Yelm, Washington - Yelm is a city in Thurston County, Washington, United States. The population was 6,848 at the 2010 census. Yelm ranked 10th of 279 eligible incorporated communities in the state of Washington for population growth between 2000 and 2010.

As of the census of 2010, there were 6,848 people, 2,299 households, and 1,712 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,205.6 inhabitants per square mile (465.5/km2). There were 2,523 housing units at an average density of 444.2 per square mile (171.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 81.6% White, 3.3% African American, 1.8% Native American, 2.3% Asian, 0.9% Pacific Islander, 2.8% from other races, and 7.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.4% of the population.

There were 2,299 households of which 53.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples living together, 17.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 25.5% were non-families. 20.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.40.

The median age in the city was 29 years. 36% of residents were under the age of 18; 8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 32.3% were from 25 to 44; 16.1% were from 45 to 64; and 7.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.9% male and 53.1% female.

To a large extent, Yelm acts as a bedroom community for residents working in the surrounding cities of Tacoma, Olympia, and Centralia. Yelm also hosts a large number of military families who are currently or were formerly stationed at nearby Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Yelm Middle School and Ridgeline are the middle schools in the Yelm School District.

The Yelm City Park was donated by Chuck and Wilma Demich, in 1950. Located at the corner of SR 507 and Mosman Avenue, the park is approximately one city block in size. It has a kitchen, covered facilities, a playground area, skateboard park, picnic tables, public restrooms, and a softball backstop. A number of community events are held at the Yelm City Park each year, including Prairie Days, Christmas in the Park, Family Fun Day, an annual car show, the Yelm Lions Easter Egg Hunt, and more.

Yelm is home of the first Class A Water Reclamation Facility and distribution system in Washington. This system reclaims all of its wastewater, using it in local irrigation and added to recharge streams. The water also is used in Cochrane Park, a 8-acre (32,000 m2) wetland park that includes a catch-and-release pond for rainbow trout.[17

  Details