It's probably not too shocking to learn that Elk Plain was once a vast prairie and is now named for the herds of elk who used to graze there.
Elk Plain is a town in Pierce County, Washington, with a population of 14,205
It's probably not too shocking to learn that Elk Plain was once a vast prairie and is now named for the herds of elk who used to graze there.
Elk Plain is a town in Pierce County, Washington, with a population of 14,205. It's about 10 square miles on the map and sits just outside Spanaway, Washington. Many residents of Elk Plain work in Spanaway or Lakewood, which is just about 30 minutes further north. Elk Plain is also just an hour or so away from Tacoma and Seattle, two of the Northeast's most popular destinations! It's located right off Route 7, one of the main country roads in the area and makes for pretty easy access to the larger cities nearby. Most residents consider it a bedroom community and work in one of the neighboring towns.
Moving to Elk Plain
If you're interested in finding an apartment rental in Elk Plain, you'll be happy to know that the area is almost 20% rentals. This means that you stand a good chance of being able to find anything you want, even luxury apartments or serviced apartments. Still, however, you'll want to allow 4-6 weeks for your apartment hunt to make sure you find exactly the right place for you without any stress.
What You'll Need
When you're getting ready to find a house rental, try to make as many appointments to see different apartments as possible. Even if an apartment doesn't sound amazing in this listing, you could fall in love with it once you see it! It also helps to get acquainted with what is available on the market and what the prices are for different neighborhoods and units. Ask yourself about your preferences for your new apartment. Do you want a place that's in a quiet, remote area or something closer to your neighbors? Do you want an elevator building or a stand-alone townhouse? These are all good things to consider before you start your hunt so that once it begins you can coast through it with ease. When you go to meet your landlords, be sure to bring along all the right documents. You're going to need a copy of your ID, your credit report, bank statements, pay stubs, letter of employment, references and anything else you think your landlord might ask to see. Oh, and always bring your checkbook! If you find your dream home, you don't want to be caught without the money to pay for it!
Neighborhoods
Elk Plain is a small town but there are a few different sections of it. Depending on which one you choose to live in, you could have a totally different experience of the city. Here's a little more info about the neighborhoods.
West Elk Plain: This section of Elk Plain is located along Route 507 and is the closest to Spanaway. IT's great for people who work in Spanway. There are a few fast food restaurants along Route 7 and 507 and also the local favorite: J.R.'s Whistle Stop, where you can do karaoke and eat fish 'n chips! It's also close to the beautiful Spanaway Lake.
East Elk Plain: This area border Meridian Ave and 224th street East. It's laid out more sparsely than the other sections of town, so you'll definitely feel like you have a lot of space to yourself here! Amici's Italian Eatery is one of the local favorites.
Northern Elk Plain: Pushing up into the outskirts of Spanaway, Northern Elk Plain has a number of small subdivisions where it's possible to find decent rental properties and also be close to the action of Spanaway! Frederickson is nearby as well, and there are great restaurants and shops in this direction, too.
Living in Elk Plain
This Census-Designed Place is located in beautiful Pierce County, and is within easy driving distance to Mount Rainier, the tallest mountain (and active volcano!) in the Cascade Mountain Range. But don't worry, the last real recorded activity was over a hundred years ago, so chances of anything happening again are pretty slim. Plus, geologists have worked extensively with city officials on backup plans in case any activity does happen.
Aside from the numerous outdoor activities possible on Mount Rainier (including hiking, biking, fishing, camping, and snow sports in winter), Elk Plain residents are also just a short distance from neighboring big city Seattle, which has numerous possibilities for shopping, sightseeing, coffee and tech. The possibilities for this beautiful natural Pacific Northwest elk town are endless!
