[4] The city is situated near where the Deschutes River enters Budd Inlet, the southernmost point of Puget Sound; it also borders the state capital of Olympia to the north.

[7] Tumwater was originally called "New Market" by American settlers, and under the latter name was platted in 1845.

[9] The site of Tumwater and Tumwater Falls has been home to Southern Lushootseed-speaking peoples known as the Steh-Chass / Stehchass or Statca'sabsh (a subtribe of the Sahewamish (Sahe'wabsh), an subgroup of the Nisqually people; who became part of the post-treaty Squaxin Island Tribe) for thousands of years.

"Steh-Chass" is the Lushootseed name for Budd Inlet, Deschutes River and the Tumwater Falls area, and for an important village of the Statca'sabsh.

Major businesses had already relocated northeast to Tumwater Square, which remains a local shopping center.

[13] Tumwater is located 2 miles south of the neighboring state capital of Olympia.

[20] In 2024, safety for passing motorists became a concern when a 10 foot (3.0 metres) branch broke and fell several feet near the roadway.

[19] Tumwater's mayor, Debbie Sullivan, attempted to remove the tree in May of that year without the support of the city council[21] based on a 2023 report of the city's arborist that concluded the tree was high risk; the report was criticized for having numerous flaws.

[22][23] Due to public protests, coupled with a citizen lawsuit and report discrepancies, the mayor paused her efforts and agreed to obtain a second opinion.

[19] Four identical concrete totem poles are located on the Art Deco-style Carlyon Bridge in Tumwater.

They remained without color until 1951, painted with some hues regarded to be non-traditional in indigenous works, but repainted after 1990.

The Mayor is elected as a chief executive officer and advised by seven council members who act as policymakers and provide guidelines and performance objectives.