Tacoma sits on Commencement Bay in Pierce County, roughly 30 miles south of Seattle and 30 miles north of the state capital in Olympia. The city extends from the Port of Tacoma and Fife industrial corridor through downtown and the Stadium District up to North End neighborhoods near Point Defiance Park, with communities like University Place, Lakewood, and Fircrest forming the western and southern boundaries. The economy centers on the deep-water port (one of the largest container ports in North America), Joint Base Lewis-McChord to the south, healthcare systems including MultiCare and CHI Franciscan, and a growing population of remote workers drawn by more affordable housing than Seattle while maintaining access to I-5 and regional transit connections.