Lake Tapps is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Pierce County, Washington, built around a large reservoir of the same name. The lake itself is a 2,880-acre body of water created in 1911, when Puget Sound Power & Light impounded the area for hydroelectric generation. Power production continued until 2004, and the reservoir has since transitioned to a recreation-focused waterbody, with its level managed by the Cascade Water Alliance through seasonal filling and drawdown. The community that shares the lake's name grew from a scattering of lake cabins into a substantial residential area of about 12,000 people. It first appeared in the census as a designated place in 2010, reflecting the region's steady suburban growth. Lake Tapps sits between the cities of Auburn to the north and Bonney Lake to the south, on the eastern side of the Tacoma metropolitan area, and its residents draw on those neighboring cities for shopping, services, and employment. Water recreation is the community's defining feature. Boating, fishing, and swimming take place across the reservoir, and Pierce County's North Lake Tapps Park provides a public boat launch, beach, and picnic areas along a lengthy stretch of shoreline, with views of 14,411-foot Mount Rainier to the southeast. Many neighborhoods include their own beach and dock access. Education is anchored by the Dieringer School District, headquartered in Lake Tapps, which operates Lake Tapps Elementary and Dieringer Heights Elementary for local students; older students continue in nearby districts such as Sumner-Bonney Lake. With its combination of lakefront living, family-oriented schools, and access to the greater Seattle–Tacoma corridor, Lake Tapps has become a sought-after residential community in Pierce County.