Tumwater is a city in Thurston County, Washington, situated where the Deschutes River flows toward Budd Inlet at the southern tip of Puget Sound, immediately south of the state capital of Olympia. Its history reaches back to the 1840s, when the settlement was founded as New Market, and the city grew around early industry, most famously brewing. The Olympia Brewing Company put Tumwater on the map, and its legacy is preserved at Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls, a 15-acre riverside park built around the historic brewery site. The Deschutes River and its dramatic falls remain the city's natural centerpiece. Brewery Park features walking trails, a playground, a fish ladder, and a salmon hatchery, and the falls draw visitors year-round. The city has worked to build on its brewing heritage through a partnership aimed at establishing a craft brewing, distilling, and cider center, drawing on local colleges and economic development organizations to reimagine the historic brewery campus. Tumwater functions as both a self-contained community and a companion to neighboring Olympia, with state government employment and regional services just minutes away. Interstate 5 runs through the area, connecting residents north to Tacoma and Seattle and south toward Portland, while local roadways serve the day-to-day needs of the city and the broader Thurston County region. The population of about 25,350 spans families, professionals, and state workers, and the Tumwater School District operates a network of elementary, middle, and high schools. Residential areas range from established neighborhoods near the historic core to newer subdivisions, giving Tumwater a balanced, family-oriented suburban character. Its location at the head of Budd Inlet also places residents near waterfront parks and the cultural amenities of the capital region, while the city itself retains a quieter, more residential pace.