thriving Arts and Activities for all ages and interests.
Lodgings
Yelm is perfectly situated at the crossroads of Washington State Highways 510 and 507, which connect other small communities.
Dining
Yelm’s dining venues include many choices for delicious Northwest cuisine, international cafés, restaurants, coffee shops, and catering.
Shopping
Yelm shopping is a unique experience, and some come from far and wide to find its one-of-a-kind treasures.
Community Blog
Steve Klein addresses current issues impacting Yelm and vicinity and provides a meeting place for anyone to provide their ideas and opinions.
A Place to Call Home
Today, Yelm is mostly a bedroom community for families who are employed in Olympia, Tacoma or Centralia, attracting a large number of military personnel within close proximity to JBLM . Yelm is also adjacent Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment which draws thousands of students to the area from around the world for events throughout the year.
Thriving & Growing
Yelm boasts a population of over 7,000 people within the city limits and serves as the commercial center for thousands more that live in the pristine, surrounding rural areas. The word “Yelm” was born from the Coast Salish Native American language word “shelm”, which means “land of the dancing spirits”, from the shimmering mirage from heat rising from the Summer Prairie floor.
Citizens of Yelm
Sq Miles
Officially Founded
Special Events
First Saturday in Decmeber
Christmas in the Park Event at the Yelm Community Center and Yelm City Park.
Saturday 10am-3pm (April-Oct)
Yelm Farmer’s Market
This website is independently owned & operated & is not affiliated with the City of Yelm or Yelm Chamber of Commerce. Photographs courtesy of Rory Siegel Photography & Fine Art.
Used with permission.
Contact Us
Steve Klein
info@yelm.com
P.O. Box 1971
Yelm, WA 98597