Lacey is a city in Thurston County, Washington, situated immediately east of Olympia within the South Puget Sound region. It functions as a residential and commercial suburb of the state capital, with a population of about 53,000, making it the 24th most populous city in Washington. The city's growth has been tied to its proximity to Olympia, the state government, and the broader South Sound economy, and it has developed from a small crossroads settlement into one of the region's larger cities. Lacey offers a dense suburban character, with a mix of single-family neighborhoods, townhouses, and apartments, and a high concentration of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks relative to its size. Its neighborhoods range from established areas such as Tanglewilde, with housing dating to the 1970s and 1980s, to newer planned communities like Meridian Campus, Horizons, and the Meadows. Saint Martin's University, a private Benedictine institution founded in 1895, sits on the city's western edge and adds an educational and cultural presence that has shaped the community for more than a century. The city is especially notable for its parks and recreation system, which includes more than 1,200 acres of parkland and open space, miles of walking and biking trails including the Chehalis Western Trail, three indoor public pools, and community facilities. Nearby, the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge and Tolmie State Park extend outdoor recreation beyond the city, and the surrounding South Sound offers waterfront, forests, and trail systems. For residents, Lacey provides convenient access to Olympia's employment, government, and cultural offerings while offering its own schools, retail, and recreation. Its mix of established and newer housing, abundant green space, and family-friendly amenities draws families, young professionals, and state employees, and the city's position along the Interstate 5 corridor keeps Tacoma and Seattle within commuting reach to the north.