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City of University Place
City History
University Place is a new city with a rich history. In the late 1800s, it was proposed that a university be located and built in the community. However, financial worries and concerns eventually canceled any plans to build a university here. Nevertheless, the community became known as the "university place," and the name stuck. Since then University Place has become a suburban residential community, proud of its history, eager to retain its unique quality of life and looking ahead to future challenges.
Approximately one hundred years after the community received its name, a movement began toward local government and local control. Groups formed to discuss incorporation; other factions opposed incorporation. In November 1994 proponents succeeded in passing a ballot measure which established 7.86 square miles of unincorporated Pierce County into the City of University Place.
This, of course, was just the beginning of the journey to cityhood. What followed were the struggles to meet the deadlines associated with legally establishing a new city and preparations to begin providing municipal services. Council members were elected, an interim city manager selected, and start-up staff hired. This group, with the help of literally thousands of hours of volunteer efforts, made the quantum leap from the dream of becoming a city to reality. Today, University Place is a community of 31,440 people.
The challenges that face University Place today are how to address citizens' concerns and needs efficiently and effectively, how to spend our resources carefully, to safeguard the history of the community, and to prepare wisely for the future.
University Place is a new city with a rich history. In the late 1800s, it was proposed that a university be located and built in the community. However, financial worries and concerns eventually canceled any plans to build a university here. Nevertheless, the community became known as the "university place," and the name stuck. Since then University Place has become a suburban residential community, proud of its history, eager to retain its unique quality of life and looking ahead to future challenges.
Approximately one hundred years after the community received its name, a movement began toward local government and local control. Groups formed to discuss incorporation; other factions opposed incorporation. In November 1994 proponents succeeded in passing a ballot measure which established 7.86 square miles of unincorporated Pierce County into the City of University Place.
This, of course, was just the beginning of the journey to cityhood. What followed were the struggles to meet the deadlines associated with legally establishing a new city and preparations to begin providing municipal services. Council members were elected, an interim city manager selected, and start-up staff hired. This group, with the help of literally thousands of hours of volunteer efforts, made the quantum leap from the dream of becoming a city to reality. Today, University Place is a community of 31,440 people.
The challenges that face University Place today are how to address citizens' concerns and needs efficiently and effectively, how to spend our resources carefully, to safeguard the history of the community, and to prepare wisely for the future.