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Tacoma (IPA: [tə ˈko mə]) is a mid-sized urban port city in Washington, USA. The city is situated on a peninsula on the southern end of Washington's Puget Sound, in an area 51 km (32 miles) southwest of Seattle, 50 km (31 miles) northeast of the State capitol, Olympia, and 93 km (58 miles) northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. According to 2005 Census estimates, Tacoma has an estimated population of 195,898. [1] Tacoma stands as the second-largest city in the Puget Sound area, the third-largest in the state, and the seat of government of Pierce County.

Tacoma adopted its name after the nearby Mount Rainier, which was originally called Mount Tacoma. It is known as the "City of Destiny" because the area was chosen to be the site of the western terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad in the late 1800s. The decision of the railroad was influenced in part because of Tacoma's neighboring Commencement Bay. By connecting the bay with the railroad Tacoma’s motto became “When rails meet sails.” Today Commencement Bay serves the Port of Tacoma, a major player in international trade on the Pacific Coast.

Like most central cities, Tacoma suffered a prolonged decline in the mid-20th century as a result of suburbanization, divestment, and federal urban renewal programs. Recently the city has been undergoing a Renaissance of sorts (see below); investing great sums of money into the downtown core to establish the University of Washington – Tacoma, Tacoma Link—the first modern electric light rail service in the state, various art and history museums, and a restored inlet—the Thea Foss Waterway.

The city has a long history of blue-collar labor politics owing to the relationship between the people and the railroad. Residents of Tacoma consider themselves Tacomans.

Tacoma-Pierce County has been named as one of the most livable areas in the country . Tacoma was also recently listed as one of the most walkable cities in the country (19th) [3]. In contrast, the city is also ranked as the most stressed-out city in the country in a 2004 survey based on unemployment rate, divorce rate, commute time, violent crime, property crime, suicide rate, alcohol consumption, self-reported "poor mental health" and cloudy days